End of RED.

Dear moderator
My name is Francesca Watkins and my candidate number is 9151.
I have completed my front cover, contents page and double page spread these are all at the top of my blog. I have also completed my evaluation on prezi with the link, as well as the preliminary task of the School front cover and contents page.
I hope you enjoy looking through my blog!

Evaluation

This is my evaluation of my music magazine. Overall I am happy with the results and I think I have improved in all aspects of photo shop since my preliminary task. Below is the link to my prezi evaluation.
http://prezi.com/cktmf4gbt9ww/media-as-red-evaluation/?kw=view-cktmf4gbt9ww&rc=ref-28776965

Final double page spread

This is a picture of my final double page spread. I changed it to a JPEG file so it was easier to read.

Overall I am happy with how it looks; I like the pictures I took the most as I think they work well with the interview. One think I don’t like as much so the character profile although it looks good I think I could have changed the colour to add a bit more variation, other than that I think the double page spread I have kept the house style the same with the JOE. and I chose not to fit another picture up the top as I think it looks professional enough without it.

Final contents page

This is my final contents page, i saved it as a JPEG file so it was easier to open and see.

Overall  i am happy with how my contents page looked. My favourite part is the sub headings and the front cover with the page numbers a lot of magazines tend to use this and i think it worked well for my magazine. One thing i don't like as much is the add us on Facebook it worked well on the front but because of the particular background colour i don't know if it stands out to much.

Final front cover

This is my final Red front cover. I saved it as a JPEG so it was easier to open and see.

Overall i am happy with it, although i couldn't fit all the small pictures on the left hand side i still think it looks good. I think the colours blend well together and it does look like an indie magazine aimed at females. My favourite part is the masthead and the main cover image both ideas didn't take much planning, but worked really well. My least favourite i would say is the other cover story's on the right hand side i don't know if the look realistic enough. Although i am happy with how it all came together.

Preliminary Task Contents page

 

This is my preliminary task contents page, i decided to stick with the same colours on the front for a constant house style, i used gold for the heading like i used on the masthead at the front, this is so people are intrested in it as if i used the plain black then the contents page may not have looked as appealing for people to look at. My original idea was to use black for the page numbers i decided to change this to gold as i wanted to match with the heading and as i didnt really know what colour i wanted the heading to be at the time i decided to just chose black, but i think it now looks better using gold. I kept the same font for this so it was cinsistents. I deicded to include a welcome message as i wanted it to look professional. I decided to change the font on this so that it didnt all look the same, i also included a box round it to seperate it from other text on the page. Although some of the layout has changed from the original idea i have included eberything i wanted to add. The picture i used has changed from the original idea as i wanted to make the sixth form look more like a community and i felt this picture worked better to show this. I also include a speech bubble with a gold back and black text as the magazine is for students so i hoped this would make it more entertainnig. I original though of the idea of putting a star around the 'Dont forget to pick up your next free magazine from the library', but as i already uesd this on the front i didnt think it would look as good to show it again. I also changed the text of the contact details to the same as the welcome message so it all didnt look the same. I also chose not to put a box around this message as i didnt want it to look to similar to the front page. I chose to use the same background as the front cover so that it was constant, and did actually look like a school magazine.

Preliminary task Front cover

 

This is my preliminary task magazine front cover. For the background i used a red to stick with the School colours i decided to make the colour change from lighter to darker reds so that it made it look more interesting rather than one solid colour. I then used gold for the masthead which is the same colour as the St Marks logo to make it recognisable. As i did my magazine for the sixth form i decided to add this in black so that it looked more interesting. As this is the first St Marks magazine  i also included this so that it looked more professional. I decided to use the medium close up shot on the front and put a quote from the student about what they like about the sixth form, this is so that people can find out what students do actually think of the sixth form. I also included the St Marks sign at the front of school so that friends and family of the student would recognise it, if they ever drove past the school. As this magazine is for Students i also included a star with "Find out about new clubs!" as students might not realise that there is opportunity's for them to get involved. I also used a profile shot on the front page but i changed it into a circle so that students know that there is access to computers in the school so they can complete there work. I decided to use 3 small photos as people can start to recognise students from the sixth form. Using the logo also meant that people knew it was specifically for the School rather than just a magazine for everyone.

Media industry

After looking at some of the theory's like Denis McQuail 1987 and Blumer and Kate 1974 based on these theory's people would buy my magazine i think for various reasons these are;
Diversion - My magazine is relaxing it doesn't contain hard core topics like serious news it is for entertainment value and people will enjoy the fun side of my magazine
Personal relationship - Although my magazine is aimed at females it isn't a pop magazine it is more indie so i dont think people will read my magazine for personal relationships.
Personal identity - As my magazine is 'indie' and contains a lot about celebrity's I think people would use my magazine for personal identity as some of the artists might be the readers idols.
Surveillance - I don't think people would use my magazine for surveillance as it doesn't really have any serious news or a lot of advice inside it is more for fun and entertainment value.

Evidence of using photoshop

This is evidence of me using photo shop to make my magazine as I hadn't use photo shop a lot before making my magazine I had to learn a lot of the tools. I know a lot about photo shop now and can use it again in the future with ease since making my magazine.

Interview changes

After speaking with my teacher she suggested 2 changes to make my double page spread look more professional. She firstly said to put my text into columns which not only made my double page spread look better, but it also left me more space to add pictures. i then changed my interviewee's speech to white, she suggested that i should change it to black as people may struggle to see it. As i already used black the colour change didn't affect my magazine, but did make my text stand out more.

The font i used was Plantagenet Cherokee i decided to make the questions slightly bigger than the answer so that people could tell who was speaking. This is the second half of my interview, i think it looks a lot better now and clearer to read.

Character profile

I decided to use my the other picture of my model for my character profile as I wanted to make it look professional and i didn't want him to be wearing the same clothing. I like the character profile because it tells the audience a bit more about my model.

 

 

Main cover story changes

When i showed my teacher Mrs Howlett my first draft, she said that there was to much text for the main cover story a friend in my media class suggested i put 'All you need to know about JOE'  i liked this idea as it was simple but catchy so people would want to find out more. I also hadn't mentioned who the main cover picture was of so by changing the main cover story i think this has helped the image and the story stand out a lot more.

Contents changes

 

Originally my idea was to have the page number in order. When i showed Mrs Howlett my first draft she said that i could make the page number's the same font as the masthead. She then said that i should put them into categories so people can pick out what they want to read. I liked this idea better than my original idea as it is keeping the house style the same, it also looks more appealing so people would want to read it.

Locations

I used 3 different locations my first photo shoot was in School as this was the only real opportunity that I could see 2 of my models.
The second photo shoot was in my home where I took pictures of another 2 of my models I think these images came out well overall.
The third photo shoot was in my home as well as in the local park/field this was a decision I made before I saw the model, but I am happy with how the pictures came out.
Some of the pictures had a lot going on in the background so they where not used in the final magazine, but I am happy with all the final images I have chosen for my magazine.

Camera

This is the camera I used for all three photo shoots, I used flash for some of the pictures but others I didn't depending on the lighting. Overall I am happy with how all three photo shoots went as well as how all my photo's came out.

Third photoshoot

This is the second part to my third and final photo-shoot, these photos are all of the same model as it is the main cover image and the model I am going to use for my double page spread.

I like this shot, and I am considering using it as my main cover image as the model is looking directly at the camera and I also think the image would work well when I have to put text over the top. I am going to see what it looks like on Photo shop before I make a final decision as I have another photo which I like. I do like the fact he is on a brick wall outside my house though as you can see the model a lot clearer and the audiences focus would just be on him as there is nothing else in the picture.

 I like this image as the model is looking directly at the camera and the photo does look professional. I plan to use this on my double page spread.

I like this photo as the model isn't looking directly at the camera, I haven decided if I am going to use this photo yet as I have s few other images although I may consider using it on the contents page as I do have space at the bottom. I took this picture on a field near my home, i think it makes the artist look like this is his home area, but still looks professional enough to use.

 

I have a few shots similar to this, I haven't decided if I am going to use this shot as my main cover image as I need to see how it looks on Photo shop first, but I do like this photo. However i do like this shot as it was taken on a field near my home and there isn't much in the background so the main focus would be on the artist.

I like this photo as the model is smiling, I'm considering using this for the character profile on the double page spread as I want things in the background as it is that style of shot.

This is another profile shot of the model; on his phone. I have decided not to use this shot as I think I have better images this was taken in a park near my home personally i don't think it looks professional enough to use for my magazine.

I like this shot as the model isn't looking directly at the camera. I haven't decided if I am going to use this shot yet, but I will be considering it as I do already have a lot of photos that I may use. Although this was taken in a park i think this location worked really well and this type of shot does look professional.

Over all I am happy with how my final photo shoot went I now have a wide range of shots I can now use in my magazine, i think its good that i used various locations in all my photo shoots including my school, home and in the park in the local area to get the best shots with each model.

 

Third photoshoot

These are the pictures from my third and final photo shoot. Some of the shots I wont be using and some of them I will. Some of them are different from the draft I posted previously as I found shots which worked better instead.

This was my medium close up shot for the front cover I don't think i will use this image as i already have an image which is similar.

This is my medium close up shot for the front cover, I plan to use this photo as long as all my photos fit on the front cover as I think this shot works well like the other 4 images I have taken.

I have decided not to use this profile shot in my double page spread as I don't think the picture looks very professional as there is a lot in the background.

 

I have decided not to use this photo as although I wanted the photo to look like he was searching on the Internet I don't think this image works with my style of magazine.

I like this over the shoulder shot of the model, as I think it looks different to some of the other photos I have taken. Although I haven't made a final decision on this photo I may use it for my double page spread as there is a lot I could say about this photo.

I like this shot as you can see the model clear. If I have extra space I may use this photo although I think I have more unique shots that I will use first.

I tried to make it look like this was a paparazzi shot, I think this shot is unique but I feel I have better shots which make the photo shoot look more professional. l don't plan to use this photo, but if any of my other photos don't come out well on my magazine I could use these photos instead although this was taken in my home by the book shelf i still think it look professional.

 

 

Me using my camera

This is evidence that the photos I am using are my own, this is me with my main artist Joe taking pictures at my home.

Progress so far

This is my front cover so far. Things i have to improve is add my fifth mini picture on the right hand side and tilt the one which is in the centre at the moment. I then also have to add my main cover image.

This is my contents page so far. Things i need to add is the print screen of the front cover, i may also add another picture as i have an empty space down the bottom. 

This is my double page spread so far. I need to add my 3 pictures from the third photo shoot, i will then have to move around the text.

Intro to the double page spread

Originally i had decided to add about Joe.'s up and coming album underneath the mast head i felt as people didn't know the artist and asking friends advice they said you should say what is going to be in the interview. The front used was Palatino Linotypesize and i used blue to keep the house style the same.

Interview with artist

 

This is the the write up of the full interview i had with the model.

Although i haven't added the full interview yet as i still need to add my pictures which i will fit around the interview, i thought i would post it onto blogger. I decided to use 2 colours so that people could identify who was speaking. I also include a quote from the artist at the bottom of the second page so that people would want to read the interview to find out what he says. The font i used was Plantagenet Cherokee.  I used blue for some of the font otherwise all the colours would look to similar and not look interesting. Although i haven't added the picture's yet, i know now that i may not have enough space to add all of them in so i will have to decide once i have done the photo shoot.

 

Main cover story and other cover story

On the left is another cover story. I have used the font 'Vani' size 25, i decided to choose red to fit in with the house style. For the main cover story i used 'Century Schoolbook' size 24 in black. I didn't want to add to much blue and red and i thought black worked well. I decided to add a stroke to make the font stand out more i used a 3x stroke as i liked the affect it had with the social networking link below.

Front cover stories

This is 3 of my cover stories. The top one I originally chose to do a medium shot of my model, but as I had already used a similar shot on my front cover I thought this shot would look different. I chose to use blue and used the font Bell MT in size 24 as this is right next to the masthead I had to make sure the font wasn’t too big. The second cover story, I chose red to go with the masthead I used the font 'Century Schoolbook' size 25 and I used the same font for the 3rd cover story in size 24. I think this looks professional although I haven’t included my main cover image yet I think that only using one image makes my magazine look simple, but still effective.

Double page spread background

 

Today I decided what background colour to have on my double page spread. As i was going for a blue and red theme it was difficult to find a background which didn’t stand out too much. I decided to use a light blue as I thought it was simple and when I looked at other magazines including top of the pops they didn’t really have a bold background it was mainly black and white. As I am also including an interview it was important that I chose a colour which would look okay behind text as well I think this colour does.

bar code and price on my magazine

 

This is my bar code and price included at the bottom of my front cover. The bar code is off the internet and the font I have used for the text is 'Bodoni MT' size 12. I had to make sure that the font wasn’t too big. I have made my magazine for April 2nd 2013 it will be monthly and will cost £2.99 as it is aimed at teenagers i think this is a reasonable price for them to pay each month. I have also included the issue number which is 53 as a lot of magazines include this so that their customers can keep track of what issue they haven’t bought. I also needed to make sure that my bar code was covering any text and as I had included a line before my social networking link I decided to put my bar code above the line. 

Editing photos

I had to change the background photos of my pictures in order for them to be the same on the front cover. To do this i had to;

I first had to use the magnetic lasso tool to select the area i wanted to change the colour of.

To do this i had to go around all the picture, this was just a basic cut out of the picture i then had to do go around with the magnetic lasso tool again to select the bits i missed.

As i already had an image with the specific colour i wanted. I used the eyedropper tool to find out what specific colour the image background was.

I used the eye dropper tool on this image to get the same background.

I then had to use the gradient tool and select the same colour so i could fill in the background.

This is what it looked like after. I then had to go back round the image to make my editing look professional.

This is what the photo looked like once it had been completed properly. This photo has also been put on my final magazine.

I have learnt a lot from this process, as if i just kept the background the same i don't think my photos would look professional so by changing the background colour of a few of the images the audience can see a constant pattern rather than just photos of models where ever i could find to take them.

 

Barcode from the internet

 

This is a picture of the bar code i used in my magazine. Our teacher Mrs Howlett said this was the only thing that we was allowed to use off of the Internet and this is the one i have chosen for my magazine.

Double page spread heading

I have decided to have a consistent house style on the double page spread with the heading. I liked that Top of the Pops did this although it wasn’t the exact same colours. Although I wouldn’t necessarily do this all the way through my magazine I felt for main cover story this would be a good idea as people would recognise it from the front cover.

How to add stroke to my magazine

 

Before I started using photo shop i didn't plan to use stoke in my work, but once i tried it out on my masthead i really liked it. That is why the masthead is different from the original draft.

 

To add stoke i had to first select the layer i wanted to add it to. I then clicked on blending options

This screen then appeared and i had to click on stoke. I then had to decide what size stoke i want and what colour for my double page spread i chose 16 pixels and black. I then clicked OK.

This screen then appeared with my heading changed, I think this makes the heading as well as my masthead stand out a lot more. It would also make it more recognisable if it was really in a shop because like with Kerrang you only need to see the 'KER to know what magazine it is.