Final Project Instructions
 - Raster Graphics

Last updated: February 9, 2015

Creating a Magazine Cover

The final project will be for students to make a magazine cover. Students will use this assignment to show off their photoshopping skills.

Final projects are expected to be of high quality.
Students should expect to need more than 3 classes to complete their final project.  Students should make use of extra help time, especially if class time is missed.

Students may choose to make a magazine cover for a magazine that already exists, or may create a new school-appropriate magazine.

Required Dimensions

Picture
The finished design must be specific dimensions.
  • Magazine Cover:
    - Width = 20 cm     (8 inches)
    - Height = 29 cm      (11.5 inches)

Resolution must be at least 300 dpi (dots per inch) or 300 px/in (pixels per inch).

Required Elements

Magazine covers (images to be altered, filtered and edited):
  1. Photo of you. (Should include shadow, whether fake or real)
  2. Name of the magazine (existing or original) that goes behind the photo of you. (Use layers)
  3. Type of magazine (news, healthy living, family, sports, ...) 
  4. Slogan / marketing statement (can make up your own slogan)
  5. Name of magazine parent company (e.g. Thompson Publications)
  6. Cost ($, can include Canadian (CDN) and American (US) prices)
  7. Text for at least 4 fake articles that would be inside your magazine.  (Research the type of magazine you chose to determine if all the fonts should be the same or not, and what colours to choose.)
  8. Complexity (student work is expected to be of the highest quality and complexity)
  9. Realism (student work is expected to achieve all of the above while still maintaining the look-and-feel of an actual magazine that might be found in a store)

Saving Your Work

To present your final project, go to your GIMP page in your Weebly site.  
  • AT THE TOP of the page, add a JPG IMAGE of your cover
  • Also, add a PNG IMAGE of your cover
  • Also, add a DOC/FILE element that contains the XCF FILE of your cover



Your GIMP page will include a write up about your final project and must include:
  • how/why you selected this colour scheme
  • some filters used (explain the before and after effects)
  • the photography and editing involved in your photo
  • some use of the Clone Tool (and explain why)
  • something of which you are most proud
  • something you wish hadn't happened or something you would do differently if you were to do it again

Marking Criteria  (50 points)

Meets All Requirements
    (Dimensions & Elements)
Elements Scale/Proportion
    (Sizes that make sense)
Text Styles & Appearance
    (Including magazine title)
Relationships among Elements 
    (Coordinated, Effective)
Colour Scheme
    (Intentional, Related) 
Overall Impression
    (Quality, Complexity, Realism)
10pts

10pts

8pts

8pts

4pts

10pts

The Fine Print about Marking:
In rare circumstances, student work reflects the need for exceptional recognition.  Student projects that show exceptional work may qualify for bonus points for a specific criteria.  Student projects that show a disregard for a criteria may receive negative points for that criteria.

A note about copyright

Images may be used without violating copyright law *only* if they have been altered so as to not recognize the original. Think about using crop, filters and other editing tools to make your elements unrecognizable.

CBC item on the new (2009) Canadian Modernization Act.