Link to Evaluation PowerPoint

https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AZXNf1y-IrHYZGYydzRucjhfMGY3NTNnOWRk&hl=en&authkey=CJz2veAG

Unused Photos

Photo Planning Sheet

Point By Point of Final Draft Production

-After hearing bad feedback for all three rough cuts, decided to start from scratch.
-Front cover of Mixmag issue 223 used as style model, text created to fit into exact scheme of layout, colour scheme copied and old, unacceptable photo of self used until suitable substitiute found.
-Took photos of various models, including Jack Davison and Benji, assuming they would act as the model on the front cover (though later it would turn out that scheduling conflicts would prevent this).
-Learned about Leading and the Baseline Shift function, used it to move the two words in the title closer together to better simulate a title. Also created a barcode by creating a straight line with the Marquee function, and adding noise from the Filter menu. Was made Gaussian and Monochromatic, making black and white lines of varying thickness. A splash effect was made by creating a circle in the Shape Tool, and then applying the ripple function to it to make it appear as though it were a puddle.
-Layout of contents page created, based on contents page from Tilt Magazine, Issue Unknown. Text layout, positioning of background boxes and banners all copied directly from style model. Photos not yet taken at this stage. Orange bars around text boxes created with the Stroke Tool, which creates a colour bar around a designated object.
-After series of complications surrounding photographing other models, I eventually settled on my model, visiting his house and a recording studio to take photos for the Front Cover, Contents Page and Double Page Spread.
-Using the Mac's Aperture programme, all images were "auto-enhanced" to remove extremely dark shadows. I also took photos of my sister for the contents page and front cover, and intentionally very surreal, indescernable photo of a club scene, for the contents page.
-Photo of decided upon model for the contents page was cut out using the Magic Wand tool and the SHIFT button, allowing me to get rid of large amount of the background. Vital as he was standing in front of a brick wall. Now that I had a definite model, I changed the story from the previous "Celebrity DJs" story to one about the particular DJ on the front, after realizing it was too close to the style model's story. I also typed up an interview with the DJ in a word processing programme before adding it to the double page spread later
-After photos were decided upon, a layout was determined, vaguely based on the Tilt contents page. Instead of four images however, I only used three, as I couldn't use any more without reusing a subject. Instead of the stroke tool, I simply used rectangles made in the Shapes Tool.
-Style model of Double Page Spread was a spread from Mixmag issue 239 about a band named Wolf + Lamb. After hearing that certain features of the spread copied from the magazine weren't conventional (white boxes around the text, and image crossing the page boundaries), I instead moved the text to one page, greatly extended the interview I had typed up, and shrunk both images I had made before moving both images to the other page.

Final Drafts of All 3 Parts of Magazine

Audience Research Charts & Analysis

In the above 7 charts, I performed audience research amongst 8 different people in order to ascertain what features to imbue my magazine with. As 6 out of 8 were male, and 5 out of 8 between the ages of 16 and 25, I shall feature a person of that age on the front cover to relate with the target audience. 4 out of 8 say they would expect to pay between £3.00 and £3.99 for a magazine, and so I shall charge £3.99 so as to maintain an economic price and also still turn a profit from the magazine. 6 out of 8 claim to already subscribe to 3-4 magazines on a monthly basis, another reason to price my magazine economically as they are already spending money on other magazines. 4 out of 8 people also claim their favourite genre of music to be trance, and so I shall make my magazine about trance music. 6 out 8 claim that they purchase magazines mostly for the interviews, and all 8 claim that their favourite colour is orange. Therefore, I will have the front cover be about an interview, and contain mostly the colour orange.

Inital Idea Diagram

Final Drafts of Magazine Components With Style Model Comparisons

Diary Entry for April 10th.

Today I have produced a final, or near final draft of all three aspects of the magazine, cover, contents and double page spread.

At approximately 10 am, I took photos of a model outdoors in order to indicate an outdoor festival scene. I then used enhancing techniques in the Mac program Aperture in order to remove dark shadows.

Photos of the model I took yesterday and on Friday were added to the front cover and contents, replacing my previous model. I also changed the colour scheme of the front cover to orange and black, so as to contrast with the blue clothing he was wearing. This consistency is seen in my contents page, also using an orange and black colour scheme inspired by the contents page of the magazine Tilt.

The orange borders around the images in my contents page were achieved by making an orange box in the shapes tool and placing it behind the image in question. As it would not let me transfer the colour of the text from the title to the box with the eye-dropper, I had to instead copy out the RGB colour coordinates of the title and use them to alter the colour of the boxes. To fully assimilate the layout of the magazine cover into my own, I placed the page number of the advertised feature in the corner of the boxes. I also had to retype the contents page of the magazine, in order to properly reflect the page layout found in an actual magazine.

I have saved four copies of each component of the magazine, two .jpgs and two .psds, on the computer for backup and on my memory stick respectively. The PSDs are for in case I need to make any last-minute adjustments or edits before the deadline, the JPGs having been created from a flattened version of   the photoshop files, in case it turns out I have no need to edit them further. I have also produced A4 prints of the files, to demonstrate what it is they will look like once printed. Over the remaining four days I have, I intend to redo my audience research and analysis, along with accompanying videos of a certain few fellow media students, which will be done at lunchtimes as I live far away enough from most of them that it would be of some inconvenience to them to do the videos at home. I will also finally upload my Initial Ideas Sketch as, though I had intended to upload it prior, technical issues prevented me. I now have a functioning scan of it however, and so nothing can prevent me.

Diary Entry of Events Before April 9th

In the run up to April 4th, I produced an updated version of my front cover, after having recieved mostly negative feedback concerning my previous attempt. I followed a style model (Issue 223 of Mixmag "Why Celebrity DJs Must Be Stopped", seen in a previous cover analysis entry.), imitating the text layout and colour of the magazine. I have by this point taken front cover pictures of three different models, having to ignore all but one as actually contacting them or making them available proved impossible, and I had to abandon the previous photo of myself as I need to be able to prove that I am the one who took the photos, and I am apparently not believable as a DJ. All that remains now is to take some photos of another model for my contents page.

Diary Entry for April 9th

Today, I was able to find a new model for the front cover, double page spread and contents page of the magazine.

I took photos of the subject, posing as though he were a DJ in a recording studio, making use of many of the props on hand to add to the subject's traits of apparent arrogance and wealth.

I then also went around to his house where he had set up a DJ-esque turntable, and I had brought some glow-in-the-dark rave bangles for him to wear around his wrists with. I took photos from a multitude of angles, including close-ups of his hands and low angle shots. I have not yet determined where on my magazine these will go, though most probably the contents page.

I have also produced a near-final version of my double page spread, using images of the model from the shoot at the recording studio, and using a double page spread from a recent issue of Mixmag as a style model.

Audience Research Text

Audience Research Redux

1.     Please describe the average attire of a club goer.

2.     What colour scheme would one usually associate with clubs?

3.     What are the major issues in clubbing today?

4.     How much roughly would you expect to pay for a magazine?

5.     What part of a magazine is the main incentive for you to buy it?

6.     Do you like to read

A: Interviews with up and coming DJs

B: Features on major issues in clubbing today

C: Q&A Interviews

7: What age range do you think are interested in clubbing?

8: What icons or motifs do you associate with clubbing?

Audience Research Video 1

Trance-@ction Contents Page

Creation Process of Magazine Cover, Contents and DPS

In the creation of my magazine, I employed the use of programmes other than Photoshop, such as Adobe Illustrator, as it is far more efficient for magazine production. I then exported it as a PhotoShop file. I often adjusted the transparency of objects, and used transparency effects such as Burn and Darken to achieve effects such as the semi-transparent spiral on the contents page. I also took great care to align the text boxes and images on the page to eachother, to maintain some semblance of symmetricality.

The text boxes were generated with the shape tool,, and then made transparent so that the image behind it would be still partially visible.

First Draft of DPS

First Drafts of Front Cover

Mixmag Cover Analysis 2

This cover of Mixmag uses generally quite curly fonts, as the cover story isn't enormously important or serious, and the magazine is acknowledging this. The centre image is, again, not actually a named DJ or celebrity, but rather a generic model dressed in a way that it represents the issue covered in the magazine. The CD offered with the magazine is a vibrant shade of red, contrasting with the blue of the cover and emphasizing that it is a periphery object. As I will be using Mixmag as a style model, I shall design my magazine to have a byline acknowledging the CD. I shall not make any room for the CD on the front cover however, as no issue of Mixmag seems to do that.

Diary Entry 4 (actually current)

I have finally uploaded all of my magazine analysis, as well as some of my audience research, although I am unable to upload the videos at the moment. I intend to rectify this at a later date. I will also continue to work on my rought cut of my magazine while at home, taking photos and retroactively improving my prior blog entries, in particular I intend to scan in the various covers and double page spreads that I have analyzed, though have not yet found images of online.

Diary Entry

Today I produced a rough cut of the front cover of my magazine. I have made some signifigant changes since the last iteration, including differences in the title and overall layout.

I also learned about various graphic design tropes, in particular avoiding making the text too close to the edges of the pages.

Diary Entry 3

As a result of the internet problems the school is undergoing, I will perform most of my work at home.

Diary Entry 2

Now that I have uploaded my preliminary, I have been tasked with analyzing 5 front covers, contents pages and double page spreads of various magazines. I am hoping to have pictures on most of the blog entires, but in some cases this may nopt be possible immediately and so the pictures will be uploaded at a later date,.

Diary Entry 1 (belated)

With the opening of my media blog, I intend on uploading my preliminary sketches of my magazine, and eventually my preliminary mock-ups of a school magazine in the next week

NME Contents Analysis

The contents page of NME is very unusual compared to most music magazines. This is as NME is a general music magazine, not focused on any genre in particular and thus does not attempt to show any bias in this regard. The layout allots every major feature in this issue its own small box on the contents page, containing a photo of the band featured, text from the article and the page number. I will not be using this, as I am attempting to focus solely on dance and techno music, and so a non-specific layout such as this would be innapropriate. I will however, heavily stylize my contents page so as to appear unique and interesting .

DJ Double Page Spread

Unlike most other magazines, the double page spread in DJ does not have any immediate segregated areas for the images or the text, the two being scattered around the page in an irregular fashion. This makes the magazine appear laidback, as though it does not care about the layout. It has a banner at the top, a crumpled Union Jack flag that doesn't appear elsewhere, as this is a unique feature of the article. I am considering making specialized art assets for my double page spread, as it will be a unique feature to the issue of the magazine this appears in.

TILT Contents

The contents page of Tilt is divided into three unequal sections, one containing pictures, one containing the actual contents listings and one containing an editor's note. This segregating of the pages prevents any confusion or overlap of the sections, as it clear where one segment ends and another begins. As this page will be my style model for my contents page, I will put clear lines, segregating the three segments, and also use an image of my front cover in the editors note.

M8 Double Page Spread Analysis

The two pages in this double page spread have different background colours, one is yellow and the other white. The text on the yellow page is arranged in three columns, as is standard and prefacing this is a red introductory paragraph in a different font. The other page, with the white background shows a picture of a major DJ, along with a quote from the article next to her. I intend to emulate this feature, as it provides a brief summary of the article, without needing to read the entirety

M8 Contents Analysis

The contents of M8 features 4 images on the left side of the page, each of a different DJ on a different page, showing that the magazine is perhaps more personality focused than other magazines. Again, there is a consistent font used. The text at the left of the page lists the other DJs covered in the magazines. I will emulate this "dual-column" format as it is very easy to lay out, and easy to read.

M8 Magazine Cover ANalysis

Unlike other dance music magazines, M8's centre image is actually set to the right of the cover, and is actally a named celebrity as opposed to a conceptual cover. The subheadings are set to the far left, making room for the image. A colour scheme of yellow, red and black is used, evoking the colours used on a standard warning sign and signifying that the magazine is in some way taboo or dangerous, appealing to the rebellious side of teenagers. I will aim to make my cover's colour scheme alarming and edgy in order to attract a teen audfience,

Mixmag Cover, Contents DPS analysis

The front cover of Mixmag issue 223 is again humorous in tone, portraying a parody of Paris Hilton leaning on a mixing deck, as the cover story is about Celebrity DJs. The text surrounding the model is all pink and black, colours generally associated with Paris Hilton. Again, text is arranged to the left and right of the model.

The contents page of Mixmag Issue 223 has a single centre image, with it’s page number imposed over it in a large font, as this is one of the most important articles in the magazine supposedly. The actual contents themselves are formatted to the centre of the rightmost of the page, without accompanying images.

A double page spread in Mixmag is in much the same formatting as the previous one, showing consistency between issues. The only things different between the two are the main inage on the right page. The subject is standing in a laidback pose against a wall covered in splatters of paints of various colours, indicating creativity on the part of the subject.

Mixmag DPS Analysis

This double-page spread from Mixmag is unorthodox in that the image is spread out over the two pages, the text being shoehorned to the far ends of the pages. The colours are yellow, black and white, evoking the imagery of a danger warning sign, implying that the magazine is radical or dangerous in some fashion. The font also evokes this, it is in a block serifs font, giving across both stylish flare and a sense of urgency. The central image, that of a club, is tinted black and yellow to remain consistent with the text, and also to appear lively and energetic. I will also frame one of my photos to appear to have lots of activity. In the image itself, the crowd is slightly off-centre, invoking the rule of thirds.  

Mixmag Double Page Spread Analysis

This double page spread from Mixmag is evenly divided between text and the image. The image portrays it's subject, reclining in a leather seat, demonstrating wealth and a lax attitude. The text is arranged in four columns. Though industry standard is three, clearly there was enough information exchanged to warrant a fourth column. There is also a small photograph, with text wrapped around it. As there is a limit on the amount of photos I am allowed to use, I may not use this. I will however be sure to take a photo of the subject matter of the feature article, asking them to pose in a particular manner with set dressing (mise-en-scene) as it would help relay the subject's character and personality.

Mixmag Cover Analysis

The front coevr of Issue 213 of Mixmag, rather than displaying any notable personality or group, shows a generic DJ from the back, making the cover abstract. The cover story isn't about any single artist, but rather the issue of how "today's DJ stays ahead of the game". The colours are mostly orange and blue, a colour scheme, interestingly, not upheld within the contents of the magazine itself. The subheadings are strewn across the far left and right of the page. I will make the colour scheme of the cover disparate from my contents page, as the cover of each issue of a magazine tends to be unique, and will also set the text to either side of my centre image.

Mojo Contents Analysis

The contents page of Mojo has it's text and images slanted, giving the page a disorientated, "radical" feel to it. The text of the contents is formatted to the centre, breaking some codes and conventions of standard magazine layout as most text is aligned to the left or right of the page. There are several inlay images, showing a pictoral representation of the contents of some pages. As many magazines do this, I will use this feature. 

Tillate Cover Analysis

TILLATE.com Magazine

The colours of the subheadings on the cover are all extremely vibrant, often using a gradient colour rather than a single colour. The centre image is surreal, depicting a man wearing a mirror-studded suit, a top hat and with a telephone wire wrapped around his neck. The letter “E” is replaced with a “3” occasionally, and the font sometimes changes between subheadings. This gives the magazine an eclectic, eccentric feel to it, fitting as the story is "one of dance's most flamboyant stars". I aim to recapture the surreal tone put across by this cover through the use of vibrant covers, and a front cover that isn't immediately connected to a story.

Preliminary Magazine Evaluation

In order to coincide with the conventions of other school magazines, my preliminary magazine showed a student at work as it's main image, as this will give the audience the impression of a studious, hardworking school. I have also used the main colours of the school (blue and white), on both the cover and contents as I wish to maintain consistency. The text of both the contents and cover is aligned to the far-left hand side of the page as that is the part of the magazine the audience will see first. As the specification required a photo of a student in mid-close up that is what I have produced.

In assembling the magazine, I learned how to use different layers within Photoshop, as well as the magneto lasso function. I also gained experience in using a digital camera specifically in order to edit them later in Photoshop, as well as taking lighting and shadow into consideration. I could improve upon this, as a photo I took of the school appeared dull due to the prevelance of shadow

Early Drafts of Contents and Cover

School Magazine Contents

School Magazine Cover

Conventions of School Magazines

Chapel High’s student magazine appears to have been designed in a cheap editing software such as Microsoft Publisher or Adobe Reader. The images and text both quite jarringly clash and the photographs don’t appear to have been edited. There is also no single central image. The magazine appears to have been developed with a smaller, local community in mind rather than national publication.

The contents page follows the red and black colour scheme established by the front page. The contents are all aligned to the far left side of the page, as it is the part of the page that the audience wishes to see first. As this is not a professional publication, some spelling errors are noticeable “Diary of Ther Week”.

Fusion: Issue 1 however looks far more professional than Chapel High’s magazine, as it was designed by a professional graphics firm, and appears to have a wider audience in mind. The cover has a central image, which as clearly been edited to be a silhouette. The subheadings compliment the light red background, and are again set to the very far left as they will be the first things the audience will see.

The contents aren’t aligned to the far left, but occupy the entire page. The main font and layout of the page, featuring colourful banners at the top and bottom of the page is used throughout the magazine. Each page varies in colour, but layout is the same as the magazine covers a wide variety of topics.

Bishopbriggs Academy Magazine is also designed unprofessionally, though is still in keeping with many traditions of magazines. There is a blue and white colour scheme designed to fit with the school’s logo. The logo contains the colour green which is noticeably absent from the magazine, showing some consideration for graphic design. The cover however lacks any strong central image, but what images it does have involves a group of students smiling whilst engaged in some sort of activity.

The contents page is bare, containing only the text and no images. The text is all blue to contrast against the white page and blend with the blue-and-white colour scheme established beforehand.