CREATING A COVER

I intially made a cover for my magazine as part of my experimentation process. I personally wanted to add a few changes to that cover, for instance I wanted a clear background, as the background I had was to busy, it was also a mostly background, therefore it would appeal to a more limited audience. 

So for my second shoot I made sure that the background was clear, although not completely white, I made sure that it was transferable unto a clear, even background. By using the Lasso tool I selected the section of the image I wanted and copy and pasted it onto the clear background,  I then blended the remaining background from the image unto the background behind. I also enlarged the image and added The Masthead and the theme of the issue. 

MAIN IMAGE: SHOOT

I recently did a shoot for the main image of my magazine. Although my moodboard included shots from varied angles and in various locations. Through inspirations form magazines such as wire and Wonderland, I have chosen keep the background clean, and focus solely on producing close up, portrait shots. 

WWW:

•  I was able to acquire a variety of emotions through the close-ups, so I am able to pick and choose, as the emotion on the cover will reflect the atmosphere of the rest of the magazine. 
• Using a DSLR, where i was able to control the focus of the shot, so clear and crisp shots were easily achieved. 
• The look of the model in these shots are familiar to that of my first shoot, hence maintaining a certain aesthetic.   

EBI: 

• The lighting of the shots could have been improved, maybe through the addition of artificial lighting or by simply shooting under more intense sunlight. 
• In some of the shots, the background's creamy surface is more prominent, therefore the lack of a clear white background is more distinctive. However this can all corrected and re-adjusted with photoshop. 

MAIN ARTICLE PAGE (DRAFT)

As I feel that my article is coming to a conclusion, I decided to create the layout of the page in which it will feature in. My preferences for the layout were that the image would be on one page, yet it would not fill the page, for this decision I was highly inspired by Wire's article layout. However I faced difficulty when making the image more portrait because it meant cutting out the model. I also decided to add a different layer for each word of my title in order to allow more flexibility. Creating a text box over the image also aloud me to include an introduction for the article that would not disturb the layout of the article, and by increasing the opacity of the text box, the whole image was still in sight. 

Due to my previous problem with the image, I changed it to a similar image but with a longer shot, I also stretched it enough so as to go over on to the next page. I experimented with the font of my title but decided to stick with the original font, but with this font I experimented with the opacity and the placement of each word on the page. I also made each word of the title overlay, almost giving it a logo-like effect. By adding some parts of my main article, and placing it as the traditional column-like structure, I was able to get an idea of how every aspect of this article would look on the page, main articles are usually two pages, so this also showed me the amount of content I need to write. In order make it look more youth- inspired and less serious I changed the font of the main text to Courier, this font added some graphic elements to the page, which coordinated with the style of the title. 

MAGAZINE COVER: FURTHER INSPIRATIONS

I am mainly inspired by the thick, yet simple font that goes across the top of the page. The font colour is white hence why it compliments the pastel coloured background. The cover photo is close up shot, very central and direct, almost as it is introducing us to the this character. 

Billboard: Final

 This is the final copy of my Billboard advert, I decided to keep the 'may issue out now' text as white, because it stands out more. I am happy with the result because the layout is balanced, in terms of placement of text. Also, every aspect of the billboard is made clearly visible to the audience. 

BILLBOARD: FINALISING

Here I decided to experiment with some colour, since I am already using yellow on my website, i think it would be best for me to extend it onto my billboard, as it not only compliments the models skin tone and the background but it is also makes the words out even more. I also decided to place the name and description on the lefthand side so the yellow does not get lost in the lightness of the fur coat. I am mostly experimenting with various fonts and different areas of placements for the 'may issue out now' text. I decided to stick to whites and yellows so as to coincide with the other text. 

MAIN ARTICLE: LAYOUT

I am still considering how I should layout my aricle page. I have been looking at other magazines for inspiration. One layout that I especially like is that of Wire magazines, the placement of text and images looks quite graphic and patchy. Unlike mainstream magazines such as Elle, where an image would usually fill one page, whilst the text in placed on the next page, Wire usually makes the text more prominent, whilst placing the images around the text. What attracted it to me was its lack of professionalism, and it is through this professionalism that it is relatable to local people and more specifically young people.



RESEARCH: BILLBOARD FONTS

 Hugo Boss have used a big bold font immedetley drawing attention to the name of the brand. It is placed diagonally across the bottom of the image, making it look  quite unconventional and playful. It doesn't intend to be professional or serious. This playful attitude is also emphasised by the colour pink, this colour makes the billboard seem more youthful, although this perfume is aimed at men, it seems that they also want women to be attracted to the perfume, the pink may be saying that  if men were to wear this perfume, women would be attracted to them.

Above the text, there is a shot of the male model in a very active motion, which further supports the elements of youth and vibrancy. He is looking directly at the camera, which suggests that he has, power, confidence and assurance in himself. This image may be aiming to be a reflection of what man wants to feel when he wears this perfume, ''It's just a fragrance. The rest is up to you'' is further indication that it aims to give the costumer power, becasue it is giving them a choice on how they would want to feel once they put the perfume on. 

RESEARCH: BILLBAORD FONTS



I showed my teacher and my peers the draft of my billboard, so they could give me some advice on ways to improve,one of the comments were that it was very similar to a Marks and Spencer billboard, especially with the banner placed across the image. So I decided to source some images of Marks and Spencer billboard adverts, and I could see some resemblances. I do not intend for my magazine to hold a similar theme to that of Marks and Spencer because we are both targeting very different audiences and are advertising dissimilar products. Yet I hope that through me dissembling this billboard ad on Marks and Spencer coats, I am able to determine what makes it so similar to mine and possibly alter my billboard to suit the style of my magazine.

The overlay box here is quite similar to the one I placed over my billboard, as with mine, it is set in the middle of the image and from the side. On the this box we see Marks and Spencer's trademark logo and font. The colour of the box itself is a dark, almost black colours instead of bright highly feminine colours, this is probably expected, as they are trying to reach out to a more mature audience. However the audience I am appealling to is much smaller and younger, hence why I plan to experiment with colours and fonts. Yet as a way to specify the gender and to avoid making the billboard look to masculine, the bright pink scarf was added.

Just as my poster the title of the image is placed across the image, in a very simplistic way, again we know they are trying to reach to a more mature audience. This title is also very functional, as it is big enough to see and tells the reader what they need to know. 

The background hosts a detailed photo, which more focuses on the garment than the model wearing it, this is another way of being more direct and communicative with their audience, because they are showing them exactly what they are selling.  as in my image I wanted to draw more attention to the body language and the clothes, however I still want my audience the know that I am selling a magazine instead not the clothes.