Masthead: This is stereotypically the main title of the magazine and is usually the biggest text on the page, which is the case on this front cover. The colour of the masthead contrasts well with the house style, leading it to stand out on the page, this is done by the designer outlining the writing with white and black.

Main image: On this particular front cover the main image is “Alex Turner and Milles Kane” from the last shadow puppets, which are the cover stars who featured in that weeks issue of NME. By examining the picture I can tell that this image is mid shot-medium close up which is predictable of a magazine front cover, the shot also has direct address towards the audience because both cover stars are looking straight into the camera, it is also atheistically pleasing.

Skyline: the skyline is always at the top of the page and is usually either a cover line relating to the magazine its self or to a feature or article in the magazine that issue, or it can simply notify you on something.

Puffs: Puffs are there in order to make particular information stand out, in this case it is advertising an new album however puffs can also include competitions and incentives or simply just a buzz word. By colouring the puff in black and yellow it allows it to stand out from the colour scheme therefore it is one of the first things that catches your eye.

Anchorage text for main image:Anchorage text fits in with the cover image, and usually gives information about the main article (that could be a double page spread). Both he font and colour of this text firs in with the house style of red, white and black.

Issue information:>date >barcode >price These are all requirements of what is imperative on my front cover when creating it, because my audience needs to know this information

Taglines and phrases: This particular tagline is a quote from an article inside the magazine, these are integrated into the main cover, to show what to expect in the magazine, an to intrigue audience and costumers. The quote is also wrote in quotation marks to suggest that it I not what the magazine have said, its and “exclusive” from Alex turner him self

Other taglines and phrases are used here which give information and insights into the issue of NME that week

Masthead:The masthead on Q magazine is very simple yet effective, it makes a very bold statement and marks what its is to the audience e.g. what the magazine is called; which is what you want when trying to brand and publicise a magazine to the readers. However usually when creating a magazine front cover the masthead is right across the page, but this is not the case with ‘Q’ it has been placed in the left corner of the page, has it is natural for people to read from left to right, therefore it would be the first thing we notice. Another reason for this could be because Q magazine is an indie and alternative music mag, it has decided not to look like a predictable music magazine by going against the normal codes and conventions.

Skyline/cover line:This is a cover line at the top of the page so is therefore also a skyline, cover lines usually directly relate to the magazine which this cover line does, “the worlds greatest music magazine”

Main image: Just like the cover of most magazines, Q includes a main image of a cover star, who is always more than likely something to do with the feature article that week, so in this instance it was Jake Bugg, however, compared to the NME cover image on the previous page this one is totally different it is more a medium long shot and does not contain direct address.

Banner/puff:This could be a banner or a puff because it has both characteristics however it includes an incentive to read the magazine so therefore it would make more sense that it Is a puff, what's good about this is that it is in yellow so it is visible from far away and would attract attention hence the idea of grabbing the audiences attention.

Taglines

Anchorage text for images

issue information:Usually issue information is located in the bottom right hand corner unlike on this front cover, this just gives information such as >date >price >barcode

Masthead:The masthead is always the main title on the page and is usually the biggest text, which it is in this case, similar to the two previous front covers this masthead is to the left side of the page, in my opinion I don’t think this is particularly eye catching enough to compete against other leading magazine front covers such as NME and Q, I think this is because it looks bland, maybe it could look better in a different font or have both the writing and the box outlined in black, I think this is something to take into account when creating my own magazine. Another thing I think that I need to consider is the positioning of the cover image as I think it covers too much of the masthead in order for you to recognise the title and name of the magazine its self.

Cover image: The cover image on this magazine isn't a stereotypical camera shot, usually front covers have a mid-medium close up shot, whereas this is a full body shot, this is mostly due to that fact that there is more than one person on the front because it’s a band, there is also no direct address from this image either however it works I think because it’s a ‘natural’ looking shot.

Skyline: this skyline relates directly to the magazine, which skylines usually do, because they are the thing the audience/readers see first.

Taglines: (banners and puffs)In my opinion I don’t think these taglines are very clear, due to the mix of black and white, I think it looks like there is too much going on and the house style isn't very obvious, however I do like the idea of boxing them off because I think it adds importance and structure to the front cover.

Puffs: this puff is giving information about incentives available that week in the magazine.