Codes and Conventions of

MagazinesBy Daniel Lee

Main Image The main image presented on

the cover of the magazine is generally the main artist or band featured in the magazine.

The main image always has a direct address to the reader/customer so they’ll be intrigued and more likely to buy it.

The title usually never goes over the main images face if the magazine is well known, if it isn’t well known then they leave it on the main images face

The Masthead for each magazine is the title of the magazine its self.

It generally rests at the top of the page in two ways;◦ Spread across the top of the page◦ Right aligned at the top of the page

The text for the Masthead is usually it’s own separate font from the other font found on the front.

The masthead may also change its colour scheme of the text to match the contents of the magazine (e.g. Blender magazine, as shown to the left)

Depending on how famous the magazine the masthead may actually rest on the main images face, if it’s famous it will go behind the image, if not it will go in front (Q magazine, bottom right picture)

The Masthead

Every magazine cover has a colour scheme consisting of at least 3 or 4 colours

The magazine of Clash (to the right) has a scheme of 4 colours, they are;◦ White◦ Yellow◦ Black◦ Red

The second largest font on the magazine is related to the person on the main image, this is the main cover line

The cover lines are aligned to the side of the magazine, and give information about what articles will also appear in the magazine.

Fonts, Cover lines and Colour Scheme

A positioning statement is a line of text essentially asserting the magazine as something (e.g. World best rock magazine)

A Puff is an eye catching image to draw the reader to what it says, there are different variations of Puffs, they can also look like a splat of paint for effect.

A Pug, or a fake page curl, is a little right angled triangle in the top right hand corner of a magazine cover

A strap line is the banner usually at the top of the magazine cover, usually with an interesting statement to draw a reader in

Positioning statements, Puffs, Pugs, and other things....