Production - Image Editing

After taking the images in Sheffield I have began to edit them to make them more appropriate for my magazine. I didn't want to just use the plain unedited image as I felt that if I edited it on Photoshop it would be more visually pleasing, this would make the image look less of an image taken from a camera and more of a piece of art.

The following image I edited was an image of Sheffield which we took from a high place in order to give a better view to see all of the different places within Sheffield. I first started removing all of the sky as the sky was rather dull and I felt it didn't have much place in the image. After this I began to add effects and found a filter I thought worked well. After I applied this filter I then began to work on the colour, I found the orange style colour to work well with the effect.

The colour is based upon another image I took while we were in Sheffield. The iconic Park Hill flats are a very large part of Sheffield, they are very easy to recognise therefore I thought that using the colours on the flats as part of a colour scheme would be an effective art style choice. This makes the magazine feel more personal to Sheffield as it refers to regional references with the flats. However if the reference isn't linked then it won't alienate readers they will just presume it is a random colour option chosen, however if they do see the reference they will see it has a deeper meaning.

Planning - Taking the Images for the Magazine Front Cover

This Thursday (16/01/2014) I have decided that I will be going to Sheffield to take Photos of different areas for use in the front cover of my regional magazine. I will be going with one of the other Media students in my class and together we will be travelling around Sheffield taking images of iconic places and locations. I will be using a Nikon DLSR as it as a professional camera and can take higher quality images than say that of a pocket camera. Once these images are taken I will then analyse them and find which images would be most appropriate for my magazine and then begin to edit them in Photoshop to then add it to the front cover of my magazine.

Planning - Learning how to use Photoshop Effects

For my magazine front cover I will be using a combination of both Photoshop and InDesign. Photoshop will be used to edit each of my images on the front cover whereas InDesign will be used to create my layout of my magazine. Because of this I have found an online PDF document which focuses specifically on using filters and effects for Photoshop, these effects will be used to help create better looking images for the front of my magazine.

PDF Link: Here

Planning - Taking Images of Buildings

For the images I will be using for the front cover of my magazine I have mentioned before I will be taking images of buildings and places within Sheffield. As I had not much experience on taking images of areas and places I decided to look on the internet for help and tips on how I can take better quality images of buildings. I found the following Wikihow webpage useful and it has given me tips which I will definitely use when taking my images.

Planning - Front Cover Image

In the task I have been given it is mentioned that I must use original images taken by myself and not from external sources such as the internet. As I am reaching the planning stages of my coursework it is important I start to think about the different images I can use in my front cover and if they are going to be suitable.

Image focused on an individual(s)

Some magazines often feature certain individual or a group of people, this is often used to help show the reader that the featured article within the magazine may include these individuals. The image is often one in which the reader can clearly see the individual, they are often centred in the middle of the page in order for the reader to focus on them and not the backdrop of the individual. The image may contain a subheading which is linked into these particular individuals.

An example of this can be seen in the Exposed front cover below. The two men are clearly the main focus in the image, with the text "Public Service Broadcasting"could possibly refer to a band in which the individuals are members of.

For my regional magazine an idea which I had for this could be an individual who has recently become a lot more famous stood near an iconic Sheffield Landmark. The article inside would focus upon the individual returning back to their home city of Sheffield and would include information on their career but also their childhood memories they had in Sheffield.

Image focused on parts of the environment such as a famous building

Instead of using individuals may also use certain landmarks or locations to help suggest that the content within may refer to that particular landmark/location. This is similar to using an individual but instead of the content being about a person it often refers to the location in question. These aren't often that common in comparison to using individuals on a front cover however in certain circumstances such as certain buildings being renovated, changed or removed they may decide to write an article focusing on it.

As my magazine is based in Sheffield the places I would use on my front cover would come from areas within Sheffield. An idea I had for this could be an anniversary issues such as a one year anniversary of the magazine. The front cover would consist of a collection of images taken from Sheffield which are slightly edited with effects. Images could include areas such as the Crucible, Park Hill Flats, Meadowhall and many more.

Images taken from external sources to show which areas I could use, for the front cover I will use images I have taken myself:
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/aug/21/park-hill-sheffield-renovation
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sheffield_Crucible_theatre.png
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1994609

Planning - Colour Symbolism

The colours which I use within my magazine can have many symbolise many different things therefore it is important i take this into consideration when choosing which colours to use for my magazine.

I found the following article online to help me find out more: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/28/color-theory-for-designers-part-1-the-meaning-of-color/ 

Warm Colours

Warm colours include red, orange, and yellow, and variations of those three colours. These are the colours of fire, of fall leaves, and of sunsets and sunrises, and are generally energising, passionate, and positive.

Red and yellow are both primary colours, with orange falling in the middle, which means warm colours are all truly warm and aren’t created by combining a warm colour with a cool colour. Use warm colours in your designs to reflect passion, happiness, enthusiasm, and energy.

Cool Colours

Cool colours include green, blue, and purple, are often more subdued than warm colours. They are the colours of night, of water, of nature, and are usually calming, relaxing, and somewhat reserved.

Blue is the only primary colour within the cool spectrum, which means the other colours are created by combining blue with a warm colour (yellow for green and red for purple). Greens take on some of the attributes of yellow, and purple takes on some of the attributes of red. Use cool colours in your designs to give a sense of calm or professionalism.

Neutral Colours

Neutral colours often serve as the backdrop in design. They’re commonly combined with brighter accent colours. But they can also be used on their own in designs, and can create very sophisticated layouts. The meanings and impressions of neutral colours are much more affected by the colours that surround them than are warm and cool colours.

To Summarise:

Red: Passion, Love, Anger

Orange: Energy, Happiness, Vitality

Yellow: Happiness, Hope, Deceit

Green: New Beginnings, Abundance, Nature

Blue: Calm, Responsible, Sadness

Purple: Creativity, Royalty, Wealth

Black: Mystery, Elegance, Evil

Gray: Moody, Conservative, Formality

White: Purity, Cleanliness, Virtue

Brown: Nature, Wholesomeness, Dependability

Tan or Beige: Conservative, Piety, Dull

Cream or Ivory: Calm, Elegant, Purity

Planning - Magazine Name

I decided to create a digital mind map regarding the ideas I had for my magazine name. The mind map below is interactive and has notes and links to websites if you hover the mouse over certain aspects. I will evaluate some of these names and then decide on a final name at a later date.


Create your own mind maps at MindMeister