Front cover of magazine and Evaluation

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Evaluation

From completing my magazine cover I learnt how to use the different tools on Photoshop which helped me to edit my main image of the cover on my magazine, for example it helped me edit/create my main image, where I have layered the picture of my friend onto an image of a college campus. Also this task has taught me how to become a independent learner; whenever we were set tasks I managed to complete them independently. Also I have learnt the different conventions of a magazine such as the 'Masthead title piece', ' the plug', ' teasers' etc. etc. I also learned how to use an SD card, how to put it in the camera and how to upload things from the SD card onto the computer, how to put the SD card into the computer  and how to upload things from a camera onto the computer. The technology on the computer I used to help me complete my magazine cover is Photoshop, Publisher, Word and Blogger and I have also used camera's - which I have taken all my picture's with. I have used technology by using Photoshop on the computer which I used to edit my main image of my friend, I changed the colour of her eyes to make them a brighter blue colour, I earsed all her spots and made her skin brighter. I made her teeth whiter and her lips lighter so that her teeth stand out. I also used Photoshop to edit/layer the background image of the college campus behind the girl. The different conventions I have used are 'The Masthead title piece' , ' teaser'  ' headline articles and subtitles', ' bar code, price, date, issue number'. I have used the bar code, price, date and issue number because the magazine more realistic, also these features are the main priority of the magazine because they are what you need to sell the magazine to the reader, the price - for the reader to see how much it will cost, the bar code - so you can scan the magazine and sell it,  the date of the magazine - for the reader  to see if the magazine is in date, the issue number - for the people to see what issue they are readin gof the magazine, and see if it is the new/updated version of that magazine.  I have used the ' Masthead title piece' to show people what the magazine is called and the headlines and subtitles of my articles advertised on the magazine to show people what kind of articles are in the magazine. I have used the teaser, so that the magazine seems more appealing for the reader to buy and read, my teaser offers for people to win a free holiday. People know that you will never get a holiday for free; this is how my teaser works, as people would like the advantage of a free holdiay. The teaser also informs people what kind of audience my magazine is aimed at. The teaser states 'WIN A FREE HOLIDAY RAVE IN IBIZA', the 'Rave' included in the sentence shows that it is aimed for a the late teens/young adult audience as the older generation are not assumed wiht 'raving' in places such as Ibiza. Also the bright colours of the magazine show that it is aimed for the more lively, younger generation which is connoted bright, vibrant/lively colours. with  not the older generation who are connoted with softed colours.If I were to change any of magazine, I would retake the image of my friend that I used for my central image of my magazine cover and take it in a more natural place such as a library or a classroom in Wyke college. I Also I would do the same for the background image, I would have taken an image of the outside area of Wyke college. Also I would take more images that I would include on the side of the magazine, to go with what the article is about, like you see on real magazines. I would also use Photoshop differently such as use it to change the colour of my friend's hair or the colour of her clothes or what her clothes look like. I would also change the layout of text on my magazine, as the text style I have used makes the magazine look child-like, if I used a bolder font, in a bigger size; it would look more stereotypical for a college magazine. For the 'Masthead title piece' I would have used a darker, bolder colour so that it contrats better against the background image.  If I had more time to complete this task I would aslo include a contents page and a double page spread - with an article that I would have created myself included with framed images I would have taken myself. I would also change the colour shceme that I chose, instead of purple, orange and blue I would have chosen more stereotypically colours that are assumed to fit in with college students. Such as dark/navy blue, sky blue or a dark green each of these colours can be connoted with sophistication and independence. Which is what people think college students learn to become like during their college years.

Mock up of magazine - Double page spread

Mock up of contents page for magazine

How to use Photoshop

• On the left hand side of the this screen shot, is the task bar, all of the tools that you see on there help you to earse your image and transform it into a better image that make people think that it is all natural. ( No matter what you edit)
• On the right hand side of the screen you can see another task bar however this one had the different contrast, brightness and colours you can varie from when editing your image on Photoshop
• On the bottom right hand corner, you can that there is different layers for each stage that you edit something on Photoshop. For example you can see clearly that on one of the layers I have labelled the layer 'White teeth', on this layer I made the contrast and brightness levels higher  and then blended her teeth into an outstandingly white colour. Which makes her smile more eye-cathching and more noticable towards the reader
• At the header of the page you will see there is the the ribbon of the page that allowes you to save, edit, select, delete or create a new page etc.etc on Photoshop.
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Framing images

                                            Extreme close up image.

                                           Close up image

                                          Medium close up image

                                        Long shot image

  

High angle image 

Low angle image

Image framed to the left 

Image framed to the right 

Central image

Digital layout of magazine - front cover

This is the layout of the front cover I want magazine to be like.

Semiotics

• The masthead title piece of this advertisement states 'Kleenex tissues in new decor boxes-  the new look of softness'. When the advert states ' the look of softness'  is a play of words as kleenex tissues are assumed with softness. The advert is selling the new brand os Kleenex tissues in different boxes the colours they used of the boxes and tissues themselves are soft pastel colours which connotes/ symbolises softness to the reader.
• The main image of the advertisement is of a woman that is holding up a box of Kleenex tissues and smiling which could mean that the woman uses this brand of tissues all the time and that she is satsified by the level of 'softness' to this brand of tissues.The clothes that the woman is wearing havea soft, fluffy appearance which again promotes the 'softness' to the tissues. The colour of her clothes are a pastle/ baby pink which connotes softness and gentleness.
• At the side of the advertisement they have labelled the different sizes of boxes you can get of the tissues, and different colours and styles.
• The colour shceme of this advertisement is of soft colours such as pastel pinks, yellows, whites and blues.This promotes the main point across (the 'softness' of the new tissues) to the reader.
• The background colour used in the main image is pink, which symbolises softness and the whiteness of the table symbolises purity, making the tissues seem pure and soft, stating that they have no harsh chemicals used in the tissues, they are pure and soft.

The headline of this advertisement states 'The first lipstick collection created by kate moss' this immediately captures the readers attention with the bold font style, size and colour. The main point of this advertisement is recognised as an advert to seel a new brand of lipstick that is promoted/ supported by Kate Moss.

• The reader is captured by the image of Kate Moss wearing bright red lipstick, which makes the reader think that they will be like Kate Moss is they buy this lipstick brand (in actual fact the barnd is made by ' Rimmel' which is stated in their logo at the bottom of the page)
• Kate Moss is seen as a role model, by using her in advertisement more people well pay attention, as she is acknolowged for her beauty and talent. By using famous people to advertise, new brands of beauty products such as lipstick more people are more likely to buy the products
• The colour of the actual lipstick itself is a crimson red colour which connotes sex, passion, love,lust and desire to the reader. It states ' Get that red that lasts!' which gives us; as the reader the idea that this lipstick will last longer than others.
• The writing for some of the advertisement is also a crimson red colour to match the colour of the lipstick Kate is wearing, the subheadline states 'New lasting finsh lipstick'. By using 'finish' this would suggest that this brand of lipstick would give us the finishing look, to make us look as glamorous and desirable as Kate Moss.
• Below the logo of 'Rimmel' is their phrase which is ' Get the London look' which suggests again to the reader that if we buy their brand of make-up we will have the 'London' look.
• The back ground colours used in the advertisement are white which connotes purity, red which conotes passion and balck which can connote, mystery or danger.
• These colours capture the redness of the lipstick Kate is wearing and it captures the colour of her golden locks and well done makeup making her look naturally beautiful and desirable.

First tryout magazine on photoshop

Mood Board

Conventions

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•  The Masthead title piece is bold, it stands out from the dark background setting of the magazine's front cover; it states what the magazine is about; College Lifestyle
• The date that the magazine was produced is in the top right hand corner of the magazine above Masthead title, again that is in a bold yellow colour that stands out against the dark background.
• The font of all the writing on the magazine is either in a bold yellow colour or white and is in a large font size , the colour's used are specific in the dark background to grab/ reach out to the reader of the magazine
• The subtitle states that not only is the magazine about College, that it is about College lifestyle as an overall summary; which tells us who the target audience is for this magazine 
• The smaller features include helpful tips such as 'how to make money on campus' and such other eye-catching ideas that stand out to college students
• The main image used on the front cover of the magazine is of a young man of a black ethnicity whom is smiling and looks rather casual and calm with study guides/ text books under his arm. The fact that the magazine have use someone from a black origin tells that they are pointing out that college is an open place, where anyone is welcome, of any ability, age and race
• The bar code is by the young mans right- hand side with the price just bellow it again in bold white writing but in a smaller font size
• The plug/ adverts blurb on the magazine is in a bright pink splattered shape near the young man's left shoulder. It is in a bold luminous pink colour with 'SPLAT'  in striking bold white colours that in a bigger font size to the rest of the writing in the banner that immediately grabs the attention of the reader
• The issued number of the magazine is at the top of the magazine above the title next to the date

 

• The masthead title piece on this magazine uses Bright colours with a bold font and size to the writing, this captivates the audiences attention instantly, the masthead title piece also summarises the what the magazine about as it clearly states 'COLLEGE life' 
• There is a caption above the masthead title piece which states ' the best source for all college things about...' and then the Masthead summarises the end of that sentence, next to the caption of this magazine is the issue number and date of when the magazine was produced and issued clearly in a bold orange colour that the reader can clearly see
• The background colour is a light green/turquoise colour which contrasts with the orange colour of the masthead title banner
• The headlines of the magazine have used bold writing in all capital letters, each headline of the magazine uses a different colour to symbolise, sell what headline is about. For example for the article about ' finding a perfect gift for your valentine' they use a vibrant, bold red colour which is connotes romance, love, passion, desire and sex. 
• The teasers of the magazine introduce new apps and ways to study on iPads by showing what apps are best to use also it tells you the best ways to diet on a college budget.
• The main image shows a young girl which is assumed to be a college student as she is holding several textbooks, the girl is smiling which gives the reader the idea that college life is easy and relaxed. 
• the colours used in the overall cover of the magazine are relaxing and the image of the girl smiling and looking relaxed summaries that college is a good place to go.
• The Bar code and price are not on the front cover so they are assumed to be on the back cover of the magazine but this is a disadvantage to the reader as they won't be able to see the price and will have to search for it before they could buy the magazine to be able to ensure that they could afford it 

Brief

The briefing is to design a College Magazine front cover and mock up contents page. images used on the front cover must be original. (taken by me)