Evaluation Question 7

Over the course of this project I have learned a lot about print production - from practical skills using technology such as Photoshop to treatment of genre. This is the computer I used in the course of my work (and the Photoshop CS4 I used)





At the start of the course I had only a very basic idea about how to construct a magazine front cover - never mind about considering a target audience.
During the course of this production, I learned a lot through making errors. For example, an initial draft featured a picture with a model who obviously does not fit the genre.

After learning this, I put a lot more work into the research element of the task, and did another shoot with a better-suited model.

This model is obviously better suited as the style of dress is much more 'metal', as well as his attitude.
The organisation of this photoshoot was quite difficult - I needed a time when everyone was free - my organisation skills were therefore developed by this, and further by the need to keep tabs on all of my work (I set up a complex series of drafts for each page I constructed).

During the preliminary project, I did not think to do this - instead editing as I went, and keeping minimal records.

Evaluation Question 6

During this module I have learned a great deal about the use of new media technology in the production of a print task.

In the research portion I used:

Used to research within the genre - looked at metal videos etc.

To look at bands and their representation and 'style' through pictures, blog posts etc.

(Blogger) to blog about my project and record its progress.

I used these alongside many other sites - such as magazine sites (Kerrang! and Metal Hammer for the most part), institutional sites (E.g. Bauer's website) and many other to research the genre.

In the production stage I made use of new media technology such as a Nikon D60 camera.


After the photoshoots I used Photoshop to edit my material, and to add text while evaluating.

Also during production, I used Facebook to aid my getting feedback about my project.

This helped a lot in fitting my product to the genre's conventions and target audience's needs.

Evaluation Question 5

Below are some of the elements of my front cover that would attract my target audience to my magazine

I have learned that these things attract fans of the genre by asking both myself (I would include myself in my target audience) and other metal fans what their favourite elements of a metal magazine are - and tailoring it accordingly. I found that my target audience like the attitude and 'heavy' styles etc., but also liked to see big names from within the genre - this is why I put Slipknot and other reconiseable bands on the cover.
Although this way of altering my production for my audience could be considered a good one, it must be noted that every person I interviewed lived within the same demographic area - a metaller from a different country (or even a different part of this one) might ask different things of a metal mag.

Evaluation Question 4

My target audience member would be a typical rocker/metalhead (as seen below)

They would listen to metal music, and possibly rock and punk also. Their style would be likely to incorporate long hair, dark clothes and band t-shirts, as well as possible tattoos and piercing. The TV and radio stations they would be likely to watch/listen to would be Scuzz/Kerrang!/Radio 1 Rock show and other stations related to the metal genre. My audience would be relatively similar to that of Kerrang! That is, 'individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty.'

Evaluation Question 3

From the multitude of print distributors, I think the best suited to distribute my publication would be a distributor with experience within the genre. This is because metal is a tricky genre to get right without experience - as opposed to pop music, which is relatively easy to get right.

A distributor such as Bauer Consumer Media (Kerrang!) would be best, as they would know a lot about the distribution of such a magazine. The negatives of this would be the success of

and the possible competition between it and my magazine were it to be a hit. Another possible distributer could be Future Publishing, who distribute

and have a lot of experience in the 'darker side' of metal (death metal etc.) whereas Kerrang! deals more with punk and popular metal.

Evaluation Question 2

Below is an image of my model, and an image from 'Metal Hammer' magazine.

The models in both of these images are similar in that they both have long hair, dress in dark clothing and wear expressions laden with attitude. In the picture I have taken, the model is wearing a more blatant angry posture than the Metal Hammer picture. This 'anger' is often featured in metal publications - with the front covers often featuring images of artists looking their most 'evil'. This is, however, changing - metal and punk music are becoming more artistic than angsty, and some of the other images I have taken reflect these changes.

Some of the images I took (including this one) used props - some of the ones on my contents page involved a microphone. This, again, is a standard within the genre - either a microphone, guitar, bass etc. helps a reader identify with the role of the person in the image.

The shot itself usually varies with what subgenre the artist hails from - I chose to go with a mid-shot, whereas the Metal Hammer picture is a close-up. Some bands, such as Slipknot, Alice Cooper or KISS use makeup/masks as part of their image, and the members look better in close-up. Others use props or have band photos taken, which work better in mid-shot.

Evaluation Question 1

I have picked out some points as to how my work has used characteristics of the metal genre.

In my project, I stuck closely to the genre characteristics with regard to font and style. The only thing which could be construed as different to the genre's norm id possibly the contents page (and even this can easily be identified as from a metal magazine). I did this as a major ideology assocated with the metal genre is to break boundaries - and I managed to stay within the bounds of the genre while doing exactly this.

Logo

As seen in the previous posts, I have designed the 'Metal Head' logo with a font font on dafont.com. I have decided to place this logo on all of the pages - featuring (obviously) prominently as a masthead on the front cover and smaller on the contents page and double page spread. This is an incarnation of the logo:

Double Page Spread

I eventually decided to use a black background against white text, and a picture of a model on each page. For a bit of variation, I decided to place a 'rocker profile' on the top right hand corner, and put a picture of my friend's (very spiky, and typically 'metal') guitar behind it.

Double Page Spread Font

On my front cover and contents pages, I have stuck to using a few key fonts -

Rock It

and Defused

Both of these fonts were found on dafont.com

However, for the double page spread these fonts have proven to be too difficult to read in small size. I have solved this problem by reverting to a standard Ariel font for the body of the text, using Rock It only for larger portions of text.

Double Page Spread

With my double page spread, I had a lot of problems getting ht etext into the sort of shape I wanted it to be (in conjunction with the images on the page). I have decided to go with a plain font style for the main body of the text, along with a few pictures of the 'interviewee' as opposed to band photos - as a shoot with a group of models was impossible to organise.

Contents Page

This image is the design of contents page I have decided to use. This style looks nice and fresh, while sticking within the boundaries of the metal genre.

Contents Page

For the contents page, I have been experimenting with a lot of different styles - and have decided to do something fresh and different. I am still designing different ideas, but it is coming together well.

Front Cover

This is an early draft of the front cover with an earlier image - it was decided that the picture wasn't good enough, so I would need another shoot. I also needed some more plugs to fill up some of the empty space on the page.


This is the front cover after I had finished making the changes. The picture has a lot more of the 'attitude' associated with the genre, as well as a lot less empty space sure to the addition of the extra pisture andthe competition advert,

The feedback recieved was essential in making these changes - I also got a lot of ideas through further research into the genre.

Photoshoot

I have decided to hold an additional photoshoot with my model after feedback suggesting the initial photos were not 'metal' enough. These are a few samples from the shoot - I have a good selection of images to choose from.

Beginning work on front cover

I have started work on my front cover, having found suitable fonts for both the masthead and the other text. at the moment, my background is a solid dark red colour and my picture is of one person in a metal band (Avenged Sevenfold) hoody. However, both the background and picture are likely to change as most metal magazines use full-band pictures on the cover which tend to look better. I have also had problems with the font being of lower quality than the rest of the image, but I am working on a solution to this by downloading the font file rather than using samples.

Further Research

In addition to looking at magazines, I have been looking at other sources such as tour flyers:

And album art:


This research, alongside looking at bands' myspace pages, photos, blog posts, youtube pictures and websites helps determine how bands of the metal genre express themselves. It has become clear that these methods are wide and varied, although there are some similarities in subgenre styles.

Research

As I am going to be designing the cover, contents page and a double page spread from a metal magazine I have been researching around the genre to try and pinpoint the key techniques and styles used to define metal magazines as metal.I have been looking at Metal Hammer magazine and Kerrang! in particular, in addition to other less well known magazines to scout for common ground between designs.
These Kerrang! covers show common ground in that they have a headline story taking up a vast amount of room - as well as pictures of the band looking bad-ass and secondary plugs taking place in the bottom half of the page.

Genre Research

Before looking into the characteristics of metal magazinews in particular, I decided to discuss the conventions of each genre's magazine style.

In NME, an indie magazine, the cover will typically feature a band. The band are likely to have longish hair (not as long as metal) and will be dressed according to the fashion of the genre (trendy clothes).
In contrast to this, a copy of say, Smash Hits would usually feature a picture of the artist smiling and in mainstream attire. The colours in a pop magazine would usually be softer (e.g. pink, yellow etc.) whereas colours in a metal magazine are likely to be much darker.


In a metal/punk/alternative magazine, the style is usually constructed of darker colours. The models have lots of attitude - and, as can be seen above, may be themed according to the style of the band (Amon Amarth's lyrics are centred around Vikings and battles).
I will be making a metal magazine for my own project.