The masthead on Q is always located in the top left hand corner of the magazine it is easy to identify as it is a bid red box with a white Q in it and the words discover great music which is there tag line. The way this is set up is to show the reader that Q is a professional magazine and takes everything seriously, including the content of the magazine.

The barcode can be found anywhere on a Q magazine, normally the barcode goes wherever, so that the main image or main sell line has more space. The barcode also includes the date, price and issue number which is the smallest text on the cover so that people are more focused on what is in the magazine rather than how much it is, most magazines do this.

Q usually places there main images right in the middle so the reader is first drawn to it. They have a professional approach with there main images as they want to come of as a serious music magazine. For example here we have the Arctic Monkeys and they single out the lead singer by bringing him closest, and the rest of the band behind him then draw your attention to his eyes which you see are ready like he is focused on the reader, which makes any reader want to know what is in the magazine itself.

Sell lines on a Q magazine cover can be found everywhere, not just in one font either as you can see various types of font in different colours ,also ranging in different sizes, which makes it a little different showing that Q has a fun side to not just all serious. They also try to grab the readers attention by placing quotes from articles in the magazine on the cover for example the strokes sell line on the left side of the cover. They also like to place rhetorical questions there similar to the quotes, to keep the reader interested.

The main sell lines for Q is known to be found anywhere on the cover it is more than likely found under the main image if there is an important story or article involving the chosen main image. If you take this cover for example they have chosen large lettering for Arctic which draws the reader in straight away as this must mean that they have a good album or single coming as the sub head confirms this with full stops after each statement. Q normally do this with the main sell line and sub head.

The background for Q is more than likely a plain white background every issue, it relates to the professional approach they try to show.

The masthead for Rolling Stone is popular worldwide, everyone knows what it is as soon as they see it. It is possibly one of the most known magazines of all time. The masthead is always found on the top part of the magazine going from left to right and the main image always goes under the masthead, as most people will buy Rolling Stone just because it is Rolling Stone not because of the main image. The text of the Rolling Stone is very stand alone in the way of magazines, as no other magazines have a similar masthead to Rolling Stone.

The main image for Rolling Stone is always picture perfect with lighting and the image itself they strive for success and that’s what they have. In this image Leonardo Dicaprio is staring of into the distance which shows the reader that he is going to give some personal information out in the article that he wouldn’t normally tell anyone. Rolling Stones main image is always in the middle of the cover in different sizes and styles for example this image has the sun shining on his face, rolling Stone normally puts just a plain white background and then the main image over the top in this issue they are going for an in depth approach.

The sell lines for Rolling Stone is usually placed along the side of the magazine cover, in this case the sell lines are placed along the right hand side so that there is more space for the main image. Like most magazines there sell lines are rhetorical questions or quotes from articles in the magazine. They are also all in the same font which goes back to Rolling Stones professional approach. Rolling Stone however has there own way of processing sell lines, if you look above the masthead there are names of bands or celebrities which are just there to tell the reader what else is involved in the magazine it is in bold text which stands out to anyone looking at the cover.

The essential information is always found above the masthead between the bold sell lines , which is the smallest text on the cover.

The main sell lines for rolling Stone can normally be found anywhere on the cover in this case it is above the sell lines as the most important article which ties into the main image. The words hanging with Leo have been highlighted so it grabs the readers attention.

The name of the magazine is clearly visible, maybe showing the reader that the magazine is simple, easy to read and easy to remember. The font also stands out as the masthead is the first thing your drawn to. The colour is also very basic just plain white lettering NME changes the colour of the masthead to match what the colour scheme on the cover is or who is in the magazine itself. The NME masthead is always in the top right hand corner of the magazine which makes it easier to identify as a NME as its something to look out for. The essential info is always under the masthead on an NME, which is the date and the issue number which is the smallest text on the cover.

The main image is what draws the reader in to buy it. NME normally has the main image right in the middle of the cover with a colour scheme that’s related to the person who is the main image, or what the topic of conversation that is in the article that’s in the magazine itself. In this cover you are drawn to the colour of her hair the paleness of her skin and her eyes, the background does a great job of drawing the attention just onto Florence. She looks innocent in the image which ties into the article in the magazine which features Florence. Most magazines only have one image on the cover but NME places multiple Images on the cover, NME tries to make it like no other magazine, so they do things that other magazines probably wouldn’t do, more images is an example of this.

The sell lines on the cover are all in the same font apart from the logo which makes that stand out. Every week NME has the same sort of layout where the sell lines are all placed around the cover in different colours and sizes , some sell lines mention bands where they mention underneath something about them that is involved in the magazine article, for example here we have, WU LYF Vs Arcade Fire! Arctic Monkeys! Rolling Stones! And, er quite a lot more… which makes the reader interested in what is featured in the magazine as it doesn't really explain much but the bands they have named might attract readers , as they might want to know what WU LYF don’t like about there favourite bands. They also ask rhetorical questions on the cover which makes the reader interested.

The barcode on an NME is usually in the bottom left hand corner ,but it sometimes can be found anywhere to create more space for sell lines or images and is usually really small.

The main sell line for NME is usually a statement or in this case one word. It is usually in a different colour, as the main image and the main sell line is what makes people buy NME. It is nearly always three quarters down the page and over the main image with a sub head explaining what the masthead is, without giving to much of the article away.

The background is catered towards the main image which gives you a calm feel on what is featured in the magazine, and a calm interview with who is featured. NME change up the backgrounds every week to cater to the main image.