Cover Layout Drafts

Although I haven't planned my coverlines or my coverstar yet, I felt I should choose how I want to layout my cover, so I can maybe develop everything else to what I choose, or at least know how I can change my layout to fit any spontaneous decisions. I'll plan it as if I'm having a normal amount of coverlines and using the medium shot thatwas most popular on my questionnaire. I'd also considered the possibility of my star sitting down so I may incorporate this into my draft layouts. For my coverlines, I know I'll have a main one, so I'll label this, but I'm also planning to have some sort of list, as I'll mention when I plan my cover lines, so I'll label this too.The 3 layouts I've came up with are these;

Layout 1 - Although I have said I'll need to keep my magazine looking generally conventional due to the currently unconventional genre, when I've been playing around with layout, I think something obviously different could give me an advanatge and help with the contemporary feel. On this layout, the masthead is half way down the page, but still the biggest part of the cover. I think that if read in the preferred reading, it could show pop is capable of being different, leading onto the idea that it isn't just record company clones, which is one of the other concepts I really want to come across. The main coverlines is above the masthead, so hopefully wouldn't be misinterpreted as the name of the magazine, but obviously this would depend on the reader as to those from my target audience it would probably be obvious that an act's name is not the title. If I did choose the unusual masthead, I may keep my image a very plain medium shot with no props, as to keep this unqiue feature simple, however doing this would be veering away from conventions again as there's often some sort of celebrity prop or essence in a cover image. Also it may not look as clear, as I've noticed coverlines don't tend to come in a row, always in columns.

Layout 2 - This is my more conventional draft layout, with the masthead at the top, and in the left corner as it doesn't go over the whole page, then my main coverline at the top and my others in a column either side of the image. I think this could also work in the opposite way to my previous layout, as this could play to the recognised codes stengths, and can be decoded to show pop fits in with the other music magazines and is just as worthy and credible. It is just completely typical, as I have numerous covers with the same basic layout, but I personally think it's a bit safe. However should I be safe, or would my audience like something more different from all the rock magazines, or would they prefer to have the pop equivalent of a rock magazine? It does have the slight unconventional twist of the celebrity sitting down/leaning, but otherwise it's all just pretty plain. I think I'd like to try out different layouts when creating it, but probably come back to this one if I don't feel they work.

Layout 3 - This again has the unconventional masthead move, to suggest the same thing as Layout 1, but I think this one is slightly more subtle , as it only has the main headline above it, rather than two. The cover lines in columns would probably be another problem, but when trying to make my developed draft, I could maybe conquer this by using elements of my other drafts and just rearrange parts until it fits and looks right. My star would also be sitting here, but slightly more to the side, rather in the centre like Layout 2, so then maybe my list coverline could go behind them. However, this may not work depending on what I choose as the seat, and the size of it.

Now that I have these basic layouts, I may do more planning on my coverlines and image before I create my more definite developed draft, as I can't really choose completely here and if I have my coverlines and image stance decided on, I can make a more specific layout, tailored to my individual features.