drafting text/page layouts

This is my drafting task it is a mock up. The mock up allowed me to know where I want things on my real magazine .The first thing I done was put the masthead at the top so the viewers know the name of my magazine. I inserted an image in the middle of the magazine so the viewers can visualise what type of magazine it is. I put bar code at the bottom because that's the lease important inserted quotes so the viewers can know what type of subjects would be brought up in the magazine. I placed the puff at the top so it can be seen properly. I also created subheading once again to attract the audiences and their interests in what ever the subject topic is about for example football. I was thinking of appropriate topics to be involved within the magazine and something interesting and appealing. I made sure that the person on my front cover was wearing uniform due to its a school magazine so the audience knows what magazine it is from the image and the title this is a prop. I edited the picture using the website picnic. I made sure the person was in black and white and coloured in the book. i think it is presented well trying to suggest what is really going on in a school child mind them wanting to burn their book.

This is my contents page for my mock up magazine i put the heading at the top in a certain font from the da font website also tilted the heading because it looks appealing. I put images relating to what page topic is about for example pg. 11 is about fights an inserted an animation image to relate to that. I made sure all the text and images were the right size colour and font so it can be seen properly. I put a yellow border around the page so it looks more appealing so it doesn’t look so plain and blunt. I got the image of the studio off the Google website aswell as the animation of the two people fighting and i also got the little scroll from clipart which is on the word file. my contents page is very basic but appealing i inserted things like text box just to bring out colours on the contents page also used different font sizes and font colour for instance in the bottom section the font is in red to signify importance. I also manipulated the image on the contents page where the girl is sitting down deciding what bag to pick the image looks very cinematic suggesting for a girl deciding what to wear is very dramatic. so I created a mise en scene trying to set out everything correctly to capture a good shot which i think the outcome was done well.

This is my final outcome of my magazine cover a few adjustments will be made to the cover.

In addition to, with the masthead showing and the title I had to make sure the font size and colours are different for instance I made the important information in a bigger size font so it looks more appealing and because its what the story lines are going to be about I included a barcode so you can scan the price of the magazine and also created my own puff at the bottom left. I got an image of the internet which was the 2010 and made the image size smaller and created shapes which was on the word software and put text underneath to make it look more professional. I made sure my image is in the centre of the screen. I put a quotation from the artist Louie Akz, “my longest diary” which is going to be a feature of the magazine.  The colour scheme selected was also blue white making all the main parts white and the others blue matching the clothes the artist is wearing.   The name in Louie Akz  got from the dafont website as well as the longest diary to make it seem more presentable I researched other magazine and notice how they used different fonts.

I made adjustments to my magazine such as covered the whole image on to the page. I also put my masthead on to the left hand side of the magazine. I inserted a text box with the name music magazine under the masthead and removed the whole top of my heading. This had the title as well as the masthead on either side. I made the main font bold because I feel it’s important and left the less important in plain font. I changed the barcode and also put text underneath with the date and a website based underneath. Lastly I created a banner on top of my masthead and wrote information on what topics are going to be in the magazine.  I first made the banner red so it can standout  with yellow but I decided to make it blue which was my final design  because it matches the font colour.

This is my first draft of my contents page I put my masthead at the top right so people can refer to it aswell as font which I took from da font . which is the con tents I made sure the contents look different by copying different bits by using word with the crop tool. I kept it with the same colour theme of the blue showing. I inserted images of my own which is the black and white picture of a female as well as the the three people standing on stage. The rest of the images I looked up on the google search website. I then made a text box and inserted a numbers in them on the features page each of the information has big font to attract the readers and to show the main story. I made the text box blue on the outside and filled it in the white. I also made each text box at an angle due to it looks more creative also which is the same as the numbers. I made sure the background was grey in relation to my front cover. I tried to make the stories creative and interesting engaging the readers.

This is my contents page I used the NME magazine as a layout and had headings like reviews features advertisement etc. I inserted some of my own images  which is the adidas promotion. I inserted images of the internet such as music artist like Tinie Tempah,devlin. I also got album covers of artists who are popular in this specific genre for example lethal bizzle and dizzie rascal. I made the contents page very bright and fun.I inserted a story preview of tinie tempah winning the mobo`s. I also put the contents heading on top so the viewers know. I put numbers next to some text to navigate the viewers to the appropriate page. I also inserted different fonts and different font size to make the page look more creative. I included what the page subjects are and provided information I also included a competition for the target audience to win a prize which is Adidas trainers.

I modified my contents page due to it is easier to navigate whereas before it was much difficult I stuck to the same colour themes very bright and chaotic. The numbers  are more easier to visualise with the black background and white text. I grouped the text into catagories which are features and music news. I also changed the text fore each section making it different to other magazine which stick to the same type of text throughout.

I got this image of google as a sort of idea how I want my features page to look like. it is from the vibe magazine with music star Jeremiah. I looked at how they put the image on the page with a quarter of his body cropped I also looked at the props that were added which were the cake. the background is also white with him wearing black clothes so it contrasts the background. i also looked how they presented the features page such like the font colour the  font the font size and the font used. I also looked at what subjects story is on the features page and considered how they keep the audience interested. I looked at the format of the  features page which is quite basic and straight to the point it is used very well .  Ilooked at the heading of the features page and how they presented it.




This is an image which  cut the background out. I used the software fire works and used the wond tool to cut out everything leaving just person in the picture. I tried to go with an Adidas theme by adding the prop which is the Adidas trainers. I also wore an Adidas jacket so it matched each other I came up with a few ideas maybe placing  images around or in the prop also maybe putting the image on a designed background.





I put my image as my main picture of the features page I also put another image on top of my image on top of my shoe which was the Adidas prop. i then also got font of the da font web site which is on the left hand side saying LOUIE AKZ this was to present the audience what artist it is about. I also went on da font again for the writing I live 2 die I die 2 live this is the artists slogan. I inserted a brief story of the artist on how it begun  I kept with the colour schemes i also added the quote which is on the top.

I have inserted  another picture at the bottom of my second page of my features. I have inserted my image with all the text around i am still thinking on what to put on the second page and the colour and the font. I need to consider the suitability of the features page. I changed the colour of the second page because its different  and  I  want to keep the same colour theme as my front cover and contents page.

This is my full version of my features page. It includes an interview asking the artist Louie Akz questions on what the audience wants to find out about the artist. I included my image on the features page with a special design being the artist standing on the shoe. I also kept a black and white theme throughout the features. i n my interview I selected the neon colour which is different to other magazines. i used the software fireworks to cut out all my image background and pasted the pictures in a special layout around the text.

shooting/selecting images

I made sure before deciding on my magazine I made sure I took a handful of pictures not just one. I took picture in several of positions and backgrounds and selected what I would like in the magazine and the ones that wouldn’t be suitable for the magazine. I looked at the quality of the pictures as well as the things that were in picture. 

For my shooting and selected image I thought about selecting a band for my magazine so I took and image of them up on the stage them performing at a show called big deal. The microphone is there for them to sing the band is going to be on my feature page of the magazine. The background is dark so the band colours were all in bright. It is a live performance as well so it’s realistic. The band is in a specific way where the female is in the middle of the two males and her putting her arms up in the air.

I tried to do several of different shots and tried to present a sense of feeling this is an image close up of me and in the background is the cage where the death voltage sign is shown.  The artist face expression is very blunt and has hardness about him. The background is dark but the brightness of the death voltage sign is still showing from behind. This image I was unsure about because I done similar camera shots and they are all alike in someway. I think the figure of the shot is well presented though.

This is a long distance shot which I am planning to use it on my features page it’s a picture of the artist walking through the alley way which I am going to talk about the music and  his songs which is trying to get to the other side the lighting of the picture is not very bright brings and presents mysteriousness .

This image is also on one of my features page which is going to be known as the artist Cinderella. I took a close up shot of the female and made sure she wore leather gloves to seem very sinister and mysterious.  The image was in colour but I manipulated it and made sure it turned into black and white by using software on my laptop. It’s a close up of the artist with her hood up suggesting she is from the streets. This would have been one of my other chocies of a front cover image but i thought it would be a good cover line and feature.

planning/sketching images

 

This is my planning and sketching images. I got the image off google.com and used the software fireworks to edit it by cutting out everything that is behind it using the magic wond key. The top image is before i edited it and the one below is after i edited just leaving the white tiger. I played around with the image trying to come into grips with the tools.

 

This was my first photo image which I constructed and com positioned in a certain way I added a blackberry in the image to represent that up to date also in the blackberry is an image of myself . I also captured a shot with the bottom of my shoe showing representing  my footstep to music I also made sure I was in the centre of the photo. I am also sitting on a green box presenting i am from the streets relating to underground music in Britain. 

This is my edited image which i edited by using the website http://www.picnik.com/ i changed thee contrast of the picture and the exposure. The image started of black and white and i highlighted the main things that i wanted in the picture which was some of the blue parts and the phone. I also darkened my face to show to leave that's sense of curiosity for the audience. I highlighted my footstep to signify my footsteps to music making my shoe dirty. I also dressed myself in a certain way to appeal to the fan range wearing a hat a hood and a body warmer. I highlighted my self in the image to make me be seen as the main attraction. The picture is very animated. The picture looks very manipulative and animated but i also made sure i was in the centre of the shot. I also hid the background setting making it fade out from me. I used the blackberry as a prop to suggest that I’m current with today society using technology as a promotion.

I captured a shot of me in cage trying to represent I'm locked up for instance my talent is in within also i try to appeal to the stereo type of young people going to prison. I also made sure the sign of the death voltage sign was shown to show that the artist is a bit outgoing is a risk taker. I had done a close up shot of me showing bluntness a bit of a serious face. I made sure my face expression was that i am actually locked up in the cage. I also try to capture curiosity where the target audience are wondering. i made sure i was capture in the centre of the frame

I started off by researching images of UK grime/rap artists and looked how they structured each photo. This picture is WRETCH 32 which is a photo of him in the centre of the photo in between an alley way. This may represent that he came from the streets with the hood look about him with his baseball hat facing the other way and the folding of the hands. He wearing all white may show his got something significant about him. You mainly focus on him the photo. It also looks like an evening shot. I noticed that this is also a medium close up as most things i researched had close ups in them. The background also is not anything amazing makes you just focus on the artist. The setting of this artist is done well due to his a UK grime, rap and this type of music is street base  within the youths so by him having an image in the alley makes us as the audience know what type of artist he is. For instance you wouldn't see a jazz artist having a picture in the local park you would expect a jazz artist to be around instruments. 

This is also another image of an artist called scorcher. I looked at the composition and the background this is not a dynamic picture it’s very simple but is also effective because as the audience we just focus on him not the things around him i also looked on what colours he selected to wear. Which are blue jeans? The artist looks very cool; I also looked at the face expression he chose to make which is a much laid back pose.

This group is known as MARVELL...i looked at the structure of the band. i also looked at what type of clothes they were wearing for instance they are presented in a very coolness about them presenting the leader at the front of the page. They also look very serious about their music which is a good thing. I thought about the composition of the artist on how I will set mine up. This group is shot with a bit of uniqueness to them showing originality. The artist looks all greyish so this may be an affect. They are all wearing glasses this image makes me think it’s very shaded which gives a sense off coolness about the group.

With this photo it’s the same artist which is known as scorcher. I looked on how they edited the picture for instance in this case the picture fades as it goes along. it goes lighter the artist head glows whereas on the left hand side it looks like its black and white. The picture looks like his up in space which matches the top he wears saying Sky Walker. This photo looks very universal like as if his out of this world. The glow is also on his head maybe showing his smart and intellectual also again this image is a close up like most of the images I researched. The jumper is also a prop to match the images so it is all related. i think the picture is appropriate for the genre he is in as well as the clothes he is wearing.

analyising front cover images

Before doing my magazine I had to analyse other magazine to make sure my work was at a good standard. I looked at the structure how each magazine made iconic shot and noticed how they captured a shot. I looked at the edits aswell the background the format of the pictures props to see what I can inspire to do making my image original and professional.

. The first thing I found interesting and unique was the Q magazine was the artist lily Allen with the tiger the background was plain and she wore black tights same colour as the tigers and below Q magazine  it says sexy beast which is her and the tiger both tigers were either side of her. The image makes me think about lily Allen started off as a kitten and turned into a sexy beast. She is also topless this suggests that the magazine is trying to get more male audiences.

I then looked at this image of this magazine and see how they were presented they were all men huddled around the women look like brotherly figures around the female. The background colour is green and they all look like their wearing casual stuff. I think each person shows their personality in the photo with the man on the left with a stern face, the women with a seductive kiss, the man on the right looks shy the man behind him looks very bubbly and the man behind the man on the left also has a stern face.

I then last looked up the image on vibe magazine of the music artist usher wearing glasses it is also a close up of him wearing glasses a chain and a ring. The picture looks very cool of him. Around the picture it says  swagger suggesting that usher has swagger.

investigating the conventions of :

* front covers

* contents page

* features page

I went to nearby store to analyse other magazines such like kerrang, mojo and NME and lastly mix mag. I looked at the headings of the each magazines and the type of images they selected for instance what type of band the magazine selected. I also analysed the colours they went for and how the actual magazine look they go for. I thought about what audiences they tried to appeal. I thought about the genre of the magazines by the type of artist they put on the front cover.

 I looked on how each masthead was placed and what type of artist each magazine decided to select. I also analysed what colours were selected for instance with KERRANG the front page looks bright and very hectic gives the impression that it is upbeat. Contrast to that is MOJO.

MOJO seems very basic suggest that the audience is for older generation whereas the NME seems very current with Pete Dorothy on the front page. Mojo magazines have constant colour schemes. The magazine uses a black and white image on there main page. The subtitles are always in colour so in this case it’s red with the bob Dylan cover. Most of mojo magazine have the artist front page with an album or a CD cover showing.

I analysed what things each magazines included for instance things like the masthead the bar code. Many of these magazines have cover lines to get the audience interested giving us and insight what is included in the magazine. Both magazines mojo and NME have several of puffs   on mojo its top left and with NME it is centre of the page on the right next to the artists head. KERRANG has a couple of banners and images next to it. All magazines may have a cover slogan or quote from the artist. All the magazines try to appeal to their audiences.

CONTENTS PAGE   

This is a sample of a music magazine called vibe its there contents page. In this contents page there is a lot of images based on the contents page on either side of the page with the text running down the middle. The image also has a caption of each of them. The heading of the contents page is showed in a different way as shown

"CO

NTEN

TS,,"  the writing is in bold . The contents page has originality to it. It has uniqueness because most contents page is not set out. It also attracts the reader to the images and as the reader e notice the middle partying which is white and sense to read the text in between which is the page numbers and what the page consists of. On the bottom write it gives the magazine website and informing the readers on what’s going on with vibe .The latest news and any exclusive thing going on opportunities on prizes to do with V.I.P. the contents page gives the impression the magazine is unique and is different to every other magazine.

 This is another vibe magazine contents page. On the content page they feature Ciara who is an R&B artist once again the contents page heading is unique”

"CO

NTEN

TS,,"      Ciara legs are shaped in a v as well as their is a v shape behind it maybe suggesting view the pages or view the contents page the image focuses on the shape of her legs. This may appeal to men .The information about the pages is done in black. Showing quotes and cover lines. The sub headings are done in grey so the viewers can see the main things so they are interested for instance "boys to men" so we know its going to be about the band. The contents page has elegance to it also the colour scheme is grey black suggesting it’s the dark side to Ciara and to view it we see the insight of the story. The setting is well presented with the artist all in shape with the text on the right side and the image on the left with the heading standing on her heel. The image also has a caption.

This is also another image of a contents page it has very basic colours with the gold heading on top there is also an image on the right side with a lady holding an umbrella in black and white there also a puff in between the lady and the umbrella. The women looks very elegant looking so suggests that the audience is people who have classic taste.  The pages of the magazine are along the side. The colours of the contents are not bright. The contents page goes straight to the point. It’s not overly exciting.

The image is them on the right centre with all the text on the other side of the magazine the masthead is always also shown on the top left of the magazine. The sub headings are always the same colour theme which is red white and black. The images selected is always relates to what type of audience that the Q magazine has. The format of the magazine contents page is neat and set out almost listed. I also noticed the page numbers are all even numbers. The main information on the contents page is in different size font so it can appeal straight away to the audiences. It also informs you the new things that are happening and also the past tense as well.

I noticed in this example of the contents page they have the main image on the left hand side and also has also other small images to help picture what going to be on that page. They also have the main text highlighted in a specific way with the yellow text and black highlight. It also sticks to the same genre and all the images have a sense of hectic activity about them. the format is set well neat and tidy but is also listed in certain way where the main text is on the side of every image has a caption near it . The content page has a clear background not a lot of colour schemes not very bright. I noticed most rock genre magazine have artists with tattoos shown maybe because to the audience it seen as art and creativity.

                                  

Expoloring values /ideologies of different music magazines

I have researched and viewed the NME website and looked at the ideologies and values. The website I first accessed was http://www.nme.com/. I noticed that NME likes its history and past they had an image of john Lennon which is a story about his past although the NME also has its cutting edge and modern day views and image with different links and social networking websites that they have got. The NME is also Very alternative with different types of rock genres also a bit of mainstream music. i have the impression that they value just quality music the things that are  at its best that are the top favourites. THE NME website has wider interests not just involving music but the politics side as well. The website seems very fun and outgoing and has that bubbly side to it. it also seems like their out to make money due to the online purchasing available on the website its seen as a business. Moreover, it is also seen as a place where you can find the latest news that is going on i think the NME values are all about updating music lovers.

The image below is the NME website of a previous date but still has the same values and ideologies. The website also allows advertisement on its page for instance their advertisement about a phone network. It talks about political issues which is interesting for instance it had a story about Pete Dorothy going to jail. i think it also try’s to appeal to all its audience in anyway as possible for instance in one of the images is a guy with guitar the guitar appeals to all its audience because with this type of genre the  guitar is used a lot 

The second website i went on to do is smash hits seems like it appeals more to females maybe due to the genre being pop because pop is not really a masculine thing more pop listeners are women.so the website gives off its female related by the colour schemes. I think there ideology is to promote upbeat pop. Smash hits are very modern and try to update its audiences as much as they can for instance it is also seen as a business because it has TV channels on both sky and virgin media. It mainly concentrates on pop music which is the first impressions of the website. It seems very glossy and happy website. I think they try to promote popular artists as much as they can advertise concerts. It is also updated their pages on to social networks examples of some are facebook reddit and ding.it also has advertisements on products like lip gloss and the company rimmel. It has an image of a diary which is female related i think smash hits is ideology is all about women. i think the colour schemes are selected because its mainly women so smash hits made a choice of selecting the colours so we as the audience know what type of message they are trying to get across Secondly, just to promote good music.

The image above is a past image of the website smash hits.this image is the type of things I was describing in all the above.

 Another example of a music magazine i am looking at is the vibe magazine. The magazine seems very modern, trying to appeal to its young audiences. Vibe is very current it sticks to current artists that are currently listed in the top charts. it also publicise controversial topics which relate in the world today to do with music as well as economic bases for instance with music artist like Nicki Minaj and for economic the new president of the united states Barrack Obama  vibe also is on social networks like facebook and MySpace  trying to keep with modern technology. It is very modern but also gives you information about the past as well looking down till now so it still remembers the past artists. Vibe also tries to look for quality music and also tries to promote new upcoming artists. the website tries to inform all the audiences as much as they can trying to interest them the image above is an image of the website vibe trying to interest their viewers on what going on with the hip hop R&B. in my viewpoint they keep all their audiences interested informing them with news making sure their up to date. Vibe also stay current promoting advertisements on things like books and phones their up to date with modern technology and communication.

This is the MTV website. there first thing I noticed is the actor matt Damon  this gives me the impression that MTV not just interested in music but other type of media for instance the movie trade it shows that there up to date with movies. The websites also has several of themes in the background suggesting their original. I think they also try to stay current providing their audiences with latest news which they even have a sub heading showing the latest news. i think for this topic they are trying to appeal to the females hence why the colour pink is used a lot.

 This is another image of the MTV base but in this case they have Robin Thicke picture highlighted this is was when Robin Thicke first released his new song so this shows that MTV base is try to stay current help upcoming artists with their new releases.

I think all the magazines are up to date trying to interact with their audiences through different types of media creating websites so the younger people can go on to all the ready websites and view all there music interests. They even have ways to contact you on to your mobile you sending emails and texts updating all their fan ranges for instance MTV base send out texts letting all their target range audience find out the latest stories. I think technology has developed these magazine allowing people to access the magazine in different ways which will reach to a wider target audience because they can access people by posting it and people reading it, others through emails phones and websites. In my opinion the music magazines ideology is to adapt well to the new society through new technology  as well as the old.

Researching target audiences of different music magazines

During the process of making a magazine it is important to know what target audience you are aiming for. Each magazine has a type of music genre that their for example mojo magazine target audience is for people who listen to classic rock.

According to" http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/Mojo/   mojo audience

“Discerning and passionate music aficionados, the MOJO audience is predominately male (72%) and affluent (36% AB). These heavy consumers of music see their passion as discovery without boundaries, genre and decade being secondary to quality."

So mojo look for an artist to appeal to the target audience for example people like bob Dylan. the Beatles groups like kings of Leon. Mojo target artist who were seen as the greatest rock icons.

In addition to magazines like NME THE NME target the audience by selecting artists that are current or something that is well known and is currently going on for instance in the 60s artists like the rolling stone and the Beatles were used.

Investigating the Market

I went to different store and searched on the internet for different magazine and looked on how each magazine present themselves for instance the cost  the genre the gender and the income. I had to consider how  each magazine style is the layout selected and what type of things they feature on the magazine.

In the beginning i thought about what type of market would I like my magazine to be on.

I researched and looked out magazines like kerrang  magazine cost came to £2.20, kerrang is in the rock genre also NME has the same genre as kerrang and NME price tag is £2.10

I looked at other magazine on the internet and see how they related to what type of things i am interested so i searched for hip-hop magazine . the first think I looked at was mix MAG which is a genre of dance and looked how they presented their magazine I then looked at vibe magazine which is a hip-hop magazine.

I also researched magazines that I wouldn't really know about to gain more information such like the bbc music magazine which is in the genre of classical and others like uncut which is in the genre of rock.

I looked at a magazine called echoes and also noticed how they put their headings text and how they format their magazine, echoes genre fits as mobo which is like black origin

i found that:

Q                                                     Kerrang -                       

Genre: Indie/rock                               Genre: Indie/rock  
Cost: £2.30                                       Cost: £2.30
Gender: Male/female                           Gender: Male/female
Social demographic: C - E                  Social demographic : C - E

                         


 rolling stones                                     uncut 

  genre: rock                                         genre: Indie                                   

  cost £5.99                                          cost: £4.60

  gender: male                                       gender:females

  Social demographic:B-C                       Social demographic – B-D 

skool Bunk magazine (issue 1)

 

This is my school bunk magazine which is the preliminary task. I took a photo of my own image and edited it on www.picnic.com.I inserted text from the da font website. I went on to make some shapes and included what the magazine is going to be about.

This is my content page on the prelimanary task