Evaluating Print Products - George

Magazine front page 

What did I do well? - Personally, I believe that I incorporated the main image and the background well as overall both images have an impressively dark and sinister manner about them.  I also found that I successfully placed in teaser text and other images well so they stand out yet are not too disruptive on the front cover. I achieved this by using varied text colours and sizes as to make certain words stand out and I also placed each of the smaller images over a black shape to make them clear and easy to see.

Which codes and conventions of movie magazine covers did I use successfully? - As we know with most magazine front covers, the masthead is overlapped by the main magazine image. This was used within my print product to good effect. The title of the magazine itself also often has its own standout colour. In this case, I used a bright red to ensure it stood out amongst other parts of the magazine. Many magazines also have stand out teaser text and small images on the front cover, this was also used within my print product successfully.

What did not work well with my print product? -  with many magazines, the title of the film is placed on the magazine cover. Yet the placement of the film title on my print product was not ideal as it seemed out of place and as if it did not belong there. Also the main image was somewhat inadequate. Although it was a successful picture just seen by itself, the man’s hand at the bottom of the front page draws too much attention away from other, more important parts of the magazine. I also found that the main image may have needed blending around the edges as it does seem slightly bold against the background image yet overall it worked well.

What will I bear in mind when I start my examined print products? - when it comes to creating my examined print products I shall remember one important thing. To imagine what my main image will look like on the font cover before taking it. This way, I can ensure that my image with work well with other parts of the magazine front cover. I will also ensure that I place the title of the film in an ideal location so it works well with the rest of the magazine front cover.

Film poster 

What did I do well? - I believe that the varied amount of characters on the poster were well blended and incorporated with the background image. The general theme of the poster was well kept too as the darkness of it all is dominant throughout.

What codes and conventions of film posters did I use successfully? - when looking at film posters, it is evident that many of them have either a dominant or discreet title, in my case, I successfully placed a discreet title on the poster to ensure that not too much attention is taken away from the main image of the man running.  Many film posters also have the inclusion of a one-line review. I again successfully used with within my poster as to make it more true to the real thing.

What did not work well with my print product? – The colouring of my film poster was not successful as it was too dark in general and certain parts of the poster were hard to see e.g. part of the man running. Also there were too many characters placed within the poster. This was honestly down to the fact that I was learning to improve my skills with Photoshop so in turn too many characters were placed within the poster. The title ‘Dead Oak’ could have also been better as due to the fact the font was sourced online, it was hard to blend in with the background.

What will I bear in mind when I start my examined print products? – When it comes to making my examined film poster, I will ensure that a more visible theme is selected at the make the poster easier to view. I will also take into account the amount of content on the poster e.g. characters, to make sure that there is not too much for the reader to take in at a quick glance. Basically, I will remember that posters need to work well at a distance and with a quick glance.