Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Cover

• A puff is used to offer readers of the magazine something extra.
• Buzzwords like 'EXCLUSIVE' are used to describe the main feature article. This shows the readers that this is the only opportunity they will read that specific article.

Masthead

• The title of a magazine is situated on the top left-hand corner of the page and, in some cases, fills the width of the page. It is written in a unique font to prevent copyright infringement and to give a trademark image to the name of the magazine. It is usually one word long.
• Sometimes there is a positioning statement above or below the magazine title.
• The issue and date is always displayed on every magazine using an 11pt sized font.

Main Image

• The large main image, which takes up the whole front cover, is the main focus of the main feature article.
• On a music magazine the image would be of a singer or band.
• A majority of the time it would be a studio photograph.
• In most cases, it uses direct address so that the image is always looking at the individual.
• The image conveys attitude.

Cover Lines

• The largest cover line is the largest text on the cover (after the title) and it anchors the meaning of the image.
• There is usually a sub-line with it in a smaller font giving more information about the article.
• There can often be a strip or bar across the top or bottom of the page listing features in the magazine. Sometimes it is just listed as a cover line.
• The smaller cover lines frame the main image.
• Smaller cover lines are usually 1 or 2 words with sub-lines explaining them. This is constistent across the design.
• The first 2 lines are displayed in a different colour/larger font size/different font so that they stand out to the sub-lines and don't merge together. This also attracts the attention of the reader with more ease.
• Cover lines don't state the specifics of the content in the magazine and are used to intrigue the reader and make them buy the magazine to read on.

Colours

• Only a small number of colours are used to prevent the cover from looking messy.
• The text colours used contrast with the background colour so that they stand out.