I used this video for advice on using Photoshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqKHo1Q7OMc
I have used a vintage black and white filter, to show how old a suit is. People still wear it for formal occasions, and my magazine supports using it for jobs, as it is a stereotype to wear a suit as a uniform (for example, in an office).
This was the first draft. I thought to use the shadow with the colour scheme, but it came off as unprofessional. I wanted to use the shadow, to contrast with the light, for the traditional rise from darkness. This model is hardly known; the world is in the dark on who he is. My magazine can push him into the spotlight. As of this point, i was unsure if the brand had to be that of the exam board, or of my own making.
This is the improved version. I then added the image colour to match with the lower half. I also added writing, courtesy of DaFont and the snipping tool. This needed to be big and/or different, as it is the title, and a title is the key hook. I considered red-topping, but this would not match the colour scheme. Placing it in the shadow and colouring it white also makes it easier for the demographic to understand the light/shadow contrast.
I decided to use the shadow differently, a contrast to the light. The white is a complementary colour to black. However, i realised that constant greayscale will deter the target audience; they want what's new, not old! Red-topping is a popular method: it sensationalises stories.
I then changed the colour scheme, with a darkened red. A low range of colours is consistent with other magazines- they don't want a rainbow, as the variety would confuse them. This is also why the font remains the same, as well as adding to the unity of the original font. In addition, the increased black contributes to the darker colour scheme, as the majority of the splash is dominated by a blank white background. The complementary colour stands out further. I also applied more text to one of the teasers, to see if it could make a drastic difference, like if I changed the colour, and what would be more appealing to the audience.
I then considered gradients, and how it could affect the motif I was looking for. This was inspired after the progress I made in my second magazine, and i wanted to experiment with what i could use.
However, the gradient damaged the view of some of the text, so I altered the pre-set to focus more on the centre. This could also emphasize the model. I also cleaned up spare white areas in the middle of letters and numbers, such as 0's and b's. I also changed the font of the advertisement, to match the logo of the company. It allows more trust, and shows we are in league with a popular market.
Feedback featured the writing being too close to the edge. I initially avoided this as it would cover part of the model, so I made adjustments.
Feedback also mentioned how inaccurate Asda is, and the dead space in the top right corner, so I changed the logo to Waitrose.
I then realised that the audience doesn't have a strong reason to believe they are looking at a classic. In adding old school fashion, I also reduced the amount of dead space.
I then reviewed the title. It no longer displayed the concept of a rise from the shadows. Feedback also mentioned how the title wasn't dominant, so I changed it to cover part of the model. I also added or adjusted minor traits of a newspaper, including the barcode, price and website link (the one used here was until I established a linked page). I also created a thick background line, to further incorporate a house style, beyond the title. Overall, the magazine had changed greatly.
In adding more teasers, I also subtly made the image more important by having the image cover a small part of one of the teasers: fashion beyond the workplace.
The above is the final product for the first magazine.
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