Contents page improvements - Virus

I've altered the layout for my contents page so that images relating to music and London are included to show the themes in the magazine. The top image is blue to correlate with the title and page numbers, the other images have little tone so they appear monochrome. Which is similar to the cover and double page spread. 
The title is underlined and larger to show the difference between the text and titles. Whereas the page numbers are in blue to highlight them. The images have numbers on them correlating to the stories on the left. I have kept the galaxy in the background to connect the contents page to the cover page.

Contents page -Virus

I have altered the images so that the band member is placed on the galaxy. The background is dark but still colourful and you can see the images. I've darkened the space surrounding the text so that it can be easily read. The font has been changed so the writing was neater and clearer. 

Contents Page - Virus

I've added more information for the magazine brand to fill the page further. I've spaced out the text more so it is easier to read and clear which point is which. I've changed the text colour so it can be seen in the lighter areas but it looks strange next to the white text. I moved the title and sub-heading and it looks neater as is easier to navigate through the page. I've darkened the galaxy image so that the text can be interpreted easier but it has been ineffective. The image of the band member has been enlarged to bring more focus on her rather than her background.

Magazine Contents Page Draft - Virus

I have restricted the text to be on the left side of the contents so that it was not messy on the page and was easily read but the text is not very visible on top of the galaxy image. I altered the image so that it was bright and bold next to the galaxy image. I've repeated the galaxy to promote the same subjects being shown in the magazine. The title for the contents page overlaps the image of the band member and looks unorganised.  

Magazine Cover -Virus

The image is cleaner and brighter, I changed the background image to compliment the other colours on the page. I brightened the title and decreased it's size so it fits on a portrait version; The text is easier to read when minimized on the page. The lack of text attracts more focus on the image and title which is what I wanted to achieve however I have not used a barcode so I would insert one to finalize it.

Finalized Magazine covers - Virus

Landscape version (Final)

The text does not attract too much attention from the image or title but using taglines and sub-headings will be too confusing on the page so I will not add it. The image is too dark. The title cannot be seen behind the image so it should be placed in front, however, this forces the image to be dark. I will make the title smaller so the image can be seen clearer.

Portrait version

The text is not visible on the dark background, the blue text compliments the title but contrasts the background. The barcode in the top is too bright on the page so I would move it down the page. The page appears unorganised with text all over the page and the image separated from the backround. I will not use this format for the cover page. 

Magazine Cover Improvements

Portrait version

The images do not match up with colours or tones. I dislike this even though I added more colour to make the cover more appealing. I tried to use the landscape image and paste it on top of a new background this is ineffective to appearing professional. The cover looks empty so I will add text to make the cover more interesting.

Landscape version

I covered the image with the title, layering each side to make it outstanding. This has made the cover dark and eerie. There is not much colour to the image so I will change that. The image is landscape so that the title fitted, but this is going to have to be changed. I also removed all separate text as it detracts the attention from the title and image.

Detailed Cover page portrait - Virus

I used the same image to make to portrait version, I had to crop the image otherwise it would be too stretched. I also had to create a border because of this. The text was changed to white so it was visible on the black. The font looked too uncontrolled with a total of four fonts spread around the page. I dislike the boarder and the taglines invading the images so much. I think the title should have more impact on the magazine.

Detailed Cover Page - Virus

The text on the left cannot be read easily even in bold and underlined. I will change the colour of the text to a lighter shade so it can be seen over the background. I like the monochrome foreground however I think that the blurring of black appears untidy. The barcode is almost as large as the title so I will reduce it's size so it has less attention drawn to it. The image is also placed landscape which is unprofessional. 

Draft Magazine Covers - Virus

I have positioned where I think I would use the title, text, barcode, image, date and release number; I have experimented with my ideas to create different cover images however, they do not look professional and are not in portrait which is the orientation for magazines. The title is the highlight of the cover on the last image as it is placed on her head in a very dark tone, I will not use this in my final cover image. I dislike the barcode being placed at the top of the page because it appears too similar to the title. The colour of the foreground contrasting to the background is too plain if the text is all white. Having both the background and foreground in colour is distracting to the text. Drafting these has helped me make decisions for my final cover page.

Cover image thoughts and reasons

Photo-shoot for magazine -Virus

Reasons for Photo-shoot

The photo-shoot was done in the evening so that the surroundings were dark; I wanted this because of the dimmer surroundings. The clothing as also black, as rock and punk fashion mainly use black. There are many images of the singular girl in all black because she represents the genre most of all placed next to a metal coloum or on the concrete ground, this is because both of these things are hard and cold, a physical representation of how she feels while isolated from the rest of the group. The stances are semi-casual as I wanted the members to empathize with the audiences while maintaining an image

-Virus Magazine Plan

This information will aid me in creating the magazine. Learning about my audience will keep my magazine's price low, I will not be objected to only write about a specific gender age or race because people from all backgrounds are inclined to read the magazine. However, I will target the hobbies of individuals so my magazine appeals to them. 

Case Study- Retro Gamer

Cover page analysis

The title sums up the magazine telling the audience the genre of the magazine, Being large on the front page shows that the theme is significant throughout the content. The image is illustrated covering the entire background in an heightened style and colour with fiction images. Most games are fiction based in alternate realities. Excluding the left bottom corner which appears to be burnt, peeling from the corner. This eventuates the contrast with the photo of a keyboard in the corner with plain subtle colours. The subtitles informs about games, consoles, software and interviews of celebs. Targeting the new information for the audience to portray on the front page. The language is informal so that the audience is comfortable reading it as a leisure activity rather a compulsory text. Making the subtitles abbreviated and bullet pointed so the information is quick and easy to read. The bar-code is placed center bottom of the page with the amount to pay on top so the audience are confirmed of the price. The audience are gamers who prefer older games hence the title ‘Retro’  and the old illustrative style including 8- bit images

Contents page analysis

The contents start from the top left corner and end in the bottom right corner following the western layout compared to the eastern layout as the front page had some Japanese writing on. Special, Revivals, Classics and Essentials are headings that entice the readers, although the text is not essential they claim it for information that should peak the audiences interests. Special makes the content appear more than it is, even if it is a keyboard. The advertisements portray it to be more interesting by using the image placement and use of language in the tagline. Achieved by placing the keyboard over the dark background; knocking over boundaries, placed next to the featured lists of games and interviews. Classics make the contents old but gold, a list of must play games. With content that will stand with other popular games through new consoles and games. There is a large amount of images 7 small, 3 doubled and 1 large image spreading between the two pages. The images are photos as well as illustrations and screen shots showing the variety of recording in the gaming industry this includes the wide use of colour both neon heightened colours and realistic earthy tones. As the large image is placed on both pages, it connects them; displaying the contents as a singular page contrasted to two completely different pages. Using the same image as the cover image explores the importance of "Space Harrier" including two large images on close pages. That has been slightly altered by cropping but the same image.

Double page analysis

The double page article is based upon the death of Satoru Iwata, talking about his legacy. With Iwata’s birthday and the day of deceased above the heading. Words such as memories and sadness  appear conveying the motif of mourning throughout the text. The colour scheme also explores this, black is the main colour on the pages. Dominating the background. This is because black represents death and mourning.The double page article uses colloquial language. Instead of writing formally about the death of Satoru Iwata the magazine the writer has used informal language to make the magazine more friendly to empathize with the audience. The text does not use much punctuation, relaying how much information is needed to be conveyed quickly. Under the title ‘Iwata helps’ is some information on some games he has worked on making contributions showing off his works and achievements. The double page spread includes a large amount of text all based around the images of Iwata to show that the information is also based around him and the games that he has created. Giving information about all of his work and his career.