Drafting Text/ Page Layouts

Front Cover

Once I had the image, I put it into Publisher and added my masthead:

However, once added to the background, the tagline was illegible. I put the whole masthead into Fireworks, and added a white background, so the writing could be read. I cut around it to make it more presentable. I decided to break the traditional front cover rules and position my masthead on the top right instead of the left. My magazine is quite alternative and different, so this decision shows just how different it is.

I also added the name of my main band; Infernal. I chose this name as a lot of existing goth bands have names such as Curse, Damned etc. So I found a synonym of these words, and Infernal stuck out from the rest. I thought this suited my band quite well.

I placed the issue number, price and date inside one of the gravestones. Before, my eyes kept being drawn to the empty space on the stone. This was perfect, as I needed somewhere to put these conventions.

I added a banner at the bottom, still sticking with the black, white and purple theme. I chose to advertise free iTunes downloads, for the primary reason that this is a music magazine. This also represents how technology has developed; many people don't listen to CD's anymore. Especially teenagers.

I then found a barcode off the internet and added it in the bottom right, as this seemed the place where space needed to be filled. I then added names of some artists. I made up the names, purely because I wanted every single image in my magazine to be my own. I didn't want to use pictures of other bands from the internet, so I made my own, so I could use completely original images. I typed "gothic names" into Google, and looked at a number of sites. I added these to my cover, and put them in a mix of white and black. I didn't want too much of one colour, so this evened it out a bit. I added the name of the website to the banner, and completed my magazine cover. This is my final image:

Contents

I  started working in Publisher. The first thing I wanted to do was to write the credits. I looked back at one of the magazines from last year and looked at their credits:

I used some of the same job titles to help me out. I placed my credits on the right hand side of the page, sticking to the black and white colour scheme from the front cover. I took a screen-shot of my front cover, and added that to the top of the page. I then added a banner at the bottom, using this space to include details about the magazine; where to buy it from, the website, phone number and email address. To fill more space, I framed the whole page:

I then started working on the actual contents of the magazine. I decided to have three categories; On the Cover, Features, Win and Live. For each category, I included a number of possible stories with their page numbers in front. I put the stories in chronological order for each section, so it would be easier for the readers to find what they're looking for. Again, I stuck to the original colour scheme, this time using purple instead of white. I placed it on the left side of the page.

I then added 4 images, each relating to a different story in my magazine. I added the page numbers to each picture, and for the main image, I added the artists' name.

Feature

I started by choosing the main image that I manipulated earlier:

I was satisfied that this image could be used in my feature.

I put the image in the centre of the two pages, and added the band's logo on the left-hand side of the page. I chose "Up close and personal with Infernal" as my title as it was quite catchy due to the rhyme. I wrote a little introduction, and put that underneath. I then wrote a short introduction to the interview:

I then completed the interview, seperating it into columns. I stuck to my original plan of using chatty, informal language to make it seem friendlier.

Once this was done, I noticed there was a lot of blank space, and the right-hand page looked quite cramped. I added pull-quotes into my interview, to break up the writing:

There was still a lot of blank space. I decided to put a purple border around the interview, to make it seem more interesting:

Finally, I added the page numbers, byline, and writing into the top and bottom bars, with website information, band information, competitions etc. This made it look a lot better, while also looking quite professional:

Shooting & Selecting Images

Before shooting my images, I researched the kind of images that are used in existing goth magazines. I found two images, one from Orkus Magazine, the other from Unscene. Their front covers are seen below:

Both covers use dark colours in the backgrounds and the clothing to portray the gothic lifestyle. This would be something I would use. I was influenced by both of these covers. In Orkus, I liked the way that the band are all close together, wearing the same style of clothing. And in Unscene, I quite liked the background. Both of these covers inspired me to take my images of a band in a graveyard

Firstly, I had to find a cemetery to suit my needs. I needed it to be quite creepy and dark. I found one quite close, but it didn't fit my criteria. So I searched a little deeper and found another one. I made my band wear dark eye make-up, so they looked like they haven't slept in a while (like vampires).

Once in the cemetery, I found a quit spot, where the gravestones looked quite old. This perfectly suited my dark and creepy theme. I found three headstones and placed the girls in front of the middle one. I asked one to sit on the floor and the other to stand behind her to take a few test shots:   



Image 1



Image 2



I then let them play around a bit and find some poses that worked for them. This worked well as some of the poses they used could work for the feature.



Image 3



Image 4



I then tried to figure out which image I would use for the front cover. I quite liked the test shots I used. I liked that there was the good vs. bad vibe with the girls. I decided I would use Image 1 for my cover image.

Firstly, I decided I wanted my image in black & white. I wanted to keep the dark and dead theme, so I edited the colours, tints and saturation in Fireworks:

I then decided I didn't want to fence to be too noticeable in the background. So I used the blur tool in Fireworks so I could focus more on the girls. I also blurred out the names on the gravestones:

I used the same concept for my feature spread. First, I chose a picture that I though would work well with the feature.

I thought this was a fun image to use, and to show the band's playful side. I then opened the image in Fireworks, and began to cut out the background using the Lasso Tool:

Once I took out most of the background, I used the Polygon Lasso Tool to cut around the girls, careful not to cut too near:

Once completed, the image looks like this:



Analysing Front Cover Images

I took a front cover image from the internet, Q, featuring Take That. Below is the image I found:

I looked closely at the image of the band, and thought about why they were positioned in that way. I analysed a few things just by looking at it:

• They are all dressed in black leather jackets, suggesting they have grown up since their split.
• They are bundled closely together which shows that they are a lot closer than they were before, both physically and mentally.
• They are all smiling, which again, suggests they are a lot happier now that Robbie William's rejoined the group.
  

  

  
  

  I also analysed the audience profiles of some magazine covers. I found that most these music magazines were aimed at males in older generations. 

  
  

Planning & Sketching Images

Before i began work on my actual images, I practiced using Fireworks with a normal giraffe image.

I then used the lasso tool to manipulate the image and pluck the giraffe from its background.

    

I then added a background to the image, and decided on a London scene. I pasted the giraffe in front of the background and adjusted the size. This made my final image.

I then started sketching ideas for my front cover. In my research, I found that supernatural mysticism was a big influence for goth music. So I decided to do a vampire theme for my front cover, using lots of black and dark colours. Here is my first sketch:

I then started sketching my contents page. I knew the rough outline I wanted, so worked from the image I had from my head. I knew for sure I wanted a section aside for the credits, and a large main image. I worked with the space I had left and came up with this:

I then began working on my feature page. I decided I wanted a double page spread, with the band in the centre of the spread. I wanted an interview-style layout, but I wasn't too sure. This is the outcome: 

Investigating Conventions of...

• Front Covers

I chose a magazine cover from the internet, Kerrang, as this had a lot of conventions in it. I analysed the different aspects of the magazine in Publisher:

Completing this task helped me to remember what conventions I need to include in my own magazine. Including all of these conventions are crucial for the magazine to be successful. For example, if there was no price/ barcode, no one would know how much it costs. If there was no image, nobody would buy it; the image sells the magazine. With no masthead, the magazine would have no name, and people wouldn't be able to buy it again. It's all these conventions that sell the magazine!

• Feature Pages

I chose an article from Popworld to identify the different conventions needed for a feature:

Like the front cover, every single convention in this image was necessary. Page numbers are purely there for navigation, and link in with the contents page, to tell the reader where each story is located. Columns separate the page, making it far easier to read than regular text. Font design, strapline, graphics and the other design features are there purely for show. However, these features either make or break a feature. If the design is terrible, nobody would buy the magazine again. It has to suit the audience. 

Researching and Designing Mastheads

To create a good magazine, it's logo has to be recognised. For example, any brand, magazine or not, needs its own identity, or people wouldn't buy it. Here are some examples:

 Before I started thinking about names, I wanted to be sure about the Gothic genre. After researching. I found out a lot about this genre:

• Goth music (also known as Goth Rock) grew from the ties it had with English punk-rock in the late 1970s
• It combines dark, heavy music often with depressing lyrics
• It deals with dark themes, addressed through the lyrics and musical atmosphere
• The lyrics exhibited literary romaticism, morbidity, religious sybolism and supernatural mysticism
• Typical gothic fashion includes dyed black hair, black lips, black clothes, black eyeliner and dark fingernails

I also researched the previous Goth bands who could influence my magazine:

• Bauhaus
• Siouxsie and the Banshees
• The Cure
• The Sisters of Mercy
• The Cult
• The Damned

Once I finished researching, I brainstormed a list of possible names for my magazine. As the genre is Gothic, I tried to stay within the "dark" and "creepy" theme. Names like "Bleak" and "Ink" were possible outcomes. I then decided on "Phase", as for a lot of Goths, this type of genre is just a phase in their lives that they will move on from at some point. I eventually moved on from that, as I wasnt too sure of the title. I brainstormed all my ideas onto paper.

 I then thought of "Resurrect". I think this is a good choice, as it has a double meaning; the first, could be interpreted that Goth music is making a comeback ie. being resurrected. The second is that alot of Goths are associated with Death and Graveyards etc. so resurrect would make a good masthead. Once I decided on this title, I sketched a couple of ideas.

I then went on Dafont.com and chose a font that I thought would work with the conventions of my magazine. I found "Nightmare 5", which I thought suited the Goth genre quite well.



I then opened Paint and used the paintbrush tool to edit the image. I decided I wanted to fill in the gaps in each letter, so used the paintbrush to cover them. I also wanted it to be more "block-like", so I drew around each letter until I was satisfied. I extented the stalk of the "T" so it looked like a crucifix and filled it in with a dark purple colour. Goths have been associated with crosses and graveyards etc. so this seemed appropriate. This is my final product:



Investigating the Market

To investigate the market, I went to WHSmiths to look at other music magazines. I found that there were a lot of Rock Magazines, like Kerrang, Classic Rock and Clash.

 I wanted to steer clear of the Rock genre, and go for a genre to fill the gap in the market. When I looked, there were no magazines in the Goth, Emo, Country or Techno genres. So I decided to go for a Gothic-type magazine. 

I then went on to find out the average price of music magazines. I looked online at http://www.whsmith.co.uk/ and typed in the names of a few magazines:

• I found that Kerrang costs £2.20 per issue
• Q costs £3.90
• Classic Rock costs £4.99
• MixMag costs £4.20
• NME costs £2.10

Once I had this basic information, I worked out an average price. I added up the costs of all the magazines (£17.39), then divided it by the total number of magazines (5) to get £3.478. I then rounded up the price to £3.50, and this would be the price of my magazine.

Researching Target Audiences of Other Magazines

Whilst doing my research, I realised that most music magazines are part of the Rock genre, such as Kerrang and Classic Rock.

It then occurred to me that most of these music magazines are aimed at males. This made me decide to create a magazine aimed at females. It also seemed that other magazines were aimed at older men. As I want my magazine to stand out from the rest, I aimed mine at teenagers. As my magazine is Gothic, my target audience is quite unique. I want to aim it at teenagers in the social demographic groups C-D. Usually, you wouldn't find many upper-middle class goths, only in the middle-working class categories. The might feel misunderstood by others, and turn to goth music as an escape route from the norm.



Exploring Values and Ideologies of Other Magazines

I looked at two magazine websites, NME and Smashhits! I explored each of their ideologies:

• New MediaTechnology
• Past Music
• Cutting Edge/ Modern
• Non-Mainstream, alternative artists
• Quality Music
• Wide interests
• Business-like

NME give out the impression that they are individual, but they are run by IPC Media, a global magazine publishing house. This suggests that they are not in fact individual, but part of a group of other magazines trying to show the same thing. They are trying to attract an audience, individual people whose music tastes differ to the usual. But the fact that they are part of a huge magazine publishing house contradicts their promise of individuality. This is a show.

 

Young

Feminine

Colourful

Mainstream Artists

Interactive gaming

Simple

Non-political

SmashHits is all about looking pretty, which could be interpreted as a representation of the music it supports. It uses bright colours like pinks and purples to attract their audience. Pop bands these days, are more interested in looking good than producing quality music. For example, if there was a new boyband out whose voices were stunning, but their looks weren't too great, they wouldn't get very far. Image is everything. SmashHits reflects this fact in a less-obvious way.



Preliminary Task

Before I began working on my music magazine, I created a Preliminary Task. For this, I had to produce the front cover of a new school magazine,

and the mock-up-plan of the contents page.