Flat Plans

 I have made flat plans and rationale for front cover, contents page and double page spread. I put my ideas down for colour scheme, images, text, layout and font.

 

Front Cover

On the front cover of my magazine I plan to use a three-shade colour scheme of red, white and black this will make the magazine gender neutral. The Masthead and main sell lines will be in red, as this is the brightest colour, this will contrast against the white and black making them stand out immediately. The background of the front cover will just be a plain white so the masthead and main sell lines stand out against it. The main image of my magazine will be a mid shot of a girl, this will attract the male audience and also the female as other females will aspire to look like the model. The Mise-en-scene will have for props I plan to use old records this links musically, the model will have bright red lips and dark smokey eyes which will subtly match the colour scheme. The model will be doing the invitational pose with a direct gaze to attract readers to the magazine. The camera angle will be at the angle of the model with her looking towards the camera at the reader.I plan the image background to be white so that all of the focus is on the model and which will draw the reader in to read the magazine.

Contents Page

For the contents page I will follow the same colour scheme as what I have used for the front cover, this will make the magazine look more professional and be clear and easy for the reader to read. I will put on several images the show what the more important articles are. The images will help the reader understand about the different articles.  The mise-en-scene of the images will have props relating to music. Next to each of the images I will put a page number, so the magazine is easy to navigate around. The title will be a contrast of two colours, red and white, this will make it stand out and make the page look energetic. the text is very simple and informal, this is again so that it is easier for the reader to understand it and read it. I will have the name of the magazine underneath the title, this is so the magazine is always known throughtout. The font I will use for the title will be bold, this is so the reader can find the page easily when flicking through the magazine. The layout of the contents page will be very appealing to the eye. The format will be very simple which will assist readership because it will be in three main sections. Im not putting elements of the page in diagonals, instead to create a energetic layout im the convention in different sized boxes. The vocal point of the page will be the main image, this image will be for the main article. The contents list will be on the side and will be easy to read. I will try to assure there will be no deadspace however I will also try and make it not sure crowed. I will fill dead space with different coloured backround.

Double Page Spread

For the double page spread I with the same house style and colour, so the magazine will be consistant and sophisticated. I have again chose to use the colours red, black and white. These colours are gender nuetral and it is a good three shade colour scheme. The colour scheme will also connote with the mixed genre of music. The headline colour will be red and this will contrast with the article text as it will be black. The main article image will also contrast with the rest of the text. The image I have chose will be a sophisticated image, the mise-en-scene of this will connote with music as she will hold props such as microphones or a guitar. The body language of the model for my main article image will be inviting. This will help grab the reader attention for them to read the article. The camera will be angled so the that model has a ey line match to the reader. I will have the image on one half of the page, this is so the space looks well filled. The narrative voice for the main article text will be quite formal it will be spoke it third person. The article will have qotations throughout, I will have a pull quote so that the reader will carry on reading the article. The font I will use for the headline will be a bold font because it will be eye-catching. The font I will use for the text will be simple so that it is easy for the reader to read. The layout will be simplistic with the article image covering half of the page, this will assist the readership as it will be easier for the eye to read it.

Photoshop task

I created a Simpson's movie poster and applied all my knowledge on photoshop to make it.

This task was peer marked, my peer awarded me a mark of 36/40 which is a grade A.

The feedback which my peer gave me was that the images I used were of a good quality and are relevant. The colours I used are good and contrasting. The things which I could of improved on were to make the title slightly lower, the release date could be bigger and more noticeable and there was no use of blending options.



Contents page fonts

These are the fonts which I have narrowed down for the contents page title, different article text and page numbers.

                         

Photoshop research

To be able to create the "Simpsons Movie" poster I first had to have a play around with photoshop to familiarise myself with the different editing tools. I then made notes on how to use each tools on how to use then, in the future I can refer back to these notes incase of any problems.

Front cover Fonts

 From choosing the possible fonts I want to use I then put the masthead name "pitch" in the different fonts to so that I could choose the best one. I want a font that is bold and stands out and catches the readers attention. The font that I have decided to go with is 'muro' I chose this because it is bold and looks sophisticated. 

Learning from last years student work

A task in class was to look at five magazines from last years students. I looked at each magazine thoroughly and bullet pointed the strengths and weaknesses of all the magazines, after that I graded each magazine.

From looking at last years student work I have learnt what looks good and what looks and bad on a magazine. I have learnt that the magazine needs to have a consistent colour scheme on the front cover, contents page and and double page spread. I have also learnt that the images I use need to be of a good quality as this will ensure a good grade. I have learnt that the font I use will have to be bold and eye catching.

This has helped me to make sure my magazine will look the best I can make it so that I can get the best grade possible. 

Initial courswork proposal table

I have thought of different ideas that I would like to be carried out through my magazine.

feed back for initial layout design for double page spread

I got given feed back off my teacher on the initial layout design of my double page spread article. My teacher advised me to include a drop caps at the start of the text to encourage the reader to begin to read the article. My teacher also advised me to split my article text into three columns and make the text larger so that it is easier for the audience to read it and it will illiminate the dead space. My teacher also said that I could include a pull quote to keep the reader reading on with the rest of the article.

Colour scheme

I have chose to do a colour scheme which is from these colour palettes. Th main colour I have chosen is read and this will follow throughout my magazine. Red is a gender mutual colour which is why I have chosen it, it also looks sophisticated and modern. The colours contrast well together. 

I would use the bright red for the masthead as it stands out and is eye-catching, then I will use the blacks and greys for the sell lines so that they don't take all the attention off the masthead but still stand out. Overall I think that this colour palette i have chose is very effective as it reflects the alternative music. To ensure this scheme follows throughout the magazine I have got my model to wear red nail varnish and wear some red clothing so that the magazine flows and relates with the colour scheme. The contrasting red really stands out against the other colours and this will make the front cover very eye-catching encouraging readers to buy the magazine.

Font Research

I have done some research into font that i could use for my masthead, sell lines and articles. This research has helped me choose the best possible font that will look good in my magazine.

Masthead 

 I like this font because it is bold and will be striking to the reader. The font makes the letters look very tall. This font reminds me of something that would be on a rock magazine. The negative point to this font is that because the name of the magazine is "pitch" it might not look effective with such a small word.

This font is very simple but it is also eye-catching because it is bold and tall, a negative point to this font is that it looks very narrow so it may not be as eye-catching as other possible fonts.

This font is very appealing to look at because all the letters are the same size with the same spacing. This font looks very modern which is something I am trying to achieve for my magazine. The negative point to this is that it isn't that bold so the readers wont be that attracted to it.

 This font is quite narrow but also bold which is appealing to look out. This is a simple font which word work really well for the masthead. A bad point to this is that it could look quite immature and I want it so look sophisticated.

I really like this font because it is very bold and eye-catching and will attract the reader to the magazine. It will also work really well with the short name of the font "Pitch".

I really like this font because it looks really sophisticated and mature, it is bold and quite wide which makes it stand out against everything else on the page. A negative point to this font is that it isn't the boldest.

Sell Lines



                                       

This font is very simple and plain although it has quite an unusual round shape, this would be good for the sell line as it wont take all the attention of the masthead however this could be a negative point as it isn't very bold or eye-catching so is harder to read therefore people wont want to read the magazine.
 

This font is very is bold and stands out, but it might not be best for the sell lines because it could take the attention off masthead.

I like this because it isn't very bold and wont take attention off the masthead however it will still stand out to the reader because it it is tall. Because it is so narrow I think it would bring a sophisticated mature look to the magazine.

This font is very bold and eye-catching, because it is squared lettering it will bring a modern look to the magazine. This font is very similar to some that I have researched for the masthead so it may work better for that.

This font is very similar to "champagne & limousines" in the way that it has a very rounded shape. This font is very plain and simple, the spacing between the lettering makes it look quite sophisticated which is something I want to bring across in my magazine. This font would be good however it may look better as the lettering for the main article copy font.
                   

Main article Copy 

This font would be very good for the lettering of the article because it is very rounded and appealing to the eye which is benefitial for the reader because they will be reading the full article it also isnt very bold so it will be easier for the reader to read it.

This font has a unique shape to it and I think it would look good as being the article title as it will work well will the article image. It stands out and is bold.

 

I like how this font is very narrow aswell as being bold, this will look good as being the article title because it will stand out from the rest of the text.

 

This font is very bold and this is good to an extent but it think I would rather a font that is less bold, so I think this font would be better suited for the masthead as it will help the magazine stand out from the rest.

 

This font looks very sophisticated as it is very tall lettering aswell as bold, this font is something I would use as the article title I could also use this as the masthead because it is very appealing to the eye and it looks classy and stylish.

Photographic Tenchniques

Some ideas and techniques that are essential when taking a good photograph:

• shot distance 
• Use of tilt- Tilt up shot(low angle) -Used to convey power or dominance
  Tilt down shot(high angle)- Used to convey vulnerability or weakness of person in shot and to demonstrate dominance of point of view.
• shot composition
• eye line
• Tone-  control of tones including variations of light and dark, emphasising important parts of the image, and colour, generally set the 'mood' of your photograph
  tone control can be used to emphasise the shapes of the most important elements in your image.
• Lines-  are useful for emphasising and leading the viewer towards a main area or subject. They may also divide up the picture space into segments, which may vary in size and shape. The shape of lines and their general pattern can strongly influence the mood of the photograph.
• colour, including vivid, primary and monochromatic colour- Taking control of the way in which colour is used in your photographs is a key way of improving your images. Keep your eyes open for vibrant coloured subjects, but also look for delicate coloured subjects and ones with muted tones. Colour sells, bright, bold colours are used on magazine covers, so choose a plan the shots that you will take. Monochromatic colours, It can also work well to use just one or two colours within a picture, such shots often have an intensity and sense of harmony.
• texture, and hints on creating texture- Most of the time when we are taking photographs we think about the subject, but there is another way of approaching pictures-taking , which involves thinking beyond the subject and looking at it in terms of textures and patterns. Photography is especially effective at conveying the impression of texture. This is a quality, which can be extremely close-up.
• patterns and hints on capturing patterns
• Foreground/Background- when designing a shoot remember to keep in mind both the action in the foreground and the background.
• Framing- Keep the RULE OF THIRDS in mind when designing your shot. The viewers eye is drawn to the cross-sections of a frame, this is where your actions should be taking place.
• Composition- you need to think carefully about how you compose a photograph. Many photographs place their subject in the middle of the photograph, which can often result in a dull image.
  
  
  
  
  
  

Shot distance types

Potential problems with my coursework

I have considered some of the potential problems with my coursework images and article and have found ways in which I can deal with the problems.

Recce

I have made a Recce to establish the location of the shoot, what friends are going to be models and the props I'm going to use.

When taking the photos at home there could be potential hazards such as wires and chairs being in the way when taking the photos and obstructing movement. When taking the photos in the studio things such as wires off the lights.

                                                                                        Images of the studio
 To ensure these risks are minimised I will make sure the space and area of where I'm taking the photos is clear to keep the models and myself out of any danger.

     The time of day/weather will effect the outcomes of the photos when I a at home because I will be using the natural lighting of the room, so if the weather is cloudy for example then the room will darker resulting in the photos not looking very good.

     The background I want for my photos is just to have a plain white background this will be ensured in the studio, and at home against a white wall. This is because the model will be the main focus and stand out against the plain white background.

     When taking the photos at home I have considered the natural lighting and the problems the weather may cause to the result of my photos. In the studio the lighting will be artificial and really bright, I will most likely use a flash so the the image looks really sharp and defined to achieve the best image possible.

                                                                Not real image of studio
      At home I wont need permission. I will have to book an appointment in the Sunderland university photography studio to use it, this will ensure I'm not going to be rushed to use it and will not have to share it with anyone else.

     People and crowds are not going to be an issue because I'm not going to be taking the photos outside or in a public area so this will ensure nothing spoils the effect of the images I take. I will be taking the photos in a private studio.  

     I have briefed my models (my friends) about the photo shoot, what type of clothes I want them to bring and the type of make-up they will be wearing. I have also decided on the props I will take to the shoot which are old records. I am going to plan the shoot step by step plan to ensure it goes well and the photos turn out accordingly.

     When taking the photos at home I have considered every eventuality such it being dark and light. In the studio there are less things to consider for the lighting because I will be using artificial lighting. I am also considering the attitude of the models on the day as this will effect the outcome of my photos.

Clothing research

 

I have done some research into different clothes and styles that I want my models to wear and portray. These different looks will be used for the front cover, contents page and double page spread. I have included quite a lot of darker clothes because I want to interpret the grunge theme to my magazine, I have also included red clothing which relates to the colour scheme of my magazine. I have added more glamorous items such as the fur coats to bring a more elegant look which will contrast well with the other black clothing. I am trying to bring across grunge glamour across because this will like in with the main article of the magazine. I want the clothes of the front cover to relate to the context of the double page spread.

Props research

I have done some research into the different props I could use for my double page spread article. I have looked at magazines and other existing images to get ideas which I could use.

Makeup and Hair Research

 

I have done some research
 in to different makeup trends
 that I could use on my model.
 These are a few makeup
trends that I like and could use
for the front cover image on
 my magazine. From the
 research I have found that
I prefer a dark smokey eye look,
 with a dark lip. I will use this
for the front cover image because
 the dark lip will make my
 model stand out and the smokey
 eye will make her look
attractive and intriguing.

                                                                                       

I have done some research into

 hairstyles which I like and can

use on my models when taking

 photos. These different styles

can be used for the front cover

 and double page spread.

Photo shoot Planning

The emotional impact I would like my photography to have on my reader is for the female audience I would like them to be able to relate with the cover model and also be able to aspire to be like them as the image will sophisticated and attractive. For the male audience I would like them to feel attracted to the model. Overall I want the model the model to have a mysterious look, this will attract the readers because it is intriguing.

The people I will photograph will be young attractive so that they look appealing on the front cover of the magazine, this will also be relevant to my target audience of 16-19 year old males and females. I plan to photograph some of my friends who fall into my target audience, this will make the magazine feel more personal with the readers.

For my front cover the props I will choose wont be the main focus point of the image as I want my model to stand out. I will use EP records for either a front cover image or double page spread images, this relates to music and looks sophisticated.

To emphasise colour I will use clothing such as black which will contrast with my magazine colour scheme of red. The colour black isn't that dominant so the reader will keep focus on just the model rather than the clothing. On my front cover I plan for the model to be wearing black with red lips and nail varnish this will relate to the colour scheme and add an eye-catching look to the magazine, I will keep the background plain so that the main focus is the model. 

I have briefed my models on the photo shoot and have planned the styling they are going to have. I have told them on the types of poses I would like them to do, what clothes to bring etc. I have also done a test shoot with one of the models to practise out hair, make-up, clothes and lighting, this has helped me a lot to understand what I want things to go like in my shoot and what I don't.

When I did my test shoot I used natural lighting with no artificial lighting I also used the flash when taking the pictures. When taking the images I found that I wasn't 100% satisfied with the images, this is because the lighting wasn't as bright as I wanted resulting in the model not standing out very much. From this I have decided to do my photos in a studio where there is artificial lighting so it will make the images bright and make the model look better with a crisper more defined image.

I will do my shoot against a plain backdrop, white wall for at home for the front cover image this is so the model is the main focus so that the magazine stands out. For the double page spread I will have things in the background such as old records or musical instruments to liven the page up. I also want to be able to go to a photography studio, again I will have a plain back background. The reasoning's for using the studio would be the lighting, I could use artificial lighting which could make the images look better and over this is beneficial to the magazine.

The make-up my model will wear for the double page spread will be a vintage-rock look, this is in keeping with the magazine genre. The make-up the model will wear for the front cover will be more subtle on the face, with defined features by adding dark smokey eyes and a dark red lip this will add the mystery and invite the readers in. The clothes the model will wear will be plain and simple like a black silk top or chiffon shirt, this will keep the model looking attractive and will keep the readers focused on the models face and not necessarily on the clothing. For the double page spread the model will wear a black leather dress/skirt paired with colourful accessories, the make-up will be subtle and plain to keep the model looking elegant. I could also have the model wear a white fur coat to add luxury and elegance.

 These are different images that have inspired me for what I what my models make-up yo be like and what I want my model to wear