Copy of Music Magazine Evaluation on Prezi

These are many of the tools i used on photoshop to create my product

Eliptical marquee
Rectangular marquee
magnetic lasso
Single row marquee
Magic wand
Vertical type
Eraser
Line - dividing double page
Zoom - make image clear enough to erase unwanted bits
Path selection - move images and text
Sharpen - smooth sharp edges after using lasso
Blur - merge background together to smooth out
Gradient - used on one of the masheads
Fill - used for buttons
Airbrush - used on images
Smudge - merge background together to smooth out
Brush - used to fill gaps
Hand - used to move page
Colour selectiong box
Opacity
Drop shadows
Hue & saturation

to allow me to create a layout that directs the eye of the reader to specific points of importance first, such as the main image and focus of the features, I became interested in the layouts of certain magazines that sell well and target my chosen audience/an audience similar to the focus of my product.

In order to enhance my products professional quality and overall aesthetic standard,

I decided to explore a variety of layouts used by high and low profile magazines  that focus on my target genre and/or age group.

 

Vibe’s contents page however is not conventional, as it contains only one image. Although, the text is minimal, the image has a caption and the ‘Contents’ is not too  large.

The double page spread is also unique to Vibe, as there is one main image, however  it is not very large and is placed so it only covers 1/3 of the 2nd page.  There is a pull quote and standfirst,  but also another image across both pages.

The German magazine  below is also unconventional as it, like vibe, includes only one image, and of an object instead of an artist. The page numbers have been  enlarged and there is also a lot of text.

This double page spread is conventional,  as it includes a standfirst,  columned text, a large image covering the whole 2nd page, a caption and the colour scheme matches the image.

Q’s front page conventionally uses a button, a band and a large main image. Also the text feature overlaps the image, but the other text does not. The main image was also taken from a long shot and unlike most magazines, features more than just one artist/prop.

The colour scheme on this double page is apparent and matches the image. The text is easy to read and is columned, and features a pull quote to engage potential readers. There is a long standfirst and  a large heading.

This front cover is different to most conventional  covers, as the masthead is almost completely covered by a large main image and is difficult to read, however the text overlaps only slightly and a selling point and button are used.

Kerrang!’s contents page differs from issue to issue, like Vibe, but conventionally uses a variety of images and minimal text.  Captions are used and there is a colour scheme.

         After looking at a variety of magazine covers, contents and double pages I have decided to use both conventional and unconventional aspects of the different layouts.

          I will use columns for the interview and a large image covering the 2nd page, I will use 1 artist only on my front cover with other text, a selling line, a button and a band and I will use multiple images, minimal text and large page numbers on my contents page. I will also use a colour scheme that is apparent throughout my product.

Vibe Magazine seems to follow typical conventions of a magazine layout, as the main image is centred, the artist is engaging the reader with eye contact, the  text is not overlapping and the masthead is visible and bold, yet behind the image.

I began with a plain A3 landscape and divided it in the middle using the line tool

I imported the image and resized it

I added a standfast

I added a pull quote

I added a masthead

I added the 1st column

I added a 2nd column and a drop shadow to the pull quote

I copied the background from the front page

I added an editors letter, a date and features columns

I added a masthead and images

I added captions to the images

I cropped a section of the background and pasted it multiple times, then blended them all together to create a smoother background

I added a masthead and used the magic wand to select the B and change its colour

I imported my image and added a drop shadow

I added the date and the band

I added the button and main feature

The first contents page didn't link to the front cover 

There was only a slight link to the front cover

I believe that my final product provides indication of focus on a genre of music. Although my image features no musical instruments, the overall cover uses the conventional elements of a music magazine and reflects the specific and recognisable style that hip hop is associated with using colour, clothing and language.

The front cover of my magazine changed considerably over the course of its production as I was changing elements that did not fit/were not enough of an indication of a music magazine.

I began by choosing a front cover image

I then used the magnetic lasso to cut it from the background

I went on 'Dafont' and chose a font for my masthead

I added a band and a barcode to the magazine

I added a background and used gradient and the magic wand to change the masthead

I cropped 2 band members from the image to create more space and changed the font style and colour of the masthead again

I added a button to the magazine and changed the colour again with gradient

I changed the main image, background and masthead and added a caption and features

I added a date, a faded image using the hue and saturation tools and opacity and changed the font of the masthead and the features

list of content

1.6VI frontman Frankie K gives his first Bars
interivew

3.100 greatest
hip hop tracks of the 90’s

8.Immortal Technique’s Filipe Andres
Coronel.
What makes this
musical bomb tick?

12.Wu Tang Clan
becomming a
lyrical
miracle revealed

15.The ‘Yeasty’ Boys?
Your top hip hops artists previous jobs

24.Going ‘GaGa’ to ‘check it out?’
Find out why Lady GaGa wants Nicki Minaj’s bad romance on her new album

25.The Narcycist album give away!
Posters

27.Cypress Hill

29.Lil Kim

How does my product attract/adress my readers visually?

After analysing both conventional and unconventional magazines, I have concluded that:

A simple layout is easy to read and allows the product to look neat when attracting mature readers. It allows teasers, bands, buttons and the featured artsist to compliment eachother with their positions and emphasise the importance of some features over others with placement.

A limited number of different font will contribute to the presentation of the product. Simple fonts that attract the eye and are easy to read are useful for sub-headings, whereas distinctive fonts are ideal for bands, buttons and mastheads.

The image is possibly the most important visual feature for the front, contents and double pages. Placement is key when attracting a reader and front cover images are conventionally placed in the middle of the page to draw the eye and encourage interest in the magazine. Double page spread images are usually placed on one A4 side with a pull quote at the bottom, as many people cannot digest only large amounts of text and prefer the interviews to be accompanied with a large image, this also helps to draw attention to the article. Contents pages usually include a variety of small images as they need the focus on the page numbers and content of the magazine.

The gender of the featured artist is important when choosing a colour scheme and target audience. A feminine image will not compliment a masculine colour scheme as well as a masculine image would, and vice versa. The colour and image also have to compliment the font and reflect the nature of the contents of the magazine.

Limited colours allow the contents and front page to link easily and continue a specific theme. They also prevent colour clashes and mess and are important as the front cover must catch a potential consumers eye. Colour is usually the first notable element of a magazine and will engage the target audience long enough to lead them to the image and the sub headings.

An unconventional button gets the audience interested in the offer the magazine is making with it, as well as providing a difference between your magazine and another. It is also a conventional feature for a magazine and consumers seem to expect this feature to be included. Furthermore, as it is a promotional feature, it may boost sales as a consumer who is usually not targeted by the magazine may buy it to win a prize for a friend/family member or encourage the audience to interact with those producing the magazine.

Size matters also matters. Large text usually shows the importance of an issue to the magazine and hopefully, to the reader. It allows the audience to translate the size to represent urgency, excitement, dramatic news or anger, and interest them into reading further. A magazine will use size to attract the eye of the audience to what the magazine believes will be their most important selling features.

How does my magazine represent my target social group, age and gender?

I believe that by acknowledging my forms of research, such as the questionaires, as well as analysing a variety of sucessful and high profile magazines being sold to my target audience, I have constructed a product that meets the requirements of my targeted consumers in areas such as social groups, age and gender.

My target social group is highlighted in my reader profile as those who share an interest in being active, sociable, from a mixed background and taking part in activities commonly associated with hip hop. By featuring Frankie, (replaced with Narada, but kept the same name) a mixed race rapper who wears clothes linking to elements of the hip hop scene, I have automatically given my stereotypical readers an aesthetic feature of my magazine that they can relate to.

My target age is also clear in my reader profile, and I believe it is reflected well in the magazine also.  Although my interview is written informally with some quotations from the artist using slang, the language used was specifically featured for an older audience as it contains words that children would find boring/would not understand. The double page spread was also designed to present a mature atmosphere to be carried through the interview, as the image, font colour and background used feature only tones, no colour, and the artist wears a suit.

The colour scheme used for the front and contents pages were decided on to attract a stronger male than female audience, as most hip hop fans are male. By using a limited scheme of bold and neutral colours such as reds and creams I can create a slightly more masculine product with slight feminine elements. By featuring a male artist I can tie the masculine colour scheme to the image and mis-enscene to present a product targeting my chosen audience.

draft interview

Frankie K speaks exclusively with bars on his life before and during the infamous '6vI'.
　
It's 10 o'clock on a Monday evening.　 Sat on a blood red beanbag, underneath a half hanging mini basketball hoop and clutching a pen and notepad, I try to remain patient for 'his highness' to return with the sacred cheese toasty that has postponed our little chat for another half an hour.　
I notice how well the boudoir of Kamal fits the personality.　
A typical teenager's from the states, playboy centerfolds and 'floor'drobes galore.　
I even have time to absorb the little details; the recording equipment and amps the only objects in the room stacked neatly, carefully and cleanly.
If there is one fact Frankie K will allow you to know about him, it will be that ''Frankie Kamal waits for no man. Nor dame. But they can hang around for [him] as long as they like''.
Apart from being fact, it is also one of his favourite sayings, a side effect of the pride radiating from this American boy.　
However big headed this bighead may seem, he has a charm strong enough to rival a French cheese that seems to win even the sourest of sourpuss' over.
Suddenly, the door flings open and a toasty-laden Frankie stumbles in.　　
''How's my favorite Bars minion?'' he exclaims, carelessly tossing warm Best of Both and Cheddar over his crumpled duvet to high five a startled 'Bars minion'.
''Took our time didn't we?'' I say, my tone only half serious.
''Toasties wait for no man, nor dame, I'm afraid. No matter how overworked you bars minions are" he replies, very matter of fact, through half a mouthful of said toasty.
"Well, lets get down to business,’’ he says, slumping down into a bright blue beanbag opposite me.
‘’What was your life like growing up?’’
"Well. I grew up and lived in Atlanta. Just me, mom and my sister. My dad went to jail for fraud. It was tough on us, all 3 of us, especially money wise. But it got better, I went to high school, I made friends, met a girl, just did normal kid stuff, you know? Then when I was about 14, they moved me to Croydon.Against my will, may I add" he laughs.
 "Sounds like that was a pretty big change for you?"
"Yeah, I remember being at school and my math teacher saying something about a ‘whole different kettle of fish’, I thought she was parrin’ me off and started an argument", he laughed. "Even now my friends laugh at me using American words like ‘sidewalk.’ and ‘garbage’"
 "So how did you get into music?" I asked.
" I’ve always been into music, but I’ve only recently started to make my own. By recently, I mean since about 15, when I met my main men Biggie (Kenroy Blair) and Clinton and started 6VI. Later on we met my girl Eve and my boy Kieran and we’ve been doing pretty good since. We’ve done a lot of shows, all over the place, last week we were in Yorkshire and we’re using a friends recording equipment to make an album."
 "What’s the album called? Is there anywhere we can hear some samples?"
 "We have a Facebook page actually, (www.facebook.com/6vI) and we’re still trying to name the album.
"Ok, well, it’s already 10pm and I should get back to Bars headquarters to sort all the rubbish you’ve said to me out," I say playfully, dodging a lazy swipe at the back of my head as he laughs and pretends to hit me. 　
"By the way," I say, as I poke my head back round the door. Your toasty’s are cold!"

To compare to and improve on my music magazine, I have uploaded my preliminary task from the begining of the year. The first I notice about the prelim task is the basic use of technology, which I hope to improve upon. Secondly is the lack of features on the front and the simple colour scheme and bland font. The shot is taken at an interesting angle, but could have been less plain.

Contents

Contents flat plan

Front page flat plan

Shot List

To analyse font for my magazine and explore different styles for different aspects of my product.

Font

View more presentations from leannenmbec18.

In order to produce my magazine in the conventional style of Hip Hop, I have examined a second front and double page spread from the magazine 'URB' as it focuses on the genre I have also chosen to base my magazine around.

Contents Page

Front Page

To develop understanding of an audience, I have analysed the front cover of ''Rave'' and written a reader profile.

Text highlighted in pink = improvements to be made

Content

Double page spread

Front page

To assist me with my interview and shots, I have analysed the language used and photographs included in a double page spread about Fearne Cotton.

To Improve my magazine flat plan, I looked at an unconventional yet sucessful magazine 'Kerrang!' to draw inspiration from aspects such as font, logos, features, photography colour schemes etc.

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