LO4: Evaluation

Content: The magazine contains four pages, this includes a front cover, a contents page and a double page spread. Because the magazine will be released quarterly, the magazine has a different theme according the season the magazine is released in, the magazine I have creating will be the “SUMMER EDITION” which is why magazine’s content is summer themed, which is why all images have been taken on a sunny day.

Cover Page: The cover page’s main image, contains a photograph of Isaac Green performing an a jump of a ramp. The shot was taken whilst Isaac is in mid-air, with the sun beginning to set in the background, creating an action shot spectacle. The location of the image, was in Quick Fit, a rural/popular skate location in Sheffield. 

The picture was taken using a fish eye lens in order for the stunt to appear more extreme and like a real skate magazine, a fast shutter speed was also used in order to capture the image without the Isaac appearing blurred, and the ISO was low since there will be plenty of light from the sun light entering the camera. The images aperture was also very wide, in order to capture the recognisable/rural landscape of Sheffield. 

For the males readers, the skater featured will appeal as an ideal self, since amateur skaters will want to be able to perform the way the featured skater is, therefore persuading them to buy the magazine, hoping that it will improve their abilities. For females readers, the skater will appeal as an ideal partner, since if they are interested in skating, they would perhaps want a partner to be a skate too. 

Because the sun is setting, the sky looks very beautiful and successfully creates an appeal for going outside and skating in the summer. Also, the skaters outfit clearly shows that he is a skater, therefore he should be wearing skater clothes such as “THRASHER” or “VANS”. His trousers should also be torn in order to fit suggest that Isaac has an extreme sports lifestyle. This links to McQuail’s theory (1972), that suggests that audiences form their personality based on their inspirations outfit. Therefore the target audience should aspire to dress like Isaac. 

The pages masthead is below the magazine’s slogan and reads “NO COMPLIE” in the colour red in Heroes Assemble font. The mast head is also the largest text on the page to connote the importance of the brand.

The cover page links to the double page spread, with a bold title reading “ISAAC GREEN in QUICK FIT”, therefore audiences that like the look of the title they are going to be inclined to buy the magazine in order to read the article. 

The title’s font is “Heroes Assemble” which is the font which is used through out the entire magazine for titles in order to create synergy, the title looks like it is a skate ramp because it is curved in order to appeal to the sub-genre of skating, and is also a blood like red in order to connote the appealing danger that skating offers.

The titles on the cover page also includes a plug which outlines a competition in which the reader could win a DeathWish skateboard, which is a competition designed specifically to appeal to a skating audience. Above the title, in bold writing there is a slogan/description reading “SHEFF’s NO1 SKATE AND BMX MAGAZINE” which shows the reader exactly what the magazine is about. This creates a direct appeal to the audience, through emphasising the titles through the size, therefore the title is the largest followed by smaller text which contain less important details. 

The cover page also contains another title graphic which links to the article on BMXing called “BMX AIR AT MILLHOUSES” which is another popular extreme sports location in Sheffield. The magazine has a large cover line reading “SUMMER EDITION” in order to make it clear to the audience that the magazine’s theme is summer.

The image also promotes Sheffield as a location for skating, and will also make it clear to the reader that the magazine’s genre is an extreme sports magazine. So that I made it clear that this is the magazine’s genre, it is important that the title also shows this, therefore the title’s font and colour scheme will connote ideas of danger, and being extreme. Therefore, the title’s colour is a blood like red, and the title’s font, “heroes assembled” will be edited so that the title appears like it is moving at high speed by bending the letters all on one direction. This way the magazine appeals to the audience who BMX as well as the audience who skate since both sports involve moving at high speed. 

Contents Page: The contents page features images of Sheffield’s landscape during the sunset in order to have a clear background for the contents to fit in, with the silhouette of someone skating in mid air layered on top.

The list of content includes the main article featuring Isaac Green, and the article with Jason Fried on the BMX, the contents page also includes more details on how to enter the competition mentioned on the cover page. The same mast head is used again in the contents page, however it is not as large as it is on the cover page. The mast head is surrounded by text so that the mast head reads “THIS SUMMER IN NO COMPLIE” in order to establishes the fact that the magazine is a summer edition in order for the magazine to be more successful at the time, the mast head is also followed by a smaller title which reads “ISSUE #1” specifying that the magazine is the first of its kind, making the magazine seem more unique. 

The contents page also also contains an editor’s note, from me, which addresses the target audience in a peer-to-peer tone, and explains to them that the magazine is local to Sheffield and is there to help budding skateboard/BMX users improve. The contents page also includes a title graphic reading SKATING TIP which is followed by a way in which skaters can improve their abilities. 

The contents page also features a small graphic of a skater above the sillhouete of Sheffield, to connote that Sheffield is a great place to skate in, which is the purpose of the magazine, to appeal to the sub-culture of skaters in Sheffield, and also to appeal to to people that might consider visiting Sheffield.

All content mentioned in this page comes with a page number for the reader to use. 

Double Page Spread: The main article links to the cover page, featuring a similar image, however one that was taken a moment after Isaac completed the stunt, making him appear even more mid-air. This way the cover page and double page spread link together in order, showing separate moments of the stunt. The Mast head reads ISAAC GREEN in QUICK FIT making it clear to the reader that the article is promoting both the local skater and the local location, and ultimately promoting Sheffield. The article discusses Isaac’s inspirations and motivations for skating, and also discusses why Sheffield is a great location for skating, how it has affected his lifestyle and how he has progressed over time at skating. This way the reader feels as if he is personally getting to know Isaac as a person, and should also be inspiring the reader to want to skate more, this is why the article is written in a peer to peer format.

The bottom of the cover page contains the NO COMPLIE title again, however much smaller, followed by the title’s page.

Measurements:

BLEED – Height: 250mm, Width: 181mm.

TRIM – Height: 247mm, Width: 178mm.

SAFE – Height: 171mm, Width: 160mm.

Distribution and marketing methods: My magazine will be released quarterly because the magazine has quite a niche audience, and wouldn’t need to be released monthly. Each magazine per year will be themed according to the current season, ie a spring edition, a summer edition, an autumn edition and a winter season. I will leave free copies of the magazine in skate shops in Sheffield such as Slugger, because that is the exact type of shop the target audience will go in. I will also leave free copies in other shops in Sheffield that sell clothing which appeals to the target audience.

LO4: Final product

LO4: Exporting final magazine pages

Exporting the double page spread and contents page on Adobe InDesign.

When I created my product I used the software Adobe InDesign, which is professional industry standard software, which allows you to create very professional pieces of work. During the exporting process, the settings I used were Adobe PDF for print, since that file type is designed specifically for a product which is going to be printed, meaning that on the file (including images, graphics and text) will be completely lossless and very high quality, meaning that final printed product will have a really high resolution, which is vital, since one of the purposes of the magazine is to is to show the visual appeal to skating, through beautiful photography, and the only way for photography to be properly appreciated, is through high quality images.

Exporting the Cover page on Adobe Photoshop.

When I created the cover page, I used Adobe Photoshop, another industry standard software, which I used instead of Adobe Indesign, because the page didn't contain an article, and didn't need to be arranged with columns, trim, safe and bleed area. I exported the file as a .tif, since tif files are another file type which are used in the print industry, since that file type is completely lossless, and is a huge file because of all the information contained. 

Evidence of exporting photographs as JPEGS.

When I exported these photographs to use on my pages, I made sure that I exported them as JPEG's in order for the files to be lossless, in order to be high enough quality for a magazine which is going to be printed.

The way my magazine will be distributed, will be through leaving copies of the magazine in local Skating shops in Sheffield, such as Slugger Skate Store, and other shops in the Forum in Devonshire Green, which sell products which appeal to the niche audience of Skaters in Sheffield, as well as people that don't skate, but like to indulge in the skating sub-culture in Sheffield, which can also be associated with the Indie/Alternative sub-culture which is currently very lively in Sheffield.

LO4: Client and questionnaire feedback

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PWRC8M3

Strengths:

Good design on Masthead, good range of photography, including techniques allowing audience to see the model from different perspectiveds, good typeface used to create synergy establishing my brand.

Weakness:
Use housecolour styles from from front page and consistenntly use font styles in order for text to be easier to read.

LO4: Evidence of editing

Before editing:

After editing:

Editing Process:

Before editing:

After editing:

Editing Process:

When using InDesign, in order to rotate the image of the skateboard which could potentially be won by the reader (on the contents page), I used the select and rotate tool in order for the image to fit into the magazine in a more alternative and quirky style. 

On the double page spread, InDesign allows you to create a black square, which allows you to add text to the squares.  This fits the brief since the most skate magazines use this format to contain text on the double page spread.

LO4: Subediting

Based on what my partner has written, I need to add an introduction, a title, and I also need to write much more.

LO4: Version controls

Version Controls for Cover Page:

The file types .psd has been used in order for me to be able to continue editing the file each time. psd files contain all the original jpeg/raw files which means I am able to edit and use high quality lossless files. Because each file is so lossless, they are huge in file type, however they can be easily accessed and edited when using a high spec editing machine such as an iMac. Saving each file separately allowed my work to be organised, since if there was a change I regret making to the magazine, I can go back to one of the versions and bring what I didn't want to change into a newer version of the magazine.

Version Controls for Contents Page and Double Page Spread:

The file types .indd mean that I am allowed to edit the InDesign files each time I decide to change something in my contents page and double page spread. Instead of having all the photos contained in the file, InDesign files source the images in a similar way to Adobe Premier, when it sources the video files. This way there is zero compression on any of the photos/graphics, meaning that the file types are completely lossless, meaning that they will be of a very high quality, which is important since this is a print file. 

LO4: Review of assets

This is the first piece of photography I used in my magazine, for my photography. During editing, I managed to bring out the colours of the sky to appear more pretty by making the colours contrast more. The image creates a spectacle of the skate trick Isaac is performing and will make amateur skaters want to learn how to skate more. Isaac's costume is also what skaters wear, which makes the image appeal more to the sub-culture of skating. The image will work brilliantly as a cover page, since it allows room for titles to surround Isaac's figure, and the top space will allow the mast head "NO COMPLIE" to fit perfectly. To improve the image, I would have taken the photo at a lower angle in order for the stunt to appear more extreme.

This image was taken a moment after the previous photo was taken. This was because I was using the rapid shutter option on the Canon DSLR 650d. This image will work well because like the above photo it creates a spectacle out of the skating trick, and appeals to the sub-culture and target audience for the same reasons. The reason this picture works better for a double page spread is because the image works well as a wide photo. I would have improved this photo by moving the camera along with Isaac, creating an image with a blurred background showing Isaac's movement, with him in mid-air perfectly in focus.

This image was taken for the contents page, in order to establish that the magazine is targeted at the sub-culture of skating specifically in Sheffield. This image is good because it features the recognisable landscape of Sheffield whilst the sun is setting. This links to the idea of the magazine, which is to promote Sheffield of a place where skating is great (which is connoted through the visually appealing imagery of the sun setting).

This is my masthead. I used the colours black and red because those are the colours which are mainly used in the types of magazines I looked into for inspiration for NO COMPLIE. The colours are also both very bold and will stand out on any page, and the colours also link to themes like injuries and danger that skating offers. Using adobe photoshop, I was also able to give the title an effect which curves the title, making it look like a skating ramp, linking to the magazines genre and main theme (skating). The way I would improve this asset, would be by editing the image less sloppily, since on some letters, you can that the outline has disappeared (an error due to warping the texts shape).

This is the graphic I have used for features on the magazine such as the competition, since it draws attention due to its star shape, and the glowing effect, which connotes that there could be potential "treasure" in that area of the page (The treasure being the prize). The way I would have improved this  graphic, would have been by drawing the image with more un even spikes, in order for the graphic to fit in more with the style of the rest of the magazine in order to create synergy. 

This is the graphic I used for the contents page, since the image didn't fit the magazines genre without a visual reference to skating. The image is a clear representation of the stereotypical skater, which can appeal to incredibly wide audiences because of the fact that the figure has no face, meaning the audience can imagine themselves being the skater (since the skater is their ideal self). The way I would have improved this graphic, would have been incorporating a reference to NO COMPLIES brand, by perhaps having the the initials NC printed on the graphic, connoting that the skater is wearing NO COMPLIE as a brand, which could be a possibility if the magazine progresses.

This is the graphic I used as a background for most text on the magazine. Because it is bold and black, it supports text (which isn't black) in a which which makes the text bold and stand out. I would have improved this graphic by making it a shape which is more relevant to the genre of skating, for example the shape of a ramp.

LO3: Following codes and conventions

PHOTOGRAPHY:

This is the first image that I am going to use for my magazine "No Complie". The image depicts skater jumping over a small metal ramp in a rural area.

The inspiration for this photoshoot was from the photography used on THRASHER a competing skating magazine. 

The reason this image fits into the codes and conventions of an extreme sports magazine, is because the the subject of the image is a mid air shot of a preforming skater. The angle is made more extreme through the use of a fish eye lens, which is often used in extreme sports magazines photos. The setting of the image is a also a place which is rural and concrete, connoting the feeling of the skating sub-culture in cities like Sheffield. This fits with THRASHERS style of magazine, since they are usually featuring a certain area as well as featuring a being interviewed. The persons outfit also is the type of outfit that people who are interested in extreme sports wear, or how the audience aspire to be like, which is what magazines like Thrasher always ensure, in order to attract a specific audience who dress a certain way. Although the difference is that you can't see the sky in the real example, the sky gives the image a very beautiful and visually appealing style. This hopefully should make the magazine appeal even more, since it is very popular to enjoy great photography.

This is the second picture I will be using for the magazine. The picture depicts Sheffield's city landscape, with the sun setting in the background. This fits with the proposal I wrote, since I had decided to make Sheffield an appealing place for skaters, which I have completed through capturing the image using a quick shutter speed and a wide aperture, in order for everything in the image to be in focus, and in order for the image not to be overly exposed, which is a rip when taking photographs of the sunset. 

This is the second picture I used in the magazine. The picture also depicts Isaac Green jumping over the ramp, however he is further ahead in the jump in the shot. Again a fisheye lens has been used.

Just like my image, in this image which is taken for Thrasher features a skaters (extreme sports) peforming an impressive jump, aswell as wearing clothes which the target audience wear, as well as also featuring a skate park. The sky has also been used to visually show the freedom that skating can offer. When editing the magazine I intend to have the skater layering over the mast head since it shows that the skater is jumping really high, and is a creative way of breaking the fourth layer in a way, as it connotes that the skater is almost jumping out of the magazine. Also, the mode of address for all the photos are peer to peer, since the situation when you see someone on their skating is incredibly casual and is not formal in anyway, therefore the reader feels a sense of social acceptance and familiarity when seeing these images which creates a pleasant experience for the reader.

BODY COPY FOR DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD:

Quick Fit is a skate spot like no other. The abandoned area was taken advantage of by local residents of Sheffield and transformed into a DIY spot, allowing skaters to build and modify  the area in anyway which is good for shredding. In the shot below you can see Isaac ollying of a mini ramp, made out of a metal slab placed on top of square rock, a good example of the type of ramps that are created at Quick Fit.
So you’ve been skating for four years now?
Isaac: Five actually, I started when I was 12.
Five years, thats insane, where do you think you would be now if you never started skating.
Isaac: Wow, thats a wierd thought! I’m not sure but I recon I would be pretty bored, skating’s a big part of my life.
I can tell, Judging by those stunts you’ve just pulled I can see its something you’ve really put a lot of effort into.
Isaac: I wouldn’t describe it like that, skating isn’t really something that needs effort, I usually associate effort with things that I’d rather not be doing...

Well I guess skatings more of a passion to you then?
Isaac: For sure! Shredding provides the freedom of movement.
So why do you skate at Quick Fit so much?
Isaac: Quick Fit is by far my favourite spot, I love that you are able to change and set up random debris to aid your skating exeperince, plus the whole place has a really rural feel which I think is unique to Sheffield.
What makes Sheffield such a great place for skaters?
Isaac: The range of places you can go to, like staying in the same area can become quite dull, but in Sheffield theres plenty of different places to go and skate.
How long does it take to progress to you level of skill when it comes to skating?
Isaac Ah thats a hard one, the thing is it depends on the individual, like I know some people who start skating and take to it easily! While others, not so much.
Fair enough man, thanks a load for talking being on NO COMPLIE take it steady Isaac Green.


The mode of address for this article is peer to peer, since like articles I have have read in a skate magazine they are written in a very laid back and relaxed way. This way the reader feels as if they are getting to know the skater being interviewed, which is an exciting experience for the right type of audience, since they either admire Isaac and want to be like him and skate like him, or they see him as an ideal partner. The article also describes skating in a way which is designed to almost advertise the sport of skating, meaning that they are going to build an attachment for the brand NO COMPLIE since they will remember that brand to be the one that got them into a new sport. The magazine also advertises the city of Sheffield, and why it is good for skating, which is what I intended for the magazine to do, in order to visit Sheffield and become a part of it's skating sub-culture.

THRASHER's EDITORS NOTE:

In this editors note for the skate magazine THRASHER Kevin J. Thatcher has written an editors note in a peer to peer mode of address, which both entertains and inspires the target audience of skaters, it also uses the informal type of language that is related to the sub-culture of Skating such as spot, referring to an area where you can skate.

Considered editors note:

Uses peer to peer mode of address.


Final editors note:

Welcome my dudes, to the very first issue of 

NO COMPLIE, where you will find jaw drapping pictures of skating and BMX, followed by interviews, tips and tricks, all local to Sheffield! Through this I hope you can all impove your extreme sports abilities!

Keep on shredding!