NME Magazine: 19th February 2011
NME, an urban, indie new music magazine is cool looking appealing to young adults and teenage audiences. This front cover has all the conventions on the magazines target look. The image to the text, colour scheme and layout.
One image of the band 'The Strokes' is used and covers the whole of the front cover, the image shows the band members at different angles looking like indie-rock stars. There costume also depicts this look as they wear leather jackets, black sunglasses, t-shirts and dirty Converses. The main colour scheme for the picture is black and white; however there is sections of blues and yellows in some of the t-shirts. The background is shades of grey and white as if they are standing in a street or in front of the walls of an underground.
The variety of the font isn't extensive however different styles of text have been used for the magazine title: big, bold square writing in white. The date and price of the magazine: slanted text like a basic version of calligraphy. Also the main story and different quotes from the articles that are used are in italics in capital letters. Although all the text is in capitals. The main story ' WORLD EXCLUSIVE THE STROKES' is centered in the middle of the page, on top of the image of the band. The makers of NME have done this so that the readers attention is drawn and it makes them want to read the magazine. The basic but bold colour scheme of white and light pink also help attract the reader. The article name in pink and a quote in white or the other way round is used.
Layout is important when constructing the cover as there may be many good images and interesting stories but if they aren't structured well then it isn't as aesthetically pleasing as it could be and may detract readers from buying. The title 'NME' is placed at the top left hand corner which is conventionally done. The heads of some of the band's heads are over the top of the title; but this shows that the magazine is well known. Above the title is the date and price; however it is also featured again n the bar code at the bottom right corner, which again is typical of a magazine. The main article headline is found in the middle of the page with the other stories in three coloumns below. At the top right of the page is a quote from the star Graham Coxon which makes the viewer want to read more.
Photoshop has been used to create this front cover. They may have used the spot healing brush to cover any blemishes the band members may have had. Also a tool would have been used to hide dark circles underneath their eyes. Text boxes have been used and added on top of the image by creating a new layer. This has been used again for the image over the magazine title. A cross has been added to magazine cover which will have been made using this software. There is a white border around the cover with a small black line this will have been created by putting all the elements of the page into a box.
In my music magazine i may use the border around the page and the capitals for the text. I could also have a plain background because by making it as minimalistic as possible it makes the band the focal point.
Q Magazine: April 2011
Q magazines choice of image is very minimal however it speaks volumes as it is very bold and in your face, almost intimidating. The background is just simply white as the lead singer of elbow stands in a fixed, serious pose in an expensive looking suit before an old style microphone. The image is very dominant and is placed slightly over the magazine title which again like NME shows that it is well known.
Different fonts have been used on the cover for the article then the text underneath is alternative; however all of the writing is in drop capitals. The sizing of the words aren't all the same though the main article is at the bottom and takes up the whole of the lower third as it is what will draw the reader's into buying the magazine. Interestingly the bar code has been moved up the page to make space for the title which is unconventional. The main stories are in the biggest text as it is the stories that will be the most popular. Additionally they are also written in bold e.g. AMY Winehouse and the GREATEST BRITISH songwriters. Other text that has been used is a blurb under the magazine title, also a date price and website address on the bar code. There is a quote from a story luring the viewer into turning the page.
Six colours have been chosen on the front cover: black, white, two different shades of red and gold. This makes the page very visually interesting; however the main shade that is used is black and there is only a few bits of text in gold. White is just used for the main article: ELBOW and the title of the magazine as a contrast against the red squared background.
The main image is in the center of the page with the text at either side in columns. There are big, bold black line dividers between each story to separate the article's up. The title of the main article is at the bottom of the picture of the band members feet, but it is over the top of the picture. By doing this it shows that it is the most important feature and if the reader likes the band, which usually they have a large fan base if the key story is about them, then they are most likely going to buy the magazine.
The use of Photoshop in the magazine isn't very prominent compared to other magazines, but it has been used. To make Elbow's lead singer's suit appear shinier they have altered the contrast. They may have also got rid of blemishes or bags under his eyes by using healing wand. The use of text and different fonts will have been done by adding a text box and changing the colours and text style. Finally the way the image is place over part of the red square of the title; he would have been cut out using the magnetic lasso and placed on a layer above the title box. The bottom of the Q will have also been cut out and placed on a higher layer than the image.
No comments:
Post a Comment