evaluation

Evaluation

The layout of my front cover follows the conventions of a real media product, one of which being ‘hip-hop’ magazine. HHC uses successful rappers in the magazine and I have tried to follow this convention by putting an image of a rapper dressed in a formal way on the cover. Although the rapper is dressed formally, he has aspects of an informal look as well with the use of the mise-en-scene. This is the open blazer, tie loosely done and the sunglasses. My front cover uses the conventions of HHC in the ways that both have a skyline, a cover image and a similar layout to the strap lines at the bottom. I have also used graffiti font as it relates to HHC magazine. It challenges the HHC font because that magazine used serif block fonts and I have used sans serif.
My product uses the conventions of mise-en-scene in some parts as my front cover is on a plain background like the cover of HHC whereas the contents of my magazine is busy and has a lot going on which is different to the contents of the real media product. The colours I have used also use the media product as my main colours are black and red and the colours of HHC are red and white and black. I used these colours because they have a hard edge to it and this reflects hip-hop. The colour red has connotations of danger, power and it could be associated with a rich colour. This colour anchors the masthead of ‘Emperor’ as emperors are seen to be rich and powerful. I chose black with it to give it a hip-hop feel. The masthead suggests exclusivity and a snob appeal for the reader.
On my double page spread, I have used an original image on the left hand side but layering on an already existing image. I added an equalizer to the existing image and a glow around the edge of the original image to make it stand out. I made this glow by using the paintbrush tool and changing the brush style. I changed the colour to white and went around the edges of the layer, using more brush on areas than others.
On the text side, I have used to same font for the masthead as the front cover for the artists name and band. I have used green and white for my colours on a black background as these stand out and go well together. I also used green as there is a green glow on the image and the colours then match. I have set the text out in 3 columns and broken down the middle column by a quote from the artist. I have also put the artist’s signature at the end of the interview as this makes it more personal to the reader. This challenges the double page spread of HHC as there are 2 separate images filling up the bottom bit of each page. The images do not have a background and have just been cut around and layered on a plain background. I have used the conventions in my media product of using 3columns and aligning a quote from the interview in bigger font in the centre.
On the contents pages, I have used an image of my friend on a motorbike. He is wearing urban clothing such as a hoody and trainers. The mise-en-scene such as a motorbike makes the magazine seen more hip-hop. I made the background by taking an image of a brick wall and layering graffiti over it using downloaded brushes on Adobe Photoshop. The graffiti is in all different colours and shapes. I lowered the opacity of the brick wall and layered the graffiti over it. I then placed the image over them layers. I did the copy in publisher but the masthead was made on the Internet, downloaded and inserted into the document. I did this because I wanted to subvert the hip-hop genre and conventions of a hip-hop magazine by using graffiti stamp brushes. I layered it over a brick wall to make it more realistic and blended in.
I made the text colour green and white because it fits in with the graffiti. The white also stands out against the wall and can be easily read. I added red arrows to the stories which are on the front cover to make it easy for the reader to recognize what is an exclusive story. I made these arrows red to match the colour of the bike.
Once again, my contents page challenges the one of the original media product. The contents page of HHC is mainly orange and brown. Whereas I have used a variety of colours mainly red, yellow and green. The text on HHC is in white and this is made to stand out against the dark background. I have layered my copy on top of a dark background and used the colour green to fit in with the other colours used and balance out the amount of colour used. The green colour also stands out against the dark background like in HHC. The image is a medium close up whereas my image used is a long shot. I used a long shot so I could focus on mainly on the mise-en-scene as I have used a motorbike, graffiti walls and urban clothing to anchor the whole hip-hop style magazine. The contents page on HHC is quite plain and straight to the point.

My media product represents rappers and youths in a positive way. It represents them as being positive because it shows that they can be successful in music and not just be involved in gang violence etc. The mise-en-scene challenges this as I have used a lot of graffiti and urban clothing such as hoodies and trainers. Although youths are portrayed to be negative in society today, my media product challenges this but still reflects ‘real-life’. I have considered verisimilitude in my media product by using young adults around 16+ to sell it. I have also created graffiti walls and shutters to anchor the images of the youths. The lighting in my media product is natural representing the social groups as being realistic and not hyperbole and stereotyped.
The images used are all of young males as a mass-market of males are rappers and are interested in the hip-hop style of music.

The audience for my media product is a mass market of people interested in the hip-hop/rap style of music. The age range could vary as a lot of people are interested in this house style. I mainly focused on 14-19 year olds basing my imagery, copy, typography and layout on this age range. The target audience could be identified as the images used on the front cover, double page spread and contents are all in the age range I have focused on which is 14-19. The images are all of youths wearing urban clothing that reflects what the target audience also wear.

I attracted my audience as the cover is of a young rapper aged the same age as the target audience. This might make the audience relate to the artist. On the cover I also put a strap line directly aimed at the audience. The strap line was, ‘He Tells YOU Everything About Him And The Streets’. This strap line was a n exclusive with a graffiti style font matching the masthead of the magazine. The ‘YOU’ in the strap line makes the magazine more personal to the reader and the graffiti font and colours are also catching and attracts a young audience. The register I have used is an informal colloquial tone. I have used this so the audience can relate to it as they will also speak ‘back slang’. This will make the media product more personal to them.

The technologies I have used throughout my process of constructing my media product are a digital camera and a computer. From constructing my product, I have learnt that technology is not always reliable as they may shut down or not work. The camera batteries may be dead and the leads may not be available to use or may not be the correct one to fit the camera.

From my college prospectus preliminary task, I feel I have learnt how to handle the digital camera better and take clearer shots. I have learnt new Photoshop skills such as downloading new brushes and I have used them in my media products. I also know how to make my media product look more professional by lowering the size of fonts and kerning text together on the front cover of my magazine on publishing software such as publisher.

Final Front cover

This is the original image I took for my final front cover. I cut out the green background and changed it to black. I then went around the image to smooth the edges with a smooth brush tool in black.

This is my new final front cover. I changed the image because the other one was blurred and this image is more clearer. I kept the colours and strap lines the same as before as well as the masthead and logo. I changed the alignment of the strap lines on the right to make them right alinged. I did this because they look visually better on the right rather than around the image.

I also forgot to add in the date by my Price and barcode on the previous front cover so i added that in the final.

Final Front Cover

This is my first final front cover. The colours on my cover are red, black and white. I chose these colours because they match what the model is wearing and go well together. The colours can be easily read and stand out against the black background.
My masthead is called 'Emperor'. I chose this name because it makes the magazine seem important. I did the font of the masthead in a graffiti style as it matches the genre of the mag zine and some of the context inside. I also did this font style on the 'Bonafyde' lettering showing some connection between them.
On top of the masthead, I positioned a crown on as the text anchors this image. I changed the saturation and hue of the image to make it more shiny and stand out against the text and the background.
I changed the character spacing on publisher on the strap lines to make them tighter and Kern them more. This makes it better visually as there are not as many gaps in between letters.
my strap lines on the right fit around my image and on the left go slightly over. this balances out the cover as the image is slightly to the left so i put more strap lines on the right.

Final Double Page Spread

This is the double page spread for my magazine. One side is an image and the other side is text.

I have used an original image on the left habd side but layering an already exsisting image. I added an equalizer to the exsisting image and a glow around the edge of the original image to make it stand out. I made this glow by using the paintbrush tool and changing the brush style. i changed the colour to white and went around the edges of the layer, using more brush on areas than others.

On the text side, i have used to same font for the masthead as the front cover for the artists name and band. I have used green and white for my colours on a black background as these stand out. I also used green as there is a green glow on the image and the colours then match. I have set the text out in 3 coloumns and broken down the middle column by a quote from the artist. I have also put the artists signature at the end of the interview as this makes it more personal to the reader.

image for double page spread

This is my image for the double page spread.

It is of the same person on the front cover but a back shot. I did this image because it shows the writing on the jacket I deliberately chose.

I cut out the image on photoshop and left in a hint of green as my text on the double page spread will be this colour. The image will be over a background.

contents

This is my final contents page.

I have used an image of my friend on a motorbike. The background has been made and I did this by taking an image of a brick wall and putting graffiti over it using downloaded brushes on photo shop. The graffiti is in all different colours and shapes. I lowered the opacity of the brick wall and layered the graffiti over it. I then placed the image over them layers.

I did the text in publisher but the masthead was made on the Internet and downloaded and inserted into the document.

I made the text colour green and white because the green goes with the graffiti. the white also stands out against the wall and can be easily read. I added red arrows the the stories which are on the front cover to make it easy for the reader to recognize what is an exclusive. I made these arrows red to match the colour of the bike.

I then took a picture of my trainers. I cut around them in photo shop and put them on my contents page. Using the brush tool, I added to the laces and made them wrap around the text. The black and yellow also match the graffiti colours.

ideas

from this image, i want to use the chair idea. i want my model to be sittin on a chair on the front cover. the chair will be black but not as noticable.

from this image, i want to use the background. i want the background to be all black with a touch of white so it shines on the image.