Magazine Front Cover Summary

A very common and necessary idea that features on a magazine front cover is the masthead of the magazine, this feature is often positioned at the top of the cover, however some magazines may vary. The masthead is usually in a large font as it identifies to the audience which magazine they are looking at. Magazine covers also involve the use of imagery whether it is a photograph or an illustration, known as the main image. The main image should be appealing and attractive to the audience, the image should hint at the context of the magazine. It is also necessary for the magazine cover to be dated and numbered as it provides essential information, for example “Issue 23. March 2012”. This allows the reader to know which issue the magazine is and lets them know whether it’s “up to date “or the latest issue. If the magazine is to be sold in retail then a barcode should be visible on the cover, allowing it to be purchased; free magazines do not require a barcode. Magazines usually have a main cell line as well, more popularly known as a “Headline”. The main cell line is designed to draw attention to the magazine and be as interesting as possible so people read the magazine. The main cell line is also often in a large front and sometimes is even put in capital lettering to draw more attention to it. As well as the main cell line, there are additional cell lines. Additional cell lines are always smaller than the main cell line as they are not as important or attention grabbing, there are several usually positioned all around the magazine cover. Magazines should also have a limit of 3 main colours on the magazine and the colours should be attractive and the colours should contrast effectively with each other.