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