Front covers

Banner:  The banner can be placed either alnong the top of the magazine, or along the bottom or on both. In this particular edition of Q it runs above the main image and the masthead. It is usefil for companies to use banners  because the shelf in the shop could have many magazines on it, all covering the mastheads so the banner can be used as another feature to identify the magazine with. As well as this it becomes another way to advertise the magazine, oftn showing what articles lie within. This edition includes includes a "free CD" according to the banner. If placed alongside another Magazine of the same genre, advertising that "CD" could give Q an advantage.

Masthead: The Masthead or the name of the magazine is always placed at the top of the front cover to make it more identifiable. Because Q is such a short name for the magazine, it can afford to be covered a little by one of the band members heads. The Q title always uses the red colour scheme and has become asociated with it, making it easy to identify.

Central image: The central image is of the "Kings of Leon" on a road and it seems that they have been cut out and placed on due to the different layers of the magazine. Because the Q masthead is behind them it seems to make them stand out in front. Advertising to fans of the band and drawing attention because it looks unusual and interesting. The Picture ties in with the USA theme that Q had going on in this edition and also the band have been told to dress according to the three colour pallette on the magazine front cover. As is usual for the central image, it is just touching the masthead, to connect everything together better on the page. The image is interesting as it places the band on the road and connates that they might be travelling or touring.

Layering and background: On this front cover I can see 11 different layers. Layers not only make it easier for the editors to work on the magazine but also give the front cover and itinery inside depth for the audience. Like I mentioned with the central image, the background is strange because if you look at the bottom of the magazine it seems to be the natural, diegetic background, kept in the image from the original picture. But if you look up near the masthead they look like they've been cut out and placed in, making it seem like they are leaning out of the front cover.This adds depth, espicially by making the leadsingers head touch the banner at the top, by doing this they seem to create a kind of pyramid.

Language choices: The language on the front of the magazine is more chatty than formal and each sentence is written briefly, so that people can look at the central image and glance at the writing and quickly know what the magazine contains inside. The "Born in the USA" is informing us about the free CD that can be recieved from this magazine but has direct links to Bruce Springsteens song "Born in the USA". This is something that most music fans who read Q would understand.

Three colour pallette: The three colour pallette for this front cover is red, white and black. Apart from the blue pic in the "Born in the USA" coverline simply because by using a navy blue (so that it ties in with black slightly) they can create the "red, white and blue" of America. Q have based this editions three colour pallette with the colours that the fans of the "kings of leon" associate them with. As most people only see the kings of Leon dressed in Black and white, this has become their look.

Cover lines:  The coverlines in this edition of Q aren't in a the usual formulaic setting of one below the other which can be seen in previous editions. Here they are more jumbled, with the advertisment of the CD taking preference on the front cover to try and lure readers. The Coverlines on this magazine is the little box with the list of artists and a snippet of information on what is inside. This might have been set out in this fashion to lure readers with the suggestion, through use of a different layout that this edition would be different than previous ones. The "Born in the USA"  coverline is a useful advertisment tool and also the image of the pic makes people think that the music on the CD will be guitar and or Rock. Attracting the type of people who like to read Q.

Bar code: The Bar code is relatively small and has been placed in the bottom corner. Because it ties in with the three colour pallette it has been placed at the front. But if it hadn't, it might well have been placed on the back. It is quite small because it has the price mark on it and until people have made a judgement on the magazine, the editors don't want them being scared off by the price.