Main Task: Music Magazine Cover Drafts

 

 These are the first stages of creating my music magazine cover. Using Fireworks, I have experimented with different images, from my initial photo shoot, and colours in order to create a cover that is fit for purpose - clear, informative yet interesting and bold.

Both versions of my cover demonstrate the use of complimentary colour mastheads against the backgrounds, although I have experimented with different brightness and contrast settings in order to create two very different appearances. Image one has a high brightness and high contrast emphasising the bright choice of clothing, whilst image two uses 'Auto Contrast' and 'Auto Brightness' in order to create a natural appearance further demonstrated by the colour of the masthead as it is a neutral colour depicted from the image. Additionally, I have used a 'dropped shadow' in order to make the masthead stand out, lifting it from the image, so that it becomes clear and easy to read, against the background of a similar colour

Here I have adapted my covers by adding the main headline and conventional features of a magazine i.e. barcode, issue number and date as featured on the first cover image. Although similar, I have again experimented with colour in order to create headings that are easy to read, using different shapes, sizes, colour and effect enabling the product to be read easily.

 

This is the cover i have chosen to continue to develop. I found that this image and colour scheme looks more effective then the other as the other image can be used elsewhere in my final products i.e Double page spread. I also think the colours for this cover are more eyecatching and support the genre of my magazine (pop) as they are more fun, supported by the model used,  rather than neutral colour scheme which is less striking.

 

 

 

 

 

This is my final draft for my cover. I changed the main image to an image with a lower contrast, which overall looks more natural and less exposed. The lighter toned colours makes the text on my product easier to read, and does not hurt ones eyes. I have also rearranged my main headline and added a banner on the bottom of my page so that my target audience can access the magazine online. I have also added an outline around my masthead text making it more distinct and so that it doesnt blend into my main image, making it dominant and more noticable/recognisable.