WEEK 5: DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD TERMINOLOGY

Double Page Spread Terminology:

We also looked at professional magazine double page spreads to see what makes them good and efficient:

This double page spread has a standfirst which is an introductory paragraph usually in a sans serif font and slightly larger than the article itself however this spread uses a serif font in the standfirst. The title usually uses a serif font but once again this has used the opposite and has a sans serif font. The image in a double page spread is large just as this one so it stands out. This magazine also uses a drop capital which is at the start of an article, the first letter of the first word is written larger than the rest of the article and normally drops down into the article as this one does. There is one large column and no sub-columns used.

This magazine has gone for the typical serif font for the title and sans serif font for the standfirst. There is a pull quote which is sectioned out of the article and written over the top of the image. The article is a Q&A where the questions are a little larger and bolder than the answers which is the way it usually is in a magazine. There is a drop capital also used in the subcolumn on the left hand side of the second page. A section title is usually at the top of the page and normally in a 'tab' from as this one is.

 

 Looking at these double page spreads gave me the chance to apply the correct terminology while evaluating their good and bad points enabling me to indicate what makes a good double page spread and what makes a bad one when it comes to creating my own.

WEEK 4: PRACTISE COLLEGE MAGAZINE COVER

Using the photos we took we had to chose one and create a college magazine cover as a practise for our preliminary task of creating our own college magazine, This is the photo i chose to use:

This is the finished magazine cover: 

I applied the title of 'college' across the top and then also added some coverlines, with the photo itself I upped the brightness slightly and also the contrast so the picture was clearer and warmer looking. I photoshopped in a barcode just underneath the title also.

This gave me the chance to practise once again before carrying out the preliminary task and also gave me the opportunity to practise editing a photo I had taken.

WEEK 3: PRACTISE FRONT COVER

Our Task was to take an image from the internet and turn it into a front cover using the skills we already knew in photoshop alone:

This is the photo I chose before.

I added the title of the magazine and put it behind her head by using the cutout tool in photoshop to cut out the top of her head and making it a separate layer put the text behind it. I then added coverlines around the page making sure not the cover her face and sticking to one colour to make it look simple but sophisticated. However it's a little bit too simple and sparse so I would have to look at moving the cover lines around and maybe adding a few more.

Doing this simple exercise has given me more practise and understanding of how to create a front cover and gives me the chance to improve on my next one.

WEEK 3: FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPHY

We evaluated magazine front covers and how the people were photographed:

Three person front cover:

Stood even closer together.

The first has one person at the front and the other two getting further away but so they are still in the shot.

Second has all three standing in a line but slightly turned and very close together so they all fit into the shot.

Both Mid-shot

Colour scheme on both.

Direct mode of address.

Four/Five Person front cover:

In both the people are very close together.

One person (maybe the main singer) is front and central while the others are gathered around closely behind.

Colour scheme.

On the second one the front persons head slightly covers the masthead but on the first one this is not the case.

Direct mode of address.

Two People front cover:

These people are stood close together. (shoulder to shoulder)

Their heads cover the masthead again.

They are the main focus, only one cover line.

Colours are simple and few.

Mid-shot again.

One Person front cover:

The positioning of both people on the two magazines are central.

The photos are both mid-shot.

Their heads are covering the mastheads so the magazines must be well known.

They both have direct mode of address.

The colours are very simple.

Looking at these will help me when taking my own photos for my front cover as I know how people should be positioned and what they should look like to make a professional front cover.

WEEK 2: EVALUATING COLLEGE MAGAZINE COVERS

College Magazine Covers:

We evaluated some college magazine front covers we found online to give us an idea of what makes a good college magazine cover so we apply those when creating our own college magazine.

The layout of this magazine works well. The masthead fits across the top of the page perfectly, the person in the photo is directly centre and the coverlines are written all around him not covering his face. The top of his head goes over the masthead so his eyes are not cut out by it. The colours work well together and are kept very minimal with different shades of blue and a tan colour, the blue fits with the darker blue background of the photograph.

Once again, the masthead fits perfectly across the top of the page, with the persons head covering it partly so we can see them properly, however the masthead can still be read. The cover titles are placed differently to the first and are all down the bottom so the photo is not hidden by them and they are still legible. The colours once again fit the background by using white for the masthead and some of the cover lines and aslo using yellow and a pop of red.

This magazine is a little bit more busy but still works well as a front cover, it is a college football magazine so the business of the front could represent the business of a football match. The photo is an action shot and the person is wearing green and white, the colours of the magazine contrast his uniform by using mainly white and yellow. The coverlines do not cover the photo at all but the photo slightly covers the masthead. The masthead fits well across the top of the page.

The font of this magazine does not fit very well, it looks very unprofessional and the colours do not fit the photo very well. The background of the photo is a garden and was not thought through very well as it does not reflect a college and because of the lighting you cannot see the photo very well. The cover lines are placed randomly around the edge and do not fit a format, the masthead also does not fit across the top.

The photo is much more suited to a college magazine in this as you can see it’s taken outside a college, however the colour scheme does not fit with it. The masthead is placed to the left of the cover and does not go across the entire top which is unconventional. As the previous, the cover lines are placed very randomly all around the magazine and many of them are not legible because of the colour, size and font. The photo does not have direct mode of address so we do not relate to the person on the front.

The masthead for this cover is on two lines which is very unconventional and makes it look unprofessional. The font of the cover lines is in serif but is not very readable, the cover lines are minimal and are not fitted in a professional looking format around the photos, although the front colours fit the photos it is a bleak colour and does appeal to the desired audience. There are also several different fonts which makes it look messy

 Looking at front covers and identifying what makes them good and bad while using the terminology will help me to develop my front cover for my magazine as I know the proper terms for the visual aspects and can apply them to my own knowing what makes it look good.