Method of Method of ConstructionConstruction

Tasmin Semple

Method I constructed my music magazine Platinum

on Microsoft Publisher as it enabled me to add the key conventions of a music magazine piece by piece, which will be displayed through print screens I have taken leading up to the finished product.

Front Cover

Firstly, I began with the barcode and banners as I instantly knew where I would place it, and it would not intervene with the rest of the conventions I will be placing on the front cover at a later date.

I then added my masthead and chose the typography that best represents my audience, and incorporated the iconic imagery of a platinum disc taken from Google which was placed on top of the letter ‘a’. I also added a black circle to act as an ear piece which I would put an additional incentive in.

The masthead underwent a few minor changes, as I have enlarged it by size and changed the image of the platinum disc to one which I think works better with the colouring as it looks more realistic. More institutional information has been added such as the pricing of the magazine above the barcode, and the issue number and date of the magazine below the masthead in a small typography and lower cased as it will not help in attracting my audience.

Before adding the cover lines I had to use a template of what my front cover image may look like, so that the placing of the headings and subheadings fit around the image correctly and then it will be easier for me to just slot in the image later. I have also changed the colour of the ear piece to gold, and the colour of the masthead as I thought it suits best with the rest of the page design elements.

I have slotted in the main image I wanted to use for the front cover however, I have to re-arrange the placing of the cover lines as some were obscured by the image. The masthead has been changed back to silver as it reinforced the iconography of the platinum disc more than the colour black.

Front Cover

The top banner has been filled with two additional incentives, one being a free poster, and the other a chance to meet an artist. I then placed a text box on the bottom banner and wrote the names of the other artist who will feature within the magazine. I have changed the typography of the main heading and subheading so that it stands out more on the page. However, I had some difficulties in that whenever I changed computers the font of the cover lines would change, as some out dated computer did not have the fonts I had previously used. I also incorporated a plus sign and an image of another artist to fill up the page.

In changing the main image to one which takes up more space allowed me to delete the extra image of another artist, as I found that it look unprofessional. This was done with ease, and also allowed me to place the image in front of behind the text with no hassle.

Contents Page

The construction of the contents page began with the placing of the top banner to create a brand identity between the other pages; a rectangular box which will contain the page numbers; and finally the heading which is in a similar typography to the masthead, and has incorporated an iconographic image from Google of a play button.

I then developed the rectangular box with brown/golden dividing each section in terms of the information provided such as features, live and reviews and then left a black smaller rectangle going down the right hand side for the page numbers of these articles for navigational purposes. On the right hand side of the page I have laid out square boxes for where the images will be placed once they have been taken, and designed the competition box to resemble a post stick note.

Headings and subheadings for the articles have now been placed inside the boxes alongside their corresponding number. Two boxes at either side of the page has been added as one will hold an image of a woman lying down with her feet resting against the page, and the other will hold the editorial letter and image. I have also added a triangular pyramid with the magazines social networking sites to promote a multi-platform approach and thus synergy.

Next, I delete the boxes on the left hand side and instead incorporated the images I took during a photo-shoot. Publisher allowed me to change the placing of the images without affecting one another as I could put them in front or behind one another and change the sizing. I also placed a text box above the pink box so that I could write within it.

Contents Page

The page numbers of the articles have been added onto the images, and another image on the right hand side of the page, made to look as if she is resting against the box with the articles. I have also incorporated a small editorial letter aligned to the right.

I have made a few adjustments to the positioning on the conventions. The competition note has been switched with the editorial letter as it fits better within the smaller space. I have added to the editorial letter and added an image of myself to make it look more professional.

Double Page Spread

I began the construction of the double page spread with the top and bottom banners to create continuity and reinforce the brand identity of the pages. I then added the heading and subheading of the page in similar typographies, using a quote to attract my audience.

Realising that my subheading does no stand out against the heading, I changed the colour to brown/golden as it stands out more, and suggests to the audience that this is the subheading. I also added an exclamation mark to the heading to add a sense of entertainment to the audience in terms of the uses and gratification theory. Next I added an image from Google of lined paper to act as a jotted down note of the artists album suggesting that it is so good that it needed to be written down fast so that it is not forgotten.

Here I have added more boxes to hold information and images. The boxes at the top right are to hold images of the model resembling that of a photoshoot; the box below the subheading will be the lead paragraph and the boxes bellow that will be the copy (article). To the left of this I will add pictures from gigs which relate the same musical genre of the artist presented in the article.

The larger rectangular box on the right hand side will hold the main image of the artist presented in the article. I have also incorporated a quotation within the copy to break up the text, and a subscription box at the end of the copy, signifying the end of the article to the audience.

Double Page Spread

I have added the main image on the left hand side of the page, and moved the design element of photo-shoot images on the right in an additional column.

In the final design I have the changed the typography of the masthead and subheading as they stand out against the page background. I have also added a black background to the images resembling a photo-shoot, and moved the note paper so that the audience has a clear view of the low angle shot used.

Manipulation of images on Serif Photoshop

I opened up the image taken for the front cover onto Serif Photoshop, and then took away the background by using the magnetic lasso tool to go around the model and delete the surrounding background as it looked dull and dreary. I then manipulated the image by changing the levels, which controlled the lighting and contrast of the image to create a more appealing and professional image for my magazine.

I also whitened the eyes of the majority of the images taken as this is normally seen in professional existing magazines. This was done using the magnetic lasso tool around the whites of the eyes, and then changing the levels so that the eyes appear whiter.