Skills Development 7th January 2011

InDesign Double Page Spread

I made this double page spread using Adobe InDesign. I started by creating 3 columns down each page and then developed other boxes for images and the title of the article. I used different tools like drop caps, colour tools and the place tool. I loved using the place tool as it put my text exactly where I wanted it without the confusion of copying and pasting. Furthermore drop caps made my double page spread look professional along with quotations which stand out in larger font than the rest of the text.

     I think my double page spread looks professional and like it could be in a real magazine. However I would possibly have liked to add more images to my spread to break up the text and make the spread more visual. I enjoyed using Adobe InDesign because it was simple to use and it was a lot easier than I thought it would be to create a professional looking double page spread.

Skills Development 19th November 2010

Magazine Front Cover Task

I have taken these photos for the purpose of making a mock-up style music magazine. I took the photos behind a building because the environment looked run down and grunge which was the image I wanted for my magazine.

      I framed the images by leaving space in the top left hand corner to allow space for the mast head and I tried to position the models in the centre of the picture to allow space for sell lines and banners.

      I took some of my photos horizontal instead of portrait which I liked but would not work as a magazine front cover. I really like the horizontal one of my two models however it is slightly out of focus; furthermore I tried to use a downwards tilt in this one to create a feeling of power. My models were easy to control and it wasn’t a problem getting them to where I needed them. Additionally I asked them to look either at me or in a certain direction to get the right eye lines within my photos.

       I really like the photo of one of my models sat on the steps as the background looks really shabby and dirty and my model looks relaxed and isn’t looking towards the camera. The thing I like the most about this photo is that his shirt and shoes are very bright and stand out of the photo.

      On some photos the background didn’t turn out how I’d expected, however I loved having the brick grungy wall as a background. I struggled with lighting as because my setting was behind a building it was quite dark however when I used flash the photos became over exposed so I will have to work on them using photoshop.
      I also experimented with poses for my models during this photo shoot having them look into and away from the camera. Again I experimented with downwards and upwards tilts to find out what effects they create within a photo. Some poses work better than others as a magazine front cover because they are better suited to be able to arrange a mast head and sell lines around the main image. Take picture 1 and 2 which are framed perfectly for a magazine front cover whereas picture 3 is do able but would use a more complicated layout to be a magazine front cover.

This is my unfinihsed music magazine mock-up. I didn't get time to finish what I had started however I spent a couple of lessons working on the font. I downloaded the font from http://www.photoshopbrushes.com/tutorials/distorting-lettering2.htm which was a tutorial that I followed. During the tutorial I changed a few elements like the colour, it directed me to use whitye but I used red. I think this font looks effective and I achieved the look I was going for- a grunge style music magazine. I created the right style of font for the magazine I was creating even though it doesn't look like the tutorials finished font. I would difinatley use another font tutorial if I need to in my unit three porduction because they are easy to follow and quick to do.