Layout
This front cover has a layout that doesn't look too crowded but I think it works well. The masthead is smaller than other mastheads I have seen as it only takes up the left hand corner sretching across to only about half way. It has been placed on a rounded yellow background that is like a tab sticking out. On the other side there is another yellow tab including the bar code and issue date. The image has been used as the background of the front cover, as it usually is for magazines. The cover line has then been displayed just below the centre so it is very obvious to the audience. The text moves gradually across to the right on each line, getting smaller and in different fonts. At the bottom there is also a "Plus:" and a list of articles that are inside the issue. This text is quite small and in a thin, serif type face which I feel doesnt work very well as it is not attention grabbing and looks more like a lengthy paragraph which people will not want to read. This cover is simplistic which means it is easy to read and does work well in way, but I think there could be a bit more information and the sell lines and cover lines could be spread out more rather than crowded in to one particular space.
Sell Lines/Cover Lines
I dont like the way the sell lines and cover lines have been designed on this front cover. The cover line has a sort of heading "Ganster Special" in a bold type face which works well, but I dont like how the text moves over to the right on each line and there is too many different type faces that don't go together. The italic type face for "Michael Mann's" is also difficult to read and not particularly eye catching as it is so thin. The language used "Ganster Special" would appeal to film fans as they are given a genre of movie that may appeal to them and then told this issue is special, making them want to read it. The name of the film that the image on the cover is from is then given, but it doesnt seem to flow on from "Gangster Special" even though it is a ganster film. We are not told what about the film is in there, just that it's in the magazine, usually more information is given on the cover line. I don't feel the sell line works well either. There is "plus:" which would appeal to the audience because it suggests to them there is added content, but it is in the italic swirly type face that is difficult to read and not eye catching because it's so thin. However it is in red which does make it stand out, which also fits in with the colours of used in the masthead. There is then a list of articles featured in the magazine, which are most likely to appeal to the audience and want to make them read the magazine, but I feel they are not visible enough to attract attention. They are in a serif type face that I feel is quite boring and doesn't fit in with the house style, although there doesnt appear to be one. This text is also much too small and close together. It doesn't looks very interesting, just like a lenghty paragraph which might put people off reading it. If the text was more spread and and perhaps vearied in colour, people might be more encouraged to read what is in the magazine.
Masthead
The masthead of this cover is quite different to others I have analysed. First of all it is quite small compared to other and has been placed in the corner. I feel this works well in the fact it leaves more room for the image and other text, but this space hasn't actually been filled which I feel it should have been. It is also in a yellow shape which look like a sort of tab. I don't feel this works well as it is much too bold and takes away from the design of the masthead. The type face is bold and easy to read and I like how the "&" has been put in red to create colour variation, but the mashead itself actually looks quite boring perhaps because it is smaller. There is also some small text in red under this "the international film magazine". The use of "the" suggests it is the only one, encouraging the audience to buy the magazine as it apears to be individual.
Colours
I don't feel a particular colour scheme has been kept on this cover, however the colours do actually fit together. The cover line is in grey and white which works well with the dull colour os the cover image, pairing them together."Michael Mann's Public Enemies" have been given a sort of metalic effect which coul relate to the gun, but fits well with the silver object, perhaps a car door, in the cover image. A small splash of red has been used on "plus" to make it stand out, whcih fits with the colours used in the masthead. I don't feel the yellow backgrounds used for the masthead and bar code fit well with the colours used for the othert text and in the image. It is too bold and hasnt been incorportated in to anything else, meaning the colour looks out of place.
Images
There is only one image used on this cover which is an image of Johnny Depp either actually in the film, or a posed photograph for the film. He is dressed in clothing that would suggest he is a gangster, meaning the cover line is explained through the image. He looks serious and "cool" in his hat and with a gun ready to fire. The gun feels as if it is coming towards us, making the audience feel they are part of the image and also making it stand out to them. He is not looking out at us meaning the image is slightly less direct than other images used on front covers where the person is looking straight out at us. The colours of the image are quite dark and muted, suggesting a feel for the film and also the article. It also means the colour os the cover line fit well with the image.
No comments:
Post a Comment