Prezi Review

This is my Prezi review. http://prezi.com/479r9s9rw0gm/media/

Overall Review of my Pages

I have had to change my pages throughout the planning and production process. This could be down to the colours not looking right together, the images not fitting with a page or the layout doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing.


With all my pages I have changed my background colour from green to grey because the images didn’t look right on a green background. But I still used green in the text along with white and black. This ensured that the pages looked right and still went with the rock/indie genre of music.


I have also had to change some images because they were either too dark for the page or they didn’t go with the layout I had planned. For example the picture of ‘Amy Newell’ on the contents page was supposed to be a casually posed mid-shot but the close up of her looked a lot better on the page and was more suited for my magazine.Another picture I decided to change was the on of the band looking around from a wall because it was too dark for the page. So I changed this to the one of them standing in front of the wall.  (As seen below).

The layout was changed on all pages because I found when bring the page together it didn’t look right or suit the style. For example my contents page didn’t look right so instead of having 5 boxes (including the large picture), I now only have 1 main box with the main story underneath. This is far easier to read and goes better then with the rock/indie music genre of magazine I was trying to create. Although I still have all the information I wanted on my contents page. With my front cover I didn’t change too much, the main cover line is still in the middle of the page, the other cover lines are at the bottom, the barcode is in the same place and the ‘7 Free Posters’ are still in the top right corner. I had to move my cover lines about so that they could be seen on the left third as this is important when creating a front cover. My double page spread has also changed but very slightly the story is still on the left, but the large band picture has been moved to the far left and the individual pictures have been moved to the right because it makes the page look better and is far easier to understand.

Overall I am very pleased with how my pages turned out. I feel the represent the rock/indie genre of music well and come together well. I would make a few changes to the pages like adding more cover lines and pictures to the front cover and add more detail to the story on the double page spread. I think that all my pages complement each other and look like they come from the same magazine.

My Photo Analysis

These are some of my pictures. I have chosen to use a variation of rock and indie styled clothing to show the mix of the genres. With the pictures of the ‘Revolving Doors’ they have 2 outfits each to show that they were taken on different days. The individual ones and the one of the band by the wall are taken on one day and the picture I used for the front cover on another day. This was because I wanted to think about my pictures and how they would look on the different pages of my magazine. The two styles of clothing are also used because the colours look better on the different pages.

‘Amy Newell’ is wearing dark clothing with some colour to put an emphasis on her ‘rock’ style.

‘Craig’ in the individual picture is again wearing dark clothes to emphasise the rock theme but with the checked shirt it also shows the indie aspect.

‘Evan’ has also got dark clothes with a checked shirt to show the blend of rock and indie style.

‘Matt’ has got the dark clothing with a scarf and hat, showing the more indie style. However his pose and eye liner and mascara show the rock as well.

‘Tym’ in the individual picture has got more casual rock clothing, again a shirt with dark trousers. He also has fingerless gloves on, a definite ‘rock’ accessory.

‘Harrison’ is wearing dark clothes, although you can’ see his whole outfit in the close up, he is wearing eye liner so that it is known he is more rock then indie.

These outfits are similar to those on the front cover although the ones on the front cover are smarter and more indie to represent there mixed genre of music.

My Double Page Spread Analysis

This is my finished music magazine, double page spread. I have again chosen to use a grey background and the colours black, white and green to keep the house style. The different shades of green go well together and brings the pages together, they also match the colours in the pictures used on my double page spread.

The story is set out in three parts, the article, the tour dates and the fact files. I have done this so the reader gets more information but the parts still link. Each fact file has the band members name and then an image to go with it. This is good because it gets the reader to feel closer to the band and consequently they may buy their music  The language is natural, casual and very easy to understand so that the young audience can easily relate to the story and get into it.  I have also added some interactivity to the page, again to draw people in ‘Think you know the Revolving Doors?  Then take our ultimate fan quiz’.

The pictures have been taken so that they also represent the rock/indie music genre, all use posed pictures and the include rock/indie style clothing.  They go with the story, the picture matches with what the story is saying, the album cover ‘Horizions’ goes with the section of the article. Having the bigger picture in the middle of the page draws in the readers attention and gets them thinking what the story is about. Therefore I had to use an interesting picture. Some of the band members have their instruments in the picture with them so that it is very clear what they do in the band and so it shows the rock/indie genre. The effectiveness of using the sign with 'Drums' written on it is great because a drum kit would not fit in the picture and it adds some humour to the page.

I have used 2 different techniques for cutting out the individual band member pictures. One is cutting them out with no background so that the focus is on there expression. The second is roughly cutting them out with the background so that the reader can see to some extent the blue shed in the background, this shows that the band are as ‘normal’ as the average person and so the fans can relate to them. Also by doing this it shows the different personalities within the group and it looks effective.

To improve I would add more to the story and give more detail, but overall I feel my double page spread has gone extremely well.

My Contents Page Analysis

This is my finished music magazine contents page. I have again chosen to use a grey background and the colours black, white and green to keep the house style. The different shades of green go well together and brings the page together.

 The main stories have pictures to give the reader a small taste of what the story will be like.  The pictures have been taken so that they also represent the rock/indie music genre.  This relates to the front page as the pictures are similar and the stories are the same, just with more information about them. The layout for the contents page is more organised, so it is easier to understand. This is important as contents page contains lots of information.

The text I have used is natural and casual, this again shows the genre of music I have chosen because the audience is fairly young and they can relate to stories easier.  Exciting language has to be used to ensure the audience are drawn in and read the stories.  I have also chosen to include contact information, such as the website and Facebook page so that there is some interactivity. Also there is a small advertisement on cheaper subscription, so the reader is more likely to buy more of the magazines.

The pictures have been taken so that they also represent the rock/indie music genre, both used posed pictures and the include rock/indie style clothing.  They go with the stories, the picture matches with what the story will contain, the Revolving Doors exclusive picture goes with the band interview.

To improve I would again include more images but overall I feel my contents page has gone very well.

 

My Front Cover Analysis

This is my finished music magazine cover. As I have chosen the rock/indie genre I have decided to have a ‘messy’ layout. Instead of a white background I decided to use grey because the images standout more and it fits with the genre of music I have chosen for my magazine.  Green is not usually used on magazines but I fell the green works well with grey, white and black, the pictures and the name of my magazine.

The cover lines match that of the stories mentioned on the cover page, and the main ones have pictures to give the reader a small taste of what the story will be like.  The pictures have been taken so that they also represent the rock/indie music genre, both used posed pictures and the include rock/indie style clothing.

The text used on the front of the magazine is very important, I found this out when researching and analysing other similar styled magazines (Kerrang and NME). Therefore I had to use exciting language  that would draw people in, for example the use of works like ‘EXCLUSIVE’. The use of ‘free bees’ is another selling technique that magazine companies use, so I have decided to include ‘7 Free Posters’.All magazines have a selling line, date line and bar-code so I have included this on my front cover.

To improve on my magazine I would include a few more images and cover lines, also I would change the font and design of my masthead. Overall I think my cover has been made well.

Picture Planning

This is my picture planning. I needed to plan my pictures before I started to take them, so that I had some idea of how they would turn out.

The first picture I planned was the one for the front cover. It will be the all male band standing slightly apart.  The will be wearing dark rock/indie clothing and must fit together. The image will be a mid-shot, so that their clothes are seen and yet there is room on the page for other pictures.

I will have one image to go with the cover line on the front cover. It will be of a girl doing a rock ‘pose’, in a close up/mid shot. She will be wearing rock clothing as well, to go with the rest of the magazine.

There will be 3 pictures on the contents page. There will be one of the ‘Revolving Doors’ where they will be seen from behind a wall. One of ‘Amy Newell’ leaning against a wall in a min/long shot. The final one will be for the ‘Revolving Doors’ album, it will be a long shot of the boys spread out on a hill.

There will be 6 pictures on my double page spread. One of the band all together by a wall posing, this will be a long shot and they will still be wearing rock or indie clothing. The other 5 will individual members of the band members, all different styles and shots to show individuality and the different personalities with the group. These will be used to go with the fact files.

 

Double Page Spread Planning

This is my double page spread planning. I have had to plan the story, where the pictures will go, the other information that will be on the page and the colours/house style.

The story will be based on a new group called the ‘Revolving Doors’ who are having their 1st UK tour. The story will include background information and tour dates. This story will also have fact files on each member of the band member to give the reader more information on the bad and making them feel closer to them.

The pictures will be scattered, there will be a larger picture of the band together and then individual ones of the band members next to the fact files.

I may include information on the band album with a picture to go with it.

The colour scheme/house style (layout) will be again similar to the contents page and front cover to bring the magazine together and so that it is known that  it is one magazine.  The colours will be green, black, white and grey. Usually green doesn't work with magazines but due to the rock/indie genre of mine, I think it will look good.

 

Contents Page Planning

This is my contents page planning. I had to plan where my pictures would go, what additional information would be on my page, the colours/house style, what stories I would have and what pages they would be on.

The house style and colours have been kept the same as my front cover to bring the magazine together. The background will be the same colour and the text will be the same font and colour.

The cover lines on the font cover will match the stories plus some additional ones.

The main cover line on the front page will be the biggest most eye catching story on the page, so that readers know it is the most important.

I also plan to have an advertisement for subscription to the magazine as many do.

I have also planned where to have each of the stories. The layout will be similar to the front cover, ’messy’ to represent the rock/indie genre.  There will be a range of boxes so that the information is still somewhat organised.

 

Front Cover Planning

This is my front cover planning. I have had to plan the cover lines, the masthead, the selling line, the ‘interactivity’  and the house style/colours.

My main cover line will be ‘The Revolving Doors ENVY Exclusive’. This will go with a picture of the band, will be placed in the centre of the magazine and have the largest, boldest text to ensure it is the most eye catching part on the cover. This is what I want to use to draw in the reader.

The smaller cover lines will be scattered about across the page to go with the rock and indie genre. They will be:

- ‘Amy Newell: the biggest selling ROCK artist of 2012?’

- ‘Blurs Big comeback tour’

- ‘The top 10 bands of the decade’

- ‘Back to the ages of ROCK!’

- ‘The Maccabes’

The title of my magazine will be ‘ENVY’ and my selling line will be ‘You wont be green with ENVY’. I feel that this fits well with the rock/indie genre. Therefore I will use the colours green, black, white and grey to go with the selling line and the music genre.

The layout will be ‘messy’ but still readable, so that the reader is still drawn in by it and it fits with the music genre.  This will go though out my pages because it will bring my magazine together.

 

Analysis of NME- Double Page Spread

When analysing the NME double page spread, I found that the colour scheme from the front cover is used throughout the magazine. Also that casual language is used, representing the indie and rock genre, some lines throughout the story have been made bigger to emphasize them. The pictures used in the story are 1 of the whole band and some of each member separately, all posed but are somewhat natural.  Also on this double page spread NME have created small ‘fact files’ about each member of the band so the reader can get more information on them.

Analysing the NME double page spread has been useful and will help me when designing my music magazine double page spread.

 

Analysis of NME- Contents Page

When analysing the NME contents page I found that only a few stories were mentioned. This could be as these are the most interesting and best selling stories. The layout is very simple and is easy to follow, and there is not a lot of colour also the numbers are in bold and are very clear. The page is mostly covered in pictures, that are used in the stories about the artists. The only advertisement on the page is one that advertises subscription  for the NME magazine.

Analysing the NME magazine contents page has helped me to get ideas and inspiration for when I design my contents page.

 

Analysis of NME- Front Cover

I have choosen to analyse NME as my music magazine will have the same type of music genre,rock and indie.

From this I have learnt that, the use of 'free bees' such as posters, competitions and exciting language draws in the audience. Also that a house style must be kept so that the magazine fits together and that themes can be added to make the magazine stand out, in this case NME have gone for an 80's theme and so they have chosen the colour pink. The text used is also the same throughout the cover, keeping with the style. 


Some of the most interesting cover lines have pictures to go with them so that the reader is given a slight taste of what's to come in the magazine. 


The rhetorical questions are again used as a technique to draw in the audience as it gets them thinking and makes them want to read the story. 


The main cover line is in the biggest sized font because it is seen as the most important story and one that the editors think will sell the magazine. The cover lines are in a random order relating to the genre of music. 


This has very much helped me to see what I should include on my cover and how it should be set out. 

Analysis of KERRANG!

When analysing the front cover of the Kerrang magazine I found many things that would help me when designing my front cover, because I am also basing my magazine on the rock and indie music genre.

I found that:

- The pictures used a direct mode of address to also draw in their audience.

- Some cover lines had images to go with them, so that the audience are given a taste of what is in the magazine.

- Exciting language is used to get people’s attention and getting them to want the magazine.

- All the important and most interesting stories and information are on the left third of the magazine, so that it is always seen.

- Interactivity is also used to draw in the target audience. Competitions are used in this case.

- The text is all the same front and the house style is kept thought the page and the magazine.

- The masthead  is easily recognisable, starts on the left third and is covered by the main image but is still readable.

This is very helpful and has given me many ideas for my design. 

 

Analysis of my School Prospectus

During today's media lesson I finished the task. But to do so I had to edit and import 4 images and 2 logos into Photoshop and I had to add text and change the background colour. I used the burgundy red colour as this is the school colour for St Marks and the text is in a simple font so is easy to read but still looks formal.

The image I edited first was the one of 2 students walkin through the sixthform block. To impove this picture I started by increasing the birghtness and contrast, I had to do this because the lighting was to dark and the students were not clear. Then I used the clonr tool to remove mud and rubbish from the floor. Then using the 'smudge tool' I evend out the floor to ensure it looked normal. I then had to make it smaller and copy the picture onto the document with the edited sixth from block image.
 I edited the establishing shot of students walking around the sixth form block by making it brighter, removing the brick building to the right and then I used the 'clone tool' to remove posts and rubbish on the field.
The next image I decided to edit was the mid shot of a student in the libary. This image did not need to be edited that much, I started by again increasing the brightness and contrast. Then I made the image size smaller and imported it onto my prospectus. After I brightend the long shot of a teacher helping some of the students in the syudy room, this was also added to my prospectus. 
I croped and made brighter the image of a student reading in the libary, again this had to be added to my school prospectus. To complete my prospectus I added the St. Marks logo, the Bussiness & Enterprise logo and the text.

Here is my finished prospectus.

Taking the photos and stating the task

During this lesson I went around the school taking the photos I had planned. I took extra images incase the originals did not look good on the prospectus. Some of the photos I took did not look right, some because of the lighting and others because of the camera angles. Most of the photos I had to re-take, although some could be sorted out on photoshop.  For example the sun was to bright in one image, so I had to retake it at a different angle. Another had rubbish and mud in the picture and the image looked messy and unformal, to overcome this I will have to use the 'clone tool' on photoshop to remove unwanted mess.

When I returned from taking the images, I uploaded them onto the computer. From this point, I began to import then onto photoshop.  I started to edit the images, starting with the sixth form block. I made this image brighter and increased the contrast to make it look as if the weather was nice outside. I then cropped the image down so that it would fit better on the page. After I used the 'clone tool' to remove the footbal pitch lines, posts, mud patches on the grass and dirt on the building. I also used the same tool to remove a buliding in the background of the photo. It impoved the quality of the image by far. To import the picture onto my blank document (soon to be a prospectus) I had to decrease the size, this took a couple of goes but I got there in the end.

I hope to finish the task in the next lesson.

Photoshop Tutorial

In our media lesson today we had a Photoshop tutorial. This was very useful as I had not much experience using the programme. We were shown how to import images, how to edit them to improve the way they looked using tools such as the 'clone stamp' and 'feathering tool' and then how to move the edited image onto a blank document. At first I had difficulty with Photoshop but after a short while I became more confident and was able to create nice images.


After this class, I had a greater idea of how to take the pictures and how they should turn out

Introduction to the tasks.

Today in media we were introduced to the Preliminary Task. For this we have to produce the front cover of school's prospectus, it must include; a medium close up of a student, a masthead and appropriate text. As a class we were also introduced to the Main Task, where we will have to produce a front page, contents page and a 2 inside pages of a music magazine. This must also contain at least 4 images, that I will take myself.

My Preliminary Task prospectus is for St Marks Sixth form, therefore it will be aimed at parents and year 11 students. This means that the language and text must be formal. I will include 5 images in my prospectus; the first a long shot of 2 students walking through the sixth form block. The second will be a two shot of 2 sixth formers working in the libary, the next shall be a long shot of a group of students working with a students with a teacher helping them. The next will be a mid shot of a student reading a book in the libary and the last wil be an estbalishing shot of the sixth form block with students walking around it. The house colours of burgandy and black will be used as the background colours. On the font of the prospectus will be the St Marks logo and the Bussiness and Enterprise logo. I have also drawn out my prospectus plan.