Codes and conventions of a magazine front cover

One main image takes up the whole cover

• Usually the main feature article

• Studio photographs, usually in medium close-up or mid shot.

• Artist image sells Magazines

• No text on face

Title/Masthead

• Unique font• Usually 1 or 2 words• Usually fills across the whole cover or in top left corner.• Title can be partially covered if magazine is well known.

Barcode

• This will be positioned at the bottom corner or up the side mostly on the right side.• Along side will sometimes be the date/month of the edition,price and issue number.

Strap line

Puff

Buzz words

• A strap line is a heading or caption for a music magazine

• Offers something else to the magazine such as free giveaways

• Usually with the main feature article. Used to attract the customer “Free, Plus, Exclusive”

Colour scheme

• Small amount used with a simple colour scheme adding to the distinctive design

• Simple colours e.g. Black, white, blue and red

• 3-4 colours usually used

• Coverlines – lines of text on the front cover designed to attract the audiences attention and make them pick the magazine up and look inside.

• Main Coverlines - This is the largest text on the cover after the title and it anchors the meaning of the image. Usually a sub line in smaller text giving more information about the article.

Masthead

Barcode

Main cover line

Colour scheme of front cover has 3 main colours: Red, Black and white

Buzz words

One main image covering whole front cover of magazine

Cover lines

Date, Issue No and Price

Promotional Puff

Masthead

Date, Issue No and Price

Colour scheme of front cover has 3 main colours: Red, Black and white

Main cover line

One main image covering whole front cover of magazine

Promotional Puff

Cover lines