Front Cover Designs

 Front Cover Designs

 

I have tried doing various different front covers, using different images that I have taken to experiment and see which one looks the best and more effective. I experimented with different colour schemes to see which one suited the theme of Rock music the best and which one fitted the genre the most. I used different edits on the photograph to make the model look different, to see which magazine front cover is the best for use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs

Before and After (Hair and Makeup)

I took a close up shot before I did her hair and make-up then took another one afterwards, in order to identify the comparison. It took many attempts to get the make-up to look realistic and effective, and to the right standard for the front cover of a Rock music magazine.

 

 

 Photographs

I took variety of photograph of my chosen  model doing different poses and taking different camera shots. I placed her in front of a brick wall, therefore I could photograph her with space for text when adding it and it an idea which features on various other Rock magazines. I dressed her in a black and white dress and black shows are these are the stereotypical colours for rock. I also chose somebody with dark hair as this is what most Rock stars have. I completed the scary make-up in which I had previously planned and did her hair similar to way I had been looking at during the research stage. Some of the photographs are of low quality, therefore I will have to improve them on Photoshop. I will select the best and most suitable photographs for editing and use. I have also included photographs from when I was doing her make-up and what techniques I used.

Research of Weather on Photograph Day

Detailed Draft of Front Cover

Detailed draft of Front Cover - VERSION 1

I created my first front cover by locating images that I liked and wanted mine to look similar too. Then I focused on the layout of the page, to make sure it looked correct and not too many things were overlapping. I made sure the conventions of a music magazine were there, therefore a large range of bands, headlines and images. I made the masthead large and I also made sure the main image was still clearly visible as the main image for the reader, therefore the reader can identify what the main image is. I chose the color scheme of red and blue, these colors are related to rock because I chose them to be dark and other music magazines have allocated this particular color scheme too and it works well. I liked the models make-up as this is like the inspiration for my chosen idea.

DETAILED DRAFT OF FRONT COVER - VERSION 2

On this one I used a colour scheme of mainly black and white, then I used red font as it stood out against these colours well. I added lots of photographs so there was not lots of text that the reader has to look at. I tried to make the headlines short and snappy, therefore the reader would not lose interest. I located the main image in the centre of the page, therefore it is clear that they is the most important convention and the main story. All of the other articles are surrounding her showing her dominance on the front cover of the magazine, which I think I am going to convey on my actual magazine production.



DETAILED DRAFT OF FRONT COVER - VERSION 3

I used the same colour scheme throughout the drafting of my front cover, therefore I had to opportunity to change other elements, such as bands that I was going to include and different types of headlines I could apply to the magazine. I continued the theme of the main image model having scary make-up on, as this is a definite idea that I am going to attempt to do. I varied with different colours such as red and green, as these are dark colours connoting Rock music. I varied with different fonts and sizes to make sure it looks good, and help me decide which one was best.

DETAILED DRAFT OF FRONT COVER - VERSION 4

I decided to attempt a different idea when drafting this version. I chose the model not to be looking at the camera and holding an instrument, assumably during a performance. Within my research, I have discovered particular occurrences were this effect happens in Rock magazines, as it makes the audience feel like they are attending the concert or gig and are watching the particular singer. I also chose a black background, which proved beneficial when applying text over the top, as the text stood out really well with the colour scheme I chose to use. I chose the use a female again on this draft, as I would like to make a Rock magazine which is dominantly feminine as there is not many and it is not conventional. 

Production Plan

Masthead and Logo Ideas

I thought of several different names to apply to my magazine, all of which will be suitable for a magazine of Rock genre. Therefore, I applied a different effect to each one, making them all a variety of sizes, shapes and colours in an experimental manner. I made them all different to adjust them visually to create ideas on what my final Masthead will look like. I applied the colours of black, white and orange throughout the production of these drafts as these colours appear to be used within Rock magazines regularly. I put images inside the lettering because this is an effect which I thought would visually look good and it would be good to experiment with. Also, I tried adding shadowing around the lettering to creating an extra Rock type of effect. I attempted to use a variety of fonts to see what each one would look like too.

Make-Up Tutorial

SCARY DOLL MAKE-UP

 I found some video tutorials on Youtube that could be some inspiration for the make-up that I want to achieve on my model. Therefore, I watched these videos to produces idea of what I wanted to aim for and how I could do it. I watched several so then I got a larger range of idea and different make -up effects in which I could apply. I hope to do my models make-up in a similar way, also like the photographs below, as a lot of Rock musicians tend to wear make-up during their performances, and they wear it in a dramatic and effective way, using bright colours and different patterns and different ways of application to attract attention.

This is the make-up that I want to achieve, to create a scary Rock effect to link in with the Rock magazine. As this video is focused on Halloween I will have to change the make-up slightly to suit the theme of Rock. As Rock is stereotypically known as crazy and reckless I would like to do some dramatic make-up, which will catch the readers attention. This has inspired me on how to complete my models make-up and how to make it look effective and eye-catching. Rock musicians usually wear scary make-up during concerts, such as Alice Cooper for example, therefore I would like to achieve the same effect. The photographs below is where my inspiration to do make-up on my model started from, as all of the people below are Rock musicians and it looks effective how they where make-up as there appearance is memorable and eye-catching for whoever sees them. I also creates a dramatic effect, as creates the connotation that the person likes to be different and effective.

Photographic Influences

Photographic Influences

I divided my photograph influences into sections on areas which I could focus on and develop ideas within. I chose to focus on Make-up Effects, Background Ideas, Positioning of the model, and Rock Clothing. I added several photographs in each section and then spoke about them and how I would adapt that specific idea or technique to fit in with my Rock magazine production and plan. I looked at female dominant Rock magazines to see what existing copies were on sale, I selected several different institutions which have copies of magazines surrounded around successful female artists. I looked at the way they were positioned and the different facial expressions they were showing. I also looked at the clothing the women were wearing, which is most dark colours such as black and red. Therefore, when I am photographing my model I need to select dark items of clothing for her to wear, to follow the conventional process.

Mood Board

Cast

CAST

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

I have selected some photographs that I think fit the title of 'Cast' in my Rock magazine. I have chosen a range of photographs of several different females that I think would be suitable for modelling in my magazine. Therefore, this will give me inspiration for my real model and how she will look. I have also written about the photographs I have chosen and how my model will be in comparison. 

OUTFITS

I researched Rock clothing what stereotypical women who enjoy listening to Rock music would wear. I located several items of clothing and placed them together to create several potential outfits which my model could possibly create and wear. I surrounded it around the idea of females as this is the aim of my magazine is to be female dominant. Although, I have created a male version also, to create more ideas and possibilites for my magazine. These outfits are what Rock female musicians could be seen wearing and I selected each individual item alone, then situated them together in order to create few outfits. Which links to my Cast, as this is the type of clothing they would be wearing during the shooting.

Props and Locations

 

PROPS AND LOCATIONS

I decided to find a variety of photographs on the internet of props I would need to create a good image and possible locations which would be suitable for a Rock magazine. I created a collage of all the images put together. I included necessities for my photograph as I need to include all of these things when photographing and achieving the end product I would like.

 

 

I would like to use all of these props fully to achieve a good picture. As within lots of Rock magazines the front page background is of a dark colour to create the connotation of Rock, therefore I think it would be effective if I used a background which was black or used a brick wall. This leaves the audience curious about the location of the model. I have decided to use a female  model, as males are too stereotypical for a Rock magazine and Rock is becoming male dominant. Therefore, I would like to do her make-up in a scary way to produce the connotation of Rock again, and dress her in Rock clothing so the theme of the magazine is easily recognizable. Also, I think it would be beneficial if I used a musical instrument in the shot, but as I am focusing on make-up mainly, I think it would be difficult to strongly highlight the two aspects equally.

My Audience Media Pack

My Audience Media Pack

INTERVIEW WITH AUDIENCE MEMBER (TOPIC OF ROCK MUSIC MAGAZINES)

I asked an audience member who likes Rock music a variety of questions based around Rock music magazines. This was a form of research as her answers were the basis of my magazine planning. I chose to interview a female, as I have chosen my Rock music magazine to be based dominantly around women, instead of men usually make up most of the audience. I have also included a higher percentage of women in the audience on my audience profile to represent this. I included questions about music festivals, rock music, music magazines and how often they completed things Rock related. These answers are similar to the ones on my audience profile, as it is an accurate reflection of my target audience and what the members of my target audience are like.

Audience Media Packs

LIIAR Analysis

This is my LIIAR analysis of three different contents pages, I chose three totally different magazines, instead of three magazines of the same brand. As I felt, this would give me more of an insight into what magazines conventionally do when focusing on Rock Music.
This is my LIIAR analysis of a contents page and a double page spread, again I chose them from different magazines as I would like to see a variety of different ones, so I can have some different idea and variations to analyse and talk about. As well as maybe adapting them for my magazine.

My genre of magazine

I produced a video the express the genre of magazine I had chosen through a different form of media, I used characters who spoke to one another speaking about the genre and several methods of how to complete this genre in a good way. I chose Rock, therefore the characters speech expands on this particular area. My genre of magazine by Connie Wray on GoAnimate

Music Magazine Brief

Music Magazine Brief

Main Task

The front page, contents page and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by you - minimum of four images.

LIIAR Analysis of College Magazine and How It Was Created

Evaluation

I decided to base my college magazine on Law at Wyke College, and update all the students on all law related topics not only at the college, but outside of the college too. I really wanted to portray the idea of success and high grades from the students. Which is why I photographed my model in front of UCAS and university related posters, to reach out to the audience and inspire them to work hard in order for them to get into the university they want. I chose my model to be female, although boys and girls are of equal intelligence I decided that because throughout most of my research girls were used on the photographs, so I decided it would be good if I did too. I enjoyed photographing my model, holding an piece of work with an A+ on with her smiling, as based on my research this is what was conventional from within a college magazine. I chose the colour scheme of blue, red and white for my magazine, as these are primary colours which are likely to stand out when place on top of a main image on a magazine. The red text was allocated with the risky topic of revision, as this is what students are usually stressed out about. I chose blue as the main colour, as it is very bright and bold and creates the connotation of cool and calm, to relax students and help them with any problems which they have. I want the audience of my magazine to be not only students of the college who take Law, but others as well, as if they are interested in Law there are still aspects of my magazine which they will find interesting. Also, the test paper has a red A+ and the university posters situated behind the posters are red, therefore this links the two together, suggesting that if you work hard, you will achieve success and get into your chosen university. My magazine focuses on looking into the future in particular, as there is no point in looking back to the past.

I also named by magazine Order after deciding many different names, because it is short, snappy and is something that the audience are bound to remember. I also added a skyline which is ‘Audition for Bar Mock Trials now! Can you make it?’ which is likely to grab anyone who is interested in Law’s attention as it is something which could be beneficial to them. I placed a percentage of people who get A’s on the front in large letters to inspire the current Law students to work hard and do well, so they can achieve the positive outcomes at the end.

I also added typical conventions such as the date, barcode and price, these are less significant than other conventions but they are important as they are what the audience look for when they are looking at the magazine.

Just like in my draft and in my research I placed my model in the centre of the page, holding a successful exam in their hand with a high grade achieved on it. Also, as the model attends the college than they will be easily recognizable to the people around, therefore all of their friends and classmates are more likely to purchase it if they see that they know the person who is featuring as the main image. I priced the magazine at £2.20, as it would be quite a thick magazine as I decided it would be published monthly, therefore there would be around 200 pages, therefore £2.20 is an easily affordable price for the magazine, especially as the audience are likely to be students, therefore they will be able to afford this rate on a monthly basis. There are a lot of people who take AS Law, A Level Law, Btec Law and GCSE Law; therefore there is a wide range of people who are likely to buy this magazine, as well as people who just have an interest in general law.

I included a wide range of topics inside, such as shocking case, bar mock trials, law society, a law test, revision and previous grades. As I believe all of these articles are relevant to the theme of the magazine and fit in well with the whole magazine. I chose the layout of the magazine to be tidy, as the audience will probably be quite tidy as they have to keep all of their work in order; therefore I neatly situated all of the articles and text at the sides of the magazine, with the model situated in the centre. This is the conventional layout of a tidy magazine.

To connect the denotations together, I made my model wear a blue jacket to fit in with the blue theme of the magazine, therefore people will realise that the magazine and the model link together through the topic of Law. The audience are likely to look up to the model as they have achieved a high grade in Law, therefore they will want to as well. I enjoyed making my magazine and allocating all the denotations together to create the appropriate connotations, using Photoshop to add the skyline, masthead, main image and articles I produced the magazine. I enjoyed planning my magazine and creating lots of potential idea which I could use and convey onto the practical part of the task, I also enjoyed analysing other magazines and looking at photographs as it helped me with making decisions about my work, such as what articles to include and how to situate my model.

Although, I struggled with taking an appropriate photograph, as completed all the appropriate planning but found it difficult to convey my ideas into the form of a photograph. Also, as Law is really a colourful visual subject such as art or music, it took me a while to figure out what location I could photograph my model. Then I resolved this problem, by finding a big notice board around college with a huge reference to universities and UCAS, therefore I decided it would be beneficial for the readers if they thought about university when receiving their grades, especially those members of the target audience who are excited about going to university, they will be especially interested.

Also, my model doesn’t do Law as a subject, which I figured was another problem, so I gave her one of my previous Law tests and she held it. I think it would have been more appropriate if I had found an actual Law student to photograph, because then they would have had some knowledge about the subject and she wouldn’t of just had to pretend to do Law. This was one of the negatives of my magazine. Another negative is that I need some more practise from within Photoshop, therefore I think that my magazine’s appearance could have been improved if I had knowledge about all the possible tools on Photoshop, although my confidence is increasing when using Photoshop, I still need certain practise. Also, I think I should of taken some more photographs outside as when I was photographing my model I stayed just inside the college buildings and walked around, therefore if I had been outside I may of found a more exciting or appropriate area in which I could take the photograph.