Evaluation

The development of my front cover and content page was done using photoshop. This made an excellent overall look to the magazine front cover and content page. Using photoshop made it look like a professional magazine. But on the other hand I also found it very complicated trying to change and develop my original image and trying and give it a much more photogenic look.

The audience of “Modify” is for the sixth formers which attend Chew Valley sixth form. This is to keep students updated with the latest news and up and coming events. The magazine would also act as a guide for fellow students of Chew Valley, giving support with some parts of sixth form life, from the smallest problem e.g. not knowing how to keep warm but still look fashionable during the colder months to something more extreme e.g. needing help trying to find the right university. The audience is addressed in an informal language making it less like a serious monthly magazine and making it more fun and light hearted, but with a slight touch of seriousness when needed. This was done by making it chatty creating a relaxed tone and vibe to “Modify”

The representation of Modify would be a guide to school, a helping hand to try and make your time at Chew Valley sixth form as enjoyable as possible.

This sixth form school magazine “Modify” is aimed directly at the students. I was inspired to create this magazine in this way because I wanted to add things that is interesting to me and some subjects around the school which could inform and help students. The main image of the magazine is a teenager/ young adult, this relates to the reader. This also shows that the product is represented for that certain age. This months issue relates more for the femail readers at sixth form as it has a section on girl’s fashion rather than male articles. The front cover represents students at Chew Valley sixth form in a positive light. The front cover image shows a vintage style which could indicate and demonstrate that teenagers have good fashion sense and can express themselves with what they wear and how they accessories.  This product has been created to help sixth formers during their time at school and to support them for the future.

The stages of how i did some of my front cover and content page

The stages i took to do my front cover and content page

Final front cover and Content page

This is my finished front cover, which i created from photoshop. I uploaded my picture onto photoshop and searching for it. I did this by opening the file within photoshop. This photo was already edited , so nothing needed to be changed. I started to create my front cover by adding text  on to it. On the left hand side of the screen there is a tool called horizontal type tool. By dragging the mouse and highlighting where you want the title to be. After I wrote the title “Modify” I started to play around with the different font styles and sizes. I then moved it by clicking off of the horizontal type tool and moving it by clicking onto the title.

I then continues by adding the barcode, I got this from Google images and saving it into my documents . To add it onto my front cover I went on file, places, find and saved th image on documents and press place. This then made the bar code go directly onto the image. I had to change the size, angle and where it was before it was completed.

I then continued by adding the date of the issue on the magazine, this was done exactly the same way as the magazine name.

I wanted the price of the magazine to stand out, so I decided I would put it in a circle and add colour to it. On the left hand side of photoshop there is a tool called ellipse. Once I clicked on it I then created a circle on the right hand side of the image. To add colour I clicked onto the square which was across the top of the screen. Once I right clicked onto it I chose what colour I wanted to fit the theme of the magazine. I added the price by the normal way which was horizontal type tool. I also change font size and style to make it stand out much more than the other writing.

I then went on by adding key things which were going to be shown in my magazine e.g. tips on how to stay warm in the winter and how to find the best uni place. I changed angles; font colour and style before I finished the front cover of the magazine. The last finishing touch I added was the side picture which went with the as textiles students going to London for the day. I got this on the magazine by going file, place, finding the image, and placing it onto the magazine. Moving it to the correct position and the right size. I thought the image looked a bit plain and boring so I thought I would blend it into the background image. This was done by clicking on the layer which was on the right hand side and going on blending options by clicking the boxes drop shadow and inner shadow to create that effect on the image.

To create my content page I first had to get the image onto photoshop. I had already edited the image beforehand so I only had to get it up onto the page itself. By going to file, open and finding the edited image for my back ground of the content page.  Most of my front cover was done in a simple format of just using the horizontal type tool and placing it onto the image and changing the size, font style and colour to make it work with the back ground image.

This is my original photo of the AS trip to London. I wanted to add this to the front cover of my modify sizth form magazine, but thought it needed to be altered from the original image. I made the image black and white on photo shoot by changing the  clour contrasts. This gave a more vintage feel to it ,which \I thought worked well  as afront cover.

This is the final image I used. I think the black and white  image works well for a front cover.

The two main images which could be my front cover

Original photograph

To make my original photograph look more professional and like a front cover picture I took the following steps:-

1.       I cropped the picture to just have the main picture and only apart of the background showing.

2.       I wanted the main image to stand out, focusing on the sunset, the pink lips and the glasses. I did this by brightening up the photograph.

Finished edited photo

Original photograph

This is my original photo. I changed my photo by

1.       Cropping the picture to just get the main image in.

2.       To add a new layer, create a different layer. This is for the main image on one of the layers and then the background would be on the other one.

3.       To cut the main image use the quick selection tool bar on the left hand side of the page.

4.       After I finished capturing the image with the cut tool, the went to edit and press cut.

5.       On the right hand side click on the layer which you want to change.  Go image, adjustment and then black and white. This has changes the background to black and white.

6.       The last thing that I did was brighten up the main image. I did this by going to image, adjustment, brightness and contrast and moving the icons to how bright I wanted the main image to be.

My finished edited photo

Analysing magazine front covers 2

·         The black and white image works well with the colour heading. This indicates the main information on the front cover.

·         Using different font styles and the contrast with the small and bigger lettering to inform the reader of the key words.

·         The main image of the magazine looks like it is coming out of the magazine and is eye catching.  This black and white image looks classy and edgy.

·         The way the writing is laid out makes the front cover look like the pages are folding over the main character which gives it an edge and comes across as unusual and interesting.

·         The colours of this vogue magazine is very feminime and elegant. This  links to the main subject of the magazine.

·         The picture is very pleasing to the eye and the main image is classy and stylish.

·         Using mutual colours and hand writing the font fits the style of the page.

·         Making the font bigger to highlight the main words in the sections.

·         This front cover looks mature in style and has been created by the image and the layout.

·         The bold colours make the images and the main headings stand out.

·         With there being a main image in the middle and sub headings with  smaller images down the side, indicating what and where these topics are in the magazine.

·         Different fonts and sizes show the main items in the magazine.

·         This front cover is  very plain and boring. Not very eye catching.

·         The use of colour is very dull, but does make the image stand out.

·         The front cover does not inform you about the comtents of the magazine. E.g. does not tell us anything about the man on the front cover other than he has a Brain!

Analysing magazine front covers

·         This Vogue magazine has a vintage feel to it, with the type of clothing and the style of font being used.

·         The colours are quite subtle but using a vibrant red to make the key words stand out.

·         The layout is not too complicated and the main focus is the picture.

·         Using italic writing makes the magazine seem more feminine

·         The background to this NME magazine is very eye catching and the background gives it texture.

·         This texture also creates a shadow which blends in with the picture and fits the vibe and the theme of the front cover.

·         Using different shades of metallic, to create futuristic feel.

·         The use of vibrant yellow grips your attention and draws you to the main parts of this week’s issue.

·         The picture and the background of this Empire publication blends well together, giving it a vibe that the main image is coming out of the page.

·         The s econdary images show what else is in this magazine issue.

·         Using different font sizes indicates the main key words in the cover.

·         I think the layout of the pictures to the side looks like a comic strip.