Original Magazine Advert Images

In order to produce a consistent theme throughout my products, I had to ensure the photos chosen for my artist were of the same nature. The clothing needs to be the same in both the magazine advert, digipak and video as this will produce a persistent theme to increase the star image of the artist. It needed to be a bold, confident image where the artist is preferably looking directly into the camera to create eye contact with the audience. Preferably I would like to choose a close up as this will allow my artist to connect closely with the audience.

Below are the options I had for my magazine advert:

How Language Can Address My Audience

Within my magazine advert and after looking at previous adverts of the same genre as mine and generally, I have realised there are several persuasive aspects of an advert.

1. In order for a market of teenagers to purchase the product, by adding an iTunes logo which allows the audience to purchase the product online, it is familiar to the market hence increasing the likelihood of buying the album
2. With encouraging language such as "BUY NOW" and "AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AND IN STORE" it not only opens the market to online users but also those who are not as familiar with the internet, to buy the album in store for the same price as online. 
3. Also with ratings and quotes from trustworthy companies, it improves the reliability of the comment being made to therefore encourage the audience that the product they are going to purchase is in fact '5 star'
4. Lastly, by stating "includes special features and bonus tracks", it shows the audience they are buying something and getting another feature of the album at a complimentary price.

Overall, it targets the market directly as if the advert is 'speaking to them' through forms of encouragement to persuade purchase of the product.

10 Conventions of a Magazine Advert

Above are 4 examples of magazine adverts. I will now analyse the conventions of a magazine advert by indicating the similar features throughout these 4 examples.

1. The magazine advert is in A4 and the majority of the surface area is taken up by an image of the artist. 
2. The images of the artist are bold and either contrast from the background or blend in with the same colour scheme and pattern.
3. ALL of the artists have a unique logo for their name further enhancing their artist identity. This could be something I use within both my magazine advert and my digipak cover. This logo/name is largely indicated which would most likely be seen from a distance. Additionally, the text stating the artists name needs to be the first thing the reader sees hence needing it to be bold and large.
4. The date of which the album will be released is stated in smaller lettering often towards the bottom of the advert.
5. An indication of one of their hit songs included within the album, persuading the reader to purchase it.
6. The colour scheme is continuous throughout with the font and colour remaining similar and clear consistently.
7. The record label is placed towards the bottom of the advert in rather small sizing.
8. Some adverts have a star rating from either a magazine or famous TV music channel such as MTV.
9. An image of the digipak/album is included on the front of the advert creating a pattern with both the colours and imagery also used in the albums aesthetic design.
10. A link to social network to find out more information on the album release or to link to the artists profile to promote their image

Feedback and Targets

In todays lesson, our teacher looked at the progress we had made in our ancillary texts. She noted down the improvements we could make in order to improve our products. She told me to experiment with a close up shot for my magazine advert as the camera I was using was of a high quality, also to use the same shifting and growing font I had used in my digipak to continue the theme. 

 

We were also given a sheet which listed the required blog posts in order to achieve the best grade possible. Below is a copy of my sheet, indicating the tasks I still needed to complete to help me become more organised. 

Final Digipak Net

Within todays lesson I managed to complete my digipak by putting all of the faces together. In order to make the net, I initially needed to convert my photoshop file to a jpeg, to do this I had to flatten the image by merging the layers into one. I did this to each side of the digipak in order to combine it into one to make the net. I imported these images onto an A3 page. 

In today's lesson I finished off my digipak and netted it together. I saved each individual psd as a jpeg to flatten all the layers into a high quality image. I then opened up a A3 sized photoshop page to put the four faces on. I imported the front and back cover jpegs onto the A3 sheet and placed them net to each other having the the font on the right and the back on the left. I then needed to import the two inner sides. Before I could place them onto the A3 side I needed to rotate them 180-degrees to make sure when the net is folded it looks like a proper digipak. Once I had rotated both of the inner sides I too placed them on the A3 side and slotted them above the front and back cover. Once all four sides were in the new sheet I was able to save again as a psd and a jpeg. Below are screenshots of the net all put together.

Analysing a Magazine Advert of my Genre

When researching and noted in previous blog posts, Florence and the Machine is illustrated as a baroque pop artist. To help me look into where I need to put the information on my magazine advert and what type of image I need to choose, I analysed an existing magazine advert from Florence and the Machine.

Digipak Progress

I went on to produce the rest of the back cover. I again accentuated the hue and saturation of this image to bring out the key colours in the original picture. I added a barcode to the bottom left corner of the album which would be scanned by a member of the target demographic, and take them to the video of Symbolic. The barcode as a form of advertisement adds to the use of technology in the 21st century, and how vital it is within my target markets lives. This hence intrigues the target demographic further into purchasing and showing interest in my products. I added a barcode as this is what is expected in a digipak after researching previous products. Looking at previous albums from the same record company as mine, I looked closely into the text written at the bottom of the album and replicated this to improve the professionalism of the digipak. Lastly, the price of the album is advertised distinctly beside the barcode as this is a main convention when producing a digipak.

Digipak Progress

Following the pattern throughout my digipak, I used the same fonts for both the title of the album and the artist name. This creates a consistent theme through all of my media products. The black slip in the image above represents where the lyric booklet is kept in snug. This has helped to achieve the main conventions within a digipak advert. Furthermore, the image I chose for the background needed to be a less serious, confident image contrasting from the previously chosen imagery in order to create a more light hearted aspect. This would hence accentuate the star image of my artist being not just confident, but also playful.

My Artist's Record Company

After much research into what record company my artist should be, I looked at other artist's record companies which were of the same genre - baroque pop.

The record company which appeared the most was called Kitsune. 
This company has recently signed a band called years and years who appear in the UK top 40 charts. Therefore, with this being the target for my artist, I realised this was a good company to go for to ensure my artist is successful. 

By using a record company which also signs baroque pop artists, hopefully members of my target market who are fans of this genre, will be open to listening to George Peachtree.

Digipak Progress

Today I added several more features to my digipak in order to increase the professionalism of the product.

I added a hue and saturation to all of the covers in order to boost the colour, especially in the interior of the artists coat. As the 3 images of the artist on the front cover were all in focus and clear, it did not match the theme of metamorphosis as successfully as it could. I made the central image of a lower opacity, and further reduced the opacity of the third image to make it almost invisible yet making sure it was still noticeable as this would draw away from this effect. 

To increase this effect, I added the filter 'wind' to both images in order to make out as if he was moving off the bench. This worked successfully adding this filter twice to the centre image, and 3 times to the last image. This made the image less hard to see which is what I wanted to achieve in order to make the audience focus on the initial starting image. I believe the way I wanted 'metamorphosis' to appear in not just the title but also the images have been extremely successful. Moreover this motif can now be included throughout all media products I will create. 
The font I chose for the artists name - George Peachtree, I wanted to make it look like the album had been personally signed by the artist. I had to ensure that the fonts used for this signature and the font used for the title of the digipak, complimented each other and did not distract the audience from paying attention to the main features. 

I began to edit the inner case for my digipal. Likewise with the front cover, I made the image have a stronger hue and saturation to accentuate the colours within the original image. To follow my theme, I used the same growing transformation of the title 'Metamorphosis' to follow the definition of this word as this is the motif thorough my products. The artists name also appears around the circular shape of the CD. This is again in the same style as the original font as this enhances the theme and star image of my artist. I followed an intense, detailed tutorial on how to produce the grass effect on my grass CD tray. By using a grass texture, it accentuated the importance of nature in my products as this again is a common theme in my work. Using an extreme close up for the background, the slight outer blur conveys how the main focus of this part of the digipak, is the inner tray for the CD. 

Digipak Progress

As in previous posts I had chosen my front and back covers, I proceeded to develop these by adding features to fit the conventions of a digipak using my previous research. 

As the title for my album is Metamorphosis, I looked closer into the definitions of this word to assist in developing the uniqueness of my title in the products as well as distinctly within the music video. As the word definition appeared - 

the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages

It showed me that I could use the morphing of lettering to address this choice of word further. By individually selecting each letter I tilted them to fit with an 'evolving' type typography pattern which developed into a 'grown up' (large sized) letter, in this case, 'S'. To further enhance this morphing motif, I used two colours - white and red/pink for the start and end letters, for the letters inbetween I showed the progress of getting from white to red. By using this feature, I have further intensified the importance of the word 'Metamorphosis' in terms of my products and artist. Hopefully, members of my target demographic will notice morphing into another character and developing as a person as part of the star identity of my artist.

Adding bevel and emboss to the letters in the title will encourage the audience to notice the title from afar.

The back cover I began to continue the theme of metamorphosis, by again writing each letter individually for the tracklist and changing its direction to show a 'tilting' effect. This worked successfully by choosing the same coloured font at the 'developed' end of my colour scheme. However, once completing this tracklist, I noticed how busy the background of my back cover was. This meant the text was hard to read on screen and consdering the conditions when printed, I believe it would be harder to read. 

To resolve this problem, I added a transparent beige box behind the text similar to the colour of the dark bricks in the scene in order to make the text more visible. By blurring the edges it allowed the box to blend into the background and reduce the risk of lacking professionalism when placing a blatant coloured box on the back of the cover. 

I proceeded to add an outer glow to the box in order to make it stand out against the background. This worked successfully in helping an audience focus solely on the tracklist without being distracted by the back scenery. By adding a bevel and emboss to the titles - TRACKLIST and BONUS TRACKS, it conveyed the break in the tracks, this separated these aspects hence making it less busy and clearer to read. 

Digipak Progress

In order to produce an original, unique digipak, I thought that producing my own logo for the artist to be used throughout media products would add to the star image. I initially drew out the lettering for the artists name, incorporating an image into the text to the 'T'. I attempted to use play on words as the name 'Peachtree' could be included in the logo to create more of relation between the logo and artist. As it would be used on different backgrounds I didn't decide on a specific colour for the text as this may restrict some editing when future products are needed. By adding effects such as bevel and emboss, stroke and a drop shadow, I was able to make the logo stand out against a busier background. 

Overall I decided against using the logo as when showing it to my target market it looked too childlike and I believe this may not look professional against the high quality imagery I will be using for my products. By doing this task I was able to see how I would like my text to appear on the products.

Below is the original font I produced for George Peachtree identity.

Progress of Digipak

Opposite is the image I have chosen for my BACK of the digipak. On this I will have the tracklist stating the songs included within the digipak itself and also a barcode. I will need to ensure the colour chosen for the text is clearly seen against the brick wall background. The use of a branch in the side of the shot corresponds with the autumnal setting within one specific music video - Symbolic. This creates a link and pattern further increasing the artists identity which is consistent in his choice of attire also. 

As this is the front of the digipak, I will have to add the title of the album which is METAMORPHOSIS and the artists name. the title is clearly illustrated throughout the 'changing' and 'development' of the artists movement. This suggests him morphing into another person or more realistically another emotion. This title fits in well with the theme of the songs entailed as symbolism is used throughout. 

Additionally, I may have to make the bench more central without having the third image go off the square outline. 

Taking Original Images

For my digipak and magazine advert, I will need high quality images which will allow my artist to look professional and the final products to be the best finish possible.

I had to ensure that my artist was dressed in attire which matched that in the video to create more of an 'image' for them. I therefore dressed the artist in a shirt, tie and jeans as this is what was shown in the music video. 

Using shots from the music video could've been an option for my album cover and magazine advert however this would've been low quality hence defeating the professionalism. Yet, this idea was overcome as by re-enacting the shots favourited in the music video received through my target market feedback and taking a photo of this scene.

Below are several photographs I have taken with a Nikon D3000.

In order to choose the correct shot, I thought of producing a front cover combining 3 images in total whereby the background stays the same so it looks like the artist is 'moving' around the page. This would be similar to the effect used in the opening of my music video hence creating somewhat of a motif. With my previous photoshop skills, I will hopefully be able to produce this with the highest standard possible. 

Any shots I chose to do would be that of a low angle, mid shot, long shot and on one occasion an extreme close up. While using a low angle shot it portrays the artist to be of a higher status with people somewhat 'looking up to him.' This may convey him as an artist that is a role model to many fans due to his song lyrics being so respectful towards women, which in the 21st century, is often unexpected. With the artist being in the centre of the image and looking directly at the camera, it produces a powerful aura again indicating his strength and bravery. This eye contact made between the artist and audience highlights the status and respect of the artist. All images were taken with a natural setting as this is what the audience would be familiar with due to the indication of this scene in the video. Using signs of nature shows him as an outgoing person, additionally with the high volume of light it indicates him as lighthearted and happy, rather than in dark lighting where the artist would be seen as mysterious and sinister.

Choice of Font

For my magazine advert and digipak, in order to create a successful theme, I would need the font text and colour scheme to be the same to ensure they look like a part of the same product. 

I browsed through several fonts on dafont.com, the fonts below were what I had to decide between:

I will need the font to show that the artist is part of the youth, and by doing this, I will choose a font which will reflect the artist hence appealing to the target market of teens. I will need the font to be clear to read and ensure the audience approve of the font chosen.

After asking members of my media class and in the sixth form common room, (as these students fit into my target market), they chose the font DJB Poppyseed. This font was in my top two choices as it addresses a youthful, playful aspect which I was aiming to address.

Planning For My Digipak

I was attempting to think of unique ways within which I could present the track. I don't think I want to have the artist identified on the back of the digipak as I have planned to have him appear multiple times on the front cover. If I have too many uses of him on the digipak it may look unprofessional.

One shot within my music video is where the artist 'jumps' around the screen. I could reuse this idea and use the same location and idea to reinforce this aspect.

I have listed the tracks which I will put on the back of my digipak on the photo opposite. These should be put against a background with a majority of one colour to enable writing to be easily read.

As throughout my video, the motif of flowers is used, I could have the artist holding a flower in his mouth - yet this may specify too closely to my music video and not to the other existing 'music videos' of the other tracks - it is unlikely that flowers would be used in every tracklisted song's music video.

However, for the back of my digipak I could have the flowers appear down the road referencing the Symbolic music video- this therefore creates a link. 

I possibly could have the artist appear 3 times on the front cover perhaps moving along a bench to show a development of personality/making of a decision. Again the artist name would feature across the top of the album cover.

Additionally, I could have the artist standing centre of the scene looking directly into the camera to convey power and territory. I would have to ensure that the location used was less busy to enable the artist to stand out from the background.

Another idea is having half of the artists face take up the album cover however this may be too large and empowering for an artist of a younger age with less dominance.