The document outlines the 10 step process for creating a magazine front cover in Photoshop. It involves: (1) setting up the document and placing text boxes, (2) experimenting with fonts, sizes and colors, (3) adding graphic elements and shapes, (4) establishing a color scheme, (5) finalizing layout, (6) choosing cover lines, (7) attempting different designs for the masthead, (8) editing the cover image, (9) importing and positioning elements, and (10) making final adjustments based on feedback.
2. Step 1
I began with opening
photo shop and created a
new project.
3. Step 2
I then began creating text
boxes for cover lines and
began to place them
around my page in order.
I then imported an image
of a bar code as well as
creating a graphic feature
using the shape tool and
reordered my layers so
that the word ‘plus’ was
visible.
4. Step 3
I then changed the font
of my mast head
accordingly to my design.
I started to experiment
with different font sizes
and colours etc.
5. Step 4
I then began to add
shapes and experiment
with the size of my
graphic features and
colour etc in order for it
to stand out to my target
audience. I found my
mast head looked bland
and wasn’t appropriate
to the genre, from this I
used my photo shop
skills to create a
‘smashed up’ affect.
6. Step 5
I then began to include
my colour scheme of
black, red and white.
After looking at other
magazines and my own
design, I began to finalise
the layout.
7. Step 6
After finalising my layout
I began to choose
different fonts and sizes
of my main cover line.
8. Step 7
Originally I was unhappy
with the progress of my
mast head and so decided
to be creative and using
photoshop using the
polygon tool created jagged
shapes that were
positioned around the text.
I did so aiming to create
‘smashed glass’ effect but
due to my lack of
experience using the
software I was unable to
achieve my desired look,
the jagged shapes were to
big and were ineffective.
9. Step 8
I then imported my front
cover image to
photoshop and edited
out the background. At
times it was hard to edit
the background of the
original photo around
my ‘models’ hair.
10. Step 9
I then imported and
positioned my front
cover image. After
importing the main
image I found that my
original layout did not
work and so had to
rearrange the positioning
of my graphic feature.
11. Step 10
After importing my main
image I found that my
main cover line could not
be seen clearly and didn’t
follow the codes and
conventions as it wasn’t
the largest font on the
cover and didn’t stand
out. To make it stand out
I enlarged the font size
and added a black
shadow.
12. I then made final
adjustments after being
given feedback. I had to
complete small things
such as ‘neatening things
up’. I also enlarged text
to make it stand out
more and changed font
colour and added effects
such as drop shadows.