My Photo's

I then chose a few of my favoutes and edited them in photoshop.

I also removed the patterned background because i thought it would be hard to add text over it and read it clearly for my front cover. Natasha Is wearing a classy cocktail dress because this is the image i wanted to portray on my cover, I wanted it to be POP/RnB, and i wanted my singer to be classy and mature yet modern and hip.

The first thing i did towards my magazine was chose a model and arrange a photoshoot in order to find photo's to go in my magazine.

I had to choose my model carefully as i wanted them to reflect the style of music that was going to be used in the magazine. I decided to use a single person on the cover to make the photo stand out and to present the main article in the magazine, in my case the girl singer on the front. I choose natasha as she listens to relevant singers and bands such as niki minaj,Rihanna, drake and chris brown which are all RnB style; the type of music that would feature in my magazine. She also has the right 'look' with the bright red hair that reminds me of the artist from the band Florence+the machine, and the singer Rihanna, i love the red hair because I think the vibrant colour of it makes the image stand out and looks appealing to the eye.

AUDIENCE RESEARCH

Creating My Title

Once I had decided on my magazine name:'VHM' I had to find an appropriate font. To do this I used the website 'dafont', I chose a font called 'PERPETUA TITLING MT' which is almost like 'TIMES NEW ROMAN' however a little bolder, because I liked the sharp yet bold look, i liked the edges of the letters and felt this would be suitable for the type of music magazine I am creating which would be modern yet mature and organised.

This is my title that I am going to use in my magazine. I decided to make it white over a red back-ground so it is bold and stands out and contrasts with the black and white theme of the rest of the front cover. I also added a shadow to make the look have a bigger impact. However depending on the cover photo i finally chose, i may remove the red background and have it transparent to allow the text to neatly over-lay the top of the photo to result in a clean professional look.

Magazine Name.

I Began to Think of names for my magazine.. My favourite two were 'Volume' and 'VHM'

I came to the conclusion VHM, ( Very Hot Music ) chosen because I believe the letters go well together, such as 'FHM' I prefer this title to 'VOLUME' because i believe a short title will be give more space to add text around my cover photo, 'VOLUME' would take up the whole of the top of the magazine cover, and VHM, just like 'NME' and 'Q' only takes up the left hand corner of the page.

Questionaire

I decided to create a questionaire in order to find out what buyers would want from a music magazine 1. What music genre do you listen to mostly? rock Metal Pop Indie Dance R 'n' B Other The Result was that most of the people chose RnB/POP 2. What music magazine is your favouite type?? NME Q KERRANG! Rolling Stones Vibe The Result was that most of the people I asked said Q 3. Would you prefer a band or solo artist on the front of the magazine? The Result was that most of the people i asked said solo artist. 4. Would you prefer a male or female artist on the front? The Result was that Most of the people i asked said Female.

Double page spread

These are double page spreads that i am going to take inspiration from.

Magazine Title Research

These are titles from rolling stone, I really like the font of the text of this one, i like how its original, and doesnt look like its been created by a typewriter. I particularly like the one in the first photo, because its cream/yellow yet has a darker outline to make it stand out more, and i also like where the other one is yellow against a dark background to let it stand out. I am going to adopt this in mine, making my title contrast to the background and maybe with an outline to add boldness.

I do like the fact that the title of 'Q' magazine is short and simple and also therefore memorable, however i do think its a little plain and boring with not much to it, im going to try to avoid this style on my magazine.

I Really like the NME title, because its short and simple, yet not as short as a one letter title. I like this because it doesnt strech across the full page and therefore gives more room for the image, however is not too short as to stay too far into the corner, i also like the light outline around it to make it stand out. However i particularly like the unique white bold title of NME.. i think against the brioght red background of the cover photo, it makes the white text really contrast and stand out. i think this looks really effective and makes the title stand out.

Inspiration For my cover.

I prefer the cover layout from Rolling stones rather than the one of kerrang, because i think the rolling stones one is simple, organised and looks professional, and i think the kerrang's cover looks to busy, bold and full.

Inspiration For My Magazine Cover.

I like the magazine covers where the cover photo is just of one artist rather than where there is a band on the front. I think the magazine covers with just one artist look more professional, organised and with more space to add text around it, i think the band covers look a little too busy and full, and it appears there isnt as much room for text around it.. for my magazine i am going to use just one person for the front cover.

Rolling Stones Double Page Spread Research

This is a double page spread from 'Rolling stones' I notice again the picture is very large and covers one size, this proves a popular teqnique and i may adapt this to my double page spread. I like how sone text is larger and bolder, which breaks up the page and draws attention to this, for example the quote from the artist and a sub heading drawing people in to read. This is also a very effective and commonly used tecnique that i am going to get inspiration from. However i do think there is too much text assigned to the one page, i think it does look more of a newspaper than a music magazine, i think there should be another picture on the left hand page to break up the writing a little making the page more interesting, and maybe a more interesting title to the page. I am going to try and make my double page a little more interesting using this method.

Q Double Page Spread Research

I also like this double page spread from 'Q'. Again i like how the main image of the artist is on one side of the double page, but i also like how there is more than one image on the page, this makes it look a little more interesting and gives two different viewpoints to the artist. Another think i particularly like is the big red 'C' for 'cheryl cole' as the background to the text, i think this is a very interesting approach to act as the background, without obstructing the reading ability of the text too much. Again i like the artist quote in the bottom left hand corner, this seems popular with double page spreads, therefore to make mine look as professional i must mimic these features.

NME Double Page Spread Research

This is a double page spread from NME. I really like this one because i like how the secpnd page is full with a photo of the artist, i also like how one of her arm spreads across to the other page to link them together. I really like the text because its large and bold and stands out incredibly, i like how its inventive and origional, its a quote from the artists interview thats effective because it draws attention to the page, resulting in people wanting to read the rest of the page.I am deffinately going tpo use this method in my magazine. However i dont like the font of the interview, i think it looks pretty boring and typerwriter like.. I dont like how the text is just laid out in a newspaper like fashion, i am going to try to avoid this in mine to make my text look more creative and interesting rather than in a line along the bottom like it is here.

Rolling stones contents page research

This is a contents page from 'Rolling stones' i like how it is on double page unlike the others which allows more information on the page. and also more room for large images that are very eyecatching drawing people to the main features so they are easy to find. Another thing i like about this contents page is the text box along the top of the right hand side highlighting the magazines website. i think this is a good idea because it could gain more publicity. i also like how the categories for each section are underlined in red, and follow eachother in collumns in the middle of the page making it organised and easy to read. however i dont like the amount of small text there is on the page, i think it does look too full and basic. I am going to limit my text on my own contents page.

Q contents page research

This is a contents page from 'Q' that i like. i really like the header at the top of the contents, i think it makes the contents look professional and organised and also fits in with the red,white and black colour scheme. I really like how there is one main image down the side because its imediately eyecatching, yet what i also like is that there are page numbers attached to the images, which makes it very easy to see the page numbers of the main features by just looking at the picture. I like how the smaller images are turned on their side a little. it makes the contents page look more internesting and fun. I also like how the features are all down one side which keeps the contents page simple, organised and easy to read. However i do think it would have been better if they were organised into sections.

NME Contents page research

This is a contents page from 'NME' i like the fact that the 'NME' loho is places in the top centre of the contents page, it increases how memorable the title of the magazine is, for example for a first time buyer and its also attractive to add to the contents page also fitting in with the colour scheme. i like this contents page because the photos in the middle immediately catch my eye, and they are obviously the main features of the magazine because there is a huge photo of them and also a bold headline underneath them. I also like the text box underneath with yellow text which grabbs people's attention that may result in people subscribing to the magazine which gives more publicity and more buyers. using the yellow text here is very effective because it is the only text of this kind and colour on this page, so therefore it stands out from the rest catching people's attention. Another thing i like on this contents page is the 'bands index' on the left hand side, it allows someone who is looking for a particular band they can just scroll down and find out the page number straight away without having to flick through various bands they arent interested in. And i like how on the right hand side, there are regular pages and also special featyres separated from everything else and also in categories to make the contents page easier to read and for someone to find what they are looking for much easier. i may take inspiration from this method in my magazine.

Rolling Stones Cover Research

This is another magazine cover that i dont particularly like, i do like the cover photo, but i dont like how there is very little text about anything else going on inside the magazine. For example if you dont like who is on the cover and there is nothing else to grab the customers eye to another feature, they wil avoid buying it. i think this is a negative aspect of having little text on a front cover.

This is a cover of the 'Rolling stones' music magazine. This time the title of the magazine is stratched along the top of the cover which i normally do not like. However i particularly like the title of 'rolling stones' because it is a good size, not taking up too much space, and i really like the font because it isnt boring and ordinary and straight, i like how it isnt surrounded by a border or text box-like background such as 'Q' Its just infront of the background image. I like how its red and bold which contrasts the light coloured background. The title is prigional and creative and i am going to take inspiration from this unique style. The model of the cover a singer 'Rihanna' is this time stood in the centre of the cover, unlike the facial shots of some of my other examples. This is efective because it leaves space on each side of the cover to add text or other images. The cover photo itself is really clear and professional, and i really like how the light background contrasts the text, and i also love how rihanna's red hair matches with the red title. This works well because it creates a professional, linked design to the magazine, whilst being organised neatly with the text being clear and understandable yet relevent. The artists name 'Rihsnna@ is displayed in a big bold dark font which clearly states who she is, and attracts people imediately to the text as it is the most important because she is the main feature. One thing i particularly like about this cover is the text box on the right hand sife of the cover, its eyecatching, different, stands out, and brings focus to the text inside it. It breaks the cover up avoiding the boring averaege style layout. It draws attention to the special features to the magazine in a creative, effective way whilst still keeping whithin the colour scheme and keeping it professional. i also like the red text box between the other features, imediately drawing attention to it pointing out that it is another main featurette which also attracts people in to buy the magazine. The genre of music that the magazine is pop/rock is also the exact genre im going for, with also the same target audience, (young adults) so this is a good example for the inspiration to my final piece.

Q Cover Research

I dont like the cover of Q because i think the photo takes over too much of the page leaving very little space for the text. and i also think that the text colour is also an issure because i dont like how the title of the band "red hot chilli peppers" is very thin, and doesnt stand out because its very hard to read being infront of the image. The same with the small yellow writing. its very hard to make out because of the way its over the image.

This is a cover from 'Q' magazine which will also influence my design. I really like the 'Q' logo because is short and sweet, which makes it easy to remember and very noticeble combined with the bright vibrant colour of red around the white letter Q. This makes the logo stand out being thr first thing, along with the cover photo to be seen. The short logo does not strech across the whole cover which is effective because it allows plenty of space for the cover photo which works well because it allows the image to be the main focus of the cover. The cover photo is again a full face cover photo, however wich is side on and with her shoulder and arm in the image.The photo is again excellent quality and large which draws alot of attention to it. The image being slightly side on, works well on here because it leave a sufficient amount of space on the left hand side of the magazine to allow the main features of the magazine and the logo in the top left to be neatly organised and displayed in a proffesional way not overlapping the cover photo too much, whilst keeping everything quite neat and simple yet very effective. The artists name on the cover photo 'adele' is displayed in a bold large font across the bottom right hand corner which is effective because the white text contrasts the dark background its placed on which makes the text stand out drawing attention to it drawing people in. The Genre of the magazine is approprate for my magazine because its pop/rock music which is the type im going to explore in my final piece, I am going to take inspiration from the cover photo, i like the way it is side on which leave plenty room for text down one side, and i also like the idea of her hair blowing slightly with the words " adele blows it away" underneath the image. It makes the text and image tie in together creating a link, attracting people in by the image being very bold and attractive combined with quite a bold staement underneath. The audience for this magazine is also a good example of the audience im going to attract to in my magazine,which is a teenage- young adult audience.

NME Cover Research

I don't Like this NME cover because i think its too loud and full with too much going on. I dont like the colour scheme red and yellow it reminds me more of a fast food restauraunt advertisement.. I Think that this isnt a good cover because it is that full i dont know where to look first and i dont think it looks very profesional cover photo wise.

This is a cover of an issue of NME magazine. On the cover is The singer from the band 'Florence and the machine' The appearance overall of the cover looks incredibly profesional, with the cover photo being very clear,bold and eyecatching. I like the way the actual design being the style and colour of the text is black and white, however the photo stand out incredible with the bright red hair of the singer, which attracts an audience to the cover photo by contrasting the bright vibrant colour of her hair with the white and black text.I will also be influenced by the style of NME in my magazine design. I like this cover especially as because it is very simple, clear and bold. The images are placed on plain backgrounds, and the text has been placed around the image well making it stand out, yet also very neat and organised whilst not taking too much focus away from the cover photo. NME magazine is aimed at a younger audience, im guessing teens early 20's so the actual content will be quite similar to this. I also like the actual name of the magazine - NME. I like how the title is not streched the full way across the magazine cover, it allows more focus and attention on the cover photo whilst still having a bold contrasting effect to the short catchy title. The three capital letters is memorable, bold, and effective. I might choose a 3 lettered name of my own as I know it will be effective to see on my magazine cover. The magazine uses good clear fonts, contrasting with short snappy bold parts to attract more attention to the text, such asd "the state of music today" which is more bold than the rest of the text to draw more attention to it. I really like this technique because it means the more important stories are focused on whilst varying the size and boldness of the text avoiding the magazine looking boring with the same sized text throughout. Another thing i like about the text is the quote above The title 'Florence@ along the bottom. This is a quote from the singer advertising her interview inside the magazine drawing attention to it and inviting people to buy the magazine because they can hear more about what the singer thinks. I think this is a very affective technique the magazine uses to attract people to read further inside. I may use this technique on my magazine. All of these aspects adds appeal as it means the audience will prefer to buy this magazine, rather than any other so I will use techniques like these on my front cover.

What a Cover, Contents, and double page contains.

This is a double page spread that i have chosen to analyse and evaluate what a magazine contents page actually contains.

This is a contents page that i have chosen to analyse and evaluate what a magazine contents page actually contains.

This is a cover out of my favourite ones that i have chosen to analyse and evaluate what a magazine cover actually contains.