Thursday 20 January 2011

Photographs for my front cover

The following images were used on my old front cover, they are not suitable enough due to the lack of codes and convents desired for a front cover image. The following images were uploaded to Gifup.com to enable my pictures to be presented in a professional manor.

gif animation maker
Gif animation maker

Saturday 15 January 2011

Screen Shots of my front cover

After using the software Photoshop previously to produce my school magazine, i found it much easier to use as i was familiar with the tools. This was useful as i was able to produce mass peices of work at a fast pace therefore i was able to stick to my deadline.
Below are some screen shots on how i produced my finished front cover. Each image will show different stages in the manufacturing of the front cover with a brief description below.


The above image shows the first stages of my title for my front cover. To achieve the text that is on the image i simply clicked on the "T" symbol on the left tool bar, i then clicked on the white blank canvas were i then typed my title "Indie-pendent" I then resized and change the font style to 'IMPACT' i changed the font size in order to make it run across the top of the page as i was clearly following the codes and conventions of a masthead. I then decided that i didn't want a basic masthead so then i took on a very difficult process were by i had to duplicate the layer so i was able to create a shadow behind each of the layers, this proved difficult however this is the finished masthead below.

After creating my title i then started to work on my central image. I originally started with a photograph taken from a digital camera which i loaded to the computer via a USB cable. I then uploaded the file to photoshop simply by clicking on "Import image" from then i started deleting the background using the "Select" tool and "Rubber" tool featured on the tool bar to the left hand side. This proved difficult to crop around the image as there were tiny areas i couldn't see properly, therefore i was able to zoom in using "Ctrl+" this was so i could zoom in to the percise area i wanted to essure i rubbed out the remains of the background.
After cutting out the background, i realised that the different levels of the four band members didn't work for the front cover, so i came to a decision were by i had to duplicate the layer by four were on each of the layers i was to leave one of the band members but get rid of the other three. E.g. on the layer above i cut out three of the band members leaving just one on the layer. To cut them out i used the "Polygon select" tool (featured bottom left) once i had cut around the image it would select were i have cut by producing a dashed line. (Bottom right) From then, i was able to press "CtrlT" to select the image to resize.
After cutting the central image and resizing the individual images i was able to apply the rest of the content. For me to create my headlines i simply clicked on the text tool on the left hand side "T" and clicked on the white A4 paper. After typing my text i then changed the font to "Stencil std" and changed it to a desired size. To create the shadow look behind my text i double clicked on the text layer to the bottom right which then appeared a box which i simply clicked on "Drop shadow". For my main cover lines i applied coloured boxes behind the text using the shape tool, i also applied the drop shadow to make them stand out. Also on the main cover lines i double clicked on the text layers and applied a white stroke.