Constructing My Double Page Feature

To start creating my feature article I first opened a Photoshop document in the size A3, horizontally, and uploaded the main image I wanted to use. I made it black and white by going Image > Adjustments > Black&White because then it conforms to the colour palette of the page (black, white and red), makes the page look more serious than if it were in the original colours and it follows the conventions of rock magazines as dark colours were used in my style models. This also folows Hall's youth theory of the youth being depresseed and therefore the darker colours would allow them to relate to the article more. I then made it fit the page in a way that would allow me to layout the rest of the information in an interesting way.

Next I added the masthead using Ariel font by using a different layer for each word, altering the sizing of each word to give a quirky and original band logo by layering the different sized words against each other.

A common convention of a rock feature article is to have a quote from the band, so I added one in the space at the top that relates to the article. I used different shades of grey for each line of the quote because it makes it stand out.

I then added the page number and a small  title so that when the reader turns the page they can easily recognise the page they are looking for and what this particular article is about. I have used this grey colour because it doesn't distract the reader too much from the rest of the article but it is obviously when the reader is looking at the corner of the page when flicking through the magazine.

Next I added a white rectangular box in the top right corner, with a red rectangle on top and a red hexagon for the arrow shape, like on my front cover. This makes the information in this box seem like an exciting part of the article to read and adds to the quirkiness of the page with an interesting shape.

I then filled in the boxes with text and separated each response with a filled red rectangle to make it clear to the read which section is which and also it makes it look like less text so an indifferent reader may be more inclined to read it. The title for this box is in two different fonts with a dotted line separating them and this makes the heading look more interesting to read than it would have if it were all one big title in the same font.

Finally, I added the main body of text in two columns, which is a common convention of rock articles. I used white because this adds inversion against the dark background. Furthermore, the first letter is larger and red to make it stand out as this is also a common convention of rock articles.




After comparing this to my style models I realised that it doesn't look quite right in following all of the conventions and the black and white doesn't work as well as I thought it did, therefore I changed the image to a normal colour one and changed the colour and positioning of the quote because I thought this gave my feature a much more conventional look than before. 

This is the finished thing: 

Constructing My Contents Page

To create this version on my masthead I went back onto my masthead on Adobe Illustrator and added the word 'Contents' to the end of it. I then started a new A4 Photoshop document for the contents page.

I started off by creating the boxes for the headings of each section in my contents list. This gave me an idea of the space I needed to fill and the amount of stories I needed to think of to create a realistic magazine contents page. I used black for the boxes because they gave a contrast against the white background and this allowed the headings to stand out and show the reader where the most important part of the page was. 

I then added the sub-headings underneath each heading, leaving gaps for taglines about what would be some of the most exciting article, including my feature. I used Ariel font for the headings, sub-headings and extra text because, with a layout like this it can be hard to read, so this font brought some clarity to the page to make it easier for the audience to read.

Next I added the extra text under some of the sub-headings and also the page numbers. The colours I have used for this contents list are black(for the boxes), purple (for the page numbers) and yellow (for the headings). These colours conform to the colour palette on the front cover giving continuity and identity to the magazine. Furthermore, I added a thin grey line by the side of the contents to separate it from the rest of the page and it just looks more professional than if it wasn't there. 

I then worked on the banner, which involved me using the masthead I made earlier at the top on the page and filling each word with black and yellow from the colours already on the page. I then made two blue lines (the blue from the boxes on the cover) above and below the title. I needed to add the issue number and the cover date, information which was on the cover (underneath the barcode), so it was clearer to the reader, and I put them next to the title to fill that empty space. 

To fill the empty space at the bottom, I created an editors box, with a message I wrote about what this issue would contain, mainly the feature that I would make, because this is a common convention of rock magazine contents pages as shown by my style models. I changed the font for this to make it less formal and stand out against the font that filled the rest of the page. I also made a box advertising subscription information for the magazine, which would be important for the institution if this were to be a real magazine. This was the hardest part to make because it needed sufficient information whilst not looking overcrowded or unprofessional. I matched the colours with the other colours used on the page (blue for the price box, purple for the banner and footer for the box, yellow for some of the text, white for most of the text and black for the box). These furthered the continuity and also allowed a lot of layering of colour to make the box stand out, especially with the white on black inversion. I used the shape of a egg timer for the price box because this is different to the rest of the boxes and makes the price stand out, which is the most important part for advertising in the box.

I added the image last because I could then make it fit to the rest of the layout. the colours in the picture mostly conform to the colour palette apart from the addition of the red, however this was a colour that the audience research highlighted as a popular colour to see and this also links to the colour palette of my feature article which is slightly different. 

To complete my contents page, I added a picture of myself to the bottom left corner of the page. This allows the reader to see who created the magazine and who wrote the editor's view next to it which is a common convention of rock music magazines. The photograph fits with the page because the mise-en-scene mostly conforms to the colour palette, with the pink complementing the addition of red in the main image and the grey giving a contrast to the background which looks good, taking away some of the brightness but not too much that it ruins the whole page. 

Constructing My Front Cover

The first thing I did when creating my front cover is choose the photograph I wanted to use for the cover shot and open it in Photoshop. I then enlarged it to fit the the cover where it would look best, and I left a gap at the bottom because that space is where the menu bar would go and so this part wouldn't be seen anyway. So when the image was in place I created this menu bar due this being a common convention of maagzines aimed at a younger rock audience.

To create the menu bar I put a white rectangle across the bottom of the cover, filling the space that was left before, for the background of the bar. I then used another smaller rectangle in a blue colour that I took from the image so the colours are all linked. To create the arrow effect I used a hexagon shape in white and put two of the sides over the blue rectangle. There's probably an easier way of doing this but I thought this was good enough.  I then found a picture of a barcode and put this on the right before adding all of the text, in Arial.

After the menu bar was finished I worked on the masthead and the banner. I put a rectangle at the top in the same colour as in the menu bar and put on the masthead I had created. I then made that fit across the top and put a blue bar underneath to complete the masthead, before adding the text onto the banner. 

The next thing to include was the main text in the centre of the cover, and for this I looked at many style models to see which would be the most effective. This kind of design looked good so I adapted it to fit my cover and created my feature text with rectangles and text. For most of the text on the cover I used Arial font, because this is easy to read and give a really clear, standout effect that makes the reader want to read what it says. 

Lastly, I added all other teasers with rectangle boxes and text, mostly in Arial but with "Reading and Leeds 2014" in Cracked, this relates to Hall's youth theory of youth being rebellious because Reading and Leeds festival is known for its crazy parties and large mosh pits when listening to rock acts. For the text and box colours across the whole colour I used a lot of inversion so the text stands out and follows the rock genre colour palette of a lot of black and white. For the other colours, I used blue, purple and yellow, the blue and the purple taken from areas of the cover image and the yellow there as an eye-catching contrast. Furthermore, as well as keeping the colour palette fairly tight, I used colours that were chosen by the target audience in my audience research, as blue, yellow, black and white were colours they wanted to see. 

Original Photographs

 For this photograph I tried to recreate a full shot of a band and although the photograph is darker than it should be, on Photoshop I edited the contrast and exposure levels to lighten it and make it look as it should if were taken with the correct exposure. I have used this on the contents page because it features and different model to the rest of the photographs and therefore could represent a different band that could be in the magazine as well as the band on the cover and in the feature. In this photograph I used photoshop to cut out the middle model because he is the most in focus and I wanted to use this picture of him. I then toned the image to make it look more life like.

 For this image I toned it on Photoshop and then cut out the image of the model on the right because I think the focus of him is really good, however not very good n the rest of the image, so I wanted to use this model with the model cut out from the previous picture to create a new image for use on my contents page. So I merged the two cut outs of the two models together to create the main image on my contents page.

This image was taken in a different photo shoot to the last two, where I wanted to get pictures of the made up band I would use on the cover and the feature article. For this picture we set up the camera and worked out the depth of field to get the best image possible for the cover because the cover image is the most important for attracting the reader, so it had to look good. I especially liked this photograph because the focus is near perfect (slightly out for the model on the left but this gives a good effect in perspective and gives a kind of 'order of importance' to the image, which although all of the band members are important, the lead vocalist, which would be the model on the right, is seen as the frontman for the band, and this makes them more identifiable to the reader. So seeing this model the largest and the clearest allows the reader to recognise the band straight away). Furthermore, the colours are really clear, the natural lighting we used (the sun) gives really nice shadows and light parts on the models' faces and the sky background is really sharp and contributes to the colour scheme really well. 

This image is the one I chose to use for my feature article because it's slightly different to the last one, but with a slight change in the contrast and exposure on Photoshop, using a black and white effect and flipping the image horizontally it looks a lot different and complements the layout of the double page spread.  

This is my final original image, used on the contents page because I needed a photograph of myself to go next to the editors box. I didn't feel that I needed to edit this photograph because it's in focus and the colours conform to the colour palette enough that they wouldn't need to be changed. the grey background gives contrast against the whiteness of the page and the pink hat in the mise-en-scene complements the red on the t-shirt of a model in the main image on the page.

My Photoshoots

For my print photography I had two photo shoots, using the same equipment each time but with different weather conditions outside. I used:

- Canon 6D SLR camera
- Tripod
- 50mm lens
- Four models
- Apple Mac computer 

The first photoshoot took place on a cloudy day, which gave me photographs that needed editing in brightness and contrast. Even so, I used three of my four models and asked them to stand side by side on some steps in college. I asked my models to wear clothing that conformed to the rock genre and thus they were wearing clothing that mostly conformed to the colour palette of white, black, yellow, blue and purple, and was casual. Although if I were to choose clothing for them I would have chosen clothing that made them look more like a band, with coordination in colours through them, and not hoodies because they give negative connotations that are most often associated with 'chavs', 'thugs' and other music genres, for example hip hop and rap.

I then took the photographs using the Canon 6D Camera and the lens, from different angles from below them, at the bottom of the steps. This showed the band to have power over the audience due to them seemingly like they're looking down at the reader from within the magazine.


For my second photoshoot, it was a bright day with lots of natural sun light and blue sky for a background that conforms to the colour palette of the magazine. I suggested that the three of the four models I used in this shoot wore clothing that both conformed to the rock genre and also with less connotations of other genres.

We found the correct location, which was in school and quite high up so the sky could be used as a background without being blocked by buildings and trees etc.
I then worked out the depth of field for the images on an online site (http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html) and arranged the camera, with the lens, on the tripod and set the camera at the correct depth of field settings at the correct distance for the images to be in correct focus. I took about one hundred images in total, choosing only four to use in my print.


Finally, I needed a photograph of myself for my contents page, taken in a studio, so I asked a peer to do this for me. We just used the camera with the lens and normal classroom lighting for this and managed to get a good photograph to use with one take. 


For me to set up my own institution for creating magazines I would l need the following things:

- Canon 6D SLR camera (£1400)
- Tripod (£50)
- 50mm lens (£100)
- Apple Mac computer + accessories (£1600)
- Adobe Photoshop (£300)
- Studio (£110pw)
- Lighting equipment (£400)

Therefore, it will cost me £4260 to develop my first issue of my new magazine, which would mean I need to sell a lot of issues in order to make a profit, although all the payments apart from for the studio are one-off, so making the money to fill the loss and make a profit shouldn't take too many issues. Furthermore, you can make money through advertisements throughout the magazine where businesses will pay for their adverts to be shown.

Drafting My Feature Article

For my feature article I wanted to write a band review because I think this is one of the most interesting types of feature article to read and write, and it was the main choice from my audience research when I asked a question on Survey Monkey regarding my audiences preferred choice of article:

My first draft is as follows:

With the British rock scene getting bigger and better every month, you need some special talent to be noticed, and this upcoming band has exactly what it takes to become one of the most influential artists of modern times. Our Kings and Queens are Dead are a three-piece band from Bristol, England, and after building up a fan base in the West Country and further via the internet, they have attracted our attention, and I’m glad they have.

       Our Kings and Queens are Dead formed in Spring 2012 and have since been working incredibly hard to make themselves a success, releasing their first EP “Royalties” on 21^st November 2012, followed by a tour of small venues across England with another upcoming band in the Spring of 2013. Until now, they have been working on their debut album, “Taking the World by Storm” which is due to be released on 12^th December 2013, and we’ve already had a listen.

       “Taking the World by Storm” features 12 tracks, and a full playing time of 49 minutes, and from the offset it demonstrates how a band can, in a year, really find the best sound for them and develop this into, what really is, a brilliant record. The album features Augustus Rivers on lead vocals and bass guitar, Matt Taylor on rhythm guitar and Oliver Ward on percussion and backing vocals, with some additions from each on other instruments eg piano and lead guitar in order to create the full sound that you experience on this album.

       The first four tracks are the four singles from the album, and as you’d expect, they are loud and enthusiastic, but deep and creatively spot-on all the same. They will definitely get the crowd singing along and dancing in any venue! The lyrics of these songs are a portrayal of life and, for the most part, getting through the young adult stage. Of course they each hold a big, catchy chorus, but with festivals and gigs being as important as they are right now, these songs will fit right in with that scene and make a huge impact when performed live.

        Some would say that after the singles, albums are just made of ‘filler tracks’, but this is not the case here. With the next eight songs after the singles, the band shows us exactly what they can do. There are a few big guitar solos as well as some quieter, more melodic tracks, with an interlude and a shorter song. The range in their dynamics not only shows us the musical ability of the band, but also their creative potential, and just less than two years in the industry they really are producing some solid music that’s unique and really quite refreshing.

       Our Kings and Queens are Dead fits in with the crowds for huge British bands such as You Me At Six, Bring Me The Horizon and Young Guns, so I don’t think you’ll be disappointed! As before-mentioned, the album is being released on 12^th December 2013 and the first single from it is to be released the day after, 8pm (GMT), so grab your copies on iTunes and/or in physical and please make this remarkable, upcoming band show you just what they can do.

After asking for feedback from my peers who are in my target audience I found that this draft fulfilled the needs of the audience and it was sufficient for use on my double page spread without editing.

Masthead Creation

For a first attempt at an original masthead I created this using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. First I used Illustrator to format the text. I used the font New Times Roman and edited the colour with a gradient of grey- dark grey to give this the look of metal or a meteor. I then changed the perspective with the 3D function to make it look as if it's traveling across the screen in a curve shape. I then copied this onto a Photoshop document. On Photoshop I used a dark grey background with the text at the front and used a new layer to work on the fire effect that is seen above. I used a brush size of about 1000 pixels to paint a red circle. Then on top of this I dropped the brush size down slightly and in the centre of the red circle I painted a dark orange circle. I continued this with a lighter orange, yellow and white. I then used the smudge tool to blend all of these layers to the left to create this fireball. Then I moved the text so it is in front of the fireball layer and situated it next to the fire to give the effect that the metal on the C is heated up by the fire and that the text is travelling across the cover. 

I decided that this is not  a good masthead for my magazine because it really needs a black background to look its best which I would have to change things to accommodate this and I just don't think it looks right for a masthead. For example on existing rock magazine covers the text of the masthead goes right across the page and also longer names are more, of about seven to eight letters looks more professional. So I decided to change the name and recreate my masthead, using a simpler design and a longer word.

This is the masthead I made after, using the word Amplify because it has connotations of rock music (as many of the instruments use amplifiers to make their sound louder) and also it's quite a catchy and memorable name for a brand so would be easily recognised. Furthermore it is seven letters long and would therefore fit across the whole cover. 

To make it I simply went onto Adobe Illustrator and typed the word 'AMPLIFY' in a standard font, however I thought this looked quite simple, yet also very fitting for the word and the magazine because it looked clean and bold, so I used this, in black because this is also a connotation of rock music.

Flat Plans

After designing my finished masthead I then went onto drawing my flat plans of how my layout would look in each of my print pieces. (The scanning isn't brilliant but it's mostly there). I created six flat plans and then asked people of my target audience which were the best three to use for my production.

Cover plan 1

I started with my cover which has only the heads of the models because their bodies will be the back ground for the text boxes below so it wasn't necessary that they are there too. I found that this layout looks conventional for the genre because it has lots of text boxes, which will be in colour on the actual cover, and, when made properly, there is sufficient text but not too much. Also a banner and a footer menu bar looks professional because they add extra information in a fairly small space. The colour palette for this and the contents page will be black, white, yellow, blue and purple. 

Contents plan 1

I then drew the contents page which featured a banner at the top (half of which is visible), a list of contents and a main image, all of which are conventional for a rock contents page.  I then added a subscription box in the bottom left for institutional information and an editors box about the issue because this is quite common in rock magazines and gives the audience a good insight into who is actually making the products they are buying.

Feature plan 1

My feature article features the main image taking up the whole double page spread, with the masthead (the band logo) in the top left corner and the main body of text in the bottom left. Then in the top right a box of information about the band members in the band being reviewed and a quote from the band. The page number and the title of the article is in the bottom right corner for the reader to see when turning the page. This layout is easy to navigate, with enough information but not too much and the colour palette will be black white and red. 

Cover plan 2

For my second flat plan design I used a similar layout but with less information across the subjects in the main image, in case the previous design looked too overcrowded for the audience's preference. All of the information on the cover would be the same in both designs because I think these are a mixture of advertising stories that the target audience would be attracted to. Beyond the not-so-great scanning there is a banner above the masthead, including the same information about rock music festivals and at the bottom is a menu footer with a list of bands that the magazine would be about if I were to create the whole thing. 

Contents plan 2

Like before, my contents page is similar but with less information so it does not look too over crowded. I removed the idea of a subscription box for this plan in case subscribing to a brand isn't something the audience would want to do. This gives more room for the contents list which will allow it to be bigger and therefore easier to read than in the first design.  I also switched the sides for the contents list and the image and editor's box because my existing product research displayed a layout with the page this way around and therefore I would like my audience to choose which way they would prefer the page to be. 

Feature plan 2

My final design is for the second double page spread draft and this displays all of the text on one side (apart from the page information in the bottom right hand corner of the page) and the image just filling the other half. This allows the reader a clearer view of the image and the text will be clearer to read because it wouldn't have an image as a background to stand out from. This design reflects one of my style models and therefore it has worked for rock audiences in the past, however this was for Classic Rock which is aimed at older rock listeners and therefore may not prove to be as popular with my younger target audience. 

After giving five people in my target audience a copy of each complete  flat plan, I created a survey for each of them to complete and decide which ones they would prefer. The results are as follows: 

Therefore, the three designs I will use to create my print work are the first three as these are clearly the designs that my target audience would like to see the most.