TOC Feedback and Final Revisions

    This article will be about the table of contents (TOC) that I will be creating/using for my magazine. Included in this blog will be peer feedback that I have received on my TOC page, as well as the editing process/final revisions on the TOC I have chosen to use. I will also include analyzation of the changes I made, and explain the editing used based off of the feedback that I had received.

Non-Revised TOC

Peer Feedback

    This section will include the different feedbacks I had received, and I will also include not only the things that were recommended to change but also those that people liked about the TOC. If a point has been restated by multiple people, I will only include it once. Here are the points of feedback that I had received by six different peers:

Liked: 

• The image
• Organized layout
• Color scheme of the background
• Article titles

Needs to Be Revised:

• The page numbers should be bigger or in a different order to take up more space
• The page numbers should be in a different color
• Color scheme of the background
• Change the font
• Place articles in different areas (unaligned) so as to not look so uniformed.

Revised/Final TOC

   

     In my revised TOC, I used most of these points to create a better version. On the positive side, I kept the image, layout, and article titles; I did, however, change the background color scheme. As can be seen the background's color scheme is stated in both the "Liked" and the "Needs to Be Revised" section; this is because half of the feedback said to keep the color scheme and the other half said to change it. Ultimately, I decided to change the background to a light orange/cream color, which helps the text and image to pop/contrast much better than the bland-blending background color scheme before. I also changed the color of the "Contents" title, page numbers, and separating bars in order to contrast/blend them with the color of the background.  I made the page numbers bigger as well in order to take up more space, however I did not move them around in a non-uniform way because I felt it looked unorganized and didn't fit the layout's design. Lastly, I changed the font of the article titles and the page numbers; this took up more space by making them bigger, and by removing "pg." the font looks much more organized and spatial.

Conclusion

    In conclusion, the revised version is my final decision of which TOC will be used in my magazine. This TOC contains all the key components of a food magazine contents page, including page numbers, "contents" title, a main image, and article titles. In the future, I will be using one of the articles included in this TOC to write an article for the two-page spread that will be featured in my magazine.

 TOC Mock-ups, Process, and Final Choice

    This article will be about the table of contents (TOC) that I will be creating for my magazine. Included in this blog will be mock-ups that I have created for my TOC page, as well as the editing process/final choice on which layout to use. I will also include analyzation of how they are good or bad, explain the process, and make a final decision on which TOC I will be using in my magazine. 

Mock-ups

     Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

     This TOC was the first mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Table of Contents" title, seven subheadings with articles/page numbers, and three sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, articles, and page numbers without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is that, although they are the same photo, each one is edited differently; this creates a very satisfactory and appealing/cool look. The "Table of Contents" line is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and page numbers. All seven of the subheadings, including page numbers and articles, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only colors that may be used during editing will be in the subheadings, "Table of Contents" line, or the background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

    Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

    This TOC was the second, and final, mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheadings, with articles/page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo, creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitle, "Contents" line, or background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

Editing Process

    In this section, I will be showing the edits and why I have edited them, as well as the original mock-up to show the comparison between the two.

    Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

    On the left is the TOC which was the first mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Table of Contents" title, seven subheadings with articles/page numbers, and three sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, articles, and page numbers without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is that, although they are the same photo, each one is edited differently; this creates a very satisfactory and appealing/cool look. The "Table of Contents" line is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and page numbers. All seven of the subheadings, including page numbers and articles, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only colors that may be used during editing will be in the subheadings, "Table of Contents" line, or the background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

    On the right is the TOC which is edited based off of the first mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Table of Contents" title, seven subheadings with articles/page numbers, and three sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, articles, and page numbers without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is that, although they are the same photo, each one is edited differently; this creates a very satisfactory and appealing/cool look. The "Table of Contents" line is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and page numbers. All seven of the subheadings, including page numbers and articles, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only color that I have edited is the background (white space); I changed it to a light brown rather than white, because it is easier to see as well as contrasting with the rest of the page, and TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; this was not changed because when I tried to italicize the articles, it looked odd and did not fit into the TOC very professionally.

    Everything included in this mock-up was made using Canva.

    On the left is the TOC which was the second, and final, mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheadings, with articles/page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo, creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitle, "Contents" line, or background (white space) because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; however, I may italicize the article titles (or vice-versa) to create differentiation in the font so as not to be too plain. 

    On the right is the TOC which is edited based off of the second, and final, mock-up I made. This mock-up includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheadings, with articles/page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo, creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only color that I have edited is the background (white space); I changed it to a light brown rather than white, because it is easier to see as well as contrasting with the rest of the page, and TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. The font is also very plain other than the sizing and subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme; this was not changed because when I tried to italicize the articles, it looked odd and did not fit into the TOC very professionally. I have also decided to insert some lines to separate the multiple subtitles/articles from each other in a more organized way.

Conclusion

    In conclusion, I will most likely end up using the edited version of my second mock-up. This is because in contrast to both original, non-edited mock-ups, the color of the background is pleasing to the eye and contrasts perfectly with the plain black text/main image. While my first mock-up is also good at this contrast, the feeling it conveys is not that of a magazine, but more of a restaurant menu. 

 TOC Images and Original Content

    This article will be about the table of contents (TOC) that I will be creating for my magazine. Included in this blog will be the images that originally had the purpose of being for my TOC page, along with an explanation of why or why not they are going to be taken into consideration for being used. I will also include a few drafts of the TOCs that I plan to use, and analyzation of how they are good or bad.

Review of Table of Contents Drafts

    Before we begin talking about/analyzing the TOC original images, let's review the drafts that I came up; this will help you as the reader to better visualize the layout of these original images within the TOC.

    This TOC was the first draft I made. This draft includes a "Contents" title, masthead, four subheading articles/detail with page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the contents page; it is also more towards the right-hand, bottom corner of the page. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the right so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the "Contents" line above it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All four of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". The negative of this is that the large main image with little content doesn't make for much of a contents page, especially with the closeness of the content within it. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitles or "Contents" line, because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. Font will most likely be plain other than the sizing and possibly subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme.

     This TOC was the second draft I made. This draft includes a "Table of Contents" title, six subheading articles/detail with page numbers, and four sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is also that due to multiple images instead of one, readers can have a better idea of what the magazine will contain food-wise. The "Table of Contents" line is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All four of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only colors that may be used will be in the main images and possibly on the subheadings or "Table of Contents" line, because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. Font will most likely be plain other than the sizing and possibly subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme.

     This TOC was the third, and final, draft I made. This draft includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheading articles/detail with page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitles or "Contents" line, because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. Font will most likely be plain other than the sizing and possibly subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme.

Table of Contents Original Images

    This original image is the first I considered adding to the TOC cover. This is an image of chicken quesadillas with two side cups: one containing sour cream, the other salsa. This is served on a white plate with a light brown table as the background. The color of this image is bland, making a good fit for a TOC page due to having little color within it. However, the colors in this photo don't complement each other as well as they should in order to look good inside of a magazine. The coloring of this image could also be hard to look at for readers due to the white-against-white coloring. Another negative of this image is the glass of water in the background. This glass creates a weird effect on the background, causing a distorted reflection in the glass. This cutoff reflection is displeasing, and this image overall is not very appealing. It does, however, have a food on it which fits with my cover idea of "savory". This photo would most likely be placed in the layout of my third draft due to its shape and composition.

    This original image is the second I considered adding to the TOC cover. This is an image of an ice cream cookie cake with chocolate syrup drizzled over it. This is served in a mini skillet with a light brown table as the background and two spoons stuck in the cookie. The color of this image is dark, making a good fit for a TOC page due to having little color within it. The colors in this image complement each other well, ranging from light brown, to dark brown, to white. This coloring is also appealing to look at because of this darkness with a little light pop to it. The lighting of the image also makes it very appealing due to the shine of the chocolate syrup drizzle. A negative of this image is the silverware and other plates in the background. This causes a little of an unprofessional look and could cause the reader to lose focus on the main image. It also doesn't really fit the theme of "savory"; however, this problem could be fixed by adding a dessert section to the TOC. This photo would most likely be placed in the layout of my third draft due to its shape and composition.

     This original image is the third I considered adding to the TOC cover. This is an image of a vanilla cake with strawberry icing. This is served on a foil tray that is positioned on top of a blue plate. This cake has white and green frosting designs with light pink lit candles. The lighting of this image is dark, making a good image with shining candles due to them being the only light source. The colors in this image complement each other well, ranging from light pink, to green, to white. This coloring is also appealing to look at because of this darkness with a little light pop to it. The shine of the frosting due to the minor lighting is also very appealing. The background of this image is blurred, with a focus pull on the cake, making a very realistic yet still professional image. The negative of this image are the three holes in the center of the cake which were originally part of the design, however, look a little unprofessional. It also doesn't really fit the theme of "savory"; however, this problem could be fixed by adding a dessert section to the TOC. This photo would most likely be placed in the layout of my third draft due to its shape and composition.

    This original image is the fourth I considered adding to the TOC cover. This is an image of a vanilla ice cream milkshake with strawberry chunks in the bottom. This is served on a white plate placed on a dark brown table with a light green spoon on the plate. This milkshake has gummy bears on top with two cinnamon straws stuck into the ice cream. The lighting of this image is light, making a good image with sparkling ice cream. The colors in this image complement each other well, ranging through many colors in the rainbow. This coloring is not very appealing with the lighting though, due to it being the same lighting as the rest of this image. The shine of the ice cream due to the minor lighting is appealing though. The background of this image is very clear with disheveled utensils and empty glasses, which has a negative effect on the photo. This negative effect is the look of messiness which is also looked at as unprofessional. It also doesn't really fit the theme of "savory"; however, this problem could be fixed by adding a dessert section to the TOC. This photo would most likely be placed in the layout of my second draft due to its shape and composition.

    This original image is the fifth I considered adding to the TOC cover. This is an image of a 3-layer mousse containing chocolate fudge, chocolate, and vanilla. This is served on a plain white background. This mousse is drenched in chocolate fudge with a juicy strawberry and whipped cream on top. The lighting of this image is light, making a good image due to the contrast of the dark colored syrup. The colors in this image complement each other well, ranging from dark brown, to red, to white. This coloring is also appealing to look at because of this darkness with a little light pop to it. The red coloring also makes a very nice pop of color in this image. The plain white background of this image looks very professional, as well as brings attention to the image without completely stealing it from the TOC itself. It also doesn't really fit the theme of "savory"; however, this problem could be fixed by adding a dessert section to the TOC. This photo would most likely be placed in the layout of my third draft due to its shape and composition.

    This original image is the sixth I considered adding to the TOC cover. This is an image of 16 different assorted donuts. This is served on a plain white background. These donuts contain many different types such as cookies & cream, cinnamon crunch, chocolate pecan, and coffee flavor. The lighting of this image is light, making a good image due to the contrast of the dark colored donuts. The colors in this image complement each other well, ranging from dark brown/black, to light brown, to white. This coloring is also appealing to look at because of this darkness with a little light pop to it. The plain white background of this image looks very professional, as well as brings attention to the image without completely stealing it from the TOC itself. It also doesn't really fit the theme of "savory"; however, this problem could be fixed by adding a dessert section to the TOC. This photo would most likely be placed in the layout of my third draft due to its shape and composition.

     This original image is the seventh and final image that I considered adding to the TOC cover. This is an image of a vanilla cheesecake with strawberry icing. This is served on a white plate placed on a light brown table. This cake has white frosting plumes decorated onto the plate as well as the cake itself. The lighting of this image is dark, making a good image with sparkling cake. The colors in this image complement each other well, ranging from light orange/yellow, to light brown, to white. This coloring is also appealing to look at because of this darkness with a little light pop to it. The shine of the frosting due to the minor lighting is also very appealing. The background of this image is very clear with disheveled utensils and napkins, which has a negative effect on the photo. This negative effect is the look of messiness which is also looked at as unprofessional. It also doesn't really fit the theme of "savory"; however, this problem could be fixed by adding a dessert section to the TOC. This photo would most likely be placed in the layout of my second draft due to its shape and composition.

Article Original Content

     This section of the blog will serve as planning for the original content that will be contained inside of the articles/TOC including article names and page numbers. Layout, however, will be discussed in the next blog. Currently, I will not be including descriptors, however that may change by the time I make my final TOC.

Article Titles and Page Numbers:

• Intro to Cooking.......pg.1
• Best Cooking Utensils .......pg.3
• Chicken Quesadillas.... pg.6
• Beef Recipes......pg.8
• Dessert Recipes!.......pg.10
• About: Chef Gusta.... pg.13
• Chef Gusta's Pasta Dish!......pg.14
• Fettucine Alfredo.... pg.16
• Vietnamese Pho.... pg.17
• Bonus Interview: Rachel Ley.......pg.18
• Bonus Interview: Gordon Pamsey........pg.19
• Party Tips!.......pg.21
• Dinner Party Recipes!.......pg.24
• Exclusive Content.......pg.28

 Conclusion

    The language/voice used in this magazine will be friendly, casual talk. It will also be very focused on culinary terms but with definitions to harder terms for those who do not often cook or are not accustomed to food magazines. This will help to create a magazine that is available for a large range of audience as well as beginning cooks. 

    The article I will most likely use for my two-page spread will be either the "Vietnamese Pho" or "Chef Gusta's Pasta Dish". While Chef Gusta's pasta dish is most relevant to the cover, the pasta's picture was used as the main image. It would not be very interesting to reuse the same picture, so therefore I will most likely use the Vietnamese pho because it has different photos and a very good recipe!

 TOC Genre Analysis and Plans

    This article will be about the table of contents (TOC) that I will be creating for my magazine. Included in this blog will be the codes/conventions of food magazine TOCs, along with examples. I will also include a few drafts of the TOCs that I plan to use, and analyzation of how they are good or bad.

Codes/Conventions of Magazine Table of Contents

    Here are the codes/conventions of magazine TOCs!

    Title and main image: The main "Contents" title is going to be the biggest text on the contents page of a magazine. Content pages will always have some sort of main image on the page, and sometimes even a smaller one as well.

    Sub-headings: Magazine content pages are typically separated into set categories dependent on the type of articles contained in the magazine. Some commonly used sub-headings are "On the Cover", "In Every Issue", and "Features". While these are commonly used, other sub-headings are more specific to the magazine. For example, food magazines may contain headings about their food articles. The biggest a font should be while being used in a content page is about 14pt.

    Ordering and Structure: The articles are placed in chronological order so it is easier for the reader to find what they want to read. There is also usually a sentence or few words for each article so that the reader can get an insight as to what the article will talk about/feature, allowing the reader to decide on whether or not they want to read the magazine.

    Color Scheme: The background of a magazine cover typically should be white, so that the text is clear and easy to read. The color schemes tend to be simple and not contain many colors, so that the page is not distracting the reader from the text, along with being easy on the eye.

    Layout/Miscellaneous: Contents are usually set into either a column or a dog leg layout (such as the image shown). Other things that could be included in the contents page are: title of the magazine, publication/issue date, a picture of the front cover, website address, contact details, and credits for the cover photo/photos in the articles.

Food Magazines

    The brands of food magazines that will be analyzed in this section of the blog are: Living Magazine and Aloha. I will be using these magazine brands to analyze and dissect in order to show the difference between food magazine table of content pages and others.

Living Magazine

    Living Magazine is a magazine made by Martha Stewart. This magazine is most known for its' connection to Martha Stewart, who is famous, however it is also known for its' easy and quick recipes!

    Living Magazine talks mostly about quick and easy-to-make recipes along with DIY cooking tips. Because of this, their main audience are typically adults and teens who enjoy cooking. For example, the target audience of this magazine could be women from the ages of 18-62, because they are the people who cook/host parties the most often compared to other groups of people, as well as most likely the people who watch Martha Stewart's broadcasted show. 

    Living Magazine tends to use very simple and professional TOC layouts. The masthead is usually very small in the top right corner, always in complete uppercase lettering; the masthead, when in the TOC, also tends to use the same three black fonts in every issue. White, or lighter color schemes, are typically used in the background of the TOC to draw attention to the main dish; this main dish also matches in color with the background (explained in my Color Theory blog). For example, the main image shown on the page is light green and yellow, which compliments the white background. The dishes used in the TOC photo tend to be very minimalistic, which adds to the simple and professional layout of this magazine. The TOC articles, page numbers, and small descriptions of each article tend to be lined on both sides of the page, in what is called a "dog leg layout"; this is when the TOC topics are spread around the page (in an organized manner) with the page numbers in bold above, or below, them. The publication date of this magazine typically tends to be in the upper right corner, just above the masthead.The "Contents" label is also above the masthead/publication date, in the largest font on the page. This magazine contains small sub-headings as well, placed in chronological order. Overall, this magazine uses about 3-4 main colors each content page, matching the background and font color to the color of the main dish.

Aloha

    Aloha is a magazine made by Aloha Airlines. This magazine is most known for its' intriguing stories of food in other cultures, along with how food has been used by many people. This magazine shows unordinary mixes of foods, along with recipes on how to make average food better.

    Aloha talks mostly about out-of-the-ordinary recipes and experimental ideas for foods. Because of this, their main audience are typically adults and teens who enjoy experimenting with cooking. For example, the target audience of this magazine could be men from the ages of 18-41, because they are the people who experiment with foods and travel places the most often compared to other groups of people.

    Aloha tends to use very simple and artistic TOC layouts. The masthead is usually very small in the top right corner, always in the form of the Aloha Airline logo, using the same colors every issue; the printed name is usually the same black font every issue. Bright and artistic color schemes are typically used in the background of the TOC to draw attention to the main dish; this main dish also matches in color with the background (explained in my Color Theory blog). For example, the main image shown on the page is mostly yellow with some green, which blends positively with the yellow background. The dishes used in the TOC photo tend to be very minimalistic yet colorful, which adds to the simple and artistic layout of this magazine. The TOC articles, page numbers, and small descriptions of each article tend to be lined on one side of the page, in a column. The publication date of this magazine typically tends to be in the upper left corner, with the "Contents" label just above it in the largest font on the page. This magazine contains small sub-headings as well, placed in chronological order with the page numbers next to them. Overall, this magazine uses about 3-4 main colors each content page, matching the background and font color to the color of the main dish.

Table of Contents Sketches

    This TOC was the first draft I made. This draft includes a "Contents" title, masthead, four subheading articles/detail with page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the contents page; it is also more towards the right-hand, bottom corner of the page. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the right so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the "Contents" line above it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All four of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". The negative of this is that the large main image with little content doesn't make for much of a contents page, especially with the closeness of the content within it. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitles or "Contents" line, because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. Font will most likely be plain other than the sizing and possibly subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme.

     This TOC was the second draft I made. This draft includes a "Table of Contents" title, six subheading articles/detail with page numbers, and four sectioned main images. As can be seen, the main images are each sectioned evenly, taking up about 1/3 of the content page; it is also on the left-hand side of the page. The differentiation between the main images draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being on the left so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details without them completely overlapping. The positive of these images is also that due to multiple images instead of one, readers can have a better idea of what the magazine will contain food-wise. The "Table of Contents" line is is at the top center. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All four of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are spaced apart in a column running along the middle/right of the page. The negative of this is that the placement kind of makes the TOC page look like a restaurant menu. The only colors that may be used will be in the main images and possibly on the subheadings or "Table of Contents" line, because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. Font will most likely be plain other than the sizing and possibly subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme.

     This TOC was the third, and final, draft I made. This draft includes a "Contents" title, publication date, fourteen subheading articles/detail with page numbers, and a main image. As can be seen, the main image is smaller, taking up only the center of the contents page. The small, centered main image draws the reader's attention towards the content page's text (content), while being in the center so there is still room to place subheadings, page numbers, and details around it without them completely overlapping. A positive of this is that the effect of surrounding the main image with subheading articles/detail and page numbers provides a cool look and inclusive feel for the image. The "Contents" line is in the top left of the page, with the publication date below it. Next, we have the subheadings, with articles and details. All fourteen of the subheadings, including page numbers and article details, are close together in a "dog leg layout". This spirals around the photo creating a cool effect on the main image and more inclusive for the reader, making not only the main image, but the text, pop as well. The negative of this is that the amount of content on this page may become distracting to readers or harder to find what they are looking for. The only colors that may be used will be in the main image and possibly on the subtitles or "Contents" line, because TOCs are made to tell information about the content within the magazines, not to draw attention towards the color or main image. Font will most likely be plain other than the sizing and possibly subtitles in bold, due to the same reason as the color scheme.

Conclusion

    In conclusion, based off of the three drafts that I have currently created, I will most likely use either the second or third draft. This is because the second draft, while it looks a little like a restaurant menu, is easier to read through/navigate than the third draft is. However, the third draft has a more organized layout and looks more professional compared to the second draft, though it is harder to navigate when searching for a specific topic. Referring to the conventions mentioned earlier, it can be seen that all three of these drafts I created follow the conventions instead of challenge them; I know this because they align with all of the conventions already stated.

Work Cited:

• ("Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Contents Page,"RachLou96) https://www.slideshare.net/RachLou96/codes-and-conventions-of-a-magazine-contents-page-14500547

 Final Cover Edits/Photo

     This blog post will be about the final cover photo editing and selection being used for the magazine cover I am creating! As well as visually showing the editing done to this cover, I will also include an explanation of why this cover is good- or bad- and the detailed elements within them. In the end, I will be explaining why I chose the final cover photo that I did. This can also be used as a guide for future designs created by you, the readers!

Review

        Before we begin analyzing the cover I have created, let's quickly review the main cover elements of magazines.

    The main image usually covers most of the front page, and in a food magazine it is often a food or dish on the cover. In order to make the audience want to buy the magazine, the cover needs to be attractive to catch their attention.

    The masthead lets the reader immediately know what the genre of the magazine is. The masthead is also very large and tends to be at the top of the front cover; it usually matches the shade of the magazine cover's main image as well.

    The cover-lines are seen normally on the left/right-hand side of the cover of a magazine. Important articles and selling lines are often stated in this section of the magazine cover. 

    The strip is the most interesting part of the magazine, because it includes information about what details will be mentioned later on in the magazine. 

    The bar-code tells the price of the magazine.

    The content page is the page in the magazine that contains little to no images and tells the page numbers of the articles.

    A puff is the incentive placed on the cover of a magazine in order to make something stand out. Puffs are usually promotions or giveaways, therefore attracting audiences towards the magazine; it is also usually a different color from the rest of the cover so that it stands out even more.

    The double sheet spread is the two-page section of the magazine that contains few images (often one large image) but is mostly made up of headings and text. 

Final Cover Photo W/ Revisions

    

    I used Canva for all editing/placement of this cover.     

    Above is the final cover with revisions that I decided to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, two cover lines, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, while being in the center so there is still room to place cover lines without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. The two cover lines have been spaced apart, and I decided to place them on opposite ends of the magazine cover in order to fit the main image better, and not blend in with the color scheme too much. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom left corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more artistic and eye-catching look by using red and green colored text along with interesting 'Open Sans Bold' and 'Open Sans Bold Italicized' fonts; this color scheme complimented the cover, as well as the main image, because the main image contains vibrant colors such as red, green, and yellow. I also decided to use a half-red, half-black coloring for the masthead in order to give it a more bold/colorful look without it being too plain by using just black text. In this revision, I also decided to move the masthead and selling line up, as well as make the cover lines smaller in order to provide more open space for the main image.

Final Cover Photo

     I used Canva for all editing/placement of this cover.     

    Above is the final cover I decided to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, two cover lines, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, while being in the center so there is still room to place cover lines without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. The two cover lines have been spaced apart, and I decided to place them on opposite ends of the magazine cover in order to fit the main image better, and not blend in with the color scheme too much. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom left corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more artistic and eye-catching look by using red and green colored text along with interesting 'Shrikhand' and 'Light Shadow' fonts; this color scheme complimented the cover, as well as the main image, because the main image contains vibrant colors such as red, green, and yellow. I also decided to use a half-red, half-black coloring for the masthead in order to give it a more bold/colorful look without it being too plain by using just black text.

Conclusion

    In conclusion, I will be using the revised version because this cover was the best of all other covers that I made. This cover contained vibrant colors, interesting cover lines, and a professional-looking masthead. While it is also the cover that has been edited the most, this cover has a more realistic feeling than the other magazine covers I had created, and gives off a sense of pride instead of disappointment. The color choice used in this cover also compliments the rest of the cover, along with the placing of cover lines being used to create different shades within the colors of the cover lines. This cover fits into the proper conventions of food magazines, because it creates a feeling of creativity or happiness, which is what food magazines strive to accomplish through their magazines.

 Cover Photo Editing and Selection

    This blog post will be about the cover photo editing and selection being used for the magazine cover I am creating! As well as visually showing the editing process of these covers, I will also include an explanation of why these covers are good, or bad, and the detailed elements within them. In the end, I will be explaining why I chose the versions of cover photos that I did. This can also be used as a guide for future designs created by you, the readers!

Review

        Before we begin analyzing the covers I have created, let's quickly review the main cover elements of magazines.

    The main image usually covers most of the front page, and in a food magazine it is often a food or dish on the cover. In order to make the audience want to buy the magazine, the cover needs to be attractive to catch their attention.

    The masthead lets the reader immediately know what the genre of the magazine is. The masthead is also very large and tends to be at the top of the front cover; it usually matches the shade of the magazine cover's main image as well.

    The cover-lines are seen normally on the left/right-hand side of the cover of a magazine. Important articles and selling lines are often stated in this section of the magazine cover. 

    The strip is the most interesting part of the magazine, because it includes information about what details will be mentioned later on in the magazine. 

    The bar-code tells the price of the magazine.

    The content page is the page in the magazine that contains little to no images and tells the page numbers of the articles.

    A puff is the incentive placed on the cover of a magazine in order to make something stand out. Puffs are usually promotions or giveaways, therefore attracting audiences towards the magazine; it is also usually a different color from the rest of the cover so that it stands out even more.

    The double sheet spread is the two-page section of the magazine that contains few images (often one large image) but is mostly made up of headings and text. 

Cover Photo Edits

    I used Canva for all editing/placement of these covers.     

    On the left is the cover I decided to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, two cover lines, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, while being in the center so there is still room to place cover lines without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. The two cover lines have been spaced apart, and I decided to place them on opposite ends of the magazine cover in order to fit the main image better, and not blend in with the color scheme too much. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom right corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more professional look by using plain black colored text and basic fonts; this contrasted well with the main image, because the main image contains vibrant colors such as red, green, and yellow.

    On the right is the cover I decided not to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, two cover lines, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, while being in the center so there is still room to place cover lines without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. The two cover lines have been placed closer together on the right-hand side of the page. This was not working well for the cover, because with the cover lines close together and similar font it looked too crowded on that side of the page, along with the black color of the text making the cover lines hard to read due to them overlapping the main image too much. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom right corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more professional look by using plain black colored text and basic fonts; this contrasted well with the main image, because the main image contains vibrant colors such as red, green, and yellow. However, as already stated, the placement of the cover lines made the color contrast less effective than the placement of the other magazine cover.

    I used Canva for all editing/ placement of these covers.

    On the left is the cover I decided to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, two cover lines, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, while being in the center so there is still room to place cover lines without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. The two cover lines have been spaced apart, and I decided to place them on opposite corners of the magazine cover in order to fit the main image better, and not blend in with the color scheme too much. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom right corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more professional look by using plain black colored text and basic fonts, as well as a dark brown cursive font for the cover lines; this contrasted well with the main image, because the main image contains vibrant colors such as pink, green, and yellow.

     On the right is the cover I decided not to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, two cover lines, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, while being in the center so there is still room to place cover lines without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. The two cover lines have been spaced apart, and I decided to place them on opposite corners of the magazine cover in order to fit the main image better, and not blend in with the color scheme too much. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom right corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more professional look by using plain black colored text and basic fonts, as well as cursive font on the cover lines; this contrasted well with the main image because of the main image contains vibrant colors such as pink, green, and yellow, however due to the completely plain black coloring it was not as effective as the other magazine cover.

 

    Once again, on the left is the magazine cover I decided to use; I re-included this in order to show an accurate side-by-side comparison.

    On the right is the cover I decided not to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, two cover lines, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, while being in the center so there is still room to place cover lines without them completely overlapping. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. The two cover lines have been spaced apart, and I decided to place them on opposite corners of the magazine cover in order to fit the main image better, and not blend in with the color scheme too much. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom right corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more professional look by using plain black colored text and basic fonts only; this contrasted well with the main image because of the main image contains vibrant colors such as pink, green, and yellow, however due to the completely plain black coloring it was not as effective as the other magazine cover.

    The magazine cover photo was made using Canva, while all of the main image photos were made using a photo-editing app called Picsart.

    On the left is the cover I decided to use. This cover includes a masthead, selling line, a volume number, and the publication date along with a main image. As can be seen, the main image is very large, taking up most of the cover; it is also in the center of the cover. The large main image draws the reader's attention towards the magazine cover, taking up most of the cover to allow readers to be drawn in by the food presented. The masthead is at the upper left-hand side of the page, with the selling line on top of it. I fixed the problem of people possibly thinking that the selling line is the magazine's title because of it being read top-to-bottom, by making the font size of the selling line smaller. Next, we have the cover lines. No cover lines have been included with this design in order to draw in readers' attention to the main image without being distracted by cover lines. The volume number and publication date are on the bottom right corner, staying small and organized because they aren't made to draw in the attention of readers. This magazine does contain a bar-code; however, I have chosen to place it on the back of the magazine in this cover. In terms of color scheme, I went with a more professional look by using plain black colored text and basic fonts; this contrasted well with the main image, because the main image contains vibrant colors such as pink, green, and light brown/tan.

    On the right is an example image of the formatting of the Picsart app. Included in the image is a main image photo that I was considering, however I determined that it was not fit for the cover of a food magazine, due to being completely animated and a large portion of it being one color. It does look very cool though and could possibly be better suited to a children's cooking magazine.

    Included above are a few more main images that I was considering. On the left, the image looks very cool and vibrant, however the green coloring makes it look less appetizing; almost like a green soup or slimy liquid. On the right, this main image was very nice and I almost used it, but the cover image looks too animated compared to the realistic-looking one I chose to use. Lastly, in the middle, this main image looks very cool and brings out the dish's vibrant colors, however it looks to sparkly and animated and could once again be better suited to a children's cooking magazine.

Conclusion

 In conclusion, I am between using the first and last covers for my magazine cover selection. The first cover has a very professional look with a nice main image and cover lines, while the last cover has vibrant colors that make the dish stand out due to no cover lines. The reason for not choosing the second magazine cover, is because that cover isn't the best looking of the three and looks unprofessional due to the placement/color of the cover lines, and even the main image in general isn't very eye-catching.