Magazine cover research Masthead: the masthead is in black, signifying the genre through the ‘dark and heavy’ aesthetics. The masthead looks exiting and ‘in your face’ as there is a smashed glass effect on the individual letters, making it an ‘explosion of excitement’ and the fact that there is an exclamation mark at the end makes this point more apparent. Colour scheme: the main colour in this magazine is black. From the masthead to the outfits of the band on the front cover (main image). There are hints of red but mainly as borders around cover lines, this is to highlight and make the point of the cover line more noticeable. the colours used could also represent the genre as the masthead does. Although there will be the odd random colour like yellow (to make it look more eye catching) I think that their main colours are red and black. Main image : the main image slightly covers the masthead. This could be because they want the audience to first notice the famous artist on the cover then afterwards recognise the brand and associate that type of genre to the band so that if your part of the target audience then you always look to that brand. There is also a range of small images at the bottom of the magazine, even though there poster images, it shows the audience what else will be in the magazine and backs up its genre more. Plus it is a treat for the audience (posters) making the magazine more appealing. Cover lines: the main cover line is the name of the band in the main image. They are in white, to contrast with the colour of the black masthead. Each cover line are positioned everywhere around the page apart from where the heads of the band starts and upwards to the masthead. This makes u focus on the vband and masthead, and also makes it clear and un-messy.
Transcript
Magazine cover researchMasthead: the masthead is in black, signifying the genre through the ‘dark and heavy’ aesthetics. The masthead looks exiting and ‘in your face’ as there is a smashed glass effect on the individual letters, making it an ‘explosion of excitement’ and the fact that there is an exclamation mark at the end makes this point more apparent.
Colour scheme: the main colour in this magazine is black. From the masthead to the outfits of the band on the front cover (main image). There are hints of red but mainly as borders around cover lines, this is to highlight and make the point of the cover line more noticeable. the colours used could also represent the genre as the masthead does. Although there will be the odd random colour like yellow (to make it look more eye catching) I think that their main colours are red and black.
Main image: the main image slightly covers the masthead. This could be because they want the audience to first notice the famous artist on the cover then afterwards recognise the brand and associate that type of genre to the band so that if your part of the target audience then you always look to that brand. There is also a range of small images at the bottom of the magazine, even though there poster images, it shows the audience what else will be in the magazine and backs up its genre more. Plus it is a treat for the audience (posters) making the magazine more appealing.
Cover lines: the main cover line is the name of the band in the main image. They are in white, to contrast with the colour of the black masthead. Each cover line are positioned everywhere around the page apart from where the heads of the band starts and upwards to the masthead. This makes u focus on the vband and masthead, and also makes it clear and un-messy.
Magazine cover researchMasthead/image: there are a few variations in colour, there is no fixed colour or trademark colour for the masthead of this magazine. Each main image slightly cover the masthead just like in Kerrang magazine. This gives it a more professional feel to it as they have edited it on photo shop very well. Also, each masthead has a different effect edited onto it. The first magazine has a cracked effect matching the image as the image is cracking through the page. The second magazine has a blood splatter effect on it which also matches the image as it involves a man with a blood dripping sword. The third magazine has a shiny effect, this does not match the image but it still works rather well in contrast to the light background. Colour scheme: unlike kerrang magazine, each colour scheme is rather different. The first is a red and black colour scheme (heavy metal theme like kerrang), the second a white colour scheme masthead and main cover line with bright orange outline. The third however does not match the masthead colour to the main cover line colour, it is a black masthead with a bright yellow (with black outline) main cover line there is a subtle link (black) maybe this is method that works better to grab someone's attention. But if the colour scheme does not have a clear link… does it look unprofessional? Also the background are mainly bland coloured, witch is a good contrast to each colourful image, it highlights the image and makes it stand out further.
Cover lines: like kerrang, the main cover line is the name of the band on the main image. On two of the magazine covers the main cover lines cover the main image just below the shoulders but however as the first magazine has the image of just the face, the main cover line is underneath and does not overlap it. On two of the magazines there are advertisements for prizes and so on either side of the top of the main image. Most cover lines are on the left hand side of the magazine, small handfuls of writing are on the bottom right hand side but does not take the focus away from the left hand side.
Magazine cover researchMasthead: unlike the other two magazines I have researched, the masthead is mainly not covered by the main image. This makes it look slightly serious and mature. It also makes I stand out as it is very clear. The main colour for the masthead is red with a white/black outline (unless it is a special or limited edition) they are all on the top left corner of the magazine to perhaps be in line with the cover lines.
