Contents Page Research

The research that I have done on previous content pages shows the common conventions:

• One common convention is the use of imagery on every contents page. Some contents pages keep it simple with one large image, usually of a popular well known artist, or other contents pages have many images around 4/5. However even on the pages with more than one image, there is always 1 larger than the rest, this shows the importance of this image and artist in comparison to the others.
• Another common convention is the contents heading. On almost every single example that I found they have a large 'contents' at the top of the page. This is clearly stating to the reader that this is the contents page. This is one of the main common conventions that appears on basically all music magazine contents pages.
• One other common convention is page numbers, next to both text and images. This allows the reader to locate a certain part of the magazine related to what is shown on the contents page (either the images or text). This is seen on every contents page otherwise the contents page would be pointless, this shows the importance of page numbers.
• Another common convention of this is the column structure of the text. Again, like the images, contents heading and page numbers, the column structure is found on each contents page. This makes it easier for the reader to read and also locate specific things which they want to read about. Also the contents page is one of the most structured in the magazine, so by adding columned text adds to the structure.
•  Another common convention is captions/anchorage text. This is used so that the reader knows more about the image and has context to go off. If an image was there with no anchorage text the reader wouldn't know what the image is about.
• One more common convention is that the contents pages follow a colour scheme, and this is most likely followed throughout the magazine. For example the bottom left image has a red and white theme throughout. This makes the magazine look more attractive and consistent.

Double Page spread developments

Contents Developments

Development of my front cover

Draft 1

Draft 2

My final front cover, contents page and double page spread

This is my final front cover for my magazine. To make this front cover I have payed attention to the feedback that I got from the market research. By doing this I could make sure that the front cover I create will suit my target audience and will be what the audience want. Overall I have made sure that it suits my target audience of young women, and I have done that by using the colour pink as this is a colour associated with girls. Also with the front cover the main image is non-sexual and girls would relate to this picture more as they may want to copy the costume and make up used. Also on my front cover I have made sure that everything relates to my Genre R&B, for example the artists I have used like Chris Brown and Trey Songz.

This is my final contents page for my magazine. On this media product I have decided to conform to common conventions with most of the aspects of the contents page. I have done this by keeping an organised page with use of columns, using a contents page masthead to allow the reader to know what page this is, using images to attract the reader to different articles etc. The reason why I have done this is because if a contents page is not done properly it can become confusing and messy, but the whole point of the contents page is so that the reader can find page numbers and certain articles, if the page is not organised the reader will not be able to do this. As well as this I have decided to keep the house colours continuing from the front cover over to my contents page, this makes all the media products tie in with each other so you can tell they are related to each others.

This is my final double page spread. On this double page spread again I have decided to carry on with the house colours to make sure that this product relates to my target audience of young girls. As well as the image I have used on the front cover, I decided to use a photo which gave off the same kind of impression off of my model. As well as this I have made sure that there is an equal balance between text and an image, this also relates to my audience by the fact that they are younger and wont want to sit down all day reading pages and pages of writing.

Leading and Kerning

Kerning 

Kerning is the adjustment of the space in between characters in a line of text. The reason why we use kerning is because firstly it can make the characters more clear, for example, certain letter combinations such as WA, and VA can look cramped and over lacking if too close. So by using kerning and creating a larger space between characters can make the words look more clear and easier to read. Another reason why we use kerning is too make text stand out more on a page. For example by creating a larger gap between characters on a masthead, it will make it look bolder and also will take up more room on a magazine cover.  Kerning is important on a magazine cover as all text should always stand out and be eye catching to the audience.

Leading

Leading determines the amount of space between lines in a paragraph, and this is not affected by the length of ascenders and descenders. Looser leading allows the text to be more spread out across a page and makes it easier for the audience to read. Again the importance of this on a magazine is to make the text as clear as possible and also stand out so that the audience are attracted by it and can read the text as clearly as possible.