2. Front Cover – Second Draft
I started creating my magazine front cover by opening Photoshop.
Once I had opened Photoshop I clicked ‘file’ ‘new’. I then changed
the name of the file to ‘Front_Cover’. Next I changed the size of
what I wanted the page to be to international paper then a4 once I
had done this I clicked ‘OK’
It then opened out like this in the format of an A4 Page. I was
then ready to start creating my front cover.
3. I then clicked on the ‘Filter’ tab and then clicked on ‘render’ then
‘clouds’
Once I had done this my page came out in this sort of effect. I had
learnt how to do this before when using Photoshop in previous
years. I decided on this effect for my background because the
magazine I am creating is a music magazine and music magazine
have that sort of edge and effect to their magazines in order to
make them stand out compared to other competitors. I also
decided on this background because I thought the colour of the
background would work well if the images I had taken previously for
my photo-shoot.
4. I then went to file open and went to where I had all my photo-shoot pictures saved.
I then clicked on the picture I wanted for splash image on my front cover. Once I had
clicked the image I wanted it then came up as a larger image in a separate window.
I then
dragged
the image
onto my
original A4
page/
Using ‘Ctrl T’ I was then able to adjust my image
size to make sure it fit the A4 page accurately using
the arrows in the corners.
Once I adjusted my image size to the size I wanted the image I
then clicked the arrow table at the top in the toolbar it then came
up asking if I was sure of the adjustments and I clicked apply.
5. My image is now like this and I wanted to get rid of the background.
By clicking on the eraser tab in the toolbar I
was then able to start erasing the
background. At the top an eraser toolbar
came up where I was then able to choose
the type of eraser I wanted. I decided to
choose the eraser that gave the image faded
edge. I then changed the eraser size to
200, by doing this the eraser was larger and I
was able to erase the background more
quickly and efficiently.
Once I had erased all the background
using ‘CTRL T’ I was able to adjust the
image placing the image and rotating
the image in the position I wanted it
to be placed on my front cover.
I was then happy with the way I placed my image for my splash of my
magazine cover. Once I was entirely sure I then clicked the arrow tab in
the toolbar and clicked apply.
6. I thought the image by itself was a bit
boring and I decided to add a lens
flare. I did this by going to ‘filter’ at the
top toolbar of Photoshop then ‘render’
then ‘lens flare’.
A new window then opened with the different types
of lens flares I could add to my image. I then tested
different ones, changing the brightness and different
lens types until I found the one I though best suited
my image.
The type of lens flare I decided to go
for was the lens type which is 50-
300mm Zoom and that had a
brightness of 100%. I decided on this
because I thought this type of lens
flare would make my magazine front
cover stand out to other competing
front covers to the readers. I was
able to decide where I would want
the lens flare to be situated on my
splash image. I decided to position
the lens flare in the right hand
bottom corner of the image as then
the lens flare is pointed directly up to
the model’s face in the image.
Once I had clicked ok on the window before the lens
flare then came out like this. I thought it worked well as
the main lens colour is red and the model has red
lipstick on. As well as the next lens flare colour being
blue and the model has blue eyes.
7. I then decided that I wanted
to add another lens flare to
my image to make it look
more attractive towards the
reader. I did this by following
the same format in which I
did before.
Comparing the different types of brightness I
could have I decided on the type I thought
would be most effective for my image.
Once I had done this
the lens flare effect
then appeared like
this on my image.
By overlaying the
lens flares, the
image then came
out like this. I
thought by doing
this the lens flares
would be more
relevant to my
magazine and not
look out of place.
I was then happy with the
splash image for the front
cover of my magazine so I
then decided to add a
strapline. I did this by
creating a new layer. Once
creating a new layer I then
clicked the text tab located in
the left hand toolbar, by
doing this I am then able to
add text to the front cover of
my magazine.
8. I decided to call my magazine ‘Spotlight Sunday’ changing
the font to ‘poplar LTD’ as the font originally comes up as
the colour black on Photoshop I was able to see what the
font looked like against the colour background I have.
I then changed the font colour to white doing this by
clicking on the colour boxes at the bottom of the toolbar.
The font for my
masthead
needed to be
bigger than it
originally had
come up as. I
changed the
font by clicking
‘CTRL T’ by
doing this I was
able to adjust
the font size
using the arrows
in the corners.
Once I was
happy with the
size I clicked
‘apply’.
9. When researching different front covers of
music magazines I thought the plain white
font looked a bit dull. So I decided to add a
duplicate layer in order so I would be able to
add another layer and change the colour of
the font to give it more effect in order to
attract the reader as the masthead is how a
reader identifies a magazine against other
competitors.
The colours I wanted my magazine
to be identified with is red, black
and white so I decided to add red
font over the white font I already
had. By doing this it makes the font
stand out more making it look more
appealing towards my target
audience.
10. Once I was happy with my masthead I then started to add all the other fonts such as the headline, kicker, lure and other
media conventions. Changing the fonts to different sizes and colours in order to make it look more appealing towards
the reader.
As well as
adding font I
added the
barcode I had
made
previously to
my magazine
front cover.
When
researching
magazines they
often used a
quote from the
artist which
was featured in
the main article
so I decided to
add a quote to
mine.
11. Front Cover – Final Draft
I then got feedback back for my second draft for my front
cover of my magazine. From my feedback I was then able to
make improvements. I decided that I needed to make it look
more engaging towards the reader. As I liked the splash
image I had chosen previously so I decided to duplicate the
image. Using skills I had previously used in Photoshop
before I decided to rotate the image by 80 degrees in order
to make it look more professional. I was then happy with the
way in which the image had rotated so I clicked apply.
12. I then decided to rotate the image
again by 80 degrees making it look
like the model was standing back to
back to herself. Making this image a
double image. I thought this came
across as more interesting towards
the readers.
Once I had adjusted the images together in order to make it look like it was one whole image from where I had not completely erased
the background of the images by using the layer toolbars, I hide one layer of the images in order so I was able to get rid for the
background accurately. I was then able to see the background in which I had not erased previously so I then went back to the eraser tool
and erased all of the remaining background.
13. I wanted to then add a pug as I wanted to catch the reader’s attention. I added a pug by
creating an oval shape, as the colours I wanted to feature in my magazine are red, black
and white I decided to make this shape black. By making the shape black I would then
be able to add font overlaying the shape. The font colour I could then use would be
white.
14. I then went to where I saved my
barcode which I made previously earlier
on in the task. I then opened the image
of the barcode and dragged it onto the
front cover of my magazine. Once I had
done this I then positioned the barcode
in the place I wanted it to be adjusting
the size of the barcode to the average
size a barcode normally is on a
magazine.
15. I then went on to add the rest of the text to the front cover of my magazine such as the
lure, kickers and headline etc. . Changing the fonts around making them different colours and
sizes as well as adjusting the opacity of the different fonts. Making some of them stand out in
contrast to others. I then added another shape to make the competition to meet the artist who
is the splash image on my magazine stand out. Making it clear to the readers that this addition
of the magazine was mainly all about Lydjia Hughes (the model shown) and that she is back for
good.
Overall, I am happy with my front cover for my magazine and I feel that I have shown the skills I
know to the best of my ability when using Photoshop. I have used a range of skills when creating
the front cover of my magazine such as making the image back to back representing a more
contemporary music magazine in the 21st century as well as using a range of shapes, fonts and
colours.
