Music Magazine Front Music Magazine Front Cover ProgressionCover Progression

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Muhammad ZeeshanMuhammad Zeeshan

I will be using the following programs: Adobe In Design CS3 and Adobe Photoshop CS3.

I will create my magazine within indesign and will edit images within Photoshop.

• This is my This is my Magazine Front Magazine Front Cover in its most Cover in its most basic form a black basic form a black background. I background. I decided on this so decided on this so the magazine’s the magazine’s typography will typography will stand out against stand out against the black the black background and background and attract the attract the audience much audience much more easily.more easily.

The Front The Front Cover Cover MagazineMagazine

• I placed a barcode in I placed a barcode in the bottom right corner the bottom right corner of the magazine in the of the magazine in the landscape position. I landscape position. I did this to follow the did this to follow the codes and conventions codes and conventions of magazines. This code of magazines. This code and convention makes and convention makes it easier for the reader it easier for the reader to see the price and to see the price and issue of the magazine. issue of the magazine. The easier the The easier the magazine makes it for magazine makes it for the targeted audience the targeted audience the higher chance of the higher chance of them buying the them buying the magazine.magazine.

Bar CodeBar Code

• Here is my mast head being produced within Photoshop Here is my mast head being produced within Photoshop CS3. I coloured the mast head gold following my ideas CS3. I coloured the mast head gold following my ideas about the magazine colours. The colours are Red, White, about the magazine colours. The colours are Red, White, Gold and Black. These colours are a mix of bright and dull Gold and Black. These colours are a mix of bright and dull which due to the contrast attract the audience easily, also which due to the contrast attract the audience easily, also the colour gold would signify power and wealth, something the colour gold would signify power and wealth, something I want my audience to believe they can buy into by buying I want my audience to believe they can buy into by buying our magazine. I also used the house style so it would make our magazine. I also used the house style so it would make the articles easily related to the magazine.the articles easily related to the magazine.

Mast HeadMast Head

• I then I then coloured the coloured the background background with black. with black. This is to This is to make the make the and magazine and magazine masthead masthead stand out and stand out and look rich and look rich and wealthy to wealthy to the audiencethe audience

Mast HeadMast Head

• I imported the I imported the magazine mast head magazine mast head within Indesign. I within Indesign. I have placed the mast have placed the mast head at the top of the head at the top of the magazine. Minding magazine. Minding the margin of the the margin of the cover. This is so the cover. This is so the magazine mast head magazine mast head is in direct eye view is in direct eye view of the magazine. Due of the magazine. Due to this the reader will to this the reader will be better attracted to be better attracted to the magazine.the magazine.

Mast Head Mast Head PlacementPlacement

• I placed a strapline under I placed a strapline under the magazine’s mast head the magazine’s mast head to further attract the to further attract the audience and confirm the audience and confirm the codes and conventions of codes and conventions of the magazine. This is the magazine. This is because the strapline is the because the strapline is the second thing the reader second thing the reader reads. This helps the reads. This helps the magazine hook people on magazine hook people on to the magazine. This is to the magazine. This is one of the most influential one of the most influential codes and conventions of codes and conventions of magazines as I have magazines as I have previously mentioned, a previously mentioned, a snappy strapline will keep a snappy strapline will keep a reader attuned to the whole reader attuned to the whole ’vibe’ of your magazine.’vibe’ of your magazine.

straplinestrapline

• Here I am creating my box out within Photoshop. As you Here I am creating my box out within Photoshop. As you can see I have used the colour red which represents can see I have used the colour red which represents danger, edginess and extremes. I will save this in a .PNG danger, edginess and extremes. I will save this in a .PNG file. As the transparent part of the box out will stay file. As the transparent part of the box out will stay transparent. The bright colour follows the codes and transparent. The bright colour follows the codes and conventions as it is eye catching and attracts the audience conventions as it is eye catching and attracts the audience easily.easily.

Box Out Box Out CreationCreation

• I have placed the Box out on the I have placed the Box out on the magazine to be part of the top left magazine to be part of the top left pug. This is to maximize the amount pug. This is to maximize the amount of people who will notice the box out of people who will notice the box out due to its colour and how close it is to due to its colour and how close it is to the mast head. This colour contrast the mast head. This colour contrast will help the box out attract audience.will help the box out attract audience.

Box Out Box Out PlacementPlacement

• Here I am creating the bottom strip in the Photoshop. I have Here I am creating the bottom strip in the Photoshop. I have used gold for the top strip. I saved this file as a jpeg. used gold for the top strip. I saved this file as a jpeg. However testing the top strip of the magazine I found that a However testing the top strip of the magazine I found that a white top strip would be better suited for the job. So I made white top strip would be better suited for the job. So I made a white top strip as it better attracted the audience due to a white top strip as it better attracted the audience due to the bright eye catching abilities of the colour. This helped the bright eye catching abilities of the colour. This helped me follow the codes and conventions as the conventions me follow the codes and conventions as the conventions helps the magazine lure in audiences.helps the magazine lure in audiences.

Top Strip Top Strip CreationCreation

• The placement of the top strip going in the top of the magazine as The placement of the top strip going in the top of the magazine as the top strip is one of the first things a reader see’s when the top strip is one of the first things a reader see’s when browsing for magazine. Due to the top strip being white the browsing for magazine. Due to the top strip being white the magazine attracts the audience quickly and successfully. The text magazine attracts the audience quickly and successfully. The text I placed on the box out is white due to the contrasting colours I placed on the box out is white due to the contrasting colours making the box out look interesting and eye catching which making the box out look interesting and eye catching which makes it easier for the magazine to stick into the minds of the makes it easier for the magazine to stick into the minds of the magazine. It will stick due to the writing offering two free cd’s magazine. It will stick due to the writing offering two free cd’s within the magazine. This is awaken the curiosity of the reader within the magazine. This is awaken the curiosity of the reader and thus will help the magazine sell easily. and thus will help the magazine sell easily.

Top Strip Top Strip Placement –Placement –

Box Out Box Out Typography –Typography –

• The top strip The top strip will feature will feature bring red bring red writing with a writing with a black outline. black outline. This is due to This is due to the colours the colours being bright being bright and and contrasting, contrasting, the qualities the qualities need for a top need for a top strip to hook a strip to hook a reader onto reader onto the magazine.the magazine.

Top Strip TypographyTop Strip Typography

• This is my bottom strip. I have coloured it red as the This is my bottom strip. I have coloured it red as the top strip contrasts with this colour. This will enhance top strip contrasts with this colour. This will enhance the professionalism of the magazine because an the professionalism of the magazine because an attractive and interesting magazine is much more attractive and interesting magazine is much more likely to sell out compared to a dull magazine. I have likely to sell out compared to a dull magazine. I have kept to a palette of red, white, black and gold to kept to a palette of red, white, black and gold to convey ,maturity and a seriousness about the music.convey ,maturity and a seriousness about the music.

Bottom Strip

• The bottom strip is placed on the bottom The bottom strip is placed on the bottom section of the magazine. This will help the section of the magazine. This will help the magazine contrast with the top strip. As I have magazine contrast with the top strip. As I have mentioned before, this will increase the appeal mentioned before, this will increase the appeal to the audience due to the interesting and to the audience due to the interesting and bright tones that contrast with the black bright tones that contrast with the black background.background.

Bottom Strip Bottom Strip PlacementPlacement

The text I have placed on the bottom strip is The text I have placed on the bottom strip is similar to the top strip as it contrasts with the similar to the top strip as it contrasts with the bottom strips colour. The word Exclusive is gold. bottom strips colour. The word Exclusive is gold. This will help the magazine stand out and create This will help the magazine stand out and create an interesting effect. I have used both white and an interesting effect. I have used both white and gold in a larger font to attract the audience.gold in a larger font to attract the audience.

Bottom Strip Bottom Strip TypographyTypography

• Here is a close up of Here is a close up of gold, the gold is gold, the gold is glossy and an glossy and an important colour important colour representing and representing and creating the mise en creating the mise en scene of wealth and scene of wealth and power. This portrays power. This portrays the exclusivity of the exclusivity of certain products certain products associated with the associated with the magazine. Effectively magazine. Effectively attracting the attracting the magazine’s targeted magazine’s targeted audience into buying audience into buying the magazine and the magazine and buying into the buying into the promise of that promise of that lifestyle.lifestyle.

EXCLUSIVEEXCLUSIVE

• The featured article is placed on the left third of the magazine The featured article is placed on the left third of the magazine due to codes and conventions placing the magazines featured due to codes and conventions placing the magazines featured articles and main cover lines either on the left or right third of articles and main cover lines either on the left or right third of the magazine. This is for the featured article to stand out when the magazine. This is for the featured article to stand out when the magazine is placed on the shelves. The colour variation is the magazine is placed on the shelves. The colour variation is to make the magazine look more creative and interesting to make the magazine look more creative and interesting which attracts the audience from the sheer creativity and which attracts the audience from the sheer creativity and diversity of text size, colour and font - while the contrasting diversity of text size, colour and font - while the contrasting colours create a clear identity and house style in the minds of colours create a clear identity and house style in the minds of the magazine readers.the magazine readers.

Featured Featured ArticleArticle

• The comment I placed on the bottom the The comment I placed on the bottom the featured article is black and white as the featured article is black and white as the simplicity will help keep the audience simplicity will help keep the audience attracted to the featured articles. The attracted to the featured articles. The writing will be the secondary viewing as the writing will be the secondary viewing as the comment is more like a lure, tempting the comment is more like a lure, tempting the readers into buying the magazine by readers into buying the magazine by teasing them to look inside.teasing them to look inside.

CommentsComments

• I changed I changed the colour of the colour of the word the word ‘Cholos’ as ‘Cholos’ as gold is more gold is more glossy, rich glossy, rich and bright. I and bright. I did this to did this to further further mesmerise mesmerise the audience the audience with the with the illusion of illusion of wealth in the wealth in the magazine. magazine.

Colour SchemeColour Scheme

• I added a variation in the magazine by changing the colour I added a variation in the magazine by changing the colour of ‘Cholos’ and ‘And’. I did this to experiment with the of ‘Cholos’ and ‘And’. I did this to experiment with the colours as to which colour would contrast and stand out the colours as to which colour would contrast and stand out the most to attract the targeted audience. I changed the colour most to attract the targeted audience. I changed the colour of pure gold to a combination of white and gold to of pure gold to a combination of white and gold to represent royalty and prominence. This will portray the represent royalty and prominence. This will portray the ‘Cholos’ as rich and powerful within their world.‘Cholos’ as rich and powerful within their world.

Colour Scheme Colour Scheme ContinuedContinued

• I added the editor’s summary of what the article is I added the editor’s summary of what the article is about. This is to help the reader understand the aim about. This is to help the reader understand the aim and main attraction of this edition of the magazine. and main attraction of this edition of the magazine. I also did this due to the fact that a magazine that is I also did this due to the fact that a magazine that is easily understandable in what it has to offer is more easily understandable in what it has to offer is more likely to sell than that which is not understandable.likely to sell than that which is not understandable.

QuotesQuotes

• The cover lines I added are of a similar font and The cover lines I added are of a similar font and style. I did this to make the featured article stand style. I did this to make the featured article stand out compared to that of the other cover lines. out compared to that of the other cover lines. This was to ensure that the reader views the This was to ensure that the reader views the cover lines, I made the font look interesting and cover lines, I made the font look interesting and colourful and deliberately chose text, font, size colourful and deliberately chose text, font, size and colour to create effect.and colour to create effect.

Cover linesCover lines

The addition of a snappy comment would improve the magazines quality as it shows the magazine has a certain attitude & style that other magazines do not possess. This will interest the audience as it will make the magazine stand out above others. This attitude and style can be described as smart and cool and recognisable as part of the house style. The snappy comments are cool as they sound interesting and smart and something the audience would want to be a part of.

CommentComment

I continued to add on more cover lines and comments to the magazines cover lines. I ensured I made them snappy and short when possible to maximise the efficiency of the cover lines. These will help the magazine advertise artists and hook in the audience due to the fame of the artist advertised, such as Eazy-E. These are directly attempting top target my chosen music tribe.

Cover lines Cover lines continuedcontinued

• I added a montage I added a montage of artist within this of artist within this puff piece. I did puff piece. I did this to illustrate this to illustrate that these artists that these artists will be within the will be within the magazine. This will magazine. This will attract the attract the audience as the audience as the fans of such artists fans of such artists will be tempted to will be tempted to buy the magazine. buy the magazine.

Artist montageArtist montage

• Creation of a Freebie – Cholos Concert TicketsCreation of a Freebie – Cholos Concert Tickets• I choose a plain white background for my I choose a plain white background for my

freebie to contrast this with the black freebie to contrast this with the black background of the music magazine, allowing background of the music magazine, allowing the freebie to be easily viewable.the freebie to be easily viewable.

FreeBie CreationFreeBie Creation

• I placed the freebie background in the lower left I placed the freebie background in the lower left corner- easily visible on the shelf by my audience - I corner- easily visible on the shelf by my audience - I also did this to make the magazine look neat and also did this to make the magazine look neat and balanced while making a complimentary yet balanced while making a complimentary yet contrasting shape with the featured articles. This will contrasting shape with the featured articles. This will create an interesting effect that the audience will be create an interesting effect that the audience will be attracted to. I will explain this effect at the end of the attracted to. I will explain this effect at the end of the creation of my freebie.creation of my freebie.

Placement of Placement of freebie freebie background background

• I created a red piano I created a red piano for my music concert for my music concert freebie. I placed a freebie. I placed a grand piano as it is grand piano as it is more formal than a more formal than a guitar or DJ mixer. I guitar or DJ mixer. I did this to make the did this to make the ‘Cholos’(artist band) ‘Cholos’(artist band) look grandiose and look grandiose and like the royalty of the like the royalty of the hip hop world. This hip hop world. This creates a positive creates a positive image for the image for the audience and audience and represents my represents my magazine and its magazine and its readers as superior to readers as superior to the norm in this genre.the norm in this genre.

Freebie - PianoFreebie - Piano

I placed the piano neatly into the corner of the background. As I placed the piano neatly into the corner of the background. As I have mentioned before, the formality of the magazine I have mentioned before, the formality of the magazine creates an effect which does not fit the conventions of the creates an effect which does not fit the conventions of the magazine. The effect is that a formal hip-hop artist is not magazine. The effect is that a formal hip-hop artist is not conventional, this is the effect which attracts the targeted conventional, this is the effect which attracts the targeted audience due to the unique effect which challenges the audience due to the unique effect which challenges the traditional representation of hip hop..traditional representation of hip hop..

Piano PlacementPiano Placement

• I used different I used different typography for the typography for the freebie due to the freebie due to the contrasting styles contrasting styles

being attractive and being attractive and intriguing to the intriguing to the

audience. I also used audience. I also used different colour to different colour to

identify status. For identify status. For example ‘the cholos example ‘the cholos concert’ is in red and concert’ is in red and

black for the casual black for the casual attendee. While the attendee. While the

V.I.P is red and white. V.I.P is red and white. This emphasis This emphasis

different status or different status or access. I increased access. I increased

the size of ‘The Cholos the size of ‘The Cholos Concert’ to attract the Concert’ to attract the audience more easily.audience more easily.

Freebie Freebie typographytypography

• The border- The border- the border is the border is there once a there once a again to again to assert the assert the formality of formality of the the magazine magazine upon the upon the audience.audience.

BorderingBordering

• I placed the lines I placed the lines on the magazine on the magazine to create two to create two parts of the parts of the magazine. I magazine. I placed the VIP in placed the VIP in the middle of the the middle of the freebie to give freebie to give the audience a the audience a sense of their sense of their importance at importance at being ‘chosen’ to being ‘chosen’ to have a free gift.have a free gift.

Typography Typography placementplacement

• I placed a shadow on I placed a shadow on ‘The Cholos Concert’ to ‘The Cholos Concert’ to make a 3-D effect. This make a 3-D effect. This effect is quite amazing effect is quite amazing due to the little work due to the little work needed for the creation needed for the creation of this effect. To make of this effect. To make this effect I placed a this effect I placed a layer of the same layer of the same lettering but with a lettering but with a lower opacity under the lower opacity under the original layer. This original layer. This improves the quality of improves the quality of the magazine by the magazine by looking much more looking much more professional compared professional compared to a 2-D image or text. to a 2-D image or text. Again it makes my Again it makes my feature stand out to the feature stand out to the intended audience.intended audience.

shadowingshadowing

Stars for FreebiesStars for Freebies

• Stars for the Stars for the freebie. I created a freebie. I created a star for the star for the freebie. I coloured freebie. I coloured it red as it is one of it red as it is one of the colours of the the colours of the magazine. This will magazine. This will create a better create a better magazine for me magazine for me as following my as following my colour palette colour palette house style and house style and conventions will conventions will help lure in the help lure in the targeted audience targeted audience with its regularity with its regularity and establishment and establishment of the familiar in of the familiar in the magazine.the magazine.

• I placed this star I placed this star under the V.I.P. under the V.I.P. This is to This is to emphasise the emphasise the status of the status of the freebie. The 5 star freebie. The 5 star status enforces our status enforces our views of the views of the freebie being freebie being exclusive to this exclusive to this magazine, helping magazine, helping the magazine the magazine make the audience make the audience feel important and feel important and privileged, hence privileged, hence again attracting again attracting its audience.its audience.

Stars PlacementStars Placement

Freebie – Finishing offFreebie – Finishing off

• I place another I place another ‘The Cholos ‘The Cholos Concert’ on the Concert’ on the ticket to fill the ticket to fill the space on the space on the freebie and re-freebie and re-advertise and advertise and emphasise the emphasise the band’s name. band’s name. However if I didn’t However if I didn’t do this I would do this I would have created a less have created a less professional professional freebie with too freebie with too much white space much white space on the feature.on the feature.

Front Cover ImageFront Cover Image

• Here I placed a picture of Here I placed a picture of an acting Artist on my an acting Artist on my front page. I made the front page. I made the picture quite large to picture quite large to dominate the page dominate the page enforcing the idea of the enforcing the idea of the artist being related to the artist being related to the main article. The main article. The dominant picture also dominant picture also conveys importance and conveys importance and power and thus holds a power and thus holds a position of power on the position of power on the front cover. A badly front cover. A badly framed and composed framed and composed picture will decrease the picture will decrease the quality of the magazine quality of the magazine while a sharp, quality while a sharp, quality picture will increase the picture will increase the magazines rating and magazines rating and appeal.appeal.

BarcodeBarcode

• Here I am constructing the barcode with the essential Here I am constructing the barcode with the essential codes and conventions. I have placed a price, date and codes and conventions. I have placed a price, date and issue number to inform the audience of the magazine’s issue number to inform the audience of the magazine’s price, issue number and date of release. This little addition price, issue number and date of release. This little addition helped the audience find the exact magazine issue they helped the audience find the exact magazine issue they require.require.

Barcode Barcode ContinuedContinued

• Now I have placed a barcode. I have followed the conventions of a Now I have placed a barcode. I have followed the conventions of a Bookland Ean barcode. This is a barcode as you see above with Bookland Ean barcode. This is a barcode as you see above with the option of adding on 3-5 figures to suggest the retail price of the option of adding on 3-5 figures to suggest the retail price of the magazine. This will help my audience buy if the have just the magazine. This will help my audience buy if the have just enough money as the amount payable will be from £3.50 to £4.00. enough money as the amount payable will be from £3.50 to £4.00. I had my ideas confirmed by the website above.I had my ideas confirmed by the website above.

Barcode information acquired from the following source – http://www.makebarcode.com/specs/speclist.html