2. INTRODUCTION
I began this research by finding out some simple information about
magazines on the internet. I started of by just looking at the
conventions of a magazine, what they include, what would make a
good magazine and just various information about them.
The normal layout of a magazine is the conventions. This is a set of
things that most magazines use to make it look more effective and
sellable.
Most magazines (depending on what they specialise in) include such
things as interviews, photo shoots, celebrities, etc.
A good magazine would meet all the criteria's, it would have a
professional, eye catching layout and interesting pictures. It would be
easy to read and include relevant information.

3. The cover date refers to the date displayed on the cover, of when the magazine was
The cover lines highlight the
main stories in the magazine to published, it is usually placed in the top corner or inside. This allows the customers to
have a idea of when the next issue is out or if they are purchasing the latest one.
grab the readers eye. They are
also in big, bold font to make
them stand out to the reader and
The masthead is the title of the
a potential buyer which they are
magazine as it appears across the front
unlikely to miss out on a sale.
cover of each issue. This masthead has
Usually they are set out on either
been mostly covered by the model, as
one side of the page, which
she is the main focal point and looks
makes it look more organised.
more effective with the masthead
Also they normally have
covered than over her face. Most
alliteration or some kind of
magazines have the same masthead on
rhyme. These particular cover
each issue to make the magazine
lines are all to the right side and
recognisable to the buyers.
have catchy headings which
The main image is usually of a popular
draw the readers in.
artist in order to entice the reader. Most
The barcode, usually in
of the time the model is directed to use
the bottom right, left or
the gaze as it causes a bond between
back corner, is machinethem and the reader, which intrigues
readable which holds a
them and convinces them to purchase
lot data to do with the
the magazine. The model also has her
magazine, i.e. the
right shoulder towards us which makes
price, how many sales
a deeper effect to the audience in a
they’ve had etc.
seductive and controlling way.
The colour scheme is one of the main roles of the magazine, when a customer looks at the magazine the
first thing they notice is the colour theme and make a judgment of the magazine based on its appearance.
Creative use of colours in an effect manner will make a magazine look more professional and
appealing, however if the colour scheme is not appealing it can leave a negative impact. This particular
magazine has a obvious colour theme which is light blue, red and black. The magazine designer would have
took into account that the model has a red tattoo on her right arm therefore the font next to her matches it.

4. THE RULE OF THIRDS
Middle
third
Right third
Middle
third
Bottom third
The example of a magazine to the
right demonstrates the application of
the rule of thirds.
Left third
Top third
The rule of thirds is a guideline
which applies to the process of
composing visual images. The
guideline proposes that an image
should be imagined as divided into
nine equal parts by two equallyspaced horizontal lines and two
equally-spaced vertical lines, and
that important compositional
elements should be placed along
these lines or their intersections.
This technique which lines out the
subject with these points, creates
more tension, energy and interest in
the composition, than simply
centering it, which makes it stand
out more for the viewer.
The model sits on the right
side of the page, leaving space
on the left for information and
text. The top horizontal line
goes straight through her eyes
and her left eye sits in the
intersection of the two lines so
it makes the magazine cover
look more professional and
attracting to potential buyers.
In the left section of the page it
is mostly text, as you can see
the cover lines are running
through the horizontal lines, to
make them standout and the
smaller texts, which adds extra
information, sits underneath.

5. EYE MOVEMENT
The ‘Z’ is the eye
movement, were the
reader looks around
the page, starting from
the top left to the
bottom right corner.
This lets the editor
know how to
present the layout
of the cover, (that’s
why the mast head
is usually at the
top).