Step By Step: Magazine

Editor's Notes

1. To start off with we used a gradient background so we could see that we had erased everything correctly and left no odd marks when using the eraser tool.
2. We then added in our main picture of the actor so we could then move everything in accordance to where the title and other text would go.
3. We then set about putting in the conventions of Empire magazine so obviously the title had to go in so we could position other text on the page in the correct places.
4. Next we added in the other articles. We had to change the text from white to red so that it would show up over James’ hand but it works well with the colour scheme of the magazine as most text on the front of empire is white, black or red.
5. We then added the second piece of article text. We initially thought it would work in the right hand side bit we then decided on left hand side as there was more space plus we also thought that your eyes would be drawn to the end of the gun and therefore see any text placed underneath it.
6. Then we added in the title to our film. The first thought was to keep it straight and on a right angle but then we decided to slant it so that we could fit in more text around it. We also increased the transparency so that we could make sure that it wouldn’t block any of the actor’s body. This is a convention that the magazine takes so that the title can be seen but it doesn’t obscure anything on the page.
7. We added a variation of the catch phrase but also a pun that tends to be the standard convention for Empire when they talk about a film on the front cover.
8. Next we added another feature usually displayed in a shape on the cover. We decided that since we were running out of room so had to cover up a portion of the actor but this worked out well on the overall product. We also made it red to keep with the style of Empire magazine so that it wouldn’t seem too intrusive when on the cover.
9. We then added in the text to the circle to complete the little sub-article. We decided to use two different colours as this seems to be a convention of the these smaller articles to very in colour whilst still remaining within the colours used on the cover.
10. Next we realized that the bottom of the page seemed a bit empty and when referring back to our source material it seemed that most covers have even more articles advertised on the bottom. We still stuck to the current colour scheme but we felt that it just didn’t look the way that we wanted to.
11. So we decided to place a red box behind the text to make it not only stand out but make sure that you could see it against the background.
12. Next was the tag line which goes along the top of Empire magazine. We thought that since our film is focused on action we should also make the magazine be an issue devoted to the action genre. We also decided to make the word action stand out to make sure people would be able to see it and immediately set the tone for the entire magazine.
13. Then it was a case of adding in the date and title at the top of the image. The magazine convention is for it to be placed in the dip in the “M” which was simple enough.
14. Finally and probably most importantly we placed in the background of a warehouse to fit in with our trailer. We felt it was necessary as opposed to having a plain background as it filled more of the page and seemed more interesting.
15. And this is our final magazine cover.