MAGAZINE COVER
We are used to seeing those magazines decorating the newsstands just calling us to buy. These books always seem to have perfect covers with perfect images of someone very popular and the right information to persuade someone to buy. After all, how can you not support such a work of art? What exactly are these pretty books and what purpose do they serve?
A magazine is a type of publication that is made available at intervals, whether weekly, monthly or quarterly. They are paid for mostly by advertising and also by subscriptions. Magazines are not only accessible on newsstands but they are also distributed through the mail, in bookstores and pother channels of distribution.
The magazine cover is one of the most important parts of a magazine. As a matter of fact, it is just as important as all the other contents of the magazine. Considering their importance, a lot of thought, time and effort must be invested in the creation of a magazine cover. They are the attention grabbers and they have to be immaculately produced and designed so that they will compete effectively amongst the other numerous magazines that are created with the same mission in mind and that is to sell. The cover image also plays an important role in luring buyers to purchase a particular magazine. You will find that top magazines go all out to put the most popular and interesting celebrities on the front of their magazines. They go for people who are making the headlines, whether positive or negative, and someone who they know readers want to read about.
One aspect to consider is the target market. This can be used as a guideline in creating the cover of a magazine. A magazine for teens would choose celebrities who are young, talented, always in the spotlight and who are idolized by teens. A perfect celebrity for a teen magazine would be Rihanna. A magazine for people who love movies would feature the most wanted actors and actresses in the business. A magazine about cars would definitely put one of the latest car models on the front to catch the targeted readers’ attention.
The kind of text used on the cover of a magazine must be creative but legible. The colours must blend with the images and the text to create a unified look. The date, volume number, price and any other important details about the magazine must be included. The lead story must be big, bold and must be a story that calls a reader to read, thus the text should be bigger than the rest of the stories. If there are other photos in addition to the main photo, they must be placed so that they will be clearly noticed. However, they must not overshadow the main photo.
When you look at another magazine cover, it is not just a mere glossy work of art. It is the result of hard work and dedication with the aim to attract the target audience and establish an identity.