task 8: Post-production techniques and processes (P5)

Front cover

• I started the magazine production by opening an A4 document on photoshop. I chose an A4 portrait document as this fits the traditional codes and conventions of a magazine 
• I first added my masthead with the desired text size, font and format. I did this first so that I could arrange the rest of the front cover content around the masthead.
• I then added the skyline as I wanted it in line with the masthead

    

•  I edited my main image by raising the sharpness, boldness and light levels. I did this after realising, once enlarged and zoomed in on, my image appeared of a lower quality than it previously had. I edited the image as I wanted it to stand out and draw attention to my product. Editing it allowed it to become more eye-catching.

the final product

• I cut out my main image using the magnetic lasso tool. I did this so that my model's head would be in front of the magazine title. Using this tool, I outlined my model from the neck upwards. This took numerous attempts before carrying out the tool effectively. This was due to the all the details around the hair that had to be outlined precisely.

• I edited the text layout of all the text on the front cover. I lined up and spaced out letters in order to present the magazine clearly.

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• I enlarged and cropped my main image as to emphasis the model's facial expression. I cropped the image as to draw attention to the model rather than the background. It was important to do this as enlarging the image allows for attention to be on the model, the focus of the magazine.

• I added a strapline to the bottom of my cover, it includes the names of bands/ artists that relate to the genre my magazine aims to portray. I did this as to increase interest in my product. Including the names of well known bands can result in a higher number of readers.

• I elongated by magazine title length as to make it stand out and look bolder, I also shortened my titles's width as to comply with the codes and conventions of an industry standard magazine front cover. My text was size 30. I edited the sizes of my title many times in order to find a suitable size which would fit with my magazine 

• I rotated the barcode as to allow room for the bottom strapline.

• I added the magazine's price, issue number and release date to comply with industry codes and conventions.

• I added cover lines as to allow readers to know what the content inside is as well as to draw attention to it.

• I put black boxes around the text on the front cover as to make it easier to read and stand out from the background. The black contrasted from the white text

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• My media product has been exported as a JPEG so that it would be in the correct format, reflecting the traditional codes and conventions of a magazine. I exported it so that my product would meet the client brief. 

Double page spread

   

• I started the process by creating a A3 landscape document. I did this as an A3 landscape document fits the codes and conventions of a magazine. 
• I edited my image by increasing the brightness, sharpness and boldness. I did this so that the image would be more striking and eye-catching. 
• I started adding my article into columns by creating two rows of rectangular text boxes. I added the text into columns as it abides with the traditional codes and conventions of a magazine. 
• I added my article headline and subheading. I did this so that I could start to gage what would fit where.

• I started adding in pull quotes as to fill up the empty spaces on my double page spread 
• I added in an introduction as to give context to the interview and inform the reader about the artist 
• I made the article body text smaller so that it could all fit on the page. I changed the font size and spacing in order to do this

 

• I arranged the article questions and content in order of relevance. 

• I added page numbers as to conform with the industry standard of magazine production.
• I added more pull quotes as to fill space and grab the reader's attention.

• My media product has been exported as a JPEG in order to fit the codes and conventions of a traditional magazine. I did this so that my product would meet the client brief.

Review 

I believe a strength of my product was my use of fonts and spacing. I believed I used the photoshop tools effectively in order to present my magazine clearly and concisely. I arranged the texts so that the spacing of letters aligned to the rows of text. Doing this meant that the presentation of text of the front cover was eyecatching and appealing. By arranging my text in small paragraphs, the magazine relates back to the target audience of my magazine, 17 to 24 year olds, and their reading habits.

I believe another strength of my finished product was the use of editing, enlarging and cropping of my main image. Doing this allowed for the cover to represent the inside content of rising talent. My use of editing, including brightness, boldness and sharpness, allowed my image to fit the grunge rock genre of my magazine. My use of editing reflected the client's brief as my brightening and sharping the image, the magazine focuses more strongly on vibrant young talent.

However I believe a weakness of my magazine was the use of font colour on top of the background. My black text in front of the dark background of greens and blues made the text difficult to read in places. In order to improve on this I would potentially change the colour of my text or add a drop shadow. Doing this would make my magazine clearer to read in the places where the background was particularly dark. This was a weakness as the magazine didn't highlight the client's requirement of vibrant young talent to the extent it could have.

Another weakness of my magazine was the use of the magnetic lasso tool around the model's head. Due to all the details of the photograph, it was difficult to outline the desired area neatly. This meant that the finished outline wasn't particularly clear. In order to improve on this I would spend more time trying to outline the head neatly. To correct this, and to meet the client brief, I would edit the image so that it was clearer that the focus of the magazine was rising talent in North London.