This will also be an excellent project for you to demonstrate your new skills on Photoshop.
Task: Choose an existing magazine and create a front cover for a new, original edition of your chosen magazine.
These are student examples that show what your work could look like:
Magazine project: tasks
Create a blogpost called 'Magazine project' and complete the following tasks:
Task 1: Research and planning
1) Use Google images to research magazines that you could use for this project. Create a shortlist of three potential magazines and write what they are here. Extension task: embed an example front cover from each one. We recommend looking at lifestyle, sport or music magazines as these are easier to re-create.
2) Choose one of the magazines to use for your project e.g GQ or Vogue. Then do a Google image search to find three different front covers for your chosen magazine. Add them to your blogpost to show you have done your research.
We will do a photoshoot in class next week with lighting and backdrop. You will need to bring in any costume or make-up you need for the photoshoot - plan this with your teacher and make sure it is appropriate and achievable.
Task 3: Photoshop design
Use Adobe Photoshop CS6 to create your magazine cover. Create a new A4 page and then use the T tool to add the text you need. Once you have taken your photo in the photoshoot, you can add your main image to the cover.
Once you have completed your design in Photoshop, go to 'File > Save as' and save your finished Photoshop magazine cover as a JPEG image. Then you can upload the JPEG version to your blog.
Create your OWN magazine and design a cover on Photoshop. For this you will need to plan the following:
Deadlines: exact deadlines confirmed in class
These are student examples that show what your work could look like:
Magazine project: tasks
Create a blogpost called 'Magazine project' and complete the following tasks:
Task 1: Research and planning
1) Use Google images to research magazines that you could use for this project. Create a shortlist of three potential magazines and write what they are here. Extension task: embed an example front cover from each one. We recommend looking at lifestyle, sport or music magazines as these are easier to re-create.
2) Choose one of the magazines to use for your project e.g GQ or Vogue. Then do a Google image search to find three different front covers for your chosen magazine. Add them to your blogpost to show you have done your research.
3) Write a list of things you notice about the magazine covers you have researched e.g. colour scheme, font, writing style, what kind of picture is on the cover, page design etc. What is the language or writing style? How are the cover lines written? What camera shot is generally used for the cover image?
4) In your blogpost, write your main cover line - this is the main cover story that links to your central image. It must be 100% original - all your own words. Next, write the rest of the cover lines and any other text you need for your magazine cover.
5) Plan the image you are going to take for the cover - model, costume, make-up etc. At this point, simply describe the image you need to capture.
6) Sketch out your cover on plain A4 paper so you know where the title, image and cover lines are going to go.
5) Plan the image you are going to take for the cover - model, costume, make-up etc. At this point, simply describe the image you need to capture.
6) Sketch out your cover on plain A4 paper so you know where the title, image and cover lines are going to go.
Task 2: Photoshoot in class
We will do a photoshoot in class next week with lighting and backdrop. You will need to bring in any costume or make-up you need for the photoshoot - plan this with your teacher and make sure it is appropriate and achievable.
On the day of the photoshoot, while you are waiting to take your picture you can finish off your research and planning tasks. Once you have finished all of those tasks you can create a new A4 page in Photoshop and start adding the text to your magazine cover.
Task 3: Photoshop design
Use Adobe Photoshop CS6 to create your magazine cover. Create a new A4 page and then use the T tool to add the text you need. Once you have taken your photo in the photoshoot, you can add your main image to the cover.
Photoshop tutorials
The best way to learn Photoshop is simply to start creating your magazine cover and learn as you go. There are thousands of tutorials on YouTube to help you - here's just one example:
Task 4: Save as JPEG and upload it your blog
Once you have completed your design in Photoshop, go to 'File > Save as' and save your finished Photoshop magazine cover as a JPEG image. Then you can upload the JPEG version to your blog.
Task 5: Evaluation
Write a short evaluation of your work: have you succeeded in your project to create a new, original edition of an existing magazine? Does your cover look like a real version of the magazine? Why/why not? How professional is your work alongside real covers of the magazine?
Finally, what would you do differently if you completed this assignment again?
Finally, what would you do differently if you completed this assignment again?
Extension tasks
Create your OWN magazine and design a cover on Photoshop. For this you will need to plan the following:
- The name of your magazine
- The type of magazine it is e.g. sports, music, lifestyle
- A slogan for your magazine
- Cover star and image
- Cover lines
- Any other magazine cover key conventions you can think of
Deadlines: exact deadlines confirmed in class
