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=Overall Unit Objective: Photography 11/12 students will learn the basic tools of //Photoshop Elements// through manipulation of PSE tools within the context of creating a fictitious magazine cover.=


 * Assignment:**
 * 1. Research the history and design of magazine covers.**
 * 2. Design and create a magazine cover for a fictitious magazine featuring a digital photo of you!**

Elements of Magazine Covers


 * Banner (sometimes called "nameplate")
 * Tagline
 * Image(s)
 * Cover lines
 * UPC code
 * Price
 * Date/Volume number
 * website

**Step 1. Research and Questions**
Google search //Life Magazine// covers select "Images"

Choose a //Life Magazine// cover and save the image to your computer.

Google search //Vogue Magazine// covers select "Images".

Choose a //Vogue Magazine// cover and save the image to your computer.

Upload both images to a new page on your wiki titled "Magazine Cover".

Based on the covers you have chosen, answer the following questions on your "Magazine Cover Assignment" wiki page.

1. What design principles are evident in each cover? Explain /5 2. What do both of the covers have in common? /5 3. What is the main story in each issue and how does it relate to the image on the cover? /5

The Evolution of the Magazine Cover
Google search "history of magazine covers"

4. What were some characteristics of early magazine covers? /3 5. What are some characteristics of the poster cover? /3

Google search “Magazine Cover Lines”

6. What is the purpose of cover lines? /2 7. What is an "integrated" cover? /2 8. How can the placement of cover lines effect the overall design of a cover? /2

Navigate to the following web site:
[|__http://aejmcmagazine.bsu.edu/Testfolder/wherelines.html__] Provide a written description on your wiki of the following style of cover lines: /12
 * Outside the box
 * Inside the box
 * Columns
 * Zones
 * Banners and Corners
 * Unplanned and Planned Spaces

** Step 2. Designing a Cover **
You need to design a magazine cover using //Adobe PhotoShop Elements//.


 * You must have:**
 * 1) A background
 * 2) A cover photo (may have smaller photos to show other features included in the magazine)
 * 3) A Title
 * 4) Several story line titles
 * 5) Issue date
 * 6) Issue price
 * 7) Fictitious website
 * 8) UPC Symbol
 * 9) An over all sense of **unity**.

Unity can be achieved by carrying out a common theme in the type styles, photos, story titles and descriptions. Do all the parts work together?

Think about readability, can you read the type against the background? Is the type style readable? Are the sentences too long? Are the titles descriptive enough to make you know what the article is about? Does the type size signify the importance?

Does the photo or photos support the theme? Does the photo catch your eye? Is it too busy or too simple?

How is your effort and craftsmanship? You will need to be selecting, cutting, pasting and cropping. Does your cover look professionally neat?

Layout - how did you arrange all the elements? Is the type all lined up flush left, right, centered? Is the type over the picture or a background? Did you add a banner with the issue date, web site, and cost? Does the layout make it easy to read or confusing?

Using a blank sheet of plain white paper do a rough design of your magazine cover. __**Get teacher approval.**__

 * Procedure:**
 * Decide on magazine genre such as fashion, science, sports, design, military, etc.
 * Choose title and design graphic
 * Design and sketch cover graphic featuring a digital photo of you and your partner.
 * Write a series of cover lines for stories that might appear in the magazine and place them on your sketch. Make sure the cover lines are short and snappy. They should grab the attention of the potential purchaser.

__**Get teacher approval!**__


 * Please ensure that all aspects of this assignment are appropriate. Your magazines should not contain sexual content or drug references or any other material that might be deemed offensive.**

**Step 3. Building Your Cover**
Create your digital Magazine Cover using //Photoshop Elements//.

- Using the requirements of your cover design, find a partner and take a digital portrait of each other, preferably against a plain, single coloured background. (This will make editing your photos easier)
 * Instructions:**

- Import your photo to your computer using //iPhoto//.

- Create a new folder in the pictures folder and title it: Magazine Cover

__Open Photoshop Elements__

- Select File>New>Blank File

- Change pixels to inches and type in a width of 8 inches and a height of 10 inches

- Select a background colour based on your design or select __Transparent Background__.(you can create a colour for your background later)

- Title your file with your name followed by "magazine cover" and save the file in the new Magazine Cover folder.

__Open your digital portrait__

- File>Open>Pictures>iPhoto Library>Originals> most recent roll, locate your portrait and select open.

__Create a new copy of your portrait with a transparent background.__

- Select: Edit>Select All>Edit>Copy>File>New...change to Transparent Background, title with your name. Select OK. Select Edit>Paste.

__Eliminate the Background.__

- Using Photoshop tools such as the //lasso//, the //magic wand//, r//ectangular and elliptical marquee tools// and the //eraser//, delete the background of your portraits and save.

Hint : use the //magnify// tool to zoom in for fine deletions: Command(apple) + to zoom in Command - to zoom out.

Hint : You can change the size, shape, and opacity of the //eraser/paint brush// using the settings in the upper edge of the interface.

__Drag Portrait layer onto your background layer.__

- Using the //Move// tool (top one in the tool bar) click on the portrait and drag the image on top of the background. You can then readjust the size and position of the portrait and hit enter.

- In the lower right corner of the interface you will now notice two layers. The background layer and your portrait layer, which is highlighted in blue. **The blue highlighting means that layer is active and can be manipulated.** Any changes to this layer will not effect any other layer.

- With the layer highlighted you can readjust the image in any way you desire to alter the colour or light or add any filters from the filters menu.

- When using multiple layers you can rearrange the order in which they appear by stacking them top down in the layers window. If you want to view your image without a given layer click on the "eye" icon and the layer will disappear. Click it again to make it reappear.

REMEMBER TO SAVE YOUR WORK AFTER EVERY MAJOR CHANGE TO THE FILE. (COMMAND - S)

__Adding Text__

- Select the text tool from the tools bar. (T)

- Click on the background layer and a blinking cursor will appear as well as creating a new layer in the layers window.

- Choose the Style, Font, Size, and Colour, based on your design, from the top tool bar and type in the text for the title of your magazine.

- Select the //move// tool and readjust the position, size and shape of your **title**.

- Repeat the process for each of your **Cover Lines**.

- Add the month and year.

- Add a price.

- Follow the links below to a tutorial for creating a Barcode in Photoshop.


 * Create A Barcode** http://www.depiction.net/tutorials/photoshop/barcode.php


 * Optional Elements**

- Change the background colour using the //paint bucket//.

- To change the active colour double click on the square colour icons at the bottom of the tools bar, select the desired coloour and press return.

- Experiment with the **opacity** (level of transparency) of your layers.

- Experiment with **options and effects** for layers

Hint - Use effects on title layers to add dimension to your text. You will see it POP off the screen!

- Add further images from the internet or digital photos as required by your original design.

- Add borders and boxes to highlight cover lines

**Step 4. Finishing Up**
When you are satisfied with your cover:

- Select File>Save As...**change from Photoshop format to JPEG**, Title and save in your Magazine Cover Folder.

- Upload your magazine cover to the "Magazine Cover" page on your wiki

** Evaluation: **

 * Research** /39 Complete and comprehensive responses to the questions.


 * Rough Design** /15 Clearly thought out design and cover lines


 * Please refer to the following rubric for the criteria for the final digital copy of your magazine cover.**


 * Research: 20%**
 * Rough Copy: 10%**
 * Digital Image: 70%**