1. Once I chose my main image(s) I cut around them using the magnetic lasso tool on Photoshop as well as the eraser tool to smooth out any leftover rough edges

2. I then grouped the images together and made them one layer by pressing Ctrl+E so they’d stay in place throughout the whole editing process.I place my main image in front of the magazine’s title, assuming the reader knows the name of the magazine already and implying a successful statues; something I recognised a lot of the magazines I researched did.

•I used a template image (Vampire Weekend) as my main image to work around.

3. At the bottom I created a rectangle shape for a banner; here I’ll put extra features that were asked for in my magazine questionnaire (new bands, upcoming tours and gigs and interviews, etc.

4. Next I looked at some brushes that a lot of magazines tend to use to give an urban and edgy look. I stuck to my colour scheme and chose a burgundy on hue to make transparent brush strokes where I would mount puffs and headlines.

5. When analysing other magazines, I notice a lot of their headings had outlines that gave them a professional looking finish. I chose the font “Wood Warrior” for my main heading an added a blue stroke to the text to help it stand out whilst still coordinating with the colour scheme.

•I also replace the image of Vampire Weekend with an image of Sleigh Bells as I though this’d be a better fit; they’d take up a lot more focus.

6. Next, I added the text under the main heading and used a similar font and the same colour design, including the stroke and fill

In my survey, competitions was a popular suggestion and so I added a large and outstanding win sticker to grab attention and entice readers into buying the magazine and exploring what the prize is.

7. I first crafted the sticker in word and then transferred it too Photoshop.

8. I then began to fill in the puffs with different headings and pictures.

9. To give my pictures a more professional finish, I feathered the edges by first using the eraser tool...

10. I then lowered the opacity so as not to completely erase the image

11. I softened the hardness to feather the edges and give the images a professional finish.

This was the finished layout of my front cover:

I then changed headline after getting feedback that it was too hard to read, I also got rid of the sticker and just kept the banner at the bottom to avoid the cover

looking “too busy” as it was described.