Feedback about my school magazine

Hi,

So I have asked my friends to give me feedback on my school magazine, so here's what they said:

Millie  http://milliedelamottemediablog.blogspot.co.uk/

Your blog is detailed and for the most part clear, just try and get some tabs put at the top to help ease of use. Also make sure all your tags are relivant so you don't get fashion magazines come up i the section for your school magazine section. Your magazine looks great. it s fun and interesting. Maybe include a post showing the development of the final piece. :)

Gemma http://fluffykinsmediablog.blogspot.co.uk/

Your magazine is good. I like the use of colours on the front page and the images you have used. I would just say that an improvement would be to make the text larger under the pictures at the bottom of the page. I also like the contents page. I like the layout of the page and the fact you have carried on the bricks from the front page. I don't like the leaves though. They need to be bigger as you can't see the pictures inside them. Over all it is a great job, well done! ;)

School Magazine Evaluation

So, I have finished my school magazine (the preliminary task) and now I need to evaluate what I have done.

What Went Well:
I think that the overall appearance of the cover is good because it's different to anyone Else's and looks very quirky, I also am pleased with the research I did of existing magazines because I studied both good/bad school magazines and good/bad other magazines in detail. The fact that I constructed my magazine on fireworks was good because I resisted the temptation to make it on publisher (the easy option).

Even Better If:
However I am not pleased with the contents page as it looks rushed due to lack of good time management. Also for when I make my music magazine I will do a step by step construction of how I made it, this will show exactly what I did and why.

What did I find difficult?
I found using photo shop really hard as it's something I've never used before at home or in school, for my real magazine I will probably do some research into photo shop and the basic tools involved, simply to get a better looking magazine.

What tactics did I use to attract my audience?
I used bright bold colours, to make my magazine stand out from the typical school magazine, I also used box outs to make the text stand out and a distinct logo to give my magazine a purpose.

What did I learn about different software?
I learnt how to use Fireworks, as it's relatively easy to pick up and it's a useful tool. Photoshop I did have a few problems with as I was completely new to it at the time, it was quite tricky to understand the different tools.

School Magazine Contents page

Hey,

For my School magazine I also needed to make a contents page, however can I just say that mine looks a bit messy as I had only half an hour to do it. Basically I just left it till the last minute so for my music magazine I will work quicker and be more organised.

 

I have used the colour scheme of green and yellow for my contents page to keep in theme with the school. The contents page title it similar to the front covers masthead due to the font and coloured box out. I have used picture secondary leads with captions to preview the articles inside, these are organised on the page like they are hanging from the top and connected together, this gives a unified feel to the page. I have also Incorporated the menu on a white box out for colour contrast and the ability to stand out.

 

In the background I have made pictures into the shape of oak leaves to link to the school oak tree, they also add another layer of interest to the page. 

Final school magazine Cover

Here I have created a magazine cover with the title of ACCESS IDSALL,

So, here it is. Sorry about the resolution as it's a bit blurry and I think I have cropped a bit too much from the top. In the background I have used a medium close up image of some students at my school, the  medium close up allows a sufficient amount of background to be shown, so the audience can see the subjects in relation to their surroundings, I edited the photo on photoshop and I used the healing tool to blur minor imperfections. At the top of the page I have used a secondary lead placed on a box out (if some words don't make sense, check my previous September about codes and conventions of a magazine) this catches the audiences attention because the word "NEW" has been used and placed on a box out with a contrasting colour.

To the left of this is the logo which I created on fireworks and includes the Idsall oak tree to link to the topic of the magazine. The headline is similar to my first layout in the sense that the text is placed on a contrasting colour box out in the shape of a scribble to give the cover a more fun feel. It's also pretty similar to my second design as the title is located in the top centre unlike before where it was to the left, this is so the audience interact with the text more as it is in their direct eye line. The font of the masthead is in a basic black colour to contrast with the box out, the font style is a very typical 'old school' shape, but it is very fun and interesting at the same time, because of this it echos 'school magazine'.

Secondary leads in the form of text are placed to the left and right side of the page to preview the articles inside, again box outs are used to make the text stand out from the image. The headline is placed on a box out on the diagonal, this adds interest and rivals the typical horizontal text format. The font in all the text is suitable as it's easy to read due to its curved lines and decent thickness, as it is legible, the audience can gain information from it quicker than if I had used a fancy more unusual font. 

At the bottom their are another two secondary leads in the form of pictures to preview the articles inside, they have captions underneath to explain the story. Behind these their is a backdrop of scattered leaves which I edited on fireworks, this links to the school tree and brings the magazine together as a whole because it adds another layer of interest.

School Magazine title ideas

Hey guys

Obviously 'Idsall weekly ' isn't a very good title, so I need to decide on a better one, and fast.
I have presented my ideas on a Prezi document which is more visually exiting than if I just copied a word document into my blog post .



Personally I think that 'ACCESS IDSALL' is the best as it sounds both professional and catchy, it gives the reader a sense of 'accessing' information about what's going on in the school.

Logo editing

Hey guys

For my magazine I need a logo to obviously say what my magazine is about or involves, I didn't want to use the school logo so I created my own from a photo I have taken.

Here is the original photo of the main tree in the school:

 Then I editied the photo by removing the background on Fireworks

I also edited the logo further by adding a circular boxout behind the tree in a conrasting colour so the tree would stand out, then I used a thick black outline to outline the circle so it wouldnt blend in with the rest of the magazine

 



Magazine cover practice

Now lets get down to buisness, as I am creating a magazine I need to create a suitable layout to make it half decent. I have used the edited image of Hayley Williams as the main image of my magazine then I edited the rest on fireworks.

The final idea

The original image

 The first edit

for the first edit I used picmonkey to retouch the image to give a smooth finish so when it came to applying the filter the image looked consistent. I used a filter to make the image look more bright

The second edit

 

This is the second step where I cropped the background of the photo on photoshop.

 

 



The third edit

And finally for the third step I used Fireworks to add layers of text/ images and colours.
I have layered the image over the masthead to brong the photo forward so it looks more interesting, the headline is locted on a boxout in a contrasting colour to add interest, the text is placed at an angle to make the cover look more quirky. The main headline is in a contrasting colour and in a different font to keep audience attention. The secondary leads (text here) are located on box outs to make the text stand out

Photo Editing Testing

As I will be including photos in my magazine I might need to edit them to make them look better or more professional, I have tested the image of my school building as it obviously relates to the topic of my school magazine. The  editing software I have used is picmonkey.com  which is a free professional online editing website.

 

Using filters and saturation tools

Before

 

After

 

 

 

I first increased both the brightness and colour contrast to give a more fun feel to the image, Then I increased both the saturation and lightness of the image to make it look like it was taken on a sunnier day. After I increased the colour vibrancy which makes the grass look greener and more polished.


I have also edited a portrait picture of a medium close up of Jennifer Lawrence on picmonkey.com

 Before

After

 As you can see I have edited it by using a filter to give a more gentle tone and a softer light, this makes the image less harsh as the colours blend better, I have also increased the brightness and reduced the colour contrast to give a softer look. I could use this technique on the medium close up photo on my school magazine front cover to reduce colour harshness which will make the cover look more professional.

Cropping and Airbrushing a photo

Before

This image is a medium close up but I want to remove the background so I can layer the image with another image, also I want to airbrush the image to give it a more professional look,
After

This image has been airbrushed to give a smoother finish so if I want to use a filter the color will look more consistent, I have also cropped the background away so the image can overlap another image,  I have edited it on picmonkey.com then on fireworks.
then
Removal and editing using Photoshop

Before

Here I want to remove the tattoo af Anjelina Jolie.

 
After

 

 

I have used photo shop to remove the tattoo by cloning a similar area of skin tone then blending away the tattoo, then I used the healing brush tool to make the skin smoother so the editing looks natural

School Magazine Layout Idea 2

 

FRONT COVER 

Here I have produced yet another magazine layout idea, basically so I have more options to choose from. The Masthead will be in the top center of the page meaning I can make it bigger to stretch from both sides, this will make it more eyecatching, also the secondary lead will be above the masthead so it is in the readers direct eyeline.

The logo will be behind the masthead and the the secondary articles will be down the left hand side to allow more of the medium close up background image to show through more clearly. The main headline will be at the bottom of the page in a large contrasting font to the masthead to make it more prominent.

CONTENTS PAGE

My second idea for the contents page is very different to my first idea, the top stories and contents list (menu) will be placed on box outs on opposite sides of the page to allow the background image to be seen, their will be secondary leads in the form of pictures to preview what will be inside the magazine. Overall the layout is relatively simple which allows the infomation to be the most prominent.  

School Magazine Layout idea 1

Here I have produced a basic layout idea on publisher for the front cover and contents page, the fonts and colours are not final but its a start....


FRONT COVER

The cover will include a medium close up as the main image which will stretch across the background, the masthead will be in the top left hand corner as it is the most eye-catching place. The 'pugs' i.e. the logo, barcode and issue number will be in the top right hand corner, the main headline will be placed on a box out so it stands out across the page, to the left hand side a few side bars will be used to show smaller articles inside, I might also use tags to catch the readers attention. At the bottom their will be some secondary leads with captions below the to describe the images, these will be placed on a box out in the shape of scattered leaves to link to the school logo which is of an oak tree.


CONTENTS PAGE

I have also produced a  preliminary contents page idea, their will be a main image stretched across the background, this could be of the school building or grounds to keep in theme with the magazine. Also the top stories will be placed in a tree shaped box out, this could be a cartoon or drawing to make the most important stories stand out. The rest of the story titles or 'menu' will be placed in list form on top of the main photo. At the bottom of the page their will be some more secondary leads with captions below, these will be about the top stories to prioritize them.

School Magazine Moodboard

Here I have produced a mood board to portray my basic ideas about my school magazine, it includes colour schemes, layout ideas, logo ideas, fonts and image types. It will help me gain a visual idea of what my magazine could look like. (created on fireworks) 

In depth school magazine analysis (good example)

Here I will be looking at a different school magazine, because lets be honest the previous one wasn't really that brilliant
Here is the magazine for the Fearne Community sports college, which is hopefully more of a joy to look at than the previous cover I analysised, to make it easier to understand this post you should read my post about magazine codes and conventions.

The MASTHEAD is interesting because the font is bold and large meaning the audience can read it with ease, also the location of it is useful as it is in a persons direct eyeline. This paticular magazine uses SECONDARY LEADS to engage the reader and to inform them on the articles inside encorporating TAGS to attract the reader. This cover puts the MENU on the front page to allow the reader to want to read whats  inside without opening the magazine because it provides concise infomation, the menu is located in front of a BOX OUT to make the text stand out due to colour contrast.

The layout also links to the fact that it is a school magazine as it is simple therefore ot is comfortable to read so the wide audience range can understand it. The font and text are very suitable for the magazine as it is clear, legible and dynamic which keeps the magazine current and fun, the different text sizes also adds interest.

The photo links with the main HEADLINE as they both portray infomation about sports, this ensures the magazine cover is not disjointed. The image also is a MEDIUM CLOSE UP so you can see most of the subject and some of the background which allows you to see the full situation, therefore adding interest.

For this magazine the audience has certain expectations, for example because it is a school we expect the articles to be about the school or of achievements of the students. Also because the school is a specialist sports college the readers expect some articles to be sports based to keep in theme with the school.

In depth SCHOOL magazine analysis

This analysis will be slightly similar to the previous one about EMPIRE magazine, only it will be about a school magazine instead. I have used the December 2009 edition of the BBS TIMES (Burton Borough school being in Telford ).

 

Here, the masthead is at the top of the page to catch the readers direct eye line , the font however is not as effective as it is 'times new roman' so it makes the cover way too formal for the suited purpose to attract younger readers.

Also the colour scheme is very dull as the simple black and white makes it look too bland which will lead to people ignoring the magazine, the taglines and text need a coloured box out to make the text stand out and to give the layout more dimension, speaking of layout, why the hell did the person who made this think this layout  would be unique or interesting whatsoever I don't know, the layout makes it look like some sort of wannabe executive broadsheet newspaper which they have cleverly (cough) linked to the title (the BBS times) where they have obviously not bothered to come up with something different or unique of their own.

 I will definitely not be adopting any conventions or techniques from this magazine for my own school magazine because it does not look professional or interesting and will definitely put people off reading it.
Rant over.

In depth magazine analysis

 

Hello again :)

As I hope to make a magazine I need to analysise a current magazine cover in depth explaining the codes and conventions used and the effect on the audience they have.Here I am going to deconstruct the cover of the February 2013 edition of EMPIRE magazine,

First of all the Masthead is very clear and bold with a font that stands out and catches the readers eye, the clean lines of the font links to the fact that the magazine is about science fiction which has futuristic connotations. The colour of the text is a mix of red and white which strongly contrast, so the important words (in white) stand out, so the main Headline (STAR TREK) is one of the first things the reader see's.

The magazine also uses Tags to catch the readers attention and to preview what's inside, and a Secondary lead to the top left informs the reader of the second most important article inside, this secondary lead also incorporates a Box out which is designed to make whatever text placed upon is stand out more. The magazine also uses a very striking image which is stretched across the background, the medium close up used still allows the facial details to be seen, hence the audience can see the emotion of the character but also the background which adds to even more colour contrast, the image is a symbolic code as it allows the audience to see more emotions and interpret the image for their own.

In my opinion this magazine cover is truly epic and lives up to its expectations, I will strongly consider adopting a similar layout for my school magazine (though perhaps not with Benedict Cumberbatch on the front). The cover is really attractive,striking an any film nerd would be proud to own it.

The magazine lives up to its expectations of being a popular film magazine by having an important sci-fi film as its main feature, this is the same for every cover of theirs, this in turn keeps the reader up to date with the latest films in modern pop culture.

What to include in my magazine (layout)

Wow, more than one post in a day, I'm on a roll here

Layout is a very important factor in the production of a magazine because the information and images needs to be displayed in such a way that it is both informative and eye-catching but not too cluttered, so the masthead, headline and other text stay clear and professional, the general basic layout for a magazine is the main image occupies the middle or background and the masthead it located at the top.
Here are a few examples of different layouts of previous magazines:

 

For example, I like the layout of this particular cover of EMPIRE magazine because the layout is in a simple structure, the Masthead, headline and taglines are all of the same colour to keep everything linked together. Also the main image is the highlight of the cover because it is a medium close up you can see all of the fine detail and characters emotions, the image is also slightly in front of the masthead, giving it an almost 3D effect to engage the audience



 

I also like the style of layout because of the varied fonts which add interest and the simple red and white colour scheme which really stands out against the central image, the fonts are also very elegant which makes a link to the magazines genre of fashion. The overall layout is interesting as the different taglines are not specific to one area of the page which adds more interest, also the picture slightly over laps the masthead which brings the image more into the foreground to be the main focal point.  

 

This magazines layout could also feature in my school magazine as I like the use of multiple images to add detail and even more information, I am also keen on the way they are used to create patterns, in this case flowers, to make the cover unique to anything else on the shelves. I also like the strong use of colour, and it is the most eye-catching magazine I have analysed, also the layout is different because small secondary pieces of information are scattered all across the page both in front of and behind images to add different layers and levels of text. 

 

Because it's a school magazine the cover needs to include lots of information and previews to what's inside, this means that I cant use a minimal cover where the image does all the talking, at the end of the day the magazine still needs to be factual.

.

 

What to include in my magazine (font)

In this post I will be discussing what to include in my magazine and if certain elements could be changed or not
The font of a magazine can strongly affect its overall layout and message, because fonts come in many shapes and styles to suit the type of magazine, for example:

-a business magazines font would be straight and formal, linking to the topic of the magazine, something like TAHOMA font

-while a children's magazine has to have a font which is fun and exiting, but also can be easy to read for younger children, such as SNAP ICT

For my magazine I need to test out and decide on one or more particular fonts

 

Lets just say I'm going to call my magazine, 'THE ACADEMY OF AWESOME' (sadly not for the real magazine)

-For this font I have used harlow solid italic
 

THE ACADEMY OF AWESOME

I like the free hand approach to the font as it seems fun and informal, thus making the magazine more interesting. However it is very illegible so people might ignore it due to its lack of clarity. Overall the font doesn’t scream ‘school magazine’, more like ‘retro American diner’, so it’s not suitable for my magazine

-For this next font I have used Calisto MT

  

THE ACADEMY OF AWESOME

I like the structure of the font as it is clear, straight to the point and easy to read, however the overall appearance is too executive and might make the reader lose interest because of it's dull format, it should be suited to a factual magazine about law; not something to inform and attract a wide range of people, primarily students, therefore it wont be suitable for my magazine

 

 

- For this next font I have used is Kristen ITC

 

THE ACADEMY OF AWESOME
 

I really like this font as it is quite playful and cheerful but still easy to read, it also is very bold and because of it's curved structure, a wide range of colours can be applied to it. Therefore I might consider this for my title font, where I could edit it on word art to add more layers of colour or to make it 3D so it stands out even more.

 

 

Magazine codes and conventions

All magazines should follow basic codes and conventions to be successful.

What are codes? Codes are signs, which often include a meaning, they can also be split into two main sectors
 
.Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film.
.Symbolic codes shows what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's actions portray how they are feeling.

What are conventions?
Conventions are the accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium,  but conventions are also genre specific.
Masthead: as it is the title block for the magazine it should be the most eye catching and interesting
Secondary lead: this is a preview of an inside article usually in the form of a picture
Sidebar: an additional box next to the main feature
Strapline: subheading below the masthead
Pugs:  to catch the readers eye, it's placed in the top left and right hand corner; the prices, logo and issue number are placed here
Menu: the list of contents inside the paper
Tag: this engages the reader into  story by using a word or phrase, e.g. new, exclusive etc.
Box out:  a coloured  box behind text to make it stand out
Caption: text underneath an image to explain it
Feature: usually with a human interest angle presented as a spread
Headline: the main statement to describe the main story

-Also, the text needs to be legible and easy to understand due to the wide age range of a school magazines target market

-The photos need to strongly link with the headlines, subhead lines and captions to make the magazine a collective piece which isn't disjointed, the photos could also be portrayed using a range of camera shots, such a medium close up or a longshot

-The layout is also very important as it needs to be comfortable to read, interesting and engaging

-A contents page is vital as it informs the reader about what is on each page so they can quickly turn to it, therefore it needs to be concise


These are just general features that all magazines should be based around and they can all be altered to suit the type of magazine.

bye :)

The preliminary task, duh duh duuhhhhh

So, now the akward first post is over, i'm actually going to blog about serious stuff , our first set task is to develop a front cover and contents page for the school magazine as prep for our final music magazine (how very exiting), here I have done a rough sketch and notes outlining my basic ideas (always start off small,  you will have pleanty of time to finalise your plans later), to keep in theme with the school I have used the famous school oak tree as part of my design; just to basically add interest and a bit of colour. Don't lie, when you think of a school magazine something really boring springs to mind usually, I will try to make it as exiting as possible not only to keep you   entertained but myself as well, as A-Levels can make me pretty prone to a crisis every few days  

So bye for now, and i will see you soon     (What am I talking about, seriously)