Magazine Cover Critique

[jlcharles]

So I have a job coming up next week doing team and individual portraits for my old high school's ice hockey team. As one of my options, I am offering a magazine cover for sale. These will be posed individual shots that I am using, the picture on there was just for reference to see how everything looked with a person included. So, let me know what you guys/gals think.

http://www.firstroundpics.com/iphoto/magazine-cover-final.jpg

[Kardashian]

I'm creating my own magazine for my art project, so we're pretty much in the same boat.

I dont like the italic-font used, or the shadow under the ''2006/07 Preview''.

The top of the picture behind the title looks a little too blurred, but maybe if it wasn't, the text wouldn't be visible enough.

Try changing font colours for the cover, and fonts. Something cleaner, and less drawing on the eyes.

PS: How did you make this, using what program? If it was InDesign, how did you get the model for your photo to appear over the top of the title, whilst keeping the background on the bottom behind everything else?

[jlcharles]

I should note that the font colors will change with the team colors.

I did all of this in photoshop. i think i have about 30 layers or so.

I put the picture as my bottom layer, used the magnetic lasso to select the kid's head and shoulders, estimating how low I had to go, copied and pasted that above the title. Then I used the blur tool on the edges of his head where it overlapped the title to smooth out the transition.

As for the picture, the blurry background is there because it was shot at f/2.8

[glennp]

I put the picture as my bottom layer, used the magnetic lasso to select the kid's head and shoulders, estimating how low I had to go, copied and pasted that above the title. Then I used the blur tool on the edges of his head where it overlapped the title to smooth out the transition.

If you feather your selection when using the lasso, it'll help smooth the selection reducing the need to blur. However, the technique I prefer to achieve the same effect uses layer masks:

http://www.deadshark.com/pics/bitmaps-over-vectors.jpg

As for comments, I'm with JDT regarding the drop shadows on the 2006-7 Preview. And I'd go with a different font for the player's name, that one just doesn't work for me. Those two minor quibbles aside, looks good.

[MacBoobsPro]

A few points from a personal point of view:

I would drop the strokes from around the copy. Possibly keep it on the masthead (logo).

Drop shadows just add more clutter to the layout. Try and make the image background lighter so you get a better contrast with the text so you dont need a drop shadow. I can see why you have done it though.

Possibly use a different typeface for the text and possibly the masthead. It just seems like there is 'too much going on'. A more simpler typeface will look good without detracting from the image which is the main focal point.

Heres two of mine:

http://www.stuartluff.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/stuartluff/deuce_files/Page%202.png

http://www.stuartluff.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/stuartluff/deuce_files/Page%201.png

[jlcharles]

I'll have to give your technique a whirl tonight. I'll kill the drop shadows on the date too.

If you have any suggestions for the name font, I'm willing to listen.

[Kardashian]

Heres two of mine:

http://www.stuartluff.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/stuartluff/deuce_files/Page%202.png

http://www.stuartluff.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/stuartluff/deuce_files/Page%201.png

Well done, they're brilliant.

Feel free to help me with mine, :D

[jlcharles]

A few points from a personal point of view:

I would drop the strokes from around the copy. Possibly keep it on the masthead (logo).


What do you mean by the copy?


Possibly use a different typeface for the text and possibly the masthead. It just seems like there is 'too much going on'. A more simpler typeface will look good without detracting from the image which is the main focal point.



I think I'm pretty set on the font for the logo, but I'm open to suggestions for the rest of the stuff on the page.

[MacBoobsPro]

What do you mean by the copy?


By copy i mean the various headings etc (not the main logo) which is called a Masthead in the mag world.

'Copy' is short for 'bodycopy' which actually refers to the 'main body' of text. I.e. if you had a feature about New York the 'bodycopy' would be the text that makes up the majority of the article. But not the headings and subheadings. :)

In my previous post I used 'copy' to refer to the headings and subheadings. Which is wrong. I was just lazy :D

[jlcharles]

Any more critiques? Tomorrow I have the first two shoots.

Still looking for a font on the player's name.

[jlcharles]

If you feather your selection when using the lasso, it'll help smooth the selection reducing the need to blur. However, the technique I prefer to achieve the same effect uses layer masks:



How much of a feather would you suggest?

[glennp]

How much of a feather would you suggest?

It's gonna depend on how tight your selection is and the resolution of the image. But somewhere between 2 and 6 pixels would be a good place to start. Another thing to try while doing this is to shrink your selection to avoid a halo effect.

[Sinsinnati]

Can we see what your modified cover looks like after the recommendations?