What is a front cover?
Main Image
On the front cover of any type of magazine there is only one main image which covers the entire page as is used as a background for the text. The main image of a music magazine is usually of a artist/s from the genre the magazine belongs to. The person/s in the main image will have a special feature written about them inside the magazine - this will be advertised on the front cover giving a direct link to the reader.The photograph is usually composed as a portrait mid or close up shot the of artist/s. The artist/s must looking straight head so that they are making eye with the reader creating a close bond between the two. The model/s should be positioned in the center of the frame with some background space so there will be plenty of room to insert cover lines later. The background behind the model/s should be plain or simplistic otherwise this can be too overwhelming for the reader and distract their attention away from the model and text.
Masthead
The masthead is positioned largely, centrally and boldly at the top of the page. The masthead is the main title/headline of the cover as it usually tells the reader what the magazine is and gives a sense of the company. It also indicates the genre and attitude of the magazine helping the reader to understand the purpose of the product. The masthead to needs to be pleasing to the readers eye so that they follow the Z theory and continue to read the rest of the text. As well as this the masthead needs to look attractive so it attracts the reader attention against other competitors on the shelf. The style of the font also makes a big difference to the appearance of the masthead which will suit the style of the magazine. Fashion magazine such as vogue use sophisticated serif fonts compared to gossip magazines that use bold block letters in a sans-serif font. From the style of the font we learn the genre of the magazine and who the target audience is. The colour of the masthead is also essential and makes a big difference to look of the front cover. Usually the colour is the same as the cover lines and different to the colours within the main. This is so the masthead stands out in front of the main image so it can be read easily.
Colour
Generally, a front cover will follow a general colour scheme so that it does not look unorganized or random. 2-3 different colours will feature on the cover so it does look to chaotic or over the top as this can repel the reader. Common colour schemes include pastel colours, autumnal or monochrome. Different colours have different connotations e.g. red connotes danger and love, blue connotes peace and tranquility, white connotes innocence and purity. These connotations will make a difference to the mood and attitude of the magazine and will make the reader feel differently. To ensure the cover looks professional the colours used need to compliment each other and not clash. If the colours contrast then the magazine will look badly designed and thought through.
Typography
Typography is the style, arrangement and appearance of text. Using the correct style of font for a particular magazine genre is vital for the theme to be presented clearly to the reader. For example, if the genre is classical music and you use a edgy font that belongs to a rock magazine the page will look odd and not fluent. Excluding the masthead, two different fonts are usually used to emphasize different words. It is important that the fonts do not clash as this will demonstrate poor typography making a poor impact onto the whole magazine. Deciding whether to use a sans-serif or serif font should also be taken into consideration. Sans-serif are usually used for cover lines as they can be easily read from a variety of distances. The font will be very clean, bold and basic so they stand out on the page. Most likley the masthead will be in serif font as this style is more interesting as each letter is decorated. This will also help the masthead link the theme or genre of the magazine as the font can represent or enhance it. Another factor to take into consideration is kerning which is where you adjust the spaces inbetween characters within a piece of text. This is so that text looks proportionate and organised to achieve a visually pleasing result. Bad kerning will result in the reader struggling to read the text which would make them not want to buy the product.
Logo
The logo is the most important thing for the business's branding as it identifies the company in the marketplace. Usually the logo is one of the first things the reader notices therefore it is important the company makes a good first impression.The logo needs to be recognizable but unique so it is disguished against other competitors. To do this the logo should be positioned in the same place on every issue so that the reader automatically reassured that it is the same magazine they are buying. The logo should communicate the reader something about the company e.g. is it unprofessional or classy? The popularity of the company is important as people will turn towards logos they recognize instead of less known brands that are unheard of. The colour of the logo plays a key part in what the logo announces to the reader. Different colours have different connotations and meanings. If the logo is monochrome then it will make the company look very dull and serious but if it brightly coloured then it will appear fun and energetic.
Cover Lines
The cover lines on a front cover a designed to tempt the reader by giving them clues about the contents of the actual magazine. These clues are very short and snappy to they quickly advertise some of the articles/features inside the magazine, for example 'exclusive interview with Katy Perry' or '25 new fashion trends you need to know'. Particular words that the publisher wants to emphasize are in a different font and enlarged more compared to the rest of the text. This words may include 'exclusive', 'Katy Perry' or '25' as this is what makes this particular issue special. Some of the cover lines will be anchored to the main image showing a clear link between the conventions which will explain why that particular person is on the front cover. For example, Katy Perry is the main images, next to her would be a cover line saying 'exclusive interview with Katy Perry'. This would also be the main cover line as it is promoting the main article of the magazine. This would be smaller than the masthead by far large than the other cover lines making it the second thing the reader will notice. The cover lines are usually positioned in the outer thirds around the model in the main image and should not overlap.
Barcode
The barcode is usually positioned in one of the corners of the page as it is one of the least important conventions of the page. It does not contribue to the theme or genre of the magazine as it is used on all magazine. The barocde holds important information about the prodcut and helps to identify it. This is done by reading the barcode using a barcode scanner that tracks the number of sales and relationships with customers. This is an advantage for the company as they can see how many magazine they ahve sold which will tell them if their product has been successful or not.
Strips
Strips are found along the top or bottom of the magazine containing a list of item that are featured inside the magazine. It is like a menu for the reader as it makes them excited and curoius for the articles within. Strips convey that there are lots of interesting features inside meaning the customers is getting value for their money.
Dateline and Price
These two conventions give valueable information to the reader. The dateline will identify when the magazine was published so the reader can ensure they have the latest issue. The price tells the reader how much the magazine is, meaning they can compare this with other magazines to find the best value for their money. These two conventions are positioned above or underneath the barcode in very small text so they do not distract the readers attention away from the other text.
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