First I went to File>Open and selected the image that I wanted to use for my cover photo.

Then once I had selected the image I duplicated the layer so that I could edit it. This allowed me to keep the original image

as it was so that if I did change my mind, I could easily go back.

After that I used the ‘crop tool’ to crop the image so that I focused mainly on the cover models face and a bit of her torso. This was because I wanted the image to be a close up so that it

attracted the reader’s attention. Furthermore it meant that I could enhance her eyes and it would be noticeable as it is close

up. Due to the direct eye contact this addresses a potential customer to pick up the magazine.

Crop Tool

Using the ‘Quick selection Tool’ I highlighted the cover model’s eyes so that I could change the colour of them. As she suited green eyes I decided to just

brighten the green by going to Image>Adjustments>Hue/Saturation.

I altered the saturation by moving the arrow to the right hand side of the middle bar, the green increased in colour yet I felt I still wanted it a bit more vibrant.

After that I went on Image>Adjustments>Colour Balance so that the green was more vibrant. I pulled

the arrow to the left hand side on the middle bar labelled ‘magenta – green’.

Next I decided to change the contrast and brightness on the image so that it stood out and made the image look

professional. Using the ‘quick selection tool’ I highlighted the area I wanted to change (her face) and went to

image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast.

Quick Selection Tool

After that I wanted to enhance the cover model’s eyes so using the ‘burn tool’ I went around her eyes making the outline darker so that they stood out and looked as

if she was wearing false eyelashes.

Burn tool

Then I decided to remove the background so using the ‘Quick Selection Tool’ I highlighted the cover model apart from the background and used the tool ‘refine edge’.

I selected the smart radius and ticked decontaminate colours, then I went around the model’s head with the tool. This allows me to go around the hair and when it cuts the image out it feathers it, so that the hair isn’t choppy or

missing sections.

Now on the image there is no background so it allows me to have any choice of colours I would like.

After that I went to Layer>Flatten Image which flattens all the layers that I have created whilst

editing the front cover.

I then created a new page called ‘international paper’ and dragged my image onto it. This will be the magazine cover page

for RECENT.

So that the background wasn’t just a block colour I added snowflakes and a heart shape in the bottom right hand

corner by copying and pasting them from a search engine.

Next I added the title ‘RECENT’ by going to ‘T’ (text) on the toolbar. I chose the font to be Impact and changed the colour to pink. I also added a blue haze around the lettering to add

dimension to the title and make it stand out against the background.

I also added cover lines like the month, issue number and price. I then added the heading of the main article and

made it a bright pink colour to match the title and attract the target audience of females. In addition I dragged the edited image to the page and positioned it on the right

hand side.

Next I added more cover lines to the side of the model ensuring it did not cover her face as it could distract the

reader and otherwise it would not be a conventional cover page.

Finally I inserted an image of a barcode so that the cover page could be purchased in a shop and looks

like a genuine magazine.

I created two cover pages so that I could choose the one that I thought looked better. In addition to this I asked a group of

classmates both boys and girls to decide to see which appealed to girls and boys more.