You're The Star!

For this assignment, you're going to create a magazine cover in Paint.NET...and you're the star of the magazine! Think about your interests in order to create a magazine that appeals to you. You're going to be putting yourself, along with some article titles, on the cover of this magazine. You must also include some of the objects relating to the magazine's topic.

Before you do the assignment, it'd be a good idea to watch this tutorial on the extra credit features.

Specifics:

1. Magazine cover will be 600x800 pixels.

2. Create a background (Background selected cannot be a single color and must use the gradient tool).

3. Must have a title (something related to the theme).

4. Must have a barcode, cost of issue, issue number, and volume number.

5. Must include a large graphic of yourself.

6. Must have at least four headings for articles.

   1. 1. Easy to read, and appropriate sizes.

      2. Use initial caps, NO all caps (exception is the title).

      3. These can be different sizes, fonts, colors (does not have to be).

      4. Can apply text effects if wanted.

Directions and Details:

1. Create a new document. Save it into your folder with a name you'll recall!

2. Find magazine examples on the internet and look at how they are set up. Consider using shapes that are opaque to insert your text on.

   • There are a lot of different examples sites to choose from online, here are some great ones from The Week, TV Guide, 2600, or Game Informer.

   • Choose your pictures and bring them in, or ask Mr. Alexander to take pictures for you and upload them here.

3. Choose a magazine title.

4. Begin to think of articles that you would include in your magazine about issues that concern you, personal goals and ambitions, or just ordinary things in life that are important to you right now. Remember, the central focus of this magazine this month is you, so make them central to your life!

5. Create a background using the gradient tool and other images culled from the internet.

6. Insert the issue date and volume number.

7. Insert a barcode (this can come from the internet).

8. Add your title. It should be fairly large and in an appropriate, easy to read font and color. Make sure it all fits in your theme.

9. Start creating your headings. Remember that not all headings will be the same size or font. Be careful that they are not too big or hard to read. Don’t go too overboard with colors. Don’t forget you can rotate text and add text effects.

Remember to add things on separate layers! This is going to be an image-heavy project, so the ability to add things onto different layers and modify them individually is enormous. 

Exemplary Student Examples:

Pokémon Life

The Secrets of the Universe