2. Introduction:
When designing pages in a magazine
editors are very careful in what goes
onto the pages. One way that
dramatically improves the look of any
page is the colours used. The colours
can help reflect on the mood of the
readers, bands on the page, or just make
the page look generally a lot nicer than a
plain white page. The colours used all
depend on the desired affect they want
achieve.
3. Why they could choose a certain
colour:
• Who is their target audience:
Depending on who the audience is the colours used can vary from black (gothic styled
readers) all the way to bright pink or neon colours (normally girls or energetic
people). For example a gothic styled person is not really going to want to want to see
a lot of pink and bright colours because that would normally go against their style of
clothing etc.
• What is being presented on the page:
The next factor is what is on the page itself. Depending on what is being shown on the
page, the colours can change no matter what. If a band wanted to send out a
message about their new album, they could base the background to be the colour of
their album. Not only would the background have a meaningful colour but anything
that the editor would want the readers to see would be coloured in such a way that it
would be hard not to notice and therefore be seen by all readers.
• What do they want to portray:
The last factor is a mixture of the first two but also the editor’s choice. If they want to
portray a sad song in a music magazine they would put colours that symbolize that
feeling like blue. In effect the editors can have a slight effect on how the readers feel
while reading the article.
4. Blue
The colour blue symbolizes a whole bunch of things.
• With the sky and sea being blue, normally the colour
symbolizes calmness and tranquility, this is shown in travel
adverts where they use water in pools to show relaxing
times.
• As well as tranquility it also represents cleanliness and
technology. The colour is used in loads of adverts to help
portray the idea of smartness in technology ads.
The use of the colour blue in music magazines is normally
used in covers where it is a calm singer. As the colour suits
calmness and relaxation it tends to work well with that kind
of genre.
5. Orange
Normally associated with energetic activities
and warmth orange is normally a very
welcoming colour.
The use of it in magazines would help
portray the effect of bands. Normally more
electronic bands and loud music the colour
can help the reader feel happier and feel
more welcomed to the magazine, like
Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
6. Red
• The colour represents things normally represents
danger and excitement. It also is a sign of blood
and symbolizes war and with it being such a
vibrant colour is used on saftey signs.
• The use of this on magazines can help make
features and adverts stand out considerably more
than if they were in white. As its such a strong
colour it also is used in backgrounds to emphasize
genres of music such as rock. This is because
rock bands are bands that are known for being
dangerous and shows the intensity of their music
7. Green
• The colour normally shows nature, youth
and fortune. The colour is used on notes
where they symbolize money.
• In magazines it would be used to show the
starting of new bands in articles. With it
meaning wealth and youth it normally used
a lot more in the magazines aimed at the
younger generations.
8. Yellow
• Colour of energy and happiness it is used
normally to help motivate people and
cheer people up.
• Magazines wouldn’t use this colour so
much in big amounts. The reason is that it
is a very obvious colour and can distract
the readers from other features and parts
of the magazine.
