Analysis Of My Magazine Front Cover

My Magazine cover analysis

For this task I had to create my own magazine, using my own photograph. I am happy with my magazine cover, because I think it looks genuine and professional, because I used software such as Photoshop and Microsoft word to create the cover I wanted.

When I was taking the photograph for the front cover, I had the model look into the camera lens to create a direct mode of address. This was to make the audience feel more involved in the magazine, and feel like it is directed at them individually. When taking the photograph, I also tried many different angles and poses, but I chose the ‘laying down’ pose because it created a more casual and relaxed feel to my magazine. This makes the audience assume that the contents of the magazine will be informal and friendly, because the pose, and the clothing of the model creates that mood.

When I was designing the layout of the magazine, I chose to put the masthead at the top, in the centre, because it makes it stand out more, and helps the audience to identify it from a distance. I chose to use the same colour scheme in the models clothing, and in the text so that the magazine would look more professional and more visually attractive, so the audience would be more interested in purchasing the magazine. My magazine uses the rule of three to create a visually attractive composition that is easy for the audience to navigate. This will make the audience more likely to read the magazine because it does not look confusing, and is easy to read.

I chose to use two serif fonts on the front cover to make the magazine look more factual, so the audience thinks that the magazine knows what ‘the best make-up brands of 2014’ are. I chose to make some of the text larger than the rest, for example, I made the name of the star ‘Ellen Rutherford’ and the number ‘150’ larger and a different colour to the text beneath it. I did this to make the more important pieces of information stand out, and to give the audience ‘teasers’ as to what is inside – making them more likely to pick up the magazine and read what is inside it.

I chose to use a patterned, black and white background because it does not distract the audience from the central image, and the cover lines. I chose a floral pattern because it links to the fashion genre of the magazine, and makes it clear to that audience that this magazine is a fashion oriented magazine. I used Photo Shop to create shadows to make it look like the model was actually laying on that surface. I did this to make the magazine look more professional and attractive, so that the audience would be more likely to pay attention to it and buy it.

On my front cover, I have included cover lines to give the audience ‘teasers’ to what is inside. I chose to include subject specific lexis like ‘Beauty’ ‘Fashion’ and ‘Make-up’ I did this because it makes the genre of the magazine clear to the audience so they know what type of magazine they are looking at, and so fans of this type of magazine will know if it is right for them.

 

The research I did previously helped me to create a magazine cover that looks professional and genuine. I researched visual codes and lexical choices that other magazines use, so that I would be able to incorporate similar techniques into my own work to make it more visually attractive, and so it has interesting content that would make the magazine sell if it were printed.

I feel that my strengths lie with the visual aspect of the magazine - for example - the colour schemes and the central image. I am happy with the outcome of the magazine because it looks like a professional magazine, due to my use of Photo Shop to blend the central image with the background to create an interesting cover.

However, if I were to do the cover again I would improve my Photo Shop skills first so that the shadows look more genuine around the hair - and so there are fewer streaks where I have painted the shadows in. I would also consider including a sell line to draw the audience in, to make the magazine seem even more genuine, and to give a sense that ‘JEWEL’ Magazine releases monthly issues – rather than just this one.