Unit Evaluation for Unit 1

My final Front Cover and Double Page Spread

 Front Cover

Double Page Spread

Making of my Front Cover

This is how i created my front cover using Photoshop and Indesign.

After choosing the photo i would be using for my front cover, i opened it on photoshop and edited to make it look more natural and professional.

This is my final version of the photo on photoshop.

I then opened the photo up in Indesign, as this is the programme i would be creating my front cover on.

I first started by placing the text i wanted to seen on the magazine in rough places, then by using websites like Dafont i collected the type of font i would be using on the front cover. When i found the typeface, i changed the text into the type i wanted using the character bar at the side. This bar then allowed me to use tools like the curning tool to help adapt/change the fonts style slightly. On the magazine name for instance, i elongated the letters and expanded the gaps in-between each letter. I also added a back drop shadow to the title, choosing the density, angle and span of the shadow to suit the elegant look of the magazine. This helped it move out from the rest of the page, ensuring it would  be seen when competing with other magazines on a shelf.

I chose a contrasting text from my magazine name title for the subheadings choosing a sans serif, modern typeface. This meant it looked more appealing and professional. I also used the same type used on the Magazines name for the words i needed to emphasise, so they would stand out but not be conflicting with other type on the page.

I also ensured that there was a contrasting size difference so that a there was a noticeable change between the magazine name and seperate headings.

I also made sure that the text is able to be seen from the photo so changed the text colour on the darker points of the photo to be contrasting white. I also ensued that i allowed white space in some areas of the magazine to make it look less cluttered as its supposed to look sleek and trustworthy.

I also decided that instead of the whole photo being behind the text, i would place the head of her body in front of the title. I did this by editing the image in photoshop, using the pen tool, separated her head from the rest of the picture (or what i wanted to be in front of the title). 

After doing this, i placed the image into the indesign project and by using object layer options, removed all the irrelevant layers so that the head would cover the title. This made it look more professional and brought the image out of the page.

Then to finalise my project i decided to bring out the main headline from the rest of the text, by enlarging the text and centre aligning it. The proximity of the image and text also helps suggests its apart of the same story. The size and contrasting alignment from the test of the front cover also helps make it more noticeable and eye-catching.

I also ensured i had the trademarks of a magazine, so placed a barcode in the bottom left hand corner of the page, not interrupting the page layout. I also placed in the bottom right hand corner, a sans serif, modern text containing the issue number, date and also the price of the magazine. The type made it quick and easy to read but not conflicting with the page.

This is my final front cover design.

Making of DPS

This is how i created by Double page spread.

First i opened Indesign and then scanned my chosen double page spread draft onto the computer. By placing it into Indesign i then could base my design on it easier. I then placed guidelines onto the DPS to help make my design even and similar to the draft. I then locked the draft into place so it wouldn't effect the making of my DPS.

I then started to prepare the photos i will be using from the ones i had taken. I placed them into Photoshop where i began to edit them changing the levels, colour balance, exposure and hue&saturation. This helped make my photo look more natural and professional.

After i had finished editing the photo i then placed in into my Indesign project. By using my grid and draft i placed it precisely in the centre of the page. I enlarged it slightly and changed the framing so she would be posing straight on, making the page's look more even and semetrical. It also helped make the DPS look more connected.

By using the same editing techniques on 2 other photos, i placed them into the project using help from the guides and draft to make sure everything was even. By using the same editing techniques, it also made them link nicely together so it brought the whole DPS together.

Using my draft to help me i also added a title, trying to allow some white space to have some of the page. I also used the curning tool to edit the font slightly to suit the page size. By choosing a sans serif font for the title i thought that the pull quotes should be a contrasting type, so decided to choose a script font. I then chose a serif font for the kicker to further contrast with the sans serif main body text. I also allowed the pull quotes to spread onto the pictures to help break the guides which creates a more interesting and interconnected DPS.

To try and make the title more interesting i decided to enlarge a script type, changing the levels of transparency to contrast with the other title words but consequentially bringing the two words together (I later changed this to an ampersand to make it less complicated and easier to read). I then used the same technique for the quotation marks, making them have a more prominent part to the DPS. 

To make the DPS look more professional i added a drop cap to the start of the text and added captions to the pictures. I also changed the curning and height of the body text to help make it easier to read and consequentially more inviting to read.

I also ensured that there was a limited amount of type on the page so as not to confuse the reader or make it look too cluttered. I used the same type used from my front cover on the kicker and the folios on all comers of the magazine DPS. By creating the folios it ensured my DPS looked professional and inviting. I also make the them stand out by placing a block of colour behind the text. By doing this, it linked the page together and helped give it a tan colour scheme. To help create a interesting trade mark i made the top right corner have the Magazines name in black except for the last letter being white, which helped link it to the rest of the page and connect all the folios together.

This is my final double page spread.

Draft Double Page Spreads

I have created 3 drafts of what my magazine might look like.

Design No.1

In this design i decided to do a large contrasting heading with the smaller body text. The heading itself also contrasts with each other as one word's typeface is a sans serif and the other a script. I also included pull quotes, a margin, a kicker, captions, photo's from my exhibit and also a drop cap to make it look more professional and appealing to the female audience. I also used whitespace and the photo's i will use will be helpful for women searching for tips.

Design No.2

In this design i have decided to use a continual serif heading, bleeding onto the next page. This helps link the photos to the story i created. I also used pull quotes, photos from my exhibit, a margin,a folio in the top left, a kicker, drop cap and captions for the photos explaining what they are. I also included a ampersand symbol slightly faded behind the heading to make the page more contrasting.

Design No.3

In this design i have chosen to place a large photo in the middle of my page, almost like a mirror of both sides. This helps link the two pages together easily. I also decided to make the heading sans serif to help intensify the feeling of sophistication but a modern style. I also included a kicker, a folio in the top left, pull quotes, drop caps, a margin and a caption to explain my photos. To help make the DPS more diverse i have also varied the size of images i have used.

Contact Sheet

I took a wide range of photos so i would be able to chose my pictures from a varied selection. Ive tried to incorporate different positions and body language to test knew look, or make a more dynamic, interesting photo.

All f the photos selected in blue are the ones i have taken interest in while editing out the ones i was not going to use. For instance the one circled above this text incorporates the background into the picture, drawing attention to other aspects linked with more sophisticated people, like the fire and paintings.

This also occurred with the 2 below this text, incorporating other aspects like the chair and mirror to make it a busier photo, consequentially making it more interesting to the reader.

However the 2 above this pice of text use white space to good effect. It draws attention to her face and the contrasting colour of the green book, making it simple yet striking. It also highlights her face and the glasses which help associate 'geek' into the pictures, making it easier to figure out the article.

The photos circle in red are the ones i have decided to use in my actual magazine. The first one below this text is good and i thought the white space helps my model stand out of the page. Also by lifting the book hiding her face, it creates a certain level of mysteriousness which may intrigue people into reading my article.

The 2 above this text are also effective for the same reason of the white space used. She stands out easily and also helps highlight the classy approach my magazine is taking, by the glossy clean approach it takes. By creating an even light, i saw how it would be easy to edit it into a more natural light but keeping it soft and professional looking.

Vector potrait

This is the image i chose to base my vector portrait on as i thought that it links to my magazine well as it looks professional and is based upon a female model, which would attract the female audience.

I created my vector portrait by opening my photo in illustrator. I then collected 3 base colours i would be using in my picture, and then created a bridge between them, so i had a wider range of tones and colours to work with.

Then, using the pen tool, I drew out the basic shapes of my model, starting by working from the back like the shoulders, and then drawing out the features on top, like the eyes. After drawing out the main features i then added places of tone into the portrait.

After completing the outlines i then started to add colour into my vector portrait from my selection of tones i had previously created.

This is my completed vector portrait in comparison with the actual photo.

DPS Spread Scamps

Here are some layout ideas i came up with, with some annotations to help me get a clearer image of what it might look like.