Research of 3 front covers

This is a powerpoint with my analysis of 3 different magazines these include: 2 different versions of NME featuring Lily Allen and Liam Gallagher, and also a copy of Q featuring Noel Gallagher.  

Production Log 6

During my last Media lesson I learned how to properly evaluate magazine covers and I also started to evaluate one.

I evaluated a cover of NME which had Lily Allen as the main image and the main storyline throughout the magazine.  I evaluated the masthead, main image, sub lines, tag lines, date and price. This particular cover was fairly easy to evaluate because of the weird obscurity of it. The cover had all the basic conventions that a magazine cover should have but most of them had a twist. For example the main sell line looks like a cut out from a newspaper which is significant because it looks more interesting and relates well to the story it’s about.

Furthermore during my research of these magazines covers I have learnt about many different aspects of magazines I can now use in my own product. Mainly I will now use tag lines and sell lines more as I now understand how important they are to help follow the conventions of a magazine and they help make the magazine look more professional. Also I have found how important a main image to drawing the reader’s attention to the specific magazine. 

Production Log 5

During my lesson today I sorted my blog out as it was fairly un-organised hopefully it’s a lot better now. I also uploaded my videos of my magazine cover; I did this on the programme Cam Studio I recorded two videos one for my magazine cover and one for my magazine contents page. Each video explained how I made my magazine. I had to upload my videos to YouTube and then upload them to blogger as they wouldn’t download straight to my blog.
 

Furthermore during this particular lesson I was starting to look at examples of magazine covers. The cover I was closely looking at was a copy of NME, this was mainly about Liam Gallagher from Oasis.

I started to write a analysis of the cover this included things such as: the focal point, masthead, colours and subtitles.

Video of Around Haydon contents page

This was a video showing my magazines contents page and how it was made. I made this on the programme called Cam Studio, I uploaded this to Youtube as again it wouldnt upload straight to Blogger.

VIdeo of Around Haydon cover page

This is a video explaining how my magazine Around Haydon's cover page was made. I made it on Cam Studio I had to upload this youtube as it took to long to upload straght to my blog.

Production Log 4

During my last media lesson I did two things. Firstly I did the evaluation for my magazine called ‘Around Haydon’ this was a fairly short evaluation which consisted of around 700 words. In this evaluation I concluded what I had done to my magazine, for example how I made it, what programmes I used and lastly I evaluated the final product.

Evaluating my skills of the programmes InDesign and Photoshop was fairly easy as my skills were basic and I felt they improved throughout the task. Also my Product was easy to evaluate as I feel it was okay for a first attempt however there is plenty of room for improvement.  

Also during this lesson I attempted using cam studio for the first time. I found this difficult as my computer kept flashing green as I experienced problems with the programme.  However felt in the end I got to grips with the programme and had an enjoyable time making the films. These could be improved by trimming the beginning and ends a bit. 

Production Log 3

  During my lesson I finished by magazine ‘Around Haydon’ this involved finishing and improving my magazine cover and contents page.

 I did this by changing the colours of the magazine making it more about Haydon. The colours I changed my magazine to be blue and yellow this is because it’s the colours of Haydon School, so this then was more recognizable to everyone associated Haydon and then people know it’s a Haydon product. The colours I originally used were black and grey background with blue writing. I did this to make the writing contrast but I felt that the Haydon colours were more recognizable and contrasted just as well.   

On my contents page I changed the background colour of the Haydon Stage to the same as the contents page colour to give it a more professional look. I felt this worked well as it looks better.

Pictures of Final piece of preliminary task

This is my final piece for my preliminary task, my magazine was called Around Haydon.

Evaluation

Evaluation of Around Haydon:

For my preliminary task I am going to evaluate my magazine, my magazine is called Around Haydon, I called my magazine this because it is giving everyone the latest news from Around Haydon. The colours I have used are blue and yellow this is because it’s the colours of Haydon School, so this then is recognizable to everyone associated Haydon and people know it’s a Haydon product. I had originally planned to have a black and grey background with blue writing. I did this to make the writing contrast but I felt that the Haydon colours were more recognizable and contrasted just as well. On my magazine the type of font I used was Broadway for both my sell lines and masthead this was too add a sophisticated look to my cover and contents page. The font I used varied between sizes the masthead was sized 42 pt to make it a lot bigger compared to the sell lines which was sized 24 pt this was because it is a  normal size so it wasn’t too big or wasn’t too small. The main image on my front cover was of the hero 6^th former who saved a Year 7. I did this because it is my main headline so it was based on my main story. I also have the Haydon logo in the top right hand corner, this is my magazine logo which anyone associated with Haydon can recognize.

For the contents page I have pictures of a main entrance, the café sign, a year 7 posing in her new uniform and the Haydon stag which is going to be a common theme throughout the magazine. I had again the same school colours as a background colour as they contrast really well.  My pictures on the contents page are rotated to make it like a ladder of progression throughout the day. The contents lines are in yellow so they contrast with the blue background also it stays with the Haydon school colours theme. I have used the same type of font with the same sizing as it’s not too big and not too small. Each contents line has a page next to it, this shows the reader what page they have to go too to see the story to each different headline.

In conclusion the good points about my magazine is that the writing is the same font throughout the magazine, I feel this is good as it doesn’t create confusion for the reader as they know exactly what they are reading also if anything such as adverts are placed on my magazine they will instantly know the difference. Also I felt the layout of pictures on the contents page was a good idea because it shows what the year 7 will experience on a day to day basis. I believe I have met the criteria on my preliminary task

To improve next time I fell my magazine could be of a better quality as it still looks fairly amateurish compared to some examples I had researched before starting mine. To improve I feel I need to get to know the programme a lot better and feel more comfortable when using it. Also I feel the photo on my main cover is of a fairly bad quality, to make my magazine better I could have an improved picture this would improve the quality of my cover.

I feel I used InDesign fairly well considering it was a first attempt, but want to have more knowledge and confidence when using it. When using photoshop I felt again I need more knowledge and confidence when using it. 

I will make sure I do all of this when it comes to the real task as I have learnt many skills on using programmes such as InDesign and Photoshop which will only benefit me in the near future.

Around Haydon cover and contents page

This is a slideshare showing how I improved my magazine using InDesign

AS Media preview of Zak Labiad's blog

This is my review of Zak Labiad blog, i feel doing this will  help me make my own one more interesting and more fun to read. This was made on the programme called Slide share

Around Haydon Magazine Sketch

These pictures show my preliminary task sketches, these are for my front cover and the contents page.

Production Log 2

During my lesson today I started to make my magazine cover and contents page. This involved using the programme InDesign and Photoshop.

I used InDesign for the first time which was challenging but also very interesting, I feel the current mock up I have for my magazine is of a okay quality but I feel was very good for a first attempt. It has a bold masthead which contrasts with the background colours and the focal point is of my hero school who is the main headline in my magazine. The colours I used was black, grey and blue this was because they really contrasted well.


My contents page had a list of the main headlines throughout the magazine, but also had some photos to help explain the headlines in even more detail. I used the same colours as they contrasted well. I rotated the pictures on my contents page to add an effect and something different to just a boring more formal magazine.

AS Media Production Log 1

Dear Blog

Magazine cover:

During my first Media lesson on Wednesday 3^rd of September 2014, I sketched a magazine cover. This magazine had a masthead of ‘Around Haydon’, for this I planned a typical cover which covered the latest news around Haydon. The latest headline was ‘Local boy saves the day’, this was because of the local year 12 saving many year 7’s from getting lost. My focal point was of a year 12, this was a close up shot of his face, and this was done to show all of the excitement and adrenalin that was running through the hero.

Contents page:

During this lesson I also created a contents page. This was done to explain what was going to happen during my entire magazine. This was done by having a list of the key points in the magazine. The contents page also had pictures situated on it to give a clearer idea of what was going to happen in the magazine.

Lastly during my first media lesson I took pictures which will go onto my magazine cover, this will be useful, as it will make my magazine easier to keep the audience captivated while reading it.