Music Magazine Survey

Since I was struggling with ideas of what to do, I thought that I would created a survey to get some opinions of what people like, and don't like. I will give this to many people and collect the results, so I get a better view of what to use.

Feel free to answer the survey in the comments!

What Genre Do I Want?

When I think about what type of genre magazine I want to do it seems to come to alternative rock. I think I want to do this genre because its easy to make it all fit together and look naturally good.

For example, I like look of Revolt magazine. I like this because its a simple looking magazine but still gives off what it is about. Its modern and clean which I like and all fits together.

Although it looks a bit full, I like the look that Classic Rock is trying to go for. Its simple, but has a bit of character and is very eye catching. It also has some colour, but doesn't ruin the look of it.

I know I keep coming back, but I really like the way Q set out their magazine. They don't really have a genre either, as they have features for all kind of artists. I do also like the thought of going in this kind of direction with genre, as it can work with any image if you get the colours right. This can also give me more to play and test with.

When I start to make my music magazine, I will try out both genres and see which one I feel better with. I will try out with different colours and different layouts, until I feel like it looks good.

 Question is, will it come out right?

Music Magazine Analysis 2 - Contents Page

For my magazine, I also have to make a contents page. Because of this, I will analyse a music magazine contents page.

With Q magazine they like to keep the colour red throughout the magazine, which they use on their logo. This keeps it minimal and clean, without too much sticking out at once. 

 (Q Magazine)

They have also used pictures that relate to articles in the magazine. This can interest the reader and make them look in the magazine.

The page is also very boxy. This helps it to have a clean cut, be easy to view and read, as there aren't things standing out all over the place.

They have also put the page numbers of articles on the page, to help the reader navigate through the magazine, and show off the main, most eye catching articles.

I like this type of layout and will most likely use it as an outline. What do you think?

Music Magazine Moodboard

Recently I have been putting my ideas of what I would like for my music magazine, onto a Mood board. The Mood board only has my initial ideas on it as I’m still a bit hazy with what I want to do with it.

I have selected some fonts that I think will fit with the magazine. I have decided I want the genre to be alternative rock or a mixture.

With the picture I have chosen to do basic close-ups and mid shots with some others thrown in . I have already took some photos, but still need to check if they are appropriate for the look I am going for.

I would like the magazine to be in pinks and blacks, but the picture I have taken hold blue in them in the outfit. I might use this blue in the magazine instead, if it fits in better.

I also like the layout that Q magazine use, so I may look at some of their magazines to base my structure off of.

Again, I'm still not sure with what I want with it, but I still have some basic ideas to work off.

Music Magazine Analysis - Front Cover

Since I'm going to make a music magazine, I thought I would analyse one of the well known magazines, and show you how they work so well.

Central Image/Cover model- The cover image needs to stand out because its what catches peoples eyes! This is important so needs to be relevant to the magazine. Editors do this by getting celebrities who are linked to the magazine genre. In this case, they have used Adele to be the cover model.

Masthead- The masthead is the name of the magazine. For this magazine it would be the Red box with the 'Q' in it.

 (Q Magazine)

Tagline- The tagline is normally on or near the masthead. For this magazine its the writing on the masthead saying 'Discover great music'. Magazines have taglines to show what the magazine is about.

Pugs- A pug has been used on this magazine to draw attention and promote the magazine. This would be the gold circle on the left ('The 300th issue'). Pugs are normally on the top left or right, and so look like ears.

Hope this helped you understand magazines a little bit more.

How I Selected Images For My School Magazine

For my school magazine, I went and took a range of photos for the front cover and contents page. I used quite a few of these pictures, but some didn’t make the cut. I will show you what went through my mind, while picking out the photos.

I took this in the computer room to show the 'New Computers' for one of the secondary leads. I liked this photo but I felt like it was a little tall, and may be better as a landscape.

I then took this photo which looked better. Because of the wide shot, it elongates the photo, making it look better and showing more detail. I then carried on the use this photo. 

For the main picture on the front of the magazine, I took photos of some students. I liked this photo as it a mid-shot so isn’t too close to the students, but not too far away either. This is a comfortable distant from the subjects, looking natural.

I then took this photo as a portrait. I prefer it being this way, as it fits onto the A4 picture nicely. I also like the fact that you can see more of them, so you can see more of the uniform, and the fact that there is more room for text to be layer onto.

I then took some photos of the school gym. I first took this picture but didn't like how it turned out. I think the photo is too messy with too many objects in the picture. It isn't a very clear picture either, so I didn't use it.

I then took this photo. I preferred this picture because it shows the gym in a neat way. It is clear to see what is in the picture, with detail.

I then went onto getting picture of the tree for the school logo. I didn’t like this picture because it was too dark. I also didn’t like the other trees in the background as this would have made it harder for me to edit.

I decided to use this image because it was lighter, and showed the leaves better. It also has the school in the background, in case I wanted to show that in the logo.

In the end I just picked the best looking photos, and edited some of them to make them look better.

School Magazine Evaluation

I have finally finished my school magazine cover and contents page. I am very happy with the end result and will take what I have learned and apply it to my music magazine.

 

I like my front page because it stands out. I have incorporated the school colours which I think makes it represent the school nicely. I like the logo because it is simple, links to the school and has the school colours. I think that I could have improved it by using a nicer font and maybe having more secondary headers. All in all, I think it is a good first attempt and I can improve from this with my music magazine.

I think I have also made the contents page well. I have again used the school colours, as well as pictures from around the school. This helps to show what the school is like, while making the page more interesting. I also like the font that I have used as it is easier to read, and looks neat on the page. Although it looks good, I sometimes think it looks a bit plain. Again, I can use these negative points as things to construct on next time.

How I Made My School Magazine Contents

With the contents screen, I wanted it to be simple with the school colours and pictures.

First I started with the background. I decided to put green on half of he page as I thought it looked modern.

 

I then started to add the text to see how it all fits in.

I then added the images down the side.

I then felt like something was missing. It needed some more colour, so I added some yellow behind the pictures.

After applying the yellow, I thought it looked a bit strange. I decided to add some green ontop of the yellow. 



Over all Im am glade with the finished product and cant wait for the music magazine.

How I Made My Logo (School Magazine)

When planning for my school magazine, I came up with some ideas for the logo. One of them was with a tie, one was with the schools tree.

In the end I went for the tree.

For the logo, I wanted just the tree. To do this, I removed the background.

I decided that I couldn't just have the logo like this, so I added a background.

 Then I thought it needed a boarder, so I added one.

Example of How I Made My School Magazine

My magazine took a while to make. I changed mast things along the way to make it look better and more interesting.

The first thing I did was put on the background, the header and some headlines. I then added the logo and an image linking to one of the stories.

I then felt like this was a bit plain, so I added some colour.

I then changed the logo and image of the computer to make then not look as rough.

This is what the final product looked like. The original one looks a lot better and I am proud of it.