Coursework - Music Magazines Graphics

What is a graphic?

A graphic is a representation of an image used to convey visual information. Most graphics come under photographs, clip art, line art, digital art, icons and many more.

This image is an example of a coloured graphic. Although it may not be specific to music magazines, it represents a good image of a graphic. The use of colour allows for a chaotic look to the piece but surprisingly they work well together. The parallel lines and symmetrical shapes make for a good graphic because it doesn’t make the image a subjective thing. The difference between a rich textured design and a clean modern design allows for the variation of emotions as well as using eye popping colour or soft pallet colours and occasionally a combination of the both. I think this image portrays this well.

The image of 'Kerrang' music magazine masthead is often shown as the image above. It creates a slight shattered effect which often bodes well the band being advertised on the front. This is a good example of representing what the magazine can offer, a slight rock band effect, promoting rock bands such as 'Metallica'. I really like the graphic used within the title because it isnt instantly noticable but gives the magazine a different outlook.

Overall from the research I have uncovered, I have found out that there are no guidelines as to what makes a good graphic, it is simply using your knowledge of your given task and applying it to the chosen audience. When completing my music magazine I will consider using graphic designs in order to add differentiation between my photo shoot photos and my text type.

Coursework - Music Magazine Typography

‘Panic At The Disco’ are a well known band. I have specifically picked out this advertisement of the band in order to comment on the typography. I really like the colours presented within this media extract, they all compliment one another and blend cleanly with the background. The graphics used within the text allows for a diverse effect, different than if writing the text normally, giving off a worn texture, floral patterns mixed with a vintage style. When looking at advertising on my final music magazine I will look at using the effects of this piece shown above, I particularly like the vintage style of the extract alongside the floral designs, it seems to give off an unexpected effect.

In contrast to the media typography used above, this piece is strictly simplified. The plain grainy white background really allows for the graphics of ‘Stag Dagger’ to stand out. Whilst the text type is closely dense allowing for the reader to want to stop and analyse what is being advertised. Although the graphic is slightly explicit, I like the way vector shapes are built up to allow for a more varied and indifferent style. The main information such as ‘tickets £4’ are written in a vibrant pink mainly for it to catch the reader’s eye. Therefore I really like the desing on this typography because it has a mixture of depth and simple uses of colour.

This music magazine poster became a quick inspiration for me, acting as the basis to extreme and successful uses of typography. The interface between the graphic and the text type really allows for a perspective effect on the words born out of discipline.  The sparse area of the text type really gives the overall presentation of the piece a fresh look, making it easy to read. I especially like the text that is written back to front, although still accessible to read, it makes the whole poster interesting and the effects really add to the unique style.  When thinking about producing my music magazine coursework, I will look into collecting ideas from this media extract as I think it portrays the best typography.

In conclusion, the typography in a media extract, particularly those trying to represent an upcoming feature, places an important emphasis on the overall presentation of the piece. Having background knowledge of typography terminology after carrying out research and having analysed pieces of typography, both in general cases and in music magazines, I feel that I am comfortable to move forward and allow my very own coursework to have good and successful typography.

Coursework - Music Magazine Typography

Often, all that’s needed to create a killer music magazine is unique and inspired typographical elements. There are various examples of both great classic and modern music magazine typography already released by music magazine producers.  

Here are seventeen examples of typography which could eventually be used within music magazines. I first began my research by looking at different styles of typography on a general scale before moving it specifically to music magazines. This image allows for different effects and styles to be used rather than just altering the font type. I specifically like the research into typography because most typography’s will include a graphic or altering of the word somehow. I have concluded that is the texts which include graphics that attract the most attention the readers eye. This simple image is one that can be used as a template to the wide variations of typography within the world, which can then later be put forward and concluded with music magazines.

After a brief conclusion of the typography shown above, I went on to carry on with research on specific terminology used in typography, these being the definitions of a typeface, point size, line length and leading. All of which are described below;

Typeface A typeface is an artisitc representation or interpretation of characters. It is simply the way the type looks. Typeface can also be classified as the size of the letter or character of the block type.

Point Size In typography the point is the smallest unit of measure, however it can also be known as the size of the type being used in typography.

Line LengthLine Length is simply the width occupied by a block of typeset text. A block of text or a paragraph has a maximum line length that fits a determined design.

LeadingLeading refers to the distance between the baselines of successive lines of type. Research shows that this term is still used in modern page layout programmes.   

Coursework - Music Magazine Research

Now that the Prelminary Task has been successfully completed we are able to move onto studying, analysing and comparing music magazines. After careful research I have produced a music magazine board of particular magazines which have immediately caught my eye, be it because of colour, the central image, the text type, graphics or its successfuless.

Here is a printscreen shot of all the music magazines which have caught a general audiences eye. After doing the research on this particular part of the course I have notably recognised the average criteria needed in order to attract specific audiences. on an overall basis colour is essential, however the colours tone in which are used are dependant on who the audience aim is. I have also noted that using successful people who have easily risen to fame helps the selling point of the magazine.

Overall this image board has allowed me to see the differences and make comparisons between what attracts a music magazine reader and what allows for a greater impact to be made on the audience. I will take forward this research in order to allow for an overall professional finish to my completed music magazine.

Evaluation - Results Of My Magazine Contents

In order to fully complete my Preliminary Task I had to create a contents page to go alongside my magazine front cover. This was to be completed through the use of photoshop. Having previously written and posted about my draft copy for my contents page, I was happy to continue through and begin the process of producing my contents page.

STAGE ONE

Stage one began with me simply following the draft design I had previously made, again, I used the online website DaFont to create the title 'Your First Look'. I particularly liked the way the lettering panned out on this title design, it has been kept to minimal simplicity, aiming for a sophisticated look. I chose this to be the title of my contents page on the basis that it differs from other, showing a more creative idea, and also it allows the reader to feel engaged with what they are reading. It is the readers 'First Look' on the summary of the whole magazine. The puff underneath the title is a strap or tag line which follows on from the title of the contents page. It reads 'On The October Issue', therefore relating to the selling date of the magazine. I believe putting the words into the coloured puff allows for a different effect on the magazine. It makes it stand out to the readers eye and the colour contrasts well with the front cover of the magazine, as well as breaking up the page. Lastly, at the bottom of the page I added in a black and white swirled design, I believe this gives the page a different and sophisticated look. Following the design of my draft, I felt that having the page with just writing on would not appeal to my audience, but the swirled design adds an unexpected sense to the page.

STAGE TWO

In the second stage of the process of completing my contents page I have edited in the information on the contents page, as well as adding in an image and a puff around the title and labelling my page. For adding in the page number I simply used the text tool on photoshop, writing in block capitals for the words to stand out, yet positioning it in the corner because it is not vital information. The next stage was producing the picture behind the title, again still following through with the sophisticated theme, yet adding a slightly different twist. Because of this I ended up having to alter the title and place a lightly coloured puff behind in order for the text to be visable and to stand out. I think the colours go well together and compliment the background image therefore I was pleased to produce this as my title. The final stage before completing my contents page was to produce the actual content in clear information form. For the content of my magazine I wanted something that would be lighthearted but also contain nessecary information such as important upcoming dates for university open days. In total there are twelve pages to my magazine and this is clearly portrayed through the contents page. There are fashion and music sections, to key events and transportation as well as exclusive interviews from students themselves. Overall I was pleased with the completed outcome of my contents page and believe it compliments the cover page or front page well. This is my completed Premilinary Task.

Draft Ideas For Magazine Contents Page

With the first half of the preliminary task happily completed, I began to gather up my ideas for the second half of the task which involved creating and designing a contents page to go alongside my magazine front cover. Having the knowledge and research of other magazines contents, knowing they range from cluttered and full of information to simple and sophistacted I knew that I wanted my contents page to follow the same design as my front cover. Therefore, I wanted to release the feel of a sophistaced look so kept it simple. When planning out my design I kept it rough so that there would be room for error and improvement. Having the basis of my guidelines and the skills to create the contents page I was confident I could move on and begin a first draft. The image below is a screenshot of my first draft, showing the very basics of how I want my magazine contents page to pan out.

Evaluation - Finished Preliminary Task



FINAL FRONT COVER OF MY MAGAZINE 



The central Image above is a screenshot of photoshop which presents my final front cover of my magazine. As evaluated before it holds all the same information alongside the same stages of processing my magazine. After recieving positive feedback and end results from my media teachers I felt it could add a final touch, and that would be adding a bit of colour. Although previously stating that the grayscale colour allowed for an 'old school' style I felt that the contrast between the blacks greys and whites did not recieve the overall effect I was hoping for. Therefore I used the 'duotone' tool from photoshop to add in a touch of maroon like reds and lightly coloured mustard yellows. The overall effect this leaves, I believe, is greater than before, it breaks up the magazine, allowing for the puffs to have a sense of colour and to stand out more. Overall the use and knowledge of photoshop has allowed me to create this effect which is complimentary to my original starting draft ideas. This is my final desgin of my magazine front cover.

In future, for example when producing my media coursework - a music magazine, I will take the ideas and skills I have learnt front producing this preliminary task and take things further by ensuring I can make a better and more positive result. If I was to do this particular task again my first to ensure would be that the central image is taken with a good digital SLR Camera in order for the image to be clear and not pixilated when zoomed in or focused. For this task I used an ordinary camera which inevitably decreased the overall professional effect of the magazine. I would also look into focusing more on using the ideas provided by other magazine companies, although I used the idea of a fashion section taken from other magazines and produced onto my own, I feel I could expand on this to create a sense of professionalism. Again I would perhaps look into focusing using the magazine as a colour tool, instead of leaving the magazine set to a grayscale colour, or, like I did, using a duotone tool, I would leave the image as it once stood and add varitey of exciting colours to allow the reader to be more focused, however for this I was sticking to a sophistaced and formal aim and I think I have achieved this well.

As a final conclusion I am extremely pleased with the end result of my preliminary task - producing a school magazine cover. The audience, inevitably, was aimed at young female sixth form students. I think the use of reds and pinks as tones adds to the feminimity of the piece and particularly adding in the fashion style section allows for the audience to be narrowed down and to reach the female section of sixth form students. Having a specific age group, between sixteen and eighteen, allowed for the magazine to be slightly more sophisticated than if it were for younger school students, I think the exclusive cover story reaches the need for this. Also, as it was a school magazine I felt it needed to have some light hearted sections within it, therefore I presented the magazine with a section specifically dedicated to the latest music around. Lastly I felt the magazine needed to have a unique selling point, therefore, steming from my original ideas, I kept it 'old school', which I felt was achieved by the colour tone and the use of font types. However I believe its main difference from other students magazines is that it is written from the mind of a student itself, hence the strapline 'From An Insiders View'. I felt the audience would be able to relate to the magazine if it was written from a student. Therefore I feel I have met all the needs I originally set out and am pleased with the overall design of the magazine front cover, enjoying completing the task as well as expanding my skills on photoshop and opening up my mind to the world of media.