Editing Continued: Pixlr

After finding the right photo for my main music magazine front cover, I decided that using the Afterlight software was coming to an end. Not because the software isn't relevant but mainly because I needed to use different software to add text to my magazine front cover. Therefore I downloaded the Pixlr software on my phone and found the iPhone application very useful.

I first added the main title of the music magazine 'Renegade'. I then chose the text font 'Sans' in the colour white. This is because the font was simple and easy to read. I also chose the colour white as I wanted the title to match the white dress that Niah has on as well as make the main title stand out so that it contrasted with the lime green background. I will not be making the tag lines white as I intend on the key title catching the most attention and being central to attention alongside the main person on the cover itself.

I decided to use this image of Niah for my front cover. This is because I wanted to use conventions of other Hip-Hop music magazines and after using the internet to look at some others such as 'Vibe' I found that the use of male gaze is a familiar feature amongst magazines for this genre of music, particularly when a female artist is on the cover. In addition to this Niah is smiling at the camera giving direct eye contact making the whole cover seem inclusive, creating the impression that the magazine is only aimed at the person looking at the cover.

Experimenting - It took me a while to try out various colours for the tag line text that will be on the front cover too. I needed to find something that was not only appropriate for the lime green backdrop, but also a colour that does't clash with the white dress that Niah has on. (I did not end up using blue). Moreover, I decided that using one person on the cover is not only following codes and conventions of other magazines, but also following on with my simple rule of 'less is more'. Last year, I used more than one person on every task associated with my music magazine, including my front cover. This meant that the audience focus was not on the title of the magazine, but two people on the cover. I have now learnt that one person is the way forward!

I came to the conclusion that my tag line font was going to be black. I chose the font 'American Typewriter' as it is simplistic and easy to read. It is important that the magazine is kept simple so that audience's first impressions are not dazzling. I chose the colour 'black' as I felt that it contrasted all three important factors of my magazine perfectly. This means the title, the green backdrop as well as the white dress which was my exact intentions. I have not yet finished the magazine front cover, but this last image is a quick glimpse of the process and a small insight into what my music magazine front cover will look like... I hope you like it!