CONVENTIONS OF A DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

 

What is a double page spread?

A double page spread is one article spread across two pages inside of a magazine. The article's purpose is to either sell a product, primary feature or the cover star who appears on the front cover. Articles usually include interviews with the cover star where there will large images or lots of small images of the interviewee. The question and answers will positioned around the images depending where they are located on the pages. The spread is a piece of artwork and is carefull and sophicately designed to make the reader attracted the page. It is important that the two pages flow meaning text and images should overlap over the pages to make it look one big giant page. The spread should work with the front and contents page to show consitency and continue the theme of the magazine. The following conventions should be followed in order to make the spread look professional and most impotantly captivate the reader.

Images

Different magazine spreads use different sized images and amounts. If one large main image is use it will usually cover the entire page or overalap onto the second. If many small images are used the editor will usually put them into some sort of organised order or a collage instead of randomly scattering them over the pfage. The image will relate to the main body text and the rest of the magazine. The model should look attractive and be posing in a interesting way so that they are the focal point of the spread. The photograph is usually a mid shot of the model meaing the reader should be able to easily recognise the celebrity as only the upper of their body is show. The model should be creating eye contat with the reader to create a close connection and catch the reader's eye.

Captions

Captions and images should work together as a unit. The purpose of a caption is to simply state who the image is of or who it is about to help the reader learn more about the article. The caption should relate to the image it is about, meaning it needs to positioned close to the image. The caption should be typed in a simple font of a very small size as it could get confused with a pull quote. The text needs to positioned underneath the image not above as this would be a example of bad design.

Main Body Text

The main text is one of the most important features of the spread. The content needs to be interesting and good otherwise it will bring down the design of the rest of the page. The text will usually be contain an interview of the celebrity/s featured in the main image and front cover. The questions asked will be in a different colour to the answers of the star to distinctively seperate out the text. Generally size 11pt ariel font is used which is a standard for most magazines. The text is divided into columns between 2-4 to ive the spreas some sense of structure and order, otherwise the page would look untidy and messy. The main body text will be written informally so it feels like the reader is reading a chatting conversaion. This makes it easy for the reader to read and relaxes them.

Drop Cap

The drop cap is one letter which is far larger than the rest of the text it is next to. It is the first letter of the main body text and is  in a different font, usually a serif. It's purpose is to guide the reader to the beginning of the text where they can continue to read the spread.

Headline/Pull Quote

The pull quote is usually used as the main headline of the spread. The purpose of the headline is to atrract the readers attention which the a pull quote does. Pull quotes are taken out of the most interesting part of the story and emphasized and are usually controversial or shocking designed to grip the reader. Instead of being used as a heading pull quotes can be positioned next to or on the main image in a smaller font. They can be placed within the main body text to break it up into smaller paragraphs and add more interest to the text. To make the quote more noticeable some editors chose to place them in exaggerated quote signs or frame it using vivid colours. Other headings can include the name of the artist/s which would immediately entice a fan of the artist/s or fans of that genre the artist/s belongs to. The headline will be positoned at the top of the page, sometimes overalpping over the two pages as it is the largest text on the page. However the text may be slanted or wonky making the page looks less formal and more fun.

Kicker

The kicker positioned directly underneath the headline, is used as a small introudction to the article. It consists or one or two sentenances summarising what the main body text is about or consists of. It is usually in the same font or slightly less bold as the headline but is sized smaller to differentiate between the two conventions.

Credits

Positioned very small in the corner of the page, commonly in black or white is the credits. The credits tell the reader who captured the photograph, the editor or journalist of the spread. This to give recognition to the person for their hard work and contribution to the artwork.

Page Numbers

Page numbers are commonly positioned in the bottom right or left hand corner of every page of the magazine. It is very important that this is done to prevent confusing or irritating the reader if random pages are left out. This could also cause production issues as the pages may get mixed up making the magazine randomly organised. Page numbers are linked directly to the contents page as they help to guide the reader to the article they want to read.