Magazine Assignment

25 points • Due: Wednesday 9/28 end of class

This assignment is made up of two basic components:

• Cover photo, and

• Magazine text, including the masthead (magazine name) and descriptions of stories inside (cover lines -- see bottom of assignment for cover line ideas)

First step: Edit your photo in Photoshop/Camera Raw. What to fix:

• Color balance (make it look natural!)

• Exposure/brightness

• Contrast

• Saturation/vibrance

• Sharpness (Remember "Unsharpen Mask" in Photoshop, Clarity & Sharpening in Camera Raw)

• Save full size resolution before bringing into InDesign

Tools you'll use in InDesign will include (but not limited to):

• Image placement (make sure it "bleeds" over the edges a little -- and when you resize, be SURE to keep the proper aspect ratio -- check with Andy if needed)

• Text frames

• Drop shadow

• Kerning and leading adjustments

• Creating swatches 

As you create your magazine cover, keep in mind three key ideas:

• Creating a bold, tight, strong, eye-catching masthead with appropriate font

• Creating a collection of interesting, well-spaced cutlines

• Creating an overall design that will help sell the magazine

Document Setup:

Number of Pages: 1

Page Size: Letter

Columns: 1

Bleed: 1p6 (Top, Bottom, Left, Right)

When you create your Drop Shadow (with a new Object Style), try these settings (you can play around of course but try starting here):

Distance: 0p2

Angle: 135 degrees

Size: 0p2 

Use this drop shadow to add contrast and legibility to your type.

To adjust Kerning (distance between letters): put the cursor between two letters and hold Option and either the left arrow or right arrow. (You can also choose the "Character" sidebar menu to see the numerical values).

Fonts: For the most part, you'll probably want a sans serif font, with a mix of thick and thin weights. A good serif / slab serif font might be appropriate for contrast, though. You can also mix in italics, sometimes just a single word if you want.

Graded:

CRAP (good placement of cover lines, good repetition and contrast): 10 points

Typography (appropriate font families, good leading/kerning): 10 points

Color (use colors that compliment your photo and stand out): 5 points

Export as LastnameMagazine.jpg and copy to 59Langager folder.


COVER LINE IDEAS - trying to sell the content inside the magazine
"Tips" or secrets relating to your subject
Interview with (someone)
Photos of (something)
Reviews of (something)
Investigative story
"Survival guide"
Top 10 (or 25 or 100) (something)
10 Ways to (something)
10 Reasons we love (something)