3. Cover My colour scheme is fairly conventional for a rock/metal magazine. The green is a murky colour often used with the genre. The layout is mostly conventional it features a masthead at the top of the page which is generally the place where it goes. The splash is also located in the middle of the page and draws attention to the main article of the magazine which is the most important thing that will sell the magazine. The location of the pug in the corner is traditional since it would be a kicker if in the middle of the page. Usually pugs show a competition or an additional head line article mine is the latter, I believe it is in the right place to display an addition article. Taking from my inspiration from Metal Hammer I have placed the bands that are featured second to the band on the cover above the mast head. Most magazines do not do this making it unconventional. The reason most magazines do not do this is because they want their logo to be the centre of attention at the top of the page. I think it is a good idea however since it allows more space below the masthead so allowing me to leave the faces without writing on them. The location of the barcode as well is traditional since it doesn’t disrupt the picture. The date and issue number are also above it albeit on a slant which makes it different. Usually barcodes are placed just below the masthead however I have a face there so I had to break conventions so that the face didn’t have anything covering it up. The faces are the most important aspect on the cover since Lucidity are a new band it is important for readers to get a good view at their faces. The photo itself is rather unconventional since it is a close up on three people. Usually a close up is used on one person and for groups a long shot is used to show unity. I don’t believe that the long shot shows unity. I think that my closer shot shows Lucidity as a close together band the close up is also used to show the readers a clear picture of their faces since this is their break out album so people should learn to know them. Metal Hammer did this in an issue with a previously unknown band by showing on the cover the band members.