RESEARCH & PLANNING: Photoshop and InDesign Techniques I Used

Fixing a Blurry Photo

I found that the main image I wanted to use for my double page spread was blurry, I then wanted to find a way to make the picture a lot sharper and clearer using Photoshop. I researched into this and found a video which showed me a very simple way to do this. It was very helpful and I managed to fix the blurry photo and use it for my double page spread. Below is a link to the video which showed me how to do this:
How To Fix a Blurry Photo

Adding a Drop Cap

Adding a drop cap to the beginning of a paragraph is usually used in magazine articles, I didn't know how to do this using InDesign so I did some research to find out how to do it. I found another helpful video which showed me exactly what to do. Here is a link to the video:
How To Add a Drop Cap

Using a Drop Shadow

I needed to find a way to make my masthead stand out more on my front cover, as I researched into what I can do in Photoshop to achieve this and I found out about using drop shadows. A video on YouTube showed me exactly how to do this:
How To Add a Drop Shadow

Creating a Semi-Transparent Background Behind Text
On my double page spread I found that some of the text was disappearing into the main image so it couldn't be read easily, I decided that i would put a colour behind the text to make it stand out more but I didn't want to completely lose parts of the main image behind. After researching into how to avoid this problem I found a video showing me how to make the block colour behind the text semi-transparent so I could then read the text easily whilst still being able to see the picture behind, Here is how I did it:
How to Make a Semi-Transparent Background

PRODUCTION: Changes Made to my Double Page Spread from Results of Audience Feedback

I added to my double page spread using the audience feedback. I added a drop shadow to the sub-heading and also put a semi-transparent yellow circle behind it which made the writing much easier to read. I also added a small paragraph about who conducted the interview and wrote the article underneath the words 'Is Back' of the mast head. I moved the website link underneath the logo in the top right corner to tidy the page up and finally put photography credits down the right side of the page where the article text is written.

PRODUCTION: Changes Made to my Contents Page from Results of Audience Feedback

I made some changes to my contents page using the audience feedback I received. I added more articles under 'Features' and 'Regulars' to fill out the page more, also added a subscription box next to where the cover story section is to entice the reader to look on the magazines website. I also added photography credits in the top right hand corner.

PRODUCTION: Changes Made to my Cover Page from Results of Audience Feedback

I added and changed a few things according to the audience feedback that I was given. Where I had used names such as 'Victoria's Secret' and 'Grammy' which are already well know shops and objects I then changed them to their specific logos. I also added a bar code and photography credits so it conforms to magazine codes and conventions. Finally I adjusted some of the writing and wording of some of the pugs so they made more sense.

RESEARCH: Audience Feedback

After I felt my Front Cover, Contents Page and Double Page Spread were nearly finished I got some audience feedback to see if my target audience thought anything else needed or should be added. 

Here is what they said for the Cover Page:

• Use logos of the companies and awards instead of using the same font (Victoria's Secret and Grammy Award).
• Add little details such as photography credits and bar codes.
• Re-word some of the pugs.

Here is what they said for the Contents page:

• More writing is needed on the page.
• Add a subscription box.
• Add photography credits.

Here is what they said for the Double Page Spread:

• The sub-heading is quite hard to read, make it stand out more.
• Photography credits needed.
• Add a small introduction under the mast head to explain where the interview was held.

PRODUCTION: Changing the Double Page Spread Layout

The image above shows the layout of my double page spread before the main image was changed and the image below shows the layout after the main image was changed. I moved the masthead from the right side of the page to the left to stop it from covering the subjects face. I also decreased the font size and made the text boxes smaller as I found it was too large and it would also cover the subjects face if I left it how it was. Furthermore I added a semi-transparent yellow boxes (in the same colour of 'Blonde' in the masthead) behind the text as it became hard to read being on a darker background than before, therefore making it more clear and easy to read. I also moved the sub-heading down and put smaller images of the photo shoots along the bottom of the page. I also added the magazines website and logo to the top right of the page to make it identifiable. Finally I added the page numbers to the bottom left and right hand corners to obey the codes and conventions of a magazine.

PRODUCTION: Changing the Double Page Spread Image

Originally I was using the photo above for my double page spread. I found the photo wasn't striking enough and did not represent 'the Blonde' being 'back', therefore I took a few more photos using different angles and also using direct mode of address. I then found that the pictures from this shoot were much more suitable and so I changed the main image of the double page spread to the image shown below. The layout of the page then needed to be changed to fit around this new image.

PRODUCTION: Adding text to the Image using Indesign

PRODUCTION: Editing my Double Page Spread Photo

Before Photo

After Photo

I made the background all one colour (grey) to give the picture a more professional look and I also cleaned up the marks on the box that the subject is sitting on.

PRODUCTION: Creating my Contents page

Firstly I chose what photo I wanted to use as the main image, I decided to do a double page for my contents as I found inspiration from a music magazine where they had used a double page. I thought this picture would be good to use as the subjects are 'The Beach Hut Boys' who were mentioned on the front cover. I then began to add the texts using the same fonts and colours as what was on the front cover in order to clearly show a continuity of the house style throughout the magazine. I chose to use three different sub-headings; 'Cover Story' which displayed the main article of this magazine, 'Features' which showed articles exclusively to this issue of the magazine and 'Regulars' which are seen in every issue. I also added the magazines logo and website to make the page identifiable. Finally I added the page numbers in the bottom left and right hand corners and also a caption of the photo, at the bottom right, to show who the picture is of.

PRODUCTION: Adding more Information to the Front Cover

PRODUCTION: Adding a Drop Shadow

I then decided to add a drop shadow to make the masthead stand out more and also to signify its importance to the magazine.

PRODUCTION: Changing the Colour of the Masthead

I decided to change the colour of the masthead to see if it would give a different and more interesting look to the front cover. I changed the black to the same yellow/gold used for 'IMO' which is also the same colour of the subjects jumpsuit. I found that this tied the magazine together and also gave it a clearer house style.

PRODUCTION: Adding pugs and information

RESEARCH: Questionnaire Feedback

The results of my first question showed that the articles were specific enough to represent the right genre I am trying to portray within my magazine.

The results of my second question showed that my magazine represented the correct target audience I was aiming for for the majority of the time.

The results of my third question showed the majority of people thought the first picture was an 8 out of 10.

The results of the fourth question showed the majority of people rated the second picture a 6 out of 10 therefore making it the least popular picture.

The fifth question showed the majority of people thought this picture was the best out of the three by rating it either 9 or 10 out of 10.

The sixth question gave me all the reasons why the favorite picture from that person was chosen.

The results of the seventh question showed the majority of people prefer to have exclusive interviews in a music magazine.

The results of the eighth question showed the majority of people preferred 'The Blonde is Back' article.

The results of the ninth question showed most people think the artists from my article would use Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter.

The results of the tenth question showed the majority of people would buy a music magazine of this genre.

PRODUCTION: Choosing a Font for my Front Cover

I firstly tried to choose which font was suitable for my image but whilst also portraying the fact it is a music magazine. I found the two fonts which are bold seemed too heavy for my image even though they suited the music magazine style. I then found the font on the screen shot which is below the others became too high fashion although it suited my image. I then found the font shown on the screen shot on the far left which suits my image whilst also portraying a music magazine so therefore is the one I chose.

I then had to decide whether to put the masthead behind the models head or in front of it. I found that putting the masthead behind the models head gave the front cover a more professional look and is therefore the option I decided to use.

RESEARCH: Codes, Forms and Conventions of Music Magazines

Beat Magazine

I found a music magazine called 'Beat Magazine', the codes, forms and conventions of this magazine were slightly more modern than most classic magazine. The front covers are a lot more simplistic than a lot of music magazines and I found this gave it a much more appealing and professional look which I would like to portray through my own magazine. From this I found a lot of inspiration and decided to create my music magazine in a similar style and using the more modern codes, forms and conventions.

RESEARCH: Focus Group

PLANNING: Draft of my Double Page Spread Article

As I am currently unsure of which picture I will be using for my double page spread I have written two articles which suit the two different pictures:

Option 1 – ‘The Beach Hut Boys’

(Sub heading)

Are they the new Backstreet Boys?

(Main Article)

                Cheeky, fun and the new generation, The Beach Hut Boys make their debut album and have their fans falling head over heels! The young duo have created a whirlwind in the pop industry within a matter of days of their album release, we have an exclusive interview just for our readers with all the juicy gossip on how The Beach Hut Boys began…

                “I woke up one morning to thousands of comments and notifications from our You Tube channel…I wondered what on earth had happened whilst I had been asleep!” It became clear from the interview that The Beach Hut Boys became an internet sensation over night! They had been running their You Tube channel for a few years, inconsistently posting videos of the duo singing, not only other artists songs but their own too, and one night their lives completely changed. In the videos the boys are always seen on the beach hence where they got the name ‘The Beach Hut Boys’! The brothers woke up to thousands of positive and supportive notifications on how they should be signed up by a record label and it was clear their fan base was already starting to rise. The brothers were overwhelmed at how popular they had suddenly become. “Not long after, the record label ‘Universal Music Group’ had contacted us via our You Tube channel and immediately signed us up! It was unbelievable”

                The brothers got to work and a few months later, on the 7^th of July 2016 their first ever single was heard on the radio for the very first time. Their fan base was growing and growing by the minute with nothing but kind messages and positive feedback. They were a hit! “I think part of why everyone seems to love us so much is how young we are and it is unusual to find in the pop industry” the youngest of the brothers, Oli aged only 8 years old explains “All we hear now is how cute and adorable we are and everyone loves it! I can’t even walk down the street without someone recognizing me anymore!” The duo shot right to the top of the charts and their fame grew and grew and grew!

                “Our album is going to be released on the 20^th of November and I’m very very excited!” the older brother, Josh, tells us. Who knew such young brothers could win over the hearts of the UK in a couple of months! Incredible! Their album consists of 10 songs, plus the single already released earlier in the year, creating a total of 11 songs. The excitement is building every passing day especially for the very cute, very adorable and very cheeky brother duo! Roll on 20^th of November!

Option 2 – ‘The Blonde is Back’

(Sub heading) 

She is back and better than ever!

(Main Article)

She has the look, she has the fans and now she has her third album. The blonde is back and she’s better than ever. Imo’s third album, ‘’, is due to be released on the 15^th of December 2016 where she will then begin her world tour the following month on the 2^nd of January 2017. We here at Generation were lucky enough to have the first interview with her about her new album and tour! So here is how it went…

                “I’m so lucky and so fortunate to be releasing my third album and going on tour! Ecstatic doesn’t even come close to how I feel right now!” The first words out of Imo’s mouth are purely focused on her excitement about her very busy upcoming schedule; all we heard throughout the interview was positives of the upcoming album and tour. The album took a whole year to create hence why we haven’t heard anything new for what seems like forever! Her fans have been starving to hear new music all through the year and were delighted when a surprise new single was released on the 5^th of June. The single will also be featured on the album. “There are so many collaborations I was lucky enough to have for this album, Justin Bieber and Drake just to name a few!” The suspense builds as we all await to hear these collaborations for the very first time!

                The tour dates (seen on the right) and venues have already been announced with the ticket release on the 1^st of December.  The tickets are sure to sell out in a matter of minutes so be prepared to apply for them quickly! “This is my second tour and I’m extremely excited as we are going to more venues across the world than ever before” The venues being used on this tour are bigger and will hold a lot more adoring fans making this Imo’s biggest tour ever. “January can’t come fast enough! We have already been in rehearsals, choreographing and preparing for at least 4 months and it’s looking really good! I can’t wait for you all to see all the hard work that has been put in and hopefully it will be my best tour yet!”

(Pug – Tour Dates)

2017 ‘’ World Tour

·         2^nd January – Switzerland, Zurich Hallenstadion

·         4^th & 5^th January – Italy, Bologna Unipol Arena

·         7^th January – Spain, Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi

·         8^th January – Spain, Madrid Barclaycard Centre

·         10^th January – Portugal, Lisbon MEO Arena

·         13^th & 14^th January – England, London O2 Arena

·         20^th January – Mexico, Mexico City Foro Sol

·         21^th January – Mexico, Ciudad de Mexico Foro Sol

·         30^th January – Australia, Melbourne Etihas Stadium

·         1^st February – Australia, Sydney ANZ Stadium

·         4^th February – New Zealand, Penrose Mt Smart

·         7^th February – Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Praca da Apoteose

·         11^th February – Brazil, Sao Paulo Allianz Parque

·         17^th February – Ecuador, Quito Estadio Olimpico Athualpa

·         26^th February – Puerto Rico, San Juan Coliseo De Puerto Rico

·         28^th February – Costa Rica, San Jose Estadio Nacional

RESEARCH: Back Story of my Artist

As I am unsure of which double page spread I will be doing I have researched both types of artists to try to help me with my decision. This research is seen below:

Option 1 - 'The Beach Hut Boys'

Name (real name or adopted stage name) Generic connotations of this name	The Beach Hut Boys (Band Name)
Point of their career	Emerging artists, new band starting out.
Purpose of your DPS What is it about?	To inform audiences of the new and upcoming band, a new generation of music artists. Also to encourage and promote their first album, how their careers began.
Audience positioning	Audience should admire them, want to listen to their music and be entertained by them.
What are you encouraging them to do?	Encouraging them to listen to and buy the new album.
Representation	Boy group, young boys (11&8) – no matter what age you are you can create music, pop music.

Option 2 - 'The Blonde is Back'

Name (real name or adopted stage name) Generic connotations of this name	Imo (stage name)
Point of their career	Releasing her 3rd album and going on tour.
Purpose of your DPS What is it about?	Inform details of tour dates, encourage audience to listen and buy the new album and songs.
Audience positioning	Audience envies and wants to be her, likes her style, look and music.
What are you encouraging them to do?	Encouraging the audience to go out and buy the new album, and to buy tickets to see her tour.
Representation	Female artist, aged 18, appeal to teenagers (boys and girls), pop music.

RESEARCH: Why do we Watch TV? Uses and Gratification Theory Video

Uses and Gratification Theory (Video):

*'Audiences being active participants in the exchange of media'.
*The idea that people use the media to satisfy their own needs.
*4 Primary needs which audiences can satisfy with the media:
     1. Surveilance
          - Also described as seeking information.
          - Factual texts e.g. the news, documentaries, newspapers.
          - Not necessary information that you need to know, it satisfies your curiosity.
     2. Personal Identity
          - Tests which reinforce your own values and beliefs.
          - Using it to help discover who you are and what it means to be a man or woman in the 21st                   century.
     3. Personal Relationships
          - Using media when we are bored or lonely.
          - Watching a series and knowing the characters so well you wonder what you'll do without                      them.
          - Evidence of bonds we are able to make with people and characters in the media.
          - Also how it enables personal relationships within our own lives.
          - TV shows you watch just because other people are watching them.
     4. Diversion
          - To a certain extent features in all media texts.
          - Needing something to pass some time or after a long day having somewhere to escape to.
          - By browsing Instagram, playing video games or reading magazines etc.
          - Using media as a diversion and get away from the real world.

How the primary needs apply to me:

*Surveilance
- I read the news on celebrities and the newest gossip within the celebrity world purely because it satisfies my curiosity into their lives.
*Personal Identity
- I read fashion magazines and fashion blogs as they are what interest me and help me to discover what interests me most.
*Personal Relationships
- I watch a program such as 'Geordie Shore' just because my friends were watching it so I would be able to join in when they would be talking about the latest episode.
*Diversion
- I use Instagram or Twitter as my diversion from the real world as it interests me whilst also passing time.

RESEARCH: Lexicon of Words for the Pop Genre

Pop - aka popular music, normally does well on the charts and appeals to a wide audience range.

Songwriter - A person who writes songs.

Singer Songwriter - A person who writes their own songs and sings them.

The Charts - A ranked list of songs according to which is currently most popular.

Band - Two or more artists creating music and songs together.

A Single - A song which is released on its own (not in an album) so it can therefore go onto the charts.

Chorus - A part of a song which is repeated several times.

Verse - A section of a song which comes before or after the chorus but isn't repeated.

Album - A collection of songs which are released all together (usually on a CD or put onto iTunes or others similar.)

Dance pop - A subgenre which combines dance music and pop music.

Lyrics - The words in a song.

Rhythm - A repeated pattern of sound.

Melody - A sequence of notes which are musically satisfying.

RESEARCH: My Chosen Genre of Music

Pop Music

Example of pop music: Shout out to my ex - Little Mix

Pop Songwriter Interview: Julia Michaels

Pop Music Website: Pop Justice

General Information:

*'Commercial popular music, in particular accessible, tuneful music of a kind popular since the 1950s and sometimes contrasted with rock, soul, or other forms of popular music.'

*The genre of 'popular music'.

*A softer alternative to rock and roll.

*Music which usually produces popular hits which are frequently seen in the charts.

*Pop music usually has a good rhythm, are easy to sing along to and have a catchy melody.

*Pop songs are usually created from the following structure:

     - A chorus which is repeated several times during the song.

     - Two (or sometimes more) verses.

*The majority of pop songs last between 2 and 5 minutes.

Pop Music Artists:

*Rhianna

*Justin Bieber

*Katy Perry

*One Direction

*Little Mix

*Madonna

Little Mix:

*A British girl band who were formed on the UK version of The X Factor.

*Mainly pop (dance pop) group with some R&B music created.

*Made up of 4 girls (Perrie Edwards, Jesy Nelson, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jade Thirlwall)

*Released a new pop song 'Shout out to my Ex' released October 2016.

Pop Music Videos:

*Often links between the lyrics and the visuals in the music video.

*Bright settings and lights are usually used.

*Young actors used a lot to appeal to a younger target audience which the music also generally appeals to.

*The majority of the music videos feature elements of love as a lot of the time that is the theme of the song but also younger audiences tend to be more obsessed with this concept.

*A lot of performance is used e.g. dancing.

*Close ups are used frequently.

  

PLANNING: My Music Magazine Flat Plan

RESEARCH: Billboard Magazine Media Pack

Link to Billboard Magazine: Media Pack

ANALYSIS: Music Magazine Textual Analysis 3

Textual analysis 3 from Francesca Harrington

RESEARCH: Q Magazine Media Pack

Link to Q Magazine: Media Pack

ANALYSIS: Music Magazine Textual Analysis 2

Textual Analysis 2

RESEARCH: Kerrang! Media Pack

Link to Kerrang!: Media Pack

ANALYSIS: Music Magazine Textual Analysis 1

RESEARCH: Youth Sub Culture and the Music Press

Youth Subcultures: What are they now?

NME and the Death of the Music Press

Points of Interest:

1. Fashion and music move so quickly now and are much cheaper to keep up with than before, so the youth don't need to commit to just one type of music or just one type of fashion.

2. Popular culture has been changed by the invasion of the internet where the youth now prefer to show more of their subcultures on line over social media rather than in real life.

3. The movement of a new subculture was proclaimed dead after celebrities and pop stars started to latch onto the movement.

4. 'Pop music no longer inspires devotion in young people today' and the decrease in magazine demonstrates the death of pop music in the UK.

5. Young people are now less likely to stick their necks out and make their own way in the world and will rather rely on their parents leaving the youth to cease to exist in a meaningful way.

RESEARCH: Media Studies: the basics - Chapter 3

Amazon: Media studies Basics Book

After reading the third chapter I have learned...

1. That media influences and has a lot of power over citizens.

2. Some citizens have been using media (especially social media) to challenge this power that the media has over citizens and turn it the other way round.

3. There are 6 key theoretical ideas for studying power; marxism, cultural imperialism, political economy, feminism, postmodernism and politics 2.0.

4. That in a democracy all citizens are entitled to free media but this is rarely found in practice.

5. Feminist media is changing all the time but with one common theme that 'the norm' of media analysis is the male point of view.

RESEARCH: Media Studies: the basics - Chapter 2

Amazon: Media Studies Basics Book

After reading the second chapter I have learned...

1. There are different 'micro' elements of media texts which connects the text to 'macro' theoretical areas.

2. It showed me the differences and similarities between textual analysis of a still image or moving picture 

3. It helped me to understand the meaning of semiotics and how they are used, as well as ways meaning is conveyed (through camera, editing, sound and mise en scene).

4. Key concepts are also used in media to analyse which include genre, representation and narrative.

5. The new rise of digital media is challenging the key concepts and therefore creating the need for new concepts.

RESEARCH: Media Studies: the basics - Chapter 1

Amazon: Media Studies Basics Book

After reading the first chapter I have learned...

1. The pace of development in the media is becoming quicker and quicker, going from 350 years to get from the printing press to photography to only 80 years to develop still photographs into moving images.

2. A lot of media analysis is focused on the effects and behaviors it causes in society, This was mainly analysed in the 1940's/50's but is till popular now due too subjects such as 'Internet addiction'.

3. Media Studies only became a popular academic subject in the 1980's and 1990's.

4. The internet has transformed the media environment so that now the users are able to become the producers.

5. There is only a small number of big multi-national corporations which actually dominate the media ownership.

ANALYSIS: Textual Analysis of My Sixth Form Magazine

PRODUCTION: My Final Contents Page

Here is my final contents page which was created in InDesign.

PRODUCTION: Using InDesign to Create my Contents Page

Here you can see my contents page in InDesign as I was editing it to create the final contents page.

I began by making the background the schools green colour.

I then took the schools logo and name and placed it at the bottom of the page as the strapline.

I then added in the masthead 'Contents' and the dateline '2016 Autumn Edition'.

I then took my edited photo and placed it in the bottom right corner.

Finally, I added in my articles and which pages they are on (from 1 to 30) and also the top stories of the magazine.