Preliminary Task



For my preliminary task, I was required to create a front cover and contents page of a ‘school magazine,’ named: ‘The Haydon news.’ Firstly I sketched my initial design ideas on to A4 paper; I used my knowledge of other magazines and publications to design an appropriate layout for my magazine. Once I was happy with my initial designs I took some images that I could use on the cover of my magazine, and on my contents page.



Once I had uploaded the images on to the computer, I began creating my front cover using Adobe Photoshop, I chose the image that I thought was most appropriate for the cover, I then used the ‘select colour range’ and ‘quick mask’ tools, to select my model in the foreground, and cut her out from the background.  I chose this particular cover image, because it’s clear and bright and the model is staring straight at the camera, which is really useful at catching the audience’s eyes. I then created the masthead for my magazine, I chose to keep it clear and simple, in order to attract audiences that are both young and slightly older, in keeping with this objective, I also chose a simple colour scheme of blue and yellow, I chose these colours because they are bright and noticeable primary colours, that appeal to both genders and again stand out to younger audiences who will be attracted by the simple primary colours.

I added various different sell lines around the page, informing the audience about different articles within the magazine, and further encouraging them to read it. I used the font ‘Impact’ for all the text in my magazine, because it is a bold, clear font that stands out and grasps the audience’s attention, whilst still being clear and easy to read. Using the rectangle tool, I created a large blue bar at the bottom of my cover, Inside in large capital letters I wrote the sell line ‘FREE RULER INSIDE.’ Giving out free gifts is a technique that many successful magazines use to encourage people to purchase their products, so I decided to use it in order to try and entice more people to read the magazine. I also decided to use the fact that it was the first ever issue of ‘The Haydon News’ To persuade audiences to read the magazine, I did this by using ‘the circle tool’ and creating a circle,  I then clicked on the ‘FX’ tools and gave it a ‘drop shadow’ as well as using the ‘bevel and emboss’ tool which really helped make the circle stand out and look like a 3D button, inside the ‘Button’ I included the text ‘FIRST EVER ISSUE’ in the colour yellow, because it is bright, interesting and stands out.

 After I had completed my front cover, I began to start creating my contents page, again using Adobe Photoshop. I started by designing the title for the contents page, I used the design from the cover of my magazine, so as to create the feel of an ‘in house’ style, and keep a level of consistency between the two pages. I then made a list of articles that could be included in the magazine, and gave them page numbers, so that the audience could locate the articles that they want to read. To make the contents page more interesting and aesthetically pleasing I chose some images that I thought would be appropriate to include on the contents page and added them around the list of articles using the ‘Place’ and ‘Resize’ tools. I kept the design of my contents quite simple, in order to make it easier for the audience to understand, and navigate to different articles within the magazine.



Images used on the Contents Page

 I think that completing this preliminary task has been really helpful to me, it’s been useful to make me think about magazines, ad refresh my memory about the magazine industry, and what is needed to create a successful publication, as well as preparing me and giving me some initial ideas for the music magazine that I will need to create over the course of this year.

VIDEO OF PRELIMINARY PRODUCTION TASK- FRONT COVER