2nd Draft Feedback

Feedback - 2nd Draft Ancillary Tasks from leannefaye78

Magazine Cover 2nd Draft

This is an image of our second draft for the magazine cover. The changes have been made and we actually feel like it looks a lot better now. The only thing we may change again is the yellow block behind the strap-line at the top of the page. However, like the poster, we believe the changes we made have been beneficial as it now looks better and  more presentable.

Magazine Cover Feedback

Here is some of the feedback we received from the first draft of our Magazine Cover. 

First Draft - Magazine Cover

Here is an image of our Magazine cover first draft. 

Magazine Cover - First Draft - Process and Descriptions

The process of creating this magazine cover proved to be a nice challenge because it allowed us to be creative but also trying to include all the conventions to make it look more presentable. The three of us in the group all played a part in helping to create this cover and we worked well to create this draft.

The main 'issue', as such, we had with creating this was trying to get the models face in front of the text. This meant we had to add two of the same image so that we could place my body in front of the main text, but not the background of the image. Our first attempt to do that was to trace one of the images and cut out the background and then with the other image do the same but cut out my body and then piece them together. However, this proved to be a challenge as we couldn't get the right alignment with the two images.
The next solution was to use the cut out of my body but leave the second image of the whole photo and then place the cut out body over the real image so that if there was a miss cut it wouldn't matter or it wouldn't be visible to the audience, this was the best way and is what we decided to do.

 

This is a breakdown of the three stages it took to get the main image we wanted. As you can see, the cutout of my body isn't overly perfect or spot on but it works for what we wanted it to look like. From this, you can see that the programmer we used to edit was Serif DrawPlus x6.

 To get the image of my body on its own, we used the cut out tool. This software enables us to use a cutout tool. As you can see in the yellow box, there is a brief explanation too.

 Here is a breakdown of what it looks like when the cutout tool is opened. I have also annotated the three main sections I used and briefly explained what they are used for.







From this, you can see that it was not an easy process that we undertook to get this outcome. However, as we had knowledge of the programme it was a lot easier to use and navigate ourselves round so that it took detailed time but not too much time.

The next step was to add the text and other conventions of a magazine cover. We had already included the title (master head) and we needed to add cover/tag lines, straplines, feature article cover line etc.

This is what it looked like once we had created and added the text that we wanted to be included and had thought about where we wanted it to go on the page.

Finally, this is what our first draft looked like when we had pieced it all together.








As I have mentioned, this is only our first draft and we know that changes will need to be made. We have already discovered a few since creating it.

For the feature article cover line we chose to use a quote from an interview that was included inside the magazine. We felt like this would capture the audience's attention enough for them to want to read about it. We tried to include at least one enigma code within the quote so they could buy the magazine, find out some of the answer and then want to watch the film to discover the rest.

We also used a sticker image that we imported onto the left hand side of the magazine that states "Free Posters". We felt like the freebie would entice in more audience also because they would like free gifts. This could of been seen as a technique to 'sell' the magazine.

In our trailer, we tried to maintain a similar colour scheme throughout. For example, we used yellow, black and white. This is called a colour palette which is meant to attract more of an audience as it looks aesthetically pleasing.

On our magazine cover, we tried to use as many different fonts a possible whilst trying to keep it professional and not too tacky. This is also a method to attract audience as it will look better on an initial glance. We used large fonts too and some highlighted outlines to make it stand out and to look better than other magazines.

Our central image is of the main character so that they know who the main feature article is based on. The name of the model (me) is underneath the main feature cover line and the quote included.
We used straplines at the top (above the master head) to include some other articles in the magazine to make them want to read it even more. Other little details were also added to give more emphasis and meaning to the magazine cover. Over time, and once receiving feedback, we will be making changes to the magazine that need to be changed in order for it to look better and include the maximum it needs.

Magazine Title Design

Mark-Up of Magazine Cover

As a group we have started planning what we want our magazine front cover to look like.  We decided that we wanted the majority of the page to be taken up with a photo of the main actress in our trailer.  We want to do this as this is a key convention of film magazine front covers and many well established providers use this convention.  We want our master head to be in a bold, recognisable, large font but not taking away too much attention from the title of the featured film, so we will attempt to have this behind the image of Leanne, this also happens to be seen a lot in film magazines.  The masterhead is also a crucial convention for a magazine front cover so we want to make ours as professional as we can.  The title of the feature film must be displayed in large font on the magazine front cover in order to grab the audiences attention and bring it to the feature film.  We decided to have this in a large black font going across the image and in the middle.  This allows the image still to be seen yet the name of the film to be very prominent.  We have added in a barcode and price as this is key for when the consumers purchase the product. 

There are various other strap lines and 'add-ons' on the magazine front cover.  The main aim of these is to draw in audiences who may not necessarily be solely interested in the feature film but to show that there are other exciting features in the magazine.  This will hopefully be an incentive for them to buy the magazine and therefore 'stumble' across "Guilty Suspects" accidentally and hopefully become interested, bringing in a wider audience. 

We understand that as the process of creating this goes on things may change however this is a template we aim to stick to as we believe it to be aesthetically pleasing and interesting for audiences as well as following the key codes and conventions of a film poster.  

Film Magazine Title Ideas

Here is a mind map of ideas for a title for the magazine we are creating.

Once we had created this mind map, we used it as a mini survey to ask a few people their opinion on which title sounded better. From the results we gained, we discovered that “Focus!” was the most successful and scored the most selections. Therefore, we have decided to use this as our Magazine Title.

Magazine Cover Analysis (1)

SPECTRE - MAGAZINE COVER ANALYSIS

The main function of a magazine cover is to make it eye-catching, interesting and to sell the magazine. I will be analysing how this magazine does that.

The mast head is the first thing that instantly draws my attention in. This is the brand image at the top of that page that makes this poster recognisable to the audience. This stands out as it is at the top of the page, and it is also written in a large, bold and distinct font. Another reason the mast head could draw the audience in is because it is written in a white text in contrast to the main colour scheme. I believe that the magazine has done this to make it stand out from any other magazine trying to sell or advertise this film.

On the left side of the page, we are shown the tag lines which are the main bulk of text and it states what other articles can be found within the magazine. This is an advertisement technique to try and lure the audience into reading it further than the front page and to actually purchase the magazine. However, they use the main story on the front page that they believe the audience is more likely to want to read. Just under the ‘Empire’ title there is a cover line that reads “The world’s biggest movie magazine”. This has been added to make the audience feel like there is no other magazine that will compare to this with regards to the content and its ability to intrigue its audience.

Many magazine covers use a slogan. In this case, the cover says “Ultimate TV Preview: The 27 Biggest Shows in 2015”. This is to briefly explain the content and to make it stand out that little bit more.

We also see the straplines at the bottom of the page that state other famous, recognisable, actors/actresses that are included. This could be used as a USP (unique selling point) as the creators of the magazine could see these actors/actresses being of a high enough rating that it would make people more likely to buy the magazine. This is mainly to highlight the stars in the magazine.

The second biggest piece of text on the cover was ‘Spectre’ on the left hand side of the page above a list of some content. This is the feature articles cover line that is bigger than the rest to intentionally dominate the rest of the page. This tends to be the line that the producers believe will ‘sell’ the magazine best.

From this magazine, we can see a few different fonts that have been used on the cover. This is supposedly done to create an aesthetically pleasing feel for the audience when they first look at the magazine as its meant to capture more attention. Although this magazine doesn’t have a multitude of different fonts, there is a clear difference between the master head and to cover lines which is the most important thing as they are the two main parts of text.

This central image is of the actor Daniel Craig who plays ‘James Bond’ in ‘Spectre’ which is this film that the magazine is advertising predominantly. This shows a close up head shot of the actor which is a conventional aspect to a magazine cover. The close up shot is an aspect of direct address which is believed to immediately make the audience feel like it is aimed at them. This central image shows that the ‘Spectre’ film will be the feature article of this magazine. The fact that Daniel Craig is facing forward in the image is called ‘the gaze’ and this is seen to create a relationship between the magazine and the audience to welcome a bond. This is a common rule of a magazine cover although some models do look away.

On every magazine, it is highly likely to have a barcode and a price clear to the audience. More-so now days, some magazines will also include a web address that is a link to the same content but online instead of printed. In this case, we see that a barcode isn’t actually visible on the front cover of this magazine but we do see a price that comes just underneath the magazine title. This is an ideal positioning as people will always look at the bigger text and from that they will see the price underneath. This allows it to be clear to the audience as it is important they know how much they will be paying. It is evident to the audience that this magazine was published in 2015 and therefore probably wouldn’t have included a web address as it was just becoming a thing then.

A convention of a typical magazine cover includes a colour palette. This is essentially to show a defined choice of colour to create a recognisable style and image for the audience. In this case, the main colours used are a pale blue, grey, black and white. The colour scheme that has been used for the cover reflects the image that Daniel Craig has personally presented. For example, the blue text correlates with his blue eyes. The black background shows the dark nature of what persona ‘James Bond’ carries and also matches the colour of the gun. Finally, the white is mainly used to insure that the text stands out on the black background but he is also wearing a white shirt. Small details like this could make a great difference when it comes to choosing which magazine looks more appealing without reading inside of it.

Overall, it appears to me that this magazine cover follows many of the conventions that a typical magazine cover should have. This shows that it is a good example and therefore will be useful when it comes to inspiration for making my own magazine cover.

Magazine Cover Analysis (2)

DARK KNIGHT – MAGAZINE COVER ANALYSIS

The first thing that catches the audience attention from this magazine cover is the mast head. This is used to create a branded image and instantly recognisable to the audience.

This cover has also used a slogan, which is usually placed under the title and briefly explains the content of the magazine. In this case it says “Batman VS the Joker – summer just got serious”. This explains what is inside the feature article of this magazine in a short declarative.

The straplines at the bottom of this cover state who else is included inside this magazine and the title of the film they are in there for. These straplines follow the stereotypical conventions of a magazine cover. This can be seen helpful for ‘selling’ the magazine as if they see there are more recognisable actors/actresses included then they may be more likely to buy the magazine.

The central image is the second thing that catches my attention when first looking at this magazine cover. The central image is generally a close-up head shot, which in this case it is. The photo is usually a face forward as it is seen as direct address. This is called ‘the gaze’ and is believed to create an attachment between the magazine and the audience that will push the audience to buying the magazine. On this cover, we see the model facing forward with their eyes piercing forward directly addressing the audience, making them feel it is solely aimed at them.

The feature article cover line is usually bigger than the rest of the other texts, apart from the title, as it supposedly meant to take domination of the rest of the page. This tends to be the line that producers believe will best ‘sell’ the magazine. This magazine cover reads “Clint makes our day” this could be seen as an enigma code as it produces many unanswered questions for the audience. This proves to be a good decision on the producer’s behalf as this will make the audience want to know the answers to the questions which they will presume to be inside and will therefore buy the magazine.

On a typical magazine cover, there should always be a barcode and the price of the magazine so that the audience can be aware of how much they are expected to pay before actually going up to find out. The front cover of this magazine shows both of these aspects; proving that this cover follows conventions of a magazine cover. In some cases these days, the magazine producers will sometimes include a web address too. On this cover, we see the barcode is placed at the bottom right hand side of the page – next to the straplines – which makes this visible to the audience. The price of this magazine is placed in the mist of the mast head. Again, this is cleverly placed as this will be one of the first things the audience see’s after recognising the producers.

With many covers, there stereotypically will be many different fonts used for the magazine. This is meant to make it more appealing to the audience and interesting to look at. This magazine however, appears to not have used a variation of fonts which some magazines, evidentially, do. However, I believe that this doesn’t get rid of the audience as the colours will still lead them to reading the cover.

A typical magazine cover will have a colour palette that created a more recognisable image and style.With this magazine cover, the colour scheme that has been used includes blue, black and white. This colour palette proves to be effective as the black background and mask of the model emphasises the blue text, making it stand out, which in turn means the audience are more likely to read it.

In conclusion, it is clear that this magazine cover follows many of the stereotypical conventions and although it doesn’t include some, it is still proved to be a successful magazine cover. Now completing this analysis, I can be certain that it will help me when it comes to making  my own magazine cover.  

Magazine Cover Analysis (3)

JASON BOURNE – MAGAZINE COVER ANALYSIS 

The first thing that immediately draws my attention in is the mast head at the top of the page. This immediately shows the audience the branded image they are creating and makes it more recognisable for the audience. Although this has been slightly covered by the central image, it is still clear as to what it says and who the producers are. The blue, large font also stands out because it is on a black background.

On this magazine cover, the second thing that I take notice of is the central image. This shows a medium shot of the model looking directly at the camera. This is meant to represent direct address. The fact their eyes are facing directly forward allows the audience to create a bond with the magazine before even reading it and that is what is meant to help make a decision. The central image is usually a representative of the feature article content.

At the top of the magazine, the producers have placed a cover line to inform the audience of another article that is included. These are the main bulks of text on the magazine and generally include what articles are featured too. On this magazine, we see that ‘Suicide Squad on-set exclusive’ is included. In the ridge of the ‘M’ from ‘FILM’ they have placed a photo of the main character from suicide squad to make sure it is noticed and not completely disregarded. There is also a tag line on the centre of the cover to reveal the main feature article of this magazine is including ‘Jason Bourne’ with the sub-tag line ‘the badass is back’. These are believed to ‘sell’ the magazine more to the readers.

Just under the main feature article cover line, the magazine creators have included a quote from Matt Damon. The quote reads “we needed to go big, and we did” to many viewers of this cover, this will present them with many questions which they will want answered and are therefore liely to buy the magazine and read it. This could also class as a feature article cover line as it will be a huge help towards ‘selling’ the magazine at first viewing. 

Conventions of a magazine cover include having a variety of fonts included on the cover to interest the audience more and to make it look more appealing. In this case, the producers have decided to use many different fonts which pay of as the cover does look more intriguing to the audience. The text on the cover is one of the initial things the audience will see and making it all different fonts will therefore make audience pay more attention.

From this magazine, we can see that this cover has used a slogan. These are usually placed underneath the title and it explains the content of the magazine to make it different to the rest. The producers of this magazine have used the slogan “the smarter movie magazine”. This has been used to make a magazine seem smart (as if that is even possible!) and so the audience will want to read this as they will more than likely want to be the smartest. It will make the audience doubt that any of magazines worthwhile. This is a clever choice by the producers as this will lure a mass audience in to reading the magazine.

A typical magazine cover should include a barcode and a price so that it is easily accessible to the readers. This magazine appears to have a barcode but there is no price visible. This won’t make a different to the selling of the magazine as the rest of the cover is enough to ‘sell’ the magazine to a mass audience.

Many magazine covers will have a colour palette that will be used consistently. The intentions of a colour palette are to create a recognisable style and image for the magazine so that the audience take notice of it. This magazine cover has gone with the distinctive colours: blue, black, grey and white. These colours have been used to reflect off each other and have been used with good correlation. The black background emphasises the blue and white text and the grey coloured text shows the depth of the magazine.

As a result of this, I believe this magazine to be a good example as it follows many of the typical conventions of a magazine cover. This magazine cover analysis will also help me when it comes to creating a magazine cover of my own.

Conventions of a Magazine Cover