WOOOHOOO FINALLY FINISHED 

Music Magazine 2013 is complete!

Evaluation

Media Evaluation from abbymcgregor444

Final Cut

I have finally finished my magazine and handed it in! Such a relief! 
I now have two weeks to complete my magazine.

Final Cut Front Cover

Final Cut Contents Page

Final Cut Double Page Spread

Final Cut

Front Cover

I have finished my contents page and my double spread but I haven't finished my front cover yet as that is what needs the most work!

Today I added some thin lines on my front cover to separate stories apart, I also changed the colour of my stories along the side from bright red to black. I did this because there was too much red on the front cover. To make the colour scheme classy there can only be a small amount of red. I noticed this by looking more closely at my style model.

Final Cut

Contents Page

I finished my double page spread yesterday so today I am focusing on my contents page!

Today I finished my contents page, the last thing that I did was I changed the font of my quote that I have. Before it was too bold where as now I have used a finer font which looks more professional and subtle.

Final Cut

Double Page Spread

It is 3 days until I have to hand in my finished magazine! I have practically finished now it is just a case of minor adjustments.
Today I focused on my double page spread and comparing it to my style model (Q) I had a see through back panel over the article page so the background wasn't white, However it didn't follow any conventions or add any particular style to my double page spread so I took it off, and the white background looks a lot better!

Improvements

Front Cover

Today I added the last finishing touches to my magazine front cover. For example I changed the background to a black to white gradient as it looked a lot more professional than a plain white background.

Improvements

Contents Page

In today's lesson I added some touches to my contents page for example I put page numbers on my pictures because they need to link with the my stories. I also changed the boxes with the numbers in to bright red instead of maroon. 

Improvements

Front cover

Today I have stayed in at lunch to try and touch up my front cover. For example I have added more stories along the side of my photograph as there was too much white space, and you cant be afraid of filling with space!!

Similarly I was looking at my feedback sheet and my teacher told me that I have to align my stories to the left if they are on the left hand side and to the right if there on the right hand side, this is because they were in the middle and it didn't look very neat!

Improvements

Contents Page

I had 2 pictures of Reece on my contents page and this doesn't meet the conventions so I have taken 2 more photos of peers today to add on my contents page. I took these 2 photos and styled the models because they follow the indie theme of my magazine. Similarly my audience research says they preferred male models. So I have followed their opinion. 

Improvements

Photoshop Editing

The deadline for my final cut is on the 24th, I don't have long to finish my magazine, however all week I have been working on the improvements. For example today I re-cut out my model for my front cover. This is because it was brought up that he wasn't cut out properly.
Now that I have cut it out properly you can now see his hair properly and there is no background behind the individual hairs.

Improvements

Overall Magazine

Over the past 2 days I have been making sure that my magazine follows the codes and conventions of my style models which are Q and NME. For example small finishing touches like fonts and coloured lines between short pieces of writing. 

It is clear that though out my magazine I have used both of these magazines as inspiration.

These were the main magazines that I focused on...

Improvements

Front Cover

In today's lesson I used my feedback sheet from the rough cut to do some changes to my work, I mainly focused on my front cover this lesson because that is what needed more done to it. For example I added another story down the left hand side about Adele, and underneath my title I have put a little strap line saying 'voted Britain's best music magazine. I have found that these little changes make a massive difference to the overall magazines appearance.

Improvements

Conventions 

I changed these things on my double page spread because they follow the conventions of Q magazine. For example the letter 'a' that I have put behind my article I took from Q, I feel that it adds a touch of class to my double page spread. Similarly the circles behind the article to represent the cherry drops are used to follow the colour scheme of Q red white and black.

Improvements

Double Page Spread

Today I changed parts of my double page spread, I added a large a at the back of my article as the magazine is called amp. I also added some spots underneath the article because the album is called cherry drops s i thought it fitted in well.

Improvements

Double Page Spread Improvements 

Today I changed the photo on my double page spread to going across the whole two pages to just the left hand page. Similarly I increased the size of my article by adding some more questions into it. I also added some quotes into the article and removed the black columns that I needed because of the brick wall photo.

Improvements

Front Cover & Contents

Today's lesson I also changed the fonts on my front cover and I removed the graffiti off the double page spread and the contents page. I also changed the black maroon and white colour scheme to more a bright red. This is because Q magazines colour scheme and that is the model that I have been getting inspiration from.

Similarly on my contents page, I have two photos of the same person, the feedback was to change one of those photos, so I booked a camera out and arranged a time with my two friends that I want to use and took the photos, edited them on Photoshop then added them to my contents page. 

Likewise along the bottom of my contents page and Double page spread I added the website, the date and the magazine logo.

Improvements

Blog Improvements

Today I have been focusing on improving my magazine as I have received the feedback needed to do the improvements. I added some more information to go along the sides of my front cover as it was too bare and there was too much white space. I also altered the title as it didn't have its own identity and I want it to stand out as a brand and not just look like a font off word.

Feedback

I have received my feedback for my 3 rough cuts and I have to completely change my double page spread as the photo has too much going on and there isn't enough writing in the article. I also need to add a lot of text onto my front cover as there is too much white space, I also need to add some type of background and preferably change the logo. So I have a lot to work to do however I really want a good mark so I'm excited.

Rough Cut

Success!

Today I found out that I have passed my rough cut. I am so happy! I have lots of ideas to improve my magazine and plenty inspiration from other students and my friends.

Front Cover

Rough Cut 

Today I finished my front cover rough cut

Double Page Spread

Rough Cut

Today I finished my rough cut double page spread

Contents Page

Rough Cut

Today I finished my rough cut Contents Page.

Rough Cut

Finishing off

In today's lesson I have been trying to get my work up to the rough cut deadline standard by just altering simple things like the size of text ect... I have changed around a few things on my front cover to make it more like a real magazine front cover such as the thin banner along the top of the page and increasing the size of my fonts. I have also made all the writing on my front cover capital letters so it stands out and it makes it look a lot neater than lower case writing.

Rough Cut

In today's lesson I made my font sand out against the brick wall on the double page spread. I did this by creating a see through black rectangle to go behind the text to make the white text stand out. This looks a lot better because you can actually read it however my photo may not be suitable. 
Today I also altered a few things on my front cover such as the text, It was overlapping the picture so I changed that and I changed all my fonts to block capitals. 

Contents Page

Rough Cut

Yesterday I I started and nearly finished my contents page, I added my photo and completed the text however I need to take some more photos for a mini montage at the bottom of my contents page. Throughout the lesson I kept referring back to a Q contents page to make sure that I keep up with the codes and conventions that they use. For example page numbers, fonts ect...

I also used a similar photo to my double page spread so it was obvious that they are from the same magazine.

Contents Page

Rough Cut

Today I started my contents page, I have based the layout on a blocky Q contents page with the picture down the right hand side and the information down the left hand side with the magazine title in the top left corner and a contents banner along the top!
I have done this because I want it to follow the codes and conventions of a Q contents page as closely as possible as they are my style model. Similarly its easy to base it on something and but your own swing on it then just doing it yourself from scratch.
I think it looks really good because it uses a similar photo to the double page spread, in fact a photo from the same shoot. This adds sinuosity to my magazine and it makes it obvious that both the pages are from the same magazine.
I have also used the same font through out my magazine. I have used Franklin Heavy, I like this because it give the magazine a house style and makes it look classy, however I have also used a graffiti font through out so it follows the graffiti theme that I have got going on for my double page spread.

Rough Cut

Contents Page 

Over the weekend I have been planning my contents page. I am going to go for the 'blocky' look because it is the most common for Q magazine also I want to use more than one photo and that is a common feature for blocky contents pages, as picture based contents pages only usually use one large image. 

Rough Cut

 Front Cover & Double Page Spread

This lesson I have finished the rough cut of my double page spread and front cover and I am so impressed with what I have done.

For my double page spread I downloaded 'graffiti' font to make it look more realistic. I feel that I have produced a really well designed double page spread that captures the indie style that I am going for. I also think that it follows the classic codes and conventions of music magazines such as Q and NME and the style definitley corresponds with the NME style! I have spend all lesson focusing on trying to make it look as professional as possible. 

Next lesson I am going to start my contents page and once I have finished then go onto Photoshop and try and make the graffiti as realistic as possible by blending it into the brick wall! 

Also I have been speaking to my teacher about the text in the columns because it is quite hard to read so next lesson he is going to show me a way to make the text stand out more against the brick wall. 

For a rough cut I am really happy with my progress, so over the weekend I am going to try and plan my contents.

Rough Cut

In today's lesson I changed the pictures on my double page spread to just one picture enlarged instead of 2 small ones. This is because 2 pictures don't match the codes and conventions of classic double page spreads as one does. I also started my article on word and next lesson I am going to finish it and put it on Indesign.

Rough Cut

In today's lesson I completed my rough cut front cover and I added my pictures and title to my double page spread. I added some plugs and story's to my front cover to make it look as realistic as possible and I changed the colours of my front cover title to make it maroon and black.
To follow the house style of my magazine I have decided to follow the same colour scheme through to my double page spread and contents page. Even though I don't have the same font for the double page spread I have used the same colours to make it look like the same magazine.

Front Cover

Planning

Over the past 2 lessons I have been trying to put my front cover together and I have been deciding the font for my front cover. Originality my title was going to be all red but I decided to have the 'a' in black instead so it stands out more and gives it a more of an edgy look. Likewise I decided to have the letter 'a' in a larger font to the rest so it stands out ahead of the title. I also added a line saying '1st of 10 limited edition front covers' coming off the title to make my magazine look as professional and realistic as possible. I made the 'of' italics and also black to make it stand out as the rest is red like the title. This is because I took inspiration from Q magazine as they tend to do this a lot on their front covers and they are the model that I am making my magazine more like, with a twist of NME, I am adding some NME style into it as well because that's where I am getting the 'indie' look from. I am showing this the most on my contents page because the picture that I am using has a rustic dark red wall as the background and that gives it a cool effect. Where as Q magazine would use a clean looking background like plain white. This is one of the only differences though, the rest is mainly like Q. 

Today I am going to try and finish the writing and fonts on my front cover and then start my contents page.

However I am doing photos for Mel's magazine so that will effect the amount of work that I will be able to complete in the lesson.

Model Decisions 

Over the weekend I have been thinking about having a second model for my magazine as the feedback from my target audience suggests that more that one model looks better! I am still debating who to choose as my model but I think that I am going to have a girl.

Double Page Spread

Plan

This is my quick sketch of my double page spread. I have decided to have to the landscape photo of my model on the left hand page crossing over onto the right. Likewise I am going to have my interview on the right hand page and the interview title is from scanning CD's to selling them.

Questionnaire Planning

Questionnaire

In my free time I am going to come up with a questionnaire for my target audience so they get a say in my magazine. This is because I would like my magazine to have other peoples tastes in and not just mine, making it as versatile as possible. Likewise I would like it to appeal to as many as people as possible! This is my questionnaire that I am going to send out to 15 people of different ages and genders. Ages ranging from 16-25. 

The feedback that I received from my 15 questionnaires of mixed genders ages 16-25 was that they preferred only 1-2 people on the front cover, 6 said 1, 4 said 2 and 2 said 3. 

Similarly 8 preferred 'white, black and red' colour scheme and only 4 wanted grey, red and white.

Like wise 10/15 preferred the name 'AMP' as it is much more like a music magazine. 

Similarly 12 out of the 15 people that I questioned preferred male models on the front cover, and that was 6 girls and 6 boys so it wasn't bias at all. However, only 3 of the people that I questioned said they read Q magazine and they were all girls. This means that the people I questioned weren't really up to date with music magazines even though they were my target audience. This was mostly apparent in the people 16-19 which surprised me. 

Do you read Q magazine?

Which name do you prefer?

Do you prefer male or female?

What colour scheme would you prefer?

How many people would you like on the front cover?

Now I am going to take this feedback and finally start making my magazine.

Editing

 I have just edited 2 more photos that I think I am going to put on my contents page or along with one on the double page spread. This is because I want my model to dominate the magazine. Likewise I think magazines look more appealing to people if they contain some photos. Just the Q I am going to focus all/ most of my photos on my model. 

Photo Editing

Photoshop

Over the past few lessons I have been editing photos of Ethan my model on Photoshop. I have been using the clone stamp tool to remove blemishes and the dark circles under his eyes. Similarly I used the same tool to neaten up his hair as his fringe stuck up too much and didn't look neat enough. I also adjusted the lightness and saturation of the photo so the reds and the blacks in the photo looked really bright and clear.

These are the two photos that I have edited...

Photo Decisions

These are the photos that I am choosing between for my front cover, contents page and Double page spread.

First Rough Cut Lesson

Front Cover Layout

This lesson I am planning the layout of my front cover on in design  I have already done my front cover hand drawn design so today I need to plan the layout properly. I have a layout in mind very similar to the Q layout I am going to have my 'AMP' title in the top left corner and then the photo more to the right but covering most of the page as it is the portrait medium close up photo. Likewise I am going to have another smaller photo in one of the bottom corners showing a snippet of to what is inside. This is the layout that I have came up with. The small box in the left hand corner is for the magazines title, the the large box covering most of the page is for the main portrait photo of my model and the two boxes at the bottom are for 'Ethan Logan-Ross' I am getting this idea from the Q front cover starring Alex Turner and I really like the look of it and it really corresponds with the style that I am trying to show... I love how 'Arctic' is bigger than 'Monkeys' it gives it an edgy twist and thats hopefully what I am going to achieve with mine.

My Model

Photography 

Over the holidays I have taken my photos of Ethan I chose the locations of the different photos before i got my model to come. I chose the have a plain background for the portrait photos and then for the double page spread photos I chose to take some on old garages and and old brick wall. This is because it gave an 'indie' feel to the photos so the setting matched my model. These are some of the photos I have taken. I have chose the photo I would like for my front cover however I need to pick some for the contents page and the double page spread. 
Similarly I need to put the photos on Photoshop and edit them removing blemishes and changing the contrast and brightness of the photos. After this then I can see the effect fully and think about putting them on my magazine layout. I think that I am going to leave the photos on the background that they are on because the landscape photos give off the look that I am trying to achieve due to their 'rustic'  background. For the double page spread I am going to have the photo covering the majority of the right hand page and crossing and overlapping onto the left page. That is why I have used a landscape photo so it is long enough to cross over the page.
I asked my model to wear pain yet 'cool' clothing so he follows the image and look that I am trying to put across in my magazine. I told him to wear a baggy T-shit for the profile photos then a different more layered outfit for the double page spread and contents page photos. I chose the positions and poses that he had to do because I wanted to make sure that he followed the style of the magazine! 

Hand Drawn Designs

 Front cover, Contents Page and Double Page

For my hand drawn designs I used the classic conventions of music magazines. I focused on Q magazine because I like the genre of music that it portrays. One of the codes and conventions that I have followed is the 3 colour scheme. I have chose red, black and white which is like Q. I have chosen my Model Ethan to star on the front cover because he has the look that i am trying to portray as he looks slightly like Alex Turner and that is the model that I would preferably like to have on my magazine cover. For my contents page I have chose the 'blocky' layout because I think it is the most conventional to Q magazine and I think it is the easiest to navigate. I have used a close up mid shot for my model as I think it shows enough detail of the models clothes and facial expressions but isn't too close. 

Double Page Spread Number 5

Q Double Page Lilly Allen 

The first thing you see when you look at this is the crazy font going from capitals to non capitals. I think they've done this to try and mimic Lilly Allens broad cockney accent and her quite rowdy behavior. It has been done really well because it gives off a message about what the story is going to be about straight away! 

Likewise Lilly is dressed in a quite 'rebellious' check shirt which also follows the red Q colour scheme. This has been done to stand out and contrast against the white back ground and the dark black lettering. This double page spread is quite different to the previous Q ones that I have studied as the title and the picture take up most of the double page and they even over lap over the center line. When I do my magazine I might try and achieve this look because I think it looks really good and it looks like the two pages are completely together when the pictures and headings spill onto the next page. Another thing that I like and that I want to do to mine is I really like the red colour scheme that runs through Q as it is Q's 'house' colour and style and I would like to achieve the same effect. 

Double Page Spread Number 4

Double Page Alex Turner & Miles Kane

This double page spread from MOJO gives off a very cool feel about it. Firstly the models are both posing in a very confident unfazed way and the way Alex Turner has his arms folded gives off a laid back feel. There is a classic 3 colour scheme used of yellow black and white and they contrast against each other well. Like wise the fonts that are used seem really appropriate for this Indie music as they are quite contempary and are not 'serif'. Also the lighting is bright on the faces of the models which makes them stand out against the dark background, however even though their clothing is dark the lighting has been done really well to make them actually stand out. For my double page spread I am going to have the models dressed in more bright clothing however still have the lighting bright as well so they strand out from the page as well as the bright white text. However I think I am only going to have one model featuring on my double page spread as I think it looks more professional.

Double Page Spread Number 3

NME Double Page The Teenagers 

This double page spread from the NME magazine, it designed completely differently than the Q double page spreads that I have been looking at. For example the colours used are a lot more masculine and male based, as blue and black seem to be the most common colours used, Also the font used is a 'serif' font and looks quite old school and rather unmodern. However the use of the large master shot photo is effective as it keeps all the players in the field and really shows the band off. However the back drop that the band are against once again gives off a really masculine messy feel as they aren't against a plain background like most of the photos that I have seen. However even though this doesn't match my ideal taste is matches the style and type of music that they are trying to potray! It would look odd if it was all quirky and modern like Q. For my magazine I want it to have a similar layout to this however I would like it to reflect my more feminine personality and show a fashionably pop/indie look. Likewise I would like the colours to be more subtle and classy and not so bright like this, I think that the blue is too child like and tacky. However I do like the use of the different text sizes throughout the article. 

Double Page Spread Number 2

Q Double Page Florence

This bold and bright double page spread catches your attention straight away with the vibrant red hair and the black old text. The contrast of these colours is really effective as they aren't dull and they really stand out on the page. Likewise the title is really quirky and effective as it is the start of the sentence but just in size 48 font instead of 8, straight away it draws the reader in to the story. Likewise the drop letter T in the 3rd column looks great as it breaks up a large chunk of text that may look daunting to the reader. The use of the orange and blue on the model gives off a stylish feel because orange and blue are opposite contrasting colours on the colour wheel and they really go well together as it is subtle and quite unique. This is a great use of Mise En Scene and makeup which has been well executed. For my magazine I want to make my model stand out and match the text like what has happened here. You can really tell that the text belongs to this picture just purely down to the style. I would also like my text to be bold and catchy like this, so when the reader is flicking through they wont just flick past the page they will stop and read it or at least take some interest. I am going to achieve this by having my model make eye contact with the camera like Florence is here similarly I am going to have vibrant bright clothing on the model so he/she stands out against the background.          

Double Page Spread Number 1

Q Double Page Lady GaGa

This is a classic double page spread where there is a large photo usually of the whole model on the first page then the article on the second page. It is simple and effective and easy to navigate. Also the use of the drop letter 'L' is really effective as it brings in the colour red from the Q title and adds colour. This is so the magazine follows the same theme through and red is Q's trademark colour so they have used it wisely however still making it look classy. I have seen the front cover that corresponds with this and the colouring and the lighting of the model is exactly the same which also gives an insight of the story. I would like my double page spread to be a lot like this one as I think that it is the most conventional double page spread I have seen. Similarly I like the use of the model on one page and the writing on the next, even though it looks simple I think that it looks the most classy. If there was too many pictures within the text I think it would just confuse the reader and it would look like a less professional article and more like something you would see in 'Smash Hits' or 'Top Of The Pops' magazines that children read.

How do Front Covers, Contents Page and Double Page Spreads work as a set?

Today we were told to research how front covers, contents pages and double page spreads work together as a set. I annotated them with their codes and conventions and even when they subverted the conventions i mentioned it. For example the front covers of Q are usually a close up of the models profile not usually a long shot of the model like on here, that is usually left for the contents page or the double page spread. I noticed that all of the way through the contents and to double page spread the colour scheme is exactly the same as it is quite dull and black and white which contrasts with the Q logo and some of the red text. I also said that the models have been used throughout but just in different positions and in different places so the readers know who they are reading about, because it is the same people throughout. However front covers usually have plugs or a second photo of someone else to show what another story is going to be!

NME Contents Page Number 5

Analysis Of MOJO

This contents page is very simple and easy to navigate, this is good because it makes it easy for the reader. Similarly the colour scheme is simple and calming which matches the style of music, I know this because of the model used in the magazine and her facial expression that she is pulling. Like most of the magazines I have looked at there is a three colour scheme used and the red which is the brightest colour is used to make the important pieces of information stand out. Eg. the features and the page numbers. Likewise it has the classic large bold title to advertise the magazine. I would like my magazine to be a lot brighter and more colourful because I feel that having colour attracts people to read the magazine and makes people pick it up off the shelf. Likewise I feel like the contents page is the second thing that people see when they read a magazine and it needs to be attractive and interesting so I would change its layout to blocky instead of image based because there is more to see and more information to take in making it more interesting instead of just one picture on the whole page like this one.

NME Contents Page Number 4

Analysis of NME

This contents page uses bold and dark colouring to portray the type of music that the magazine is showing, in this case it is Arctic Monkeys and it link in with their 'indie' look. It wouldn't have the same effect if it was pink and purple for example. Like the other contents pages I have studied this also has a clear colour scheme of red, white and black which is obviously used and the only other colour used for a plug is yellow. This contents page is slightly more messy and 'boyish' than the Q ones that I have analysed. This is because a different genre of music is is shown in both these magazines. However it does follow the codes and conventions as it is a classic 'blocky' contents and the writing and story information is around the outsides. Likewise the headings are bold and masculine to match the style of the music shown in the magazine. For my magazine I don't want it to be masculine I want it to be feminine like Q, even though I am having a male model on the front I still want the general magazine to be feminine because it attracts a feminine readership. For example I think I want to have Alex Turner on the front of my magazine but attracting female readers not male due to the style of the magazine.

Q Contents Page Number 3

Analysis Of Q

This contents page is again blocky however the photo being used takes up a lot of the page for a blocky layout so it is bordering on a picture based contents page because the photo is one of the main focus' of the page. 
I like that way that the text is separated by the red lines, these lines make it look there is less text than there is so it doesn't look too plain. Also these lines are really simple but they look professional in a sense that they are only separating text apart. Another thing that is a typical convention is the photo at the left side captioned 'featuring' I really like this because it tells the reader exactly what they are about to read and gives them an insight to what it will be about by the action present in the photo. For my magazine I am definitely going to include 'featuring' photos because I think it makes the contents page more exciting than just having one large photo covering the whole page. Similarly I love the use of the read line to separate stories and text and I am going to use these because it is an easy and simple way to make the writing look less boring. Also I really like it because it links in with the colour scheme and it is a simple way to pull the colour scheme through the magazine. 

Q Contents Page Number 2

Analysis of Q

Yet again this contents page is 'blocky', however it is slightly more image based than the previous one that I have just analysed as the picture is the focal point of the page. Whereas before there was several smaller images that were dotted around the page with small snippets of stories next to them and under them. I like this layout as it is still clear and easy to navigate  however I think it is slightly too simple as just one photo is dominating the page. On the other hand the text and colour scheme is still conventional to Q as large and small fonts are used along side the classic red, white and black colour scheme. Also under each story heading there is a small snippet of the story to entice the reader, this seems to be a common theme on all of the contents pages that I have looked at. I would like my contents page to look slightly more interesting than this with some more smaller photos, likewise I don't want my text to just be in one column at the side I want it to be in 3/4 across the page to break up the compactness of the pictures. However I do love the classic colour scheme that is always used and I would like to follow up upon that because I think it looks classy and neat.