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Like Red I have a masthead, which is a convention of magazines. It is also in the top right hand corner, like Red. This is also typical of magazines, due to the way the eye looks across a page, and also the way that magazines are stacked on shelves.

I have a footer along the bottom, which shows the reader what the magazine is about and what it usually includes. This is a typical convention of magazines.

Another thing I have that is conventional is the fact that there is a date. These are usually essential on magazines, so you know you are buying in the most recent issue.

I have cover lines which dot down the sides, often around the main images face or torso, not interrupting the photo. These tell you what articles to expect in this particular issue of the magazine.

I also have a main image as the background and the centre piece of the image. This is a convention, and is seen on almost every magazine you will find. It shows the reader the style and theme of the magazine. As I have a student, because mine is a college magazine. I also use the rule of thirds, and have made sure that the eye like staying in the top third, as a general convention of the main image and magazine.

Just like Red I have a main colour scheme and house style, which runs all the way through the cover and the contents page. This creates a running colour scheme and continuous fonts, so that the magazine as aesthetically pleasing and memorable.

This is a customised pug, such as the one that they use (a box), where I have text out of line and which a shape behind it, used to catch the attention on the eye and inform the reader what’s in the magazine.

I didn’t add a bar code, as this magazine would be free to all students through the college.

I use a Serif font to make the magazine look more formal and so it is easy to read. In places Red also uses this too.

This is the rule of thirds, where the page will be split up nine times. With the main image the eye line is taken in the top third of the picture. This can be for display purposes so it is aesthetically please to the reader. This is also a convention of magazines.

Also, more often than not, conventionally, the mast head is also in this top third and usually on the left hand side. This is because of the way magazines are displayed on shelves in shops and so that is looks nice to the reader.

A convention of a contents page is that it can have a letter from the editor, which usually addresses the reader and tells them what the aim of the magazine is and their vision. Just like this contents page I have an editor's letter.

A lot of magazine use a footer on the contents, this can be used to break up the look of the page, as it has more text.

Also, on the contents page, magazines can have a number of small pictures. These are to show the reader what is in the rest of the magazine. They can often have a anchor which tells you which article it relates to.

Another thing they have is the listings of articles to pages, to tell you where to find things.

Most magazines also put the date onto the contents page too.

Some contents pages include a main image either just on the page or as the background. In this case, mine doesn’t include this convention.

Another convention that mine challenges is that mine doesn’t have categories or sub descriptions of the pages.

Many contents pages have the title of the contents page, this is to tell you which page you are looking at.

I used two creative packages called Microsoft InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.

These two packages are good in different ways and for different reasons. InDesign was a good program which enables you to create template and structure a layout, whereas Photoshop was good for the manipulation of images. The two helped create different aspects of my cover page and the contents page.

At first, I learnt how to set up a Photoshop page, to suit the project I am creating. In this case I needed it to be on International Paper and on A4. I did this through clicking ‘New’.

Adobe Photoshop

I learnt in my time using Photoshop a range of tools that enable to create images and image manipulation.

You have the option on Photoshop to view your history, which is useful because you can change things and go back a few steps if you make a mistake.

Another thing you can do with Photoshop is create layers on layers. Meaning you can put things such as image and text on top of each other. Having the option to hide and show different elements of your work, and delete things layer by layer.

Adobe Photoshop

Another thing I learnt to use is the toolbar which appears on the left hand side of the Photoshop page.

The ‘T’ box helps you create text onto the page. You first click this and then click on the page to wherever you want your text to appear.

Then, another tool box appears at the top. This one allows you to change the font size, colour, font and even turn the letters 3D.

Once you have done that, you can choose to exit the text, or keep it and all it’s changes.

Adobe Photoshop

The process of creating a new page with in design is quite similar to Photoshop. But, with InDesign you had to type in that you needed two pages rather than one (one for your front cover, one for your contents page). You also had to make sure that A4 was selected.

InDesign

InDesign

This tool helps you to add pictures into your InDesign page. By dragging and dropping this you can insert pictures that are already saved.

InDesign

In InDesign, a tool which is also useful, and I learned to use is the selection tool. This tool allows you to select any layer that is on the page, individually.

Also, on the right hand side of the page you are shown your pages. Through this you can double click which one you wish to go to and it will take you there instantly.

InDesign

Much like Photoshop you can select layers on your page and move, edit or delete them. Also, you are able to hide them too, allowing you to see your page without some text or a picture.

Overall, I have learnt a lot about technologies from creating my magazine cover and contents with Photoshop and InDesign. I have learnt how to create pieces of work to a good standard, by utilizing all that each product has to offer, such as photo manipulation (Photoshop) and layout (InDesign). Both packages were extremely useful in this creative process.