Final Magazine

Evaluation

I think that my magazine works quite well as a whole because I have managed to stick to a certain colour scheme which relates to the main image. This is so that it looks aesthetically pleasing for the audience. I also tried to use colours which do not stereotypically represent one gender so that it suggests that the magazine is aimed at both male and female students. I used outer shadows on my masthead so that it stands out a lot more than the rest of the text and so that the audience understand that that is the title of the magazine. I also used featured articles which could relate to both male and female, but also articles that are more than likely to appeal to students rather than anyone else - which makes my magazine a success as that is my target audience.

During the making of this magazine I have learnt the basic tools within Adobe Photoshop, such as the crop tool, the eyedropper tool, the text tool and I also learnt how to use and work with layers, which I used to create my front cover. I have also learnt the conventions of magazines whilst doing my research and planning part of my preliminary task. I now know that a magazine needs a masthead, feature articles, plugs, a main image, a barcode, price and date and USP's (usually found in a skyline) in order to be as successful as the rest. I also learnt how to use my levels on an image in order to make it stand out and helps the magazine to look a lot less dull. One of the most vital things that I learnt because of this task was camera angles, how to shoot a certain camera angle and more importantly, how to use a DSLR camera.

If I were to do this task again I would dedicate my time a lot more to creating my product rather than my research and planning as I consequently had to rush through the process of making my magazine because I had left so little time to actually do it in. I would also stick to my original plan with my colour scheme as a way of linking the magazine to the college itself, which would mean I would also have to think a lot more about the clothes my model was wearing and what he was modelling with in order to ensure that the colour scheme would work.

Overall I think that my magazine has been a success in terms of relating to the target audience and using the conventions that are normally found and are expected to be found on the typical magazine. 

Photoshop Practice

What I Did:

For my first Adobe Photoshop practice I edited a Google Image out of its background using the Quick Select Tool and then changed the size of the image by selecting the "Show Transform Controls" option and holding shift to then drag one of the corner until my image was the correct size. As the top of her head was cut off slightly, I used the clone stamp tool to create a more curved shape. I then created a new layer for the background and through the layers system placed the background behind the main image so that we could see both. To change the background colour I selected the colour picker and then using the eye-dropper tool selected her purple top so that the background would be linked to the main image and begin to create a colour scheme. When this was finished I created my masthead by selecting the Text Tool and writing in my title which was followed by picking the size and font of the text. Afterwards I chose the Warp Text Tool and created a curve in my text in order to make it a lot more aesthetically pleasing. I then added a skyline and a USP using the shapes and then added more text in the same way that I added the masthead.

Potential Location Images

Mood Board

Spider Diagram Planning

L.I.I.A.R Analysis of a College Magazine (2)

L: The front cover of this magazine is very similar to the front cover of the previous analysed magazine as it is from the same business. We know this because both magazines have the same title (it is conventional of magazines to keep the same masthead on all editions they produce so that their audiences can recognize it). Similarly to the previous magazine, the main image takes up the majority of the page with the feature stories shaped around it so that nothing important gets covered up. The model is dressed in a leather jacket and is carrying  a law textbook which goes against the stereotypes of any teenager in a leather jacket (rebellious rather than intelligent, which is what the law textbook would suggest). The colour scheme/house style creates a gender specific target market (male) similar to the previous magazine again as they don't tend to change their target audiences and cause confusion. 

The size of the text on this magazine is also determined by its importance and its relevance to the main image. This means that it is more than likely that the "Dancehall's Bright Future" article is the one that the model is featured in. Unlike the previous magazine, this one contains a USP (unique selling point) which is the conventional way to attract the audience by offering competitions or free stuff. 

I: The idea behind this magazine is to create a main image that takes up the majority of the page so that it appeals to the target audience by catching their attention. Similarly to the colour scheme that has been chosen, as that was also decided by how well the colours compliment each other and how it makes the magazines featured articles stand out from the main image. 

I: The institution of this magazine is the business that produces it. As college magazines are usually produced within a specific college then this means that the college plays its part as an institution and is more than likely using this magazine to promote itself. 

A: The audience for this magazine is teenagers between the ages of 14 and 1. This is determined by the colour scheme used. The target audience would most likely be more males but because of the topics of some of the features it would be possible that it would be aimed at females also as they are stories that girls may be interested in. 

R: The colour scheme of this magazine is used to connect itself with the target audience. The colour green is often favoured by well-balanced people as it can symbolise nature and well-being, or money. This suggests that the target audience of this magazine are well-balanced students. White suggests purity, and also suggests that this magazine is not gender specific meaning either gender would be interested in this magazine. 

L.I.I.A.R Analysis of a College Magazine

L: The language of this magazine is extremely successful in the way that it appeals to the target audience. This is because of the layout and how the majority of the page is taken up by the main image, which includes a figure that is very well known by teenagers (14-18), who are also that target market for this magazine. The main image taking up the majority of the front cover is conventional as it instantly becomes the main focus of the magazine and consequently contributes to catching the audience's attention.
The masthead also takes up a lot of the space within the first third of the magazine and is conventionally found in the top left corner or across the top in a banner style so that it can be seen when stacked with other magazines in stores, just like this one. The house style of this magazine is blue, light orange and black which would stereotypically attractive more or the male gender than female. This suggests that the target audience is typically male orientated and the topic of features also suggests this. The purpose of this magazine is to inform students of what is happening within their college and also be a form of entertainment. The size of the text on the page is determined by it's importance to the magazine, and as it seems, the relevance to the main image.
I: The idea behind this front cover is to have the main image covering the majority of the page so that it appeals to the target audience. The idea of using black, light yellow and blue suggests that the magazine appeals to mostly the male gender.
I:The institution of this magazine is the business that produces the magazine, this means that the magazine is a product placement idea for the college itself in the way that it promotes the college.
A: The audience for this magazine is male teenagers aged 14-18. This is determined by the colour scheme used, the model that is featured and the feature stories. The colour scheme has been deliberately set so that it uses masculine colours, suggesting that it has sided with the male gender but does not mean that females can't read it too.
R: The colour scheme/house style represents the target audience of the magazine. The colour blue represents confidence, intelligence and truth which could be suggesting that the people who read this magazine are intelligent and confident with their college studies or their stories from within the college and could also suggest that everything in this magazine is trustworthy. The colour orange is associated with determination, success, enthusiasm and creativity which could suggest that the target audience are the people who tend to do well within their studies and could also tell the audience that the featured articles within the magazine are fun and entertaining. The colour black can represent power, sophistication, formality and elegance which can also attract the target audience by making them think that this is a magazine that someone from the upper class would be interested in. Also the colour black helps the other colours stand out which will make the magazine a lot more eye-catching than if all the colour were very similar and blended in. The model in this magazine is giving direct address, the links the audience and Mike Posner and creates a connection between the audience and the magazine.

Test Shot Images

 Close-Up

 Medium Close-up

 Long Shot

 High Angle Shot

 Low Angle Shot

 Two Shot

 Framed to the Left

 Framed to the Right

 Center Shot

 Extreme Close-Up

Existing Product Research

Each of these college magazines that I have found follow the codes and conventions of creating one. They each have an eye-catching masthead which, after looking at different editions of each magazine, doesn't change. They also all keep to a certain house style, or colour scheme, which makes it appear to be more organised and a lot of the time, more colourful too. Each of them also have a USP, which is used to appeal to their target audience.

Possible Names & Featuring Articles for the Magazine

So far, I have thought of only a few possible names for my new college magazine. These possibilities include:

• Wyke Weekly
• Wyke News
• The Student
• Honor Student

I wanted to keep the title of my magazine original so that it would stand out amongst the rest of the college magazines.
This magazine is not going to be as original as I'd hope compared to any other college magazine because of the limitations of target audiences and featuring articles and so I need to choose articles that make it obvious to the audience straight away that this is a college magazine and not a different genre.
The target audience for this magazine is the students of that specific college and possibly their parents depending on the articles inside. For this reason, I will be adding in an extra few articles on the contents page specifically for parents only (just so that they can keep up to date with the college as much as possible). This will include an insight into what their child/children are doing in college during lessons, lunch times and study periods etc. along with statistics (exam results from previous years to show what their child should be achieving with their GCSE score and coursework grades) and important dates such as consultation and open evenings.
For students, there will be regularly featured articles such as a Q&A with one of the students in the college and featuring articles of that week such as how to apply for university, ten top tips for a job interview, college couture, how to achieve more ucas points, parties and events etc. it will also cost on £0.50 so it won't be too expensive to buy for students during college.

Double Page Spread Plan

Contents Page Plan

Magazine Front Cover Planning

For my Preliminary Media AS  work I have to produce a college magazine. In order to do this I need:

• A magazine name
• Featured and regular articles
• Personally taken photographs (Models and location) at medium close-up

My ideas for the main image are either a sports student in the gym or a student working on a desk in a classroom. I will be taking the photos during my own time and study periods so that I can produce my final magazine front cover in class. 

To the left is a lay out of how I would like my final piece to look. I am hoping to have at least 2 or 3 thumbnails, plus approximately 6 featured articles, a masthead, skyline and a main image. All of these being conventions of a magazine. In order to separate my magazine from others I will choose different USP's and articles to include in order to appeal to my target audience (16 - 18 year old students, male and female). 

As I am using Wyke as my college for this magazine I have decided to keep to the colour scheme of the college. This means I will be using the following colours:

Dark Purple (#5C3F8A)

Lime Green (#ACD137)

Dark Green (#2E7206)

Light Grey (#BDAD8F)

White

The Importance of Semiotics

Semiotics are the study of signs and symbols within a media product and their use of interpretation. This includes the study of signs and sign processes (semiosis), indication, designation, likeness, analogy, metaphor, symbolism, signification and communication. It is divided into the three following branches:

• Semantics: Relation between signs and the things to which they refer
• Syntactics: Relations among signs in formal structures
• Pragmatics: Relations between signs and their effects on the people who use them

Conventions of a Magazine

Masthead

The title of a newspaper or periodical as it appears across the first page, front cover, or title page of each issue. Also called nameplate or flag.

Skyline

A type of banner across the top of the page, just above the masthead. Used to make the information within the skyline appealing to the magazines audience. Usually found to contain USP's or any other selling techniques.

Headline

Usually the largest text on the front cover minus the Masthead and the Main Image. Used to tell the audience what the main feature of the magazine is. Helps to appeal to the target audience.

Main Image

The background image of the magazine. Usually includes a male or female model around the same age as the target audience or someone well known in the genre in order to appeal to them. For example, on a rock magazine aimed at teenagers you would most likely find a figure such as Green Day or AC/DC.

Barcode/Date

The bar code and date is a convention used for the institution the magazine will be bought from. It tells the store that this specific edition of the magazine is now not in stock. The date is used to tell the audience when it was published so that they know when they are buying the most recent publication.

Thumbnails

The thumbnails on a magazine front cover are small images next to the sell lines which show previews of the stories inside.

Sell Lines

The sell lines are a convention of a magazine cover used to tell the audience the feature articles in the magazine. This is so that when they are looking for a type of magazine to buy, it will appeal to them more when they know what they will be reading. If there is something interesting inside then they are most likely to buy it over any others. 

Medium Close-up Research Images

The Brief

Preliminary Task
Using DTP and an image manipulation program, produce the front page of a college/school magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in a medium close-up plus some appropriately laid out text and a masthead. Additionally you must produce a mock-up of the layout of the contents page to demonstrate their grasp of DTP.

Main Task
The front page, contents page and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text must be original, produced by you - minimum of four images.