Double page spread analysis

                          

                                            Evaluation

Final front cover and contents page

       

                                                                         Evaluation
This is my final music magazine, the changes I have made include as new background which I feel is more succesful as the text stands out more on the darker background and the magazine fits in more with other front covers and contents pages of this genre. Next on my front cover I removed all the widows so no single words or symbols were on theirselves, this ensured my page and text looked professional. I then removed the banner which was going across the body, this was because it was overpowering the main image which would go against my target audience and wasnt common in current magazine covers. For my contents page I made all the feedback changes such as align text, background and move quote away from platinum as it appeared too clash. To end, now I can distinguish a link between my front cover, contents page through the use of colour and background. This ensures my magazine covers fit in alongside others of the same genre through successful feedback and research.

First attempt at front cover and contents page

                

                                 Evaluation for front cover

This is the feedback I received from my teacher for my first draft of my front cover, when looking at what went well the editing of my image by adding the tattoos was done very well, I know this as it appears and realistic and can identify a clear link between this image and the image of Eminem that I'm trying to imitate. The image is also successful as the tattoos, chains, clothing conform to the stereotypes and representations of hip hop and rap therefore my target audience could easily identify it is a hip hop and rap magazine. The masthead I used is also successful as it appears as powerful and eye catching which links in with my questionnaire results of being one of the largest and most important things upon the page and again links in with the representations of rap which is power. Now looking at what I found difficult would be editing the image, this is because it required skill and failure making the correct tattoo look realistic on the cover although with aiding from peers and teachers, I was able to do it fairly well. Another area that I found difficulty in was creating enough cover lines, this is because I was short on space and I did not allocate everything accurately. Now by looking at the feedback from my teacher, I need too space away my text and masthead away from the sides. This is because in real magazines you can identify that they leave a small area from the page all the way around when using text. The next advice was too close up my headings, by this I mean to reduce the gap between each line so that text appears tighter, this ensures that text is not all over the place and reduces wasted space. Another bit of advice I received was too leave an area around my masthead, this is because most mastheads leave a graphic area around it and the other elements surround it. The last bit of advice was to reduce the size of the barcode, this is because when you look at existing covers you can identify that the barcode is usually very small therefore this would help make my magazine cover appear realistic alongside other front covers.

This is the feedback i recieved from a peer for my first attempt at my contents page, when considering what went well, the idea of the masthead 'the Top-Side' taken from the masthead 'the A-Side' was a good recreation of an existing magazine. This is a good thing as it allows me to follow the conventions from current magazines which will appeal to the target audience as my magazine appears more like a real rap and hip hop magazine. The image i used was effective as it was an medium shot with high key lighting, the use of the high key lighting creates a sense of importance about the person on the cover. This also relates back to my results from my questionnaire of creating my image to be one of the most significent elements on the page therefore i am linking it more with the target audience.Now looking at what i found difficult would be the layout of my contents page, this is because when i analysed a range of rap contents page they all illustrated a variety of conventions which were all different therefore i found this a challenge. Now the changes i will make, firstly it was to allign all numbers, text and headings, this is because it would make the page appear more organised as a contents page. Next was to add more text as there was not enough text on the page compared to contents pages i analysed, this would also make my page appear more like a contens page. The last change was to try implement a new background in which i will try use a black brick wall as i feel it will follow the conventions better.

Process for front cover tattoos

This was one of the magazines I analysed and liked very much therefore I decided to follow the conventions of this magazine for my own which would ensure it fit in with the representations of rap and hip hop and appeal to my target audience.

This is the image I began with, I made a peer take a photo while I was trying to imitate Eminem plus following some of the stereotypes and representations of hip hop and rap artist. As you can see I have my arms crossed and wearing a chain like Eminem.

This is my first tattoo decision, "Original gangster", I came to this decision as when searching on what tattoos artist tend to go for is something involving that gangster and thug life. When editing the tattoo onto the arm I had to use the magic wand tool to remove the background of the tattoo, this then allowed me to place the tattoo on the arm and see the skin. Then I had to use the skewing tool, this allowed me to curve the tattoo as if it went along accordingly to the position of my arm. The last tool I used was the eraser tool, this is because I had to remove the areas in which the tattoos overlapped onto the other arm.

This was my second tattoo, "Only god can judge me", I chose this tattoo in particular because I found that hip hop and rap artist tended to turn to God on various occasions plus I found that an inspirational hip hop artist, Tupac had this tattoo. For this process I used the same tools as the first tattoo, magic wand to remove background, skewing tool to manipulate it and eraser to remove the overlapping areas.

This was my third tattoo, a rose surround a cross, this is because it had symbolism of death or loss of somebody close which I thought was suitable as rap artist who have lost someone usually tattoo their name on their body or show some sort of respect. When applying it to my body I had to use the eraser tool to create the effect the tattoo warped around the arm and magic wand tool to remove any unnecessary background area.

This was the fourth tattoo, this tattoo displayed masks, drugs and money. I chose this because I felt these representations linked in perfectly with the representations of rap and would appeal to my target audience as the idea of use of drugs and having loads of money is seen as a dream lifestyle to my audience. When editing this tattoo I use the magic wand tool to remove all the areas I did not want plus I used the eraser tool again to remove any overlapping areas.

This was my final tattoo, the tattoo said "south side" on two guns, and this is because I found that a lot of hip hop and rap artist represent an area in which they have rivalries with other areas. Therefore I felt it was a good idea to use this tattoo. When editing this tattoo I used the eraser tool to remove the areas which the vest covered and I used the magic wand tool to remove the irrelevant background area.


With all the tattoos I edited the opacity and fill, this allowed me for each individual tattoo lighten or darken each tattoo to ensure it looked realistic on my body. This is the image I will use on my front cover for my music magazine.