Magazine Cover Adjustments

When looking back at my magazine cover I found it a little bit plain so I wanted to make it a little bit more unique and interesting.

I solved this problem by adding patterns around my model, this allowed the magazine to be eye catching and individual. I added and placed every single shape onto the cover to ensure that everything was equally spaced and wasn't too busy. 

I used red for the pattern because it matches the colour of the guitar and allows the cover lines, masthead and other parts of the magazine to stand out. I left a space and moved the bar code so it was more discrete and could be used. 

Skills I have Learnt while Designing my Front Cover of my Magazine

I have learnt new and various techniques by experimenting with Photoshop while designing my front cover.

I started off with my image which I proportioned and moved to a suitable and eye catching place, which I learnt to do when I had a tutorial of Photoshop. I then adjusted settings like the sharpness, brightness, contrast, hue and saturation to achieve a professional quality image. 

This is my original image, there has been no editing to it or cropping.

This is my edited image. I have brightened the picture to make the picture to make it stand out more, I have increased the saturation so the colours are more definite and are more striking. I also increased the sharpness so my model would look more definite and separate from the white backdrop. I also adjusted the contrast and the brightness so then my picture would look more defined.

I then added my coverlines, mastheads and slugs, these were edited on by using cooltext.com and then copying and pasting into Microsoft Word, cropping off the pieces I didn't want and then copying them into Photoshop then arranging them according to my flat plan and what looks appealing to the eye.

I have added the cover lines in the house font style which is reversed out, I  tilted the mast head to give the magazine a more relaxed tone. There is only one cover line as I feel that if I used too many cover lines then the whole magazine would be cluttered and look untidy. I also added a bar code by making the white transparent but I placed this out in the corner so it was on its own and not very noticeable.

I found that due to the lack of cover lines there was a huge white space to the right of the cover. Although this is the side of the magazine that wouldn't be seen when presented in a shop it still made the cover look empty. I resolved this by moving the image to the right.
 

I have moved the picture to the right, this has given me my completed magazine cover. I decided not to use  a  lot of grabbing techniques or cover lines as this clutters the cover page and I think that less is more and would appeal to the audience more. When I do my contents page I will include more information of what's in the magazine but I will obtain the 'less is more' tone.

Photoshop Skills that I have Learnt

Recently I have learned numerous techniques to do with the software Photoshop and how to edit photographs in numerous and different ways. One of the basic techniques I have picked up on is how to create a new document and how to size the desired picture I want without it being out of proportion. 

This is my image in Photoshop which has been proportioned so it is an appropriate size so it keeps its sharpness.

Another skill I have picked up it how to change the hue and saturation of my picture, so I can change the colour and the lightness of the photo.

I have changed numerous properties to my picture. I have altered the hue which has caused the red in the picture to turn  pink. I have also modified the saturation to allow the pink to be more striking. I adapted the lighting slightly so the image would become darker overall.

 I have also picked up a skill which can allow me to distort photographs to make them look more fun and relaxed rather than them being more serious.

I have distorted my picture to make the body look really small compared to the guitar and the legs.

Another technique that I am now aware of is how to use the lasso tool. 

I have used the lasso tool to remove the neck of my guitar but I dislike this process as it is very time consuming and fiddly. It also doesn't produce the best results.

I have gained how to use the quick selection tool. 

I have used the quick selection tool to delete my models head. I preferred this to the lasso tool as it is quicker and much more precise. If I ever need to delete parts off photos then I will use this tool as I preferred it to using the lasso.

The last technique that I have learned is how to fill a section of a deleted part of the photo.

I have filled the head, which I deleted by using quick selection, with the paintbrush.

Audience Profile

Second Survey Analysis with Charts conveying Results

Second Survey Analysis and Charts

Learning How to Use Scrid

Above is the progression of learning how to upload documents to Scrid which is another piece of software that enhances my presentation of my work making it more interesting instead of reading a typical blog post. Scribd can also assist me by portraying my work whilst keeping a certain style, therefore making my work look presentable.

Improved Audience Profile Survey

I have redone my survey to involve questions that involve the audience more so I can find out more of their habits and what they like, this will allow me to design and create a college magazine that appeals to my target audience. I have kept some questions from my previous questionnaire as I see them as important to include them as they are a key basic to a student magazine.

Remake of Student Survey for College Magazine