Evaluation

Tom Dale
 Target audience- and representation of a social group
My target audience is the social group that is Steam punks, I would also try to appeal to people who fall into the ‘alternative’ category.

I am trying to represent the social group of steam punks through, showcase

their fashion and music. My magazine appeals to the
Ideology of steam punk, a sense of camaraderie and a narrative element. I
reinforce that by writing parts in a partial victorian style this
Envelops the reader in the narrative of the genre. By using images that reinforce
the narrative I believe I have created image/ lifestyle
that appeals the reader this will draw them into my magazine.
In what way does your media product use, develop or
challenge conventions of real media products?

How did you attract/address your audience?

How does your media product represent particular social

groups?
 I followed conventions for the front cover, I placed most of the information on
the left hand side as ell as the logo as I found out that in shops magazines are
Front Cover usually displayed with only the left side showing, so the audience will see the
logo and kickers and this will draw their attention to the magazine. My house
style was light browns, black, red, white and grey. I chose these colours as they
mimic steam punk styles of leather, metal and the Victorian style clothing. For
some text (mainly titles and sub headings) I chose 2 Victorian styles:
Romantiques, rosewood STD I chose these as they remind me of the font of
Victorian theatre and circus posters, this matches with the theatrical elements
of steam punk therefore appealing to my target audience. For the basic text I
chose Sathu, I chose this as it was simple and would not draw the eye from
other elements of the page but it was still not bland.

I placed a barcode with date and website address to make it seem

more professional. I based my price on my audience research, I had
found that most steam punks (my target audience) were on a
medium income so I decided that the price should be relatively low.

The central main image is striking and will draw the reader
into the magazine. The direct mode of address also adds to
this effect making the reader feel involved. Also the figure is
in steam punk clothing this reinforces the steam punk image I
am portraying, it will also connect with the readers linking to
their clothes.

I used this graphic to

emphasize the free offer, the
text will attract the viewers eye
as it is a different colour and
then the offer will draw them
into the magazine.

The kickers add are used to show the readers the content of
this issue. The use of words like exclusive make the article
seem exciting and it encourages the audience to buy this
magazine. They are placed on the left hand side as this is
what most people see, therefore the selling points of the
magazine are clearly shown. For the kicker heading I used
rosewood STD and for the anchorage I used Sathu.
 Front Cover
I chose to have a selling line I placed it in the conventional place as I
Thought that it would have most effect placed here and
would draw the audiences eye. I chose to use rosewood STD
And I coloured it yellow to fit in but stand out from the background.

After researching backgrounds I decided I wanted one like this, as I

could not use some one else's I created my own, firstly I crumpled
some paper I then soaked it with a wet teabag this aged it, I then
scanned it on Photoshop I added a ‘sepia’ filter. I then used some
paintbrushes, cogs and dirigibles to make it a bit more steam punky.

The title for my magazine is flashback I chose this after running some
titles past a sample audience. I chose this one as they preferred it and
I think that it shows the steam punk side more as it is the past that
never was. I put this slogan under the title as I think it is important. For
both the title and this slogan I used Rosewood STD to keep in with the
house style. I placed the F of flashback in a Gear graphic as I thought it
linked it to the other pages and establishes this graphic as a house
style. This style is used to draw in my target audience through symbols
and features that would appeal to them.

I used a brass effect for a menu strip, this links to steam punk
styles. The use of a flash ‘Plus’ is used to draw the viewers eye
to the extra features. This text is also done in Rosewood STD to
keep with the house style. The text was enhanced with the
stroke effect to bring out of the page and draw the readers eye.
For my main article I chose the article I am doing for my double page spread
I chose these words as they are linked to the steam punk elements of airships
And this would draw in my target audience. The anchorage acts to inform the
Audience what the article is about in this instance it is coverage of Whitby Goth
weekend this appeals to the target audience. For the “WE HAVE LIFT OFF” I
used Romantiques I think this draws the readers eye into the front cover and it
Also follows the house style. The anchorage uses Rosewood STD.
I placed the title graphic on the
left side as this is what viewers see
in the shop and this logo will be
recognizable and readers will be
drawn into the magazine.
I placed the kickers on
the left hand side as this
is what viewers see in
the shop and this will
help to draw them into
my magazine.
The title is in the top third, this is in
keeping with magazine
conventions.
I placed the main image in
the central area as I thought
that it would be a central and
would draw the readers eye.
This graphic with offer
are in the bottom third
and on the right as
they are not a selling
point but if the
customer looks at the
magazine this will
encourage them to buy
it.
 Front cover production

This was my original draft, I did want to change
the background and I was planning to use an
image of an old Victorian building, I had
chosen these font styles early on and was
planning to go with the theatrical idea. i had
chosen the graphics.
This was my second draft, I had research steam
punk backgrounds and decided that I would
like ne like this so I created myself. I decide to
put ‘stroke’ on the graphics and some of the
text, this made it stand out.
This is my final piece the differences to the
2nd draft is a graphic in the bottom left
advertising a free feature I placed this as it
will entice the reader with the offer.
Contents To keep with my house style I made my contents
heading similar to my main title on the cover I used the
same graphic and font. I also placed a graphic in the top
right which is similar to the one on the front cover.

I used a dirigible graphic as a page number point.

This image is tied in with the steam punk idea of
airships, this connects the magazine to the target
audience.

I chose a ‘action’ shot for my contents

page I think that it adds movement to
the page, the people are from a steam
punk band so this will connect to the
audience.
For the heading I used language that
reflected the force of the ‘empires’
period of history which is closely linked
to the steam punk genre.

This menu strip has an semi opaque background

this defines the box whilst not obstructing the
image.
For the text I kept with my house style and used
Rosewood STD, I also put stroke effect on all the
text, this made it stand out a lot more. This drew
the readers eye to the articles.
I used a small cog graphic as bullet points this
reflected the steam punk genre where the cog is a
common motif.
For the main menu strip I used a full box with a brown fill, I
split it into general sections for the section headings I used
rosewood STD for the main text I used Sathu. I used flowing
text to avoid the guitar that enters the box.
For the language I played on modern phrases to relate them
to steam punk. For example ‘a old wave of sound’ is a play on
a ‘new wave’ but the old style is art of steam punk.

I used the same background as on the front cover I think it

transferred well and it adds to the house style of the
magazine.

I added an editorial to add some more information to

the page. I used Rosewood STD for the title and Sathu
for the main text. I flowed the text around the insert
image.

For the insert image I used the circular tool and a sepia
filter layer to create the impression of a locket photo. I
feathered the edges so that It looked softer on the
page.
I placed the title and graphic
in the top left to keep to the
house style.

The main image Is in the

centre it splits the page
down the middle the
usual article to the left
with the editorial then
the ‘special’ articles and
exclusives on the right.

The smaller boxes are in the

bottom third, the picture in the
bottom third is there to draw
the readers eye to the bottom
to see the editorial and menu
strip.
 Contents Production

This was my first draft, at this point I
had not chosen a background. The only
menu strip I had was the smaller one
the figures were also very central this
gave little spce for information.
This is my second draft, as you can see I
have added the same background as the
front cover, this is in keeping with the
house style. I have moved the figures to
thre right giving more space for
information, the locket style picture is still
quite large and the bottom left corner is
empty.
This is my final product. The changes I
made were I made the locket picture
and moved it to the right this gave me
a lot more space allowing me to place
an editorial in the bottom left.
Double page spread For the title I used
To follow the Romantiques this
house style I followed the house
used a mini title style, and the title
The live shows with the cog gives an overview of
box uses the graphic in the top the article. The font
same opaque box left style is like that of the
as the contents Victorian circus this
this links the reflects the theatrical
page. I used red nature of steam punk.
text for the
heading to link
the visual as a
point colour.
The text is in Sathu this
chose to do it in white as
it stood out against the
darker background. I had
tried several other font
colours but after asking
people I found it was to
dark and difficult to read.
I flowed the text around
the quote that I inserted.
The first letter of the text
is larger and in a
different font I think this
adds an edge to the
article.
The quote serves the
point of breaking up the
text a bit I applied a
stroke effect but I
changed the colour to
match the text heading
on the left page as well
For the page as the figures waste
The background is a number of layers firstly the house style number I used colour so red was the
background to tie this page to the others then a slightly Sathu. This tied it point colour.
opaque image then the figure is cut out then replaced in a into the text.
new layer. This overlay effect on the figure gives a double
shadow effect.
As well as the dirigible brushes on
the background layer I decided to
add some and to add to the steam
punk genre, these brushes gave the
effect of them being there this added
to the steam punk narrative style.

I placed the intro to the left of

left page, I placed it here so it
would be the first thing the
reader reads. I made the text
similsr to the main article text,
this made it obvious to the
reader that this part was part
of the main article.

The small insert image

gives extra information
and draws the readers
eye. I placed a drop
shadow effect on the
picture to enhance it and
make it stand out. The
picture supplements the
contents of the box.
 All the point colour red is in the middle The quote is in the centre of
The main images are section. This links the pages. I chose red as a the page so it draws the eye,
all in the middle point colour as it is one of my house style this helps show the
section drawing the colours. importance of the quote.
readers eye.
 Double page spread production

This is my first draft and at this point I had not added any text.
Also, I had not added the top left title and graphic. Also my
background was not quite finished. This page was wrong as it was
constructed on a portrait page, so everything had to be rotated
and text did not work properly so before I moved on to add text I
remade the page on a landscape page.
After remaking the page I added the text which I had pre typed on word, I then
added the quote and text wrapped around this and the central image. I then
added the top left graphic and title to keep the house style. I think the central
image will appeal to steam punk as it is steam punk clothing and in a some what
theatrical style.
 What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?

During the course of this work I have developed my technical skills. As I primarily used Photoshop, my skills and number of abilities have
increased. I already had some Photoshop skills but they have increased dramatically and I now know many new skills. I also developed my camera
skills during my ‘photo shoot’ I had to develop my skills and adapt my abilities to an unfamiliar camera, I practiced at home before the main photo
shoot.

To view the production of work follow this link to my blog.

http://tom-tomsmediablog.blogspot.com/2011/01/photoshop-work.html
Looking back at your preliminary task (the College magazine), what do you feel you
have learnt in the progression from it to full product?
College magazine
The college magazine gave me chance to develop and
remember Photoshop skills, as I begun work on the music
magazine a lot of the technique I used on the college
magazine was useful. The basic photography also came in
useful. During the college magazine work I learnt many
things about magazines that helped me with the production
of my music magazine, such as how things are placed on the
left as this is what customers in a shop see. I also learnt
about the conventions of a magazine such as titles,
mastheads and anchorage. Most of these conventions can be
found on my magazine.

Music magazine
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and
why?

I think that as my magazine is intended for a niche market that it would be better if it was distributed by a smaller
company. I think my magazine would also suit a web based publisher, as the internet provides a brilliant entry into the
niche market and makes it easily accessible to my target audience. A cottage industry may suit my magazine. I think that as
my magazines subject is quite specialized it would suit a small company best as they have room to specialize.

Future publishing would be a good choice as they cover niche audiences and are a small company, so they could specialize
and develop the magazine.