Having already selected a font for my masthead, I used the image sizing tool to edit the dimensions until it resembled a magazine cover. My final measurements are width: 2448 and height: 3264.
I was conflicted with choice as to which image should be used on the cover. From my shortlist I have imported two photos into separate files, and what I intend to do is apply the same features on each and eventually come to a decision regarding which looks more extravagant. Both shots are largely dependent on the mise en scene of nature, but the second image has connotations of farm life through the chopped wood. I have written 'Jax Crowford' in the matura font (my second choice for the font of the masthead) which will serve as my main cover line.
In order to give the text a bolder impact, I put a black and white layer over the photos to capture an old-fashioned style. I was also debating the choice of colour on my masthead. Although the orange held stronger implications of rurality, it had restrictions in that it appeared tatty and too western. On the other hand the blue offered a modern twist on the retro style evoked from the black and white shade. I decided the specific shade of blue by adding the colour swatch from the the page numbers and quote on the double-page spread. This way, I was creating continuity.
The black and white layer was not a permanent fixture. This is why I have print screened the updates both with the added layer and without, just to act as a comparison. In this instance, although the colour is a strong indication towards nature and rurality, I feel like the black and white gives the subject more prominence. For example, the lighter shading across my face contrasts the darker grey background, making Jax stand out in the foreground. The result is that the photo is given depth.
I have also started constructing the cover lines. The font that I have written 'Jax Crowford' in is the same that I used to write the heading of the double-page spread, further establishing a link that will be identifiable as the magazine progresses. Adding 'The Fire Rises' as an opening statement hyperbolises the success of the subject. I chose a red colour in order to create the imagery of a fire, and the words themselves offer another effective continuation of the extended metaphor regarding 'Ashes to Embers' and the 'burning out' mentioned on the double-page spread. Since the cover is the first thing that will be read, 'The Fire Rises' is a simple but strong introduction to the idea of fire as a metaphoric symbol that I reference in the article and heading. It's typography is different to the one I used for 'Jax Crowford' because it needs to distinguish itself.
'Talks about upcoming album Charming Shores' gives the cover line recency and relevance. 'Upcoming' emphasises that the album is yet to be released, so it suggests that the article offers a tease and reflection on what to expect.
These two print screens are of the different photos to act as a comparison when the same features are applied. It should be noted that I have added the statistical conventions like dateline, issue number and price tag along the top. 'January 24th 2016', 'Issue 48' and '£3.99' are the figures that I have allocated. The most relevant is the price; I had compared it with other magazines to establish an appropriate sum. Some magazine included special editions which included a CD and so the prices were around £5.50-£6.50 but otherwise anywhere between £3-£5 seemed like a common cost. I therefore decided to put the price at £3.99 so that it didn't appear cheap but also not too dear. I didn't round the figure to £4 either because the .99 is a common marketing strategy employed because it creates the psychological impression of reduced value. Research states that customers analyse the first digit with more focus. The link below is a BBC topic that refers to why '.99' is a more appealing value.
On my front cover I have placed these values in bland colours; black and white have been used because it makes them less identifiable at first glance. Publishers want the customer to be engrossed in the content before they weigh up the worth with the price.
My selling line is 'The Uk's Biggest Country Music Magazine.' Using superlatives is a common linguistic feature of magazine grammar, 'biggest', 'best' and 'most' all express an idea of surpassing competition. Also, it cannot be compared because it doesn't state in what way the magazine is 'biggest', so it allows the reader to simply interpret it as the most popular, even if it isn't true.
The main addition here is another cover line. Obviously the subject needed to be well known, and so I researched other artists that I could include. My first choice was 'The White Buffalo' because I knew from a fan's perspective a lot about his work. Although not the most famous figure in country music, his credited work is ambitious and differentiates from the normal focus of country artists. The line I used to reference him is:
'On covering Bohemian Rhapsody, scoring Sons of Anarchy and why he's just getting started'
Having covered Bohemian Rhapsody, one of the most well-known and acclaimed songs of all time, it demonstrates the artist's vocal and acoustic talent. This is also a reference to another genre, since Queen were the band who originally sung it. Although the focus of my magazine is on country music, it could attract audiences who are less familiar with country and more familiar with rock. 'Scoring Sons of Anarchy' is another achievement for the artist. He recorded and covered many songs for the hit series and so mentioning this establishes the artist as flexible in his line of work, especially since he is branching out onto other forms of media such as television. Finishing with 'why he's just getting started' foreshadows a positive and ambitious tone to be continued in the article itself.
In terms of font, I use the matura typography because I had yet to include it on my cover.
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