Album Cover

Using the online photo editor Pic Monkey, I have created my artist's album cover. I have created this album cover to include on my double page spread (at the end of the article) as if my magazine was to be sold realistically, it would help encourage the readers who hadn't already bought it to buy the album after reading the whole article based on the artist. This helps make my magazine seem more authentic. 

I think the album cover that I have created suits the artist I have created as the colours I have used reflect and coolness and relaxed persona of my artist, but the effect I've used on the face stands out and creates a bold appearance. I also like the font type and the banner behind it, it makes a unique and almost vintage type effect which was what I wanted to create in the first place.

Mock-up

First Mock-Up

 

 

 



 

 

My first idea for a mock-up follows the 'Z' rule in which the reader/audience will read the front of the magazine from the masthead to the sell lines on both sides, to the picture in the bottom right hand corner and then lastly at the price. This is a rule that magazines commonly use to draw in the reader/audience as it makes them look at all the main features and all the interesting articles that the magazine may contain and then usually buying the magazine despite the price. I have used a similar layout for this mock-up which similar to the copy of NME below, as my magazine and NME are of a similar genre, so as well as following the 'Z' I wanted to have my front cover related to how a conventional rock/indie-pop magazine would have theirs.

 

Second Mock-up

 

 

Third mock-up

 

 

Contents Page Photos

Second artist pictures

I have taken photos so that I can feature another artist on my contents page. I have based my second artist on Florence and Machine's style through both aspects of music and clothing choice.

In this photo I have chosen to use an acoustic guitar as the props as then the reader would associate it with the genre rock/indie-pop as it is an instrument we would associate with the iconography of this genre. Also the model's facial expression is focused and fairly neutral, showing and signifying that she is determined and focus on her music. The fact she is also not looking directly at the camera also connotes this focus.

This shot shows the artist/model looking upwards almost as if she is aspiring to even more musical success. I like how I have edited it in photoshop to give it a vintage type feel to it, it reflect this artist's type of music. Although you cannot see the whole of her of her outfit and so less of her personality and style comes through to the audience.

I like this photo due to the angle it is taken from. The slight high angle gives it an edginess and almost makes the audience look down on the model/artist. I will feature this on the front page, due to the intriguing effect is creates for the artist.

I also like this photograph as she is using two props, a chair and a guitar. This suggests she is in a place she feels comfortable as she is sitting down and has her guitar - something that this particular artists loves. It also shows the majority of her outfit showing her type of style.

Fonts for the masthead

I am going to chose what font I will be using for the masthead of the front cover. When creating the masthead I will abbreviating Indie Nation Army to INA, make the font INA the bigger and main font (like NME) and then in a smaller font make Indie Nation Army and place it under the abbreviated enlarged masthead. I will be deciding which font is more suitable for the main masthead and which font is better for the text placed beneath it.

I have also chosen to use the colour red for font (and will be edited with a shadow when I will be designing my front cover) and have capitalised the fonts as I feel it immediately catches the reader's attention and exaggerates the boldness of the fonts.

This font is called Nova Solid and is quite bold and simple. I think it would be suitable for a masthead in that it is unique and eye catching as the D, A, O and R letters are filled in to create a block type effect. Although I don't think I will be using it for my final front cover as some of the letters are too close together and will make it hard to read. Also as for the main masthead I will be abbreviating Indie Nation Army to INA, I feel the font is less effective and seems boring. This isn't the kind of mood I would want to create for my magazine.

The second font which I would consider using is called Limit Break. The narrowness of the lines on each letter gives it a clean and slick look to the font. This is the kind of effect I want to create on my magazine as it gives connotations of a polished proficient magazine. Although it isn't extremely bold and striking and  as I would like it to catch the audience's attention, it would probably be better for using inside the magazine.

In contrast to the last font, Newtown Bold uses very thick lines on each individual letter. It is distinct and I feel it will dominant as a masthead on the front page due to the bold and confident look it creates. I like this font as it would be suitable for the abbreviated part of my masthead due to the connotations it gives, but I think the styling of the font is to similar to the masthead of NME and although my magazine and NME and are of a similar genre, I want to magazine to be unique in details such as the masthead.

Kerater is a unique, thin font. It would be suitable for the longer version of the masthead. It is quite sharp and precise, particularly on the letter 'N' as it stands out from the rest. This can connote the types of artists who feature in my magazine, as they are different and unique. I feel that is is the type of font that would be used on the front of a rock/indie-pop magazine as it although it isn't bold, it is striking and will catch the reader's attention. I may use this for the non-abbreviated part of the masthead.