Evaluation

I also should mention here the use of pull quotes. My magazine features two. The NME magazine has one (in the blue box in the middle of the main body of text)

In my double page spread I learned how to make full use of some of the many features of CS5, such as puppet warp 

I used puppet warp to slightly reshape Hannah. I inserted pivot points on the photo (on the head, inbetween shoulders, between pelvis, knees and legs) to help me manipulate the image. I tilted the head downwards in a reflective pose and straightened out the legs slightly.

Post Production

With the products completed, a more in depth analysis can be made.

One thing I noticed about the three products were that it is easy to see which page I started on. Throughout the whole production, my Photoshop skills increased dramatically with each page. This is why by time I came round to doing the double page spread, I was able to produce (quite quickly) something that worked well. Whereas the front cover (the first thing I started with) is not to consistent with the layout of text. In my first draft I had an unappealing anchorage. It did not fit in with the rest of the page and this became apparent in my feedback from my first draft. I removed this and shifted the '2012 NEW EDITION' line up in the space where the previous anchor line appeared. This created a much more formal style and was much  more pleasing to the eye.
I considered the conventions of a front cover and they are outlined in the post above.

Bearing in mind the conventions of the contents page. I was able to quickly arrange a contents page whereby there were a 'features' section with this months featuring articles and a 'regulars' section whereby the regular columnists entered their monthly articles.

simple yet stylish

I based my double page spread loosely around an existing double page spread from NME (see post above for comparison). While it does not compare in terms of format or layout, the fresh approach is mutual between the two. If I was to compare my double spread to anything, I would compare its simplicity to that of the Apple adverts. Their adverts are famous for their simplicity and honesty.

Final Edits

Minor changes to this final front cover include; the slight relocation of the cubase photo from the right of the writing to underneath it as it obstructed the view of the piano keys which I felt were quite an important feature of the front cover (this was also the reason for completely removing the 'cheap looking' yellow sticker. The '+' symbol seen before the '2012 NEW EDITION' is an idea I took from another well established jazz magazine (Jazz Times). After the masthead, the attention is then drawn more easily to this.

Once again not a great amount of changes were made to the contents page as I was happy with it after my redraft and did not want to ruin it by carrying on to change things and add things in that weren't necessary.
I featured the main content lines on torn up paper. This paper came as a standard image on Photoshop Elements 5 and was not something I took a photo of. The font, I feel, reflected the era. The typewritten style gave status to the page. It comes across as being very official and professional. A piece of feedback I received on this page was that they really liked how it came across as being like case file. The photo in the bottom left-hand corner also makes this page feel overall like a case study as this profile view shot of Hannah can connote that the interview conducted with her is in detail and that the magazine knows a lot about her and her life. This refers back to the magazine itself and creates a good overall superior image for Nu Jazz.

I moved the stamp to the left so that I could insert the page number and the website. I missed these out in the first draft. I inserted the page number and website in and thought that it just added the finishing touch to the contents page.

Above is my final double page spread, I have spread a short interview over two pages down grey columns which I added a drop shadow effect to just to bring the two pages to life. Another important aspect I learned in producing things like this is that the most important things that need to stand out can look great with a dropped shadow. I added shadows to the page number, the interview columns, the 'QUICKFIRE' box, the album cover and a very subtle shadow on the words 'HANNAHB' in the 'CHECK OUT HANNAHB ON iTUNES'. 

To create the shadow below the image of Hannah, I created a basic oval shape using the shape tool, removed the colour overlay and then dropping its shadow low enough so you can see a whole oval shadow then I placed this layer behind the main image of Hannah (which I had already created a sepia tone to) to create Hannah's shadow. This gives a bit of realism to Hannah on the page. I deliberately inserted the 'Maybe Maybe Not' font down the left hand side of the page as a modern twist on the whole feel. Jazz can often come across to people young and old, as an old genre when in fact it is still alive and kicking in the music scene today all around the world. This interesting font helped to keep a fresh feel to the page. However to keep it within the parameters of the style of the magazine, I still ensured I kept the theme which had been set on the front cover and in the contents page by adding in that familiar ripped up paper image with typewritten font.