Conclusion

To conclude, I feel that I have created a front cover, contents page and a double page spread that mimics a real media product. I have challenged some conventions, whilst still adhering to others. Overall, I believe that my magazine is a success as I have followed the brief and conducted a variety of research as well as scouting different locations and using technologies to create my desired effect.

EVALUATION

Question 1- In what ways does your product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products.




Question 2 - How does your media represent particular social groups?

Question 3 - What kind of media institution would distribute your product and why?



Question 4 and 5 - Who would be the audience and how did you attract your target audience?


Question 6 - What have you learned from technologies in the process of making this product?


Question 7 - Looking back at the preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned from it in the progression from it to the full product?

FINAL DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

FINAL CONTENTS PAGE

FINAL FRONT COVER

Screen Shots For The Double Page Spread

I started of by creating a background with a brick texture. I had previously taken a picture of a brick wall which I changed the opacity of to make it see through, using the Fx properties tool. I then used the graffiti picture I took and the original picture I took of Kasia, which I used he Lasso tool to cut out. I placed Kasia on top of the graffiti image. To blend Kasia in with the image, I used the blur tool, which made her look one with the image as if I had taken the picture of her in front of the graffiti. I then used the same logo (FUSE) in the same font and placed it in the left hand corner of the page so that people understand that the article is from FUSE.

I then used the text box to make a headline, enlarging the text and putting Kasia in bold so that it stands out. I also made a subheading and rotated both at an angle. I created a pull-ou quote as this is a common feature in a double page spread within an interview. I also added feature at the op beside Fuse to show that it is a main feature.

I created two text boxes and typed up my own interview with Kasia, aligning the text so that the page does  not look messy. I used images that I also took and made them smaller. I changed the brightness each one so that the images would pop. I used a red outline, matching the colour of the masthead. I then tilted the mages so that they look quite abstract and more appealing.

Finally, I added page numbers at the bottom of the page and a blue rectangle at right hand corner of the page. I changed the opacity so that part of the graffiti could be seen and added a little caption, making the readers aware of Kasia's new album.

After receiving audience feedback, I changed the colour of the pull-out quote so that the double page spread looked more appealing. I also wrote the name 'Kasia' on paper and used the scanner to scan it in as it gave a more personal effect. This matched the graffiti theme.

Images For Double Page Spread

I have scouted many locations in order to show variety and appeal on my contents page. The first image with the group shot was taken by myself at the southbank graffiti tunnel, behind the metal fence. I thought that this location represemte pop/rock well and showed diverity. The bright colours pop and the group shot makes the band more interestuing, therfeore attracting an audience. The other were taken in local locations, behind brick walls as I wanted to incorporate different textures. These are some of the images that I have taken, which will be used for the DPS.

Locations

In terms of locations, I kept mine as varied as possible, using a simple backdrop, a brick wall and a graffiti tunnel all for my magazine. All these locations will be used in the front cover, contents and DPS to make the magazine more interesting and appealing to the reader. The backdrop has been used for the front cover to as it it plain, placing all the attention on the main image of Kasia. The brick wall and graffiti tunnel will be used for the contents in some of the smaller images and in the Double Page Spread.

Industry Research -Psychographics And Demographics Of Readers

For my planning and research, I have explored the psychographics and demographics of readers within the pop/rock music industry in order to gain a better understanding of my target audience and their habits.

NME receive roughly  1037 sales  a week

Socio-Economic

People in the UK are targeted based on their social class.
The categories are A, B, C1, C2, D, and E.
The things they are based on are things like, Occupations, Education, Economic status and Background.
Most newspapers in the UK still use this system to categorise people.

A – Upper Middle Class
B - Middle Class
C1 – Lower Middle Class
C2 – Skilled Working Class
D – Working Class
E – Those at the lowest level of subsistence.

Research that people particulary  between C2 and B are most likely to purchase a magazine.

People who like NME and Q and will like our magazine will be ; punk/rock/ pop lovers. Have an interest in music and particular artist and likely to be creative.  They will also attend music festivals and concerts and enjoy  fashion.

Mostly between 13-18 majority girls, some boys.

Screen Shots for Contents Page

 

Firstly, I created a suitable background colour that would fit the housestyle of the magazine and go would the front cover. I used the colour picker to select my colour and then applied it to the page. I then used the same logo that was used on my front cover- FUSE. I made it smaller and placed it in the left hand-corner of the page, to make sure that the contents was identifiable. I made a red box using the shape tool as a base for where the word 'contents' would be.  

 

 

The next stage was to add typical features of a magazine, which are headlines. I added regulars, features and music headlines using the text box. I used a template for this and aligned the writing so that the page lookd organised and so that it was easy to navigate around the contents page.

I used the shape tool to outline the regulars box as it was make the page more visually appealing and this is also a common feature used within Q and NME magazine. I then used a photo that I had taken in southbank and added it to the page, increasing the brightness and saturation to make the image pop. This would give the readers a taste of what this issue is about. I used the magnetic lasso tool and crop tool to remove the background for the main image of Kasia standing up. The reason for this creative decsion was that in research I found that many magazine included a central image in the middle of the contents page to attract the readers and to make the page more interesting. I chose to use a full body image as this suited the best and fitted well in terms of proportion. It also shows the reader what is coming up in the magazine. I added an editorial using the text box, as I thought that this would add a more personal touch to the magazine, which would make it more appealing for the readers. I used the logo FUSE again and the same font when using the word in my editorial to make sure that it stands out.

For the final steps, I added more pictures that I had taken from different loctions and using the shape and text tool, created number indicators on top of each image. This would make the images stand out and help  the reader to navigate. Overall, I have stuck to my chosen colour scheme of red and black. I have incorporated some blue, but from my audience feedback, have found that this colour is overbearing and makes the page look too colourful, so I have only used bit of it.

Screen Shots For Front Cover

I have been taking screen shots of my work along the process of production.

 

The above is the first screen shot that I took when beginning to start the front cover of my music magazine. Starting of with the background, I used a gradient to create a faded effect consisting of black fading to grey and eventually white. This created a pop/rock theme and would also create a great contrast with the image and pops of colour used in the headlines. I chose black rather than a brighter colour as it would allow the main image to pop and not be too overbearing. This colour, as indicated from my market research, it quite popular amongst pop/rock genres. I then used the font Futura Condensed Extra Bold for my masthead and coloured it red using the colour mixer. I also added the date underneath the masthead, as a typical convention of magazines. The reason that the masthead is located in the left-hand corner of the page rather then in the centre, is that this is typical of music magazines, such as Q and NME, which is the look that I am going for.

 

 

 

 

 

 After establishing a background, I spent time editing my main image. I have chosen a mid-shot for the main image as I fell that it exhibits a sense of style, which helps to give off the persona of the artist, and also makes it distinct from a fashion magazine. This image in particular is engaging as the artist gives direct eye contact to the reader. I made sure that the image was seperate from the background so that I was able to manoeuvre it around and change the background colour without it being affected.  To do this I used the magic background remover and the magnetic lasso tool. I used tools such as spot healer to remove and spots and blemishes which in turn evened out the skin tone, producing a better overall image.I also made use of the  burn and dodge tool to create m desired effect. As a convention of a magazine, the artist, especially with women, always look polished and well groomed, particularly with their makeup. Therefore, using the right tools meant that I could achieve this look successfully.

The next process was adding features of a magazine, such as a barcode and headlines. Using the text button, I inserted headline using the font Impact, which seemed most appropriate for the magazine. I also used three different colours; red, black and white. Originally, I was intending to use blue, as this looked too over bearing, I limited my colours. These headlines were then placed on top of the image, adhering to the notions of a magazine. I had to use the colour white for 'The 10 best' headline as using black meant it was unreadable due to the black colour of the image.

As I wanted the main feature to stand out, I thought of a creative way to do so. I used red lipstick to write the name of the artist, Kasia and then added a lip kiss, which I then scanned onto the computer and placed on the cover. The texture I thought went well and created a contrast, as well as the fun writing and matching red colour. I felt that this technique helped to create am image for the artist and also made the cover more enticing as it gave a more informal feel. I then added a banner using the square tool and filled this in with new British artists.

Finally, I added a competition at the top of the page, creating a circular shape and outline using the shape tool.  The reason for my choice of colour in regards to the white circle, it that the colours pop and will be one of the first things that the reader sees when purchasing the magazine. I also highlighted 'Midnight Fire' to make the page more visually appealing.



Overall, I have used many tools and effects using different application software in order to attain my desired look and to adhere to the typical conventions of a pop/rock magazine.

Star Profile

For my magazine, I have chosen Kaisa to model as I feel that she will be able to represent pop/rock very well as create the image that I want to give off. Kasia is a big fan of pop/rock, which makes the casting process aswell as shooting easier as she takes and interest in those types of magazines and knows how typical celebrities look on the front cover. Being a white female is conventional of a British magazine, which is why is fits her profile well.Her image is quite rock as she will be wearing a leather jacket and red make-up. Her clothes will consist of edgy items such as boots and bright make-up to make the magazine appear vibrant.

Ideas For DPS Photoshoot

In terms of the Double Page Spread, I must use a variety of locations as this is a norm within music magazines. The Front Cover always consists of the main artist and the DPS has the same person but with different mise-en-scene and locations. The effect of this is that it creates variety for the reader and makes the magazine more appealing. For my double page spread, I intend to use a variety of locations as it will include several images of the artists. I will be using different textures for the scenery such as a brick wall and other locations.

Colour scheme adjustments

My audience feedback said that the blue in front cover looked overbearing as it clashed with the other colours (red and black). Taking on this feedback, I decided to lessen the amount of blue used on my front cover as I have only used it for the banner at the bottom of the front page. In regards t the contents page, I have used bits of blue on top of the smaller images to indicate the page numbers as too many colours would not look professional. This feedback turned out to have a positive affect on my magazine as it looked more organised.

Magazine Pitch and Audience Feedback

We have conducted a pitch in front of the class in order to receive feedback from our audience about the front cover of the magazine. We put forward a mock up of the magazine and asked various questions sparking up audience opinion and feedback. So far, the audience said that the magazine looked more like a fashion magazine rather then a music one. This criticism made us aware of the changes that we needed to make. I then changed my photo to a mid-shot as it looked was too close-up, meaning that an image was not created of the artist. We demonstrated the theme of the magazine and also the type of image we wanted to create. We made it very clear that our masthead for the magazine will not be placed in the middle behind the artists head, but on the left-hand side of the magazine. This is because this is a stereotypical feature of a music magazine, and also makes it unique to the music industry. This can be seen with magazine's such as 'Q' and 'NME', which is a similar product to ours. Overall, we received both positive and constructive feedback, which has proven very helpful in the process of creating the magazine.

Mise-en-scene

In terms of Mise-en-scene, it is important to create the right look so that the desired representation is received from the readers. For the front cover, we carefully thought of the image that we wanted to create for our artist. The costume was rock/pop due to the leather jacket and flowery top but we enhanced the make-up and hair to create a specific look which would attract an audience.