Research for a front cover

http://johnnie.blows.co.uk/portfolio/files/gimgs/3_shattered-christmas.jpg




Browsing the internet I found this cover for a magazine called SHATTERED. I thought I could deconstruct the image and find out a few things that are neccessary for a magazine front cover.



The masthead
The masthead is most often found at the top of the cover and this displays the name of the magazine and is very important. The masthead is the visual branding of the title. The masthead usually has a certain font, so it is easily recognisable for the readers of the magazine itself.



The barcode and selling
This part of the magazine shows the year, month and day that the magazine is published.
The barcode is a standard barcode used by retailers to tell them how much the magazine costs, usually the price of the magazine is either by the side of or underneath the barcode, this is so the consumer knows how much the magazine is.



The Issue number
putting the Issue number on the magazine helps people to go back to any issue if they have to.
The issue number is there so that the consumer knows what issue it is. Also it is there so that the consumer knows if they have missed one of the magazines or not, it could also be used by the creator of the magazine to post feed-back on a certain issue of the magazine.



Main Image
In the case of this magazine cover, the main image is of the band Irony is Dead. Two of the three band members have tinsel wrapped around their neck to show that it is a christmas issue and they are showing christmas spirit. All three band members are making eye contact to draw you into the magazine, also they are all stood casually to show that this magazine isn't about serious news.