Evaluation.

Overview of preliminary task:
I think the layout of my magazine could look much more professional. I feel that the fonts are too simple, and it doesn’t exactly look very interesting. The main thing I like is the photograph of the model because of the light shining on her from the top left. Other than that, I would change everything to make it look more appealing to the eye.
Overview of the main task:
I am very pleased with the way this turned out. Although, I did encounter a few problems. For example, the image on the contents page wasn’t of a good quality, and I therefore had to retake the photograph. I tweaked the photograph by adjusting colours levels, brightness and contrasts and in the end, produced a better image. However, if I had the chance to re-do the magazine, I would attempt to fill as much as I could. At the moment, there is quite a bit of space around the edge on my double page spread. I would also try and put more images on my double page spread seeing as I’ve only included three… But all-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed creating the music magazine. :)
Evaluation:
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I’ve kept my magazine quite conventional in the sense that I’ve included puffs, banners, exclamations and a variety of fonts on my front cover. However, I’ve placed the tag line vertically on the left hand side, by the masthead, and instead of having the bar code traditionally in the bottom right hand corner of the page, I have put it in the top left hand side. On each page, I have kept to a distinct house style. I.e. contents; black, white, red and yellow are the consistent colours. On the double page spread I have kept with black, white and yellow, but also used blue and grey.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
I feel that it presents the enjoyment and freewill within the rock industry; nothing in the magazine is too serious, as the variety of fonts, colours and pictures portrays this image.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Record labels, record companies and music publishers. Magazines will be sold in newsagents, superstores and companies of the like.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
I have aimed my product at teenagers mainly, but also hope to appeal to those in their early 20s, too.
How did you attract/address your audience?
I feel that I have done a good job at creating a professional layout which includes the codes and conventions of a magazine. The content is of interest to the reader.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Photo manipulation helps a great deal with conveying the right image and message.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
The magazine must be comprehendible and aesthetically pleasing, depending on your target audience. For example, the school magazine is more formal than that of the music magazine.
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Main task - Double Page Spread.

My article was based on the fictional lead singer, Stuart Cole, from the fictional band 'December Falling' who had just come back from a US tour.First, i made up basic questions and then reworded them to sound more 'snazzy':
How was the US? So, you've just done some Hell raising around the USA -how was it?
What was it like on stage? What was going through your mind as you looked across the crowds?
How were the fans? Did you have any crazy, whacked out fan experiences?
Do you think they understand your new album? Your tour consisted of your new album What Goes Around Comes Around. Do you think people understand the messages?
Did any trouble happen? Did you and the guys get yourselves into trouble when you were out there?
Was there any after parties? What about the after parties?
Was there any arguments? Was there any arguments between band members?
Why didn't your girlfriend come with you? Your girlfriend didn't tag along for the tour - why?
Did you miss her? You missed her then?
Once I had sorted the article content out, I created the basic layout:

I added the answers to the questions and added quite to give the reader an insight into what was in the article. I also added a one-sentence description of the content to the banner:

I used images from gigs I went to at Folkestone Leas Cliff  Hall, Brixton Academy and Hammersmith Apollo.

Once the pictures were established, I inserted them onto the article. I also added captions to the pictures to inform the reader where abouts the gig took place (I said they were in American states, of course). Here is the finished product:

Positive feedback: Good use of live photography, clear difference between question and anwser, bold fonts - especially the elipse used.
Negative feedback: more pictures could be included, lots of text - looks a bit daunting.
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Main task - Contents

For my contents page I chose the colour scheme to be black, white, red and yellow; in my opinion i think they're attractive colours. I chose to have about a third of the page to be taken up by one single image of 'The Blackout' lead singer. [At Warped Tour! Again, good times] I altered the colour curves in this picture to make it clearer. I also cropped the image and added a sparkle effect in the top right hand corner to represent lights.
Before:

After:

 






I added this image, a title and the issue number and date:

 I then divided up the content into sections to make it easier for the reader to see. I made these stand out by having the text yellow and it's background red. I also added a banner below the image:

For each article in the magazine, I just named what bands were being featured. Doing this will entice the reader to find out more, because if you see a band you like listed, you want to find out what it's about.

To show the reader what guitar they would win, I included 2 images of [my brother's] electric guitar. As a promotional tool I also included a text box about subscribing about to 'PureScream' magazine. Doing this will increase profits and increase regular readers:

To fill the white space in the middle, I have put a picture of 'Dee Stone' [Myself as the model]. This is too show she is also another main feature of the magazine.
The final product:

Positive feedback: good layout, individual sections of the content are well highlighted, consistent colour scheme throughout the page.
Negative feedback: image in the centre could be edited around the edges better, descriptions (grey text) of content isn't clear.
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