DPS Analysis

These two images are the structures I felt like using for my double page spread.By placing the text in the certain boxes it made the page look neat, organised and professional. I also placed the letter 'B' in a large black font to show who the article is about again appealing to the target audience straight away.This idea is also used in Q magazine. I chose the image where the subject is facing away from the camera in a close up shot,the background is dark and therefore this challenges the usual conventions of magazines where the celebrity or person usually looks at the camera creating a connection with the reader. I decided to not use a usual shot as I wanted my magazine to be different,unique and exciting and not fit in within the norm. With the subject facing away it shows vulnerability, innocence and other emotions that allows the reader to relate to the article or their idol more easily. The uses and gratifications theory could be applied to my ideas (although generally used for advertising). 

Using Photoshop I created boxes to show where the text should or could be placed on the pages.My ideas changed and have developed since.I tried placing the text in a similar way and used the same image in the same size, however I felt this did not really show much potential. It looked very basic and lacked a 'wow' factor. I feel this was achieved later on after making changes to my double spread. I found different ways in deeply attracting and forming a connection with the readers of my magazine.

Here are the experiments I created using Photoshop again and using images of lights, then changing its opacity and selecting the 'overlay' option. This made the lights fade out and blend in with the image.The blurry images of light were taken using the slow shutter speed on the camera. This meant the lights were not as clearly seen. I experimented using different coloured lights. Using the original,red and even blue. However i felt this seemed slightly un-natural and did not correspond with my colour scheme.

Doube Page Spread Drafts

 

 

Double Page Spread Inspo

I researched multiple magazines within the Indie pop genre to see the layouts of their double page spreads. Magazines such as 'Q' magazine and even 'Billboard' magazine reported on such artists and genres and caught my attention; I particularly liked the way 'Q' Magazine used the layout of the spread to create such an impact on their readers. Using an extreme close up shot on the left hand side of the page, grasping all of Lana's features. The image is dark which contradicts the colours used on the second page. Also Lana's eyes are closed in the image, this goes against the usual magazine conventions in which the subject of the image usually stares into the camera in attempt to create a connection with the reader.The writing about Lana is placed completely to one side, the right hand side to be precise.There is a variety of font sizes, (the introduction is written in a larger font suggesting its importance to be read first) again using black simple font up against a white background creates a contrasting feeling.This therefore makes the page look neat and structured. I decided to use this as my double page spread base and inspiration. I wanted to apply the same conventions and layout to Sanity Magazine.

Final Contents Page

Contents Page- Explained

These images show the thought progress and major changes made to create the perfect contents page for my magazine. The first image was just a simple black background, using red and white for my fonts. I also edited the images used to create a more interesting effect. The page numbers were written in red italic fonts.This was done to attract the target audiences attention to what pages the information that interests them the most is on. This is carried out in different ways for all the different layouts and styles of my contents pages.

Here is where I changed my mind and decided to use a grey background instead of black. I also used black and white fonts instead to make it look more simple and less complicated. ' However this was almost 'too' simple, it made the page look extremely basic and I felt like there was more work to be done. I then decided to add more cover lines and change the images back to their original states. I also added the brain waves used on my front cover by my title to the contents page to suggest a theme of stability through my magazine. Although this looked quite good the background of the page was way too simple and therefore it looked a bit flat the page had no dimension too and and so I began researching for alternative options.


I wanted to have a background where the theory and ideas behind the brain waves were again represented for the contents page background. I though of an idea of using tin foil seeing as its a type of metal and could relate to the monitoring of the brain. I used tin foil that I had at home and scrunched a piece up into a ball and then carefully opened it up and laid it out. I thought it would be quite interesting and took a photo of it. Using Photoshop I then changed the colours and ended up trying it out for my contents page.




I did like the outcome however I could not read the font and cover lines properly. It looked quite messy and unprofessional.I tried to clear the background using the 'background eraser ' tool but yet again it looked unclear and still didn't make the writing easy to see for the readers.Therefore I decided to use something different.

 I came across two very nice pieces of fabric, with wonderful prints. I felt they would work and blend in well with my genre and magazine contents page.One print was thin red and white stripes and the other was slightly thicker stripes/boxes in different covers. I liked the patters and I took photos of them to later work with on Photoshop. Changing the colours on both making them black and white made a huge difference. Now they were more suitable to place as the background of my contents page.I preferred the black and white thinly striped fabric fro my background. I experimented using this and the outcome looked very professional once everything was completed. 

Once placed, I reduced the brightness to make the image darker and more sophisticated. I felt this way it was more sophisticated. Using a fabric also combined well with the genre of Indie Pop, seeing as materials are quite popular in this genre. It speaks more to the audience however the writing was once again difficult to visualize. I created white and black boxes where appropriate to help bring the information and text forward.This also helped attract information and make key news stand out even further to the reader.I also duplicated the layer with the brain waves, to make it stand out more. I felt using a stripy background helps emphasise my theory used behind the brain waves in a different manner. It shows development and how the magazine has an impact on the target audience as well as the artists involved. It gives my magazine a more hip, youthful feel and this is key for the magazine as it helps create a strong relationship between the editors etc.. and the audience.


 This is the final outcome...