I had to make a magazine cover for class

[cptx]

What do y'all think?

[Brooklyn Bully]

Is this your first time using Photoshop? Looks like you're headed in the right direction. I'd suggest toning down the stroke or glow on the text. It's way too big. Smoke & Grill needs to POP. It's sort of blurry. And figure out what to do with that date. It's crammed on the right ... and looks like it's crammed. I like the main photo but not the smaller photo. Find something more appealing looking and I wouldn't add a stroke to that box. Not feeling the font you picked for the text. These are all just my opinion, but what you'd hear from a creative director in an agency or shop so maybe think it over.

[cptx]

Yeah, i took intro to digital media as a filler class. I haven't messed with photoshop too much at all. The hard part for this one was i had to pic the images from sites she provided that were public domain and there just wasn't a whole lot to choose from. I sort of ended up having to pick the pictures and go from there. I knew that i wanted to use a clipping mask w flames for the title and this gave me a way to work that in. Thanks for the critique, they are all valid points.

[cptx]

She gave me a 94 after docking me 5 points for not turning in a sheet with all the layer styles written down. Would've been a 99, gotta love easy classes.

[Peppers90 NC]

pretty much the same criticism's brooklyn said, i agree on. 

 

first, you wouldnt want an image masked in the Smoke n Grill.

 

i know why you felt you needed the shadow glows on the text to stand out on the picture, but they are way too heavy.

 

the small picture is very bland, like the chicken itself.

 

putting text on top of images like that where you have a stark contrast in colors is difficult, but you took the quick way out. i do like the main image though.

 

kern the "20" 

[cptx]

pretty much the same criticism's brooklyn said, i agree on. 

 

first, you wouldnt want an image masked in the Smoke n Grill.

 

i know why you felt you needed the shadow glows on the text to stand out on the picture, but they are way too heavy.

 

the small picture is very bland, like the chicken itself.

 

putting text on top of images like that where you have a stark contrast in colors is difficult, but you took the quick way out. i do like the main image though.

 

kern the "20" 

 

It's already done and graded, but for future reference what would y'all suggest doing in the text to make it show better without going the easy route with the overdone drop shadows?

 

That small pic bugged me too. I didn't even think about it until after the fact but I could have used a pic that I have taken myself. I have tons of pics I have taken of food I make on my own pit and I think i could have def found something better. Her big thing was not to use anything with even a vague copyright. Using my own would have avoided that and looked better as well.

 

By kern the "20" do you mean change the spacing to make the numbers closer together? I really want to see some of the stuff the other people in the class turned in. If she gave this a 99 it makes me wonder, heh. It's an online class to so I doubt I will ever know unless they get posted somewhere.

[PandaPancake]

Who buys magazines?

[Rise of The Hive]

Good work!

[chknwing]

u rip the barcode from a cd?

 

http://www.discogs.com/Ishq-Sama/release/2439311

[Guest Irv]

not bad you'll get better

[cptx]

u rip the barcode from a cd?

 

http://www.discogs.com/Ishq-Sama/release/2439311

 

that poo is funny as hell

[Peppers90 NC]

yea kerning is adjusting the space between characters.

 

there would be some problems printing that cover if that were the objective. 

[bLACKpANTHER]

I am an art director of a few magazines and now digital issues so I will just offer you my 2 cents quickly and will leave all tact and kindliness out, sorry:

 

- dont inset pics on covers - and if you must (which should be never) choose one that will make me HAVE TO read that story, the chicken in the inset looks dry and worse than the kabobs. it ads nothing to the cover except take up space.

- ALL CAPS is harder to read than Upper/lowercase

- vertical type is just a plain "No"

- "what types of wood are best for you?" needs to be broken at better spots (2nd line "of wood are best" is too long compared to the 1st and 3rd lines)

- are these headlines ones that you made up or supplied with? because they need to be 'punchy' and direct

- the upper left corner (about 1/6 - 1/8 of the cover) is what should be the prime realestate for coverlines or an amazing image. that is typically the only portion a magazine that is viewable to a potential customer on a newsstand. "20 Grill Reviews and Ratings" should be placed in that upper left corner.

- it is good to have some sort of # on the cover, but usually not 2 (20 & 5)

- Visual hierarchy: what title do you want the eye to go to first? all the headlines are the same size and same font.

- the date of October 2014 needs to go by the barcode

- don't darken behind text unless you have to- minimal as possible.

- unlike some people's comments- I have no problem with the fire logo, it's nice. A little much but nice.

Check out some other BBQ magazine covers: https://www.google.com/search?q=barbecue+magazine&biw=1378&bih=1212&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=V8xXVLDfBKPLsASggYGgAw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAg#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=mx0Wq8Lmw--NvM%253A%3BJ1lXEjIc3MGflM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.magsn.com%252Fimages%252FFiery_Foods_BBQ_Magazine_Cover.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.magsn.com%252Ffiery-foods-bbq-p-860.html%3B240%3B298

 

I know, im a jerk to dissect your stuff, but im seriously just trying to give it like i would give another art director in my office.

Hope this helps moving forward

[cptx]

 

I know, im a jerk to dissect your stuff, but im seriously just trying to give it like i would give another art director in my office.

Hope this helps moving forward

 

not a jerk at all. that's why I posted it here. My teacher isn't the best with feedback with it being an online class. she just slapped a grade on it and kept on