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A well-designed cover can help put the spotlight on your e-book, magazine, or portfolio. Pique your audience’s interest with a visually enticing cover made using professionally designed free cover templates fit for any genre or niche in Adobe Express. No need to be tech-savvy to make one-of-a-kind covers. Upload your media, drag and drop thousands of free Adobe Stock icons, images, fonts, and so much more to make something that’s as unique as your book in minutes. Then, promote it to the world in print or digital formats. No design know-how needed.

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how to make magazine cover art

Edit cover images with ease.

Using a professional headshot for your cover page? Get full control over the look and feel of your cover images with powerful Adobe Express photo editing tools on your side. Use the Adjustments menu to lighten dark photos by using brightness and shadow sliders. Increase contrast to make colors pop. Include your title and author details with over 18,000 gorgeous Adobe Fonts to choose from.

how to make magazine cover art

Promote your work digitally and in print.

Use the Resize tool to turn your cover design into a social media ad, post, flyer, or poster in just a few taps. Turn your cover design into a trendy ad when you apply animated effects to any element in your cover to liven up visuals and capture your online audience’s attention.

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A captivating cover allows helps you grab the attention of online customers or pique the interest of browsing passerby in a bookstore. From magazines and books to notebooks and portfolios, the Adobe Express cover maker lets you make stunning covers your way. Use our free cover maker to create a cover design for any genre of literature you write and give your audience a sneak peak of what to expect in your story’s plot. Or, design a notebook cover that best matches your aesthetic in minutes.

Make captivating cover designs with ease.

Whether you’re after a minimal aesthetic or something more elaborate, with the Adobe Express cover maker on your side, you can make amazing covers that will grab people’s attention and make them want to read your work. To make an effective cover design, avoid making it too cluttered with too much text or images. Keep things simple and opt for easy-to-read fonts. Use some key themes from your own work to make a cover design that gives readers an idea of what your book is about. Or follow a color scheme to keep things visually coherent all around.

Create easier with the Adobe Express cover maker.

Create your cover confidently with powerful, beginner-friendly, Adobe Express online editing tools. Whatever vision, style, or aesthetic you imagine, you can easily bring it to life with tons of free cover templates by your side. Find thousands of royalty-free images, videos, fonts, icons, and so much more to further customize your cover. Drag and drop your design elements or assets, then rearrange or resize as you like. Create a cover that feels entirely authentic when you add your favorite color schemes, brand logo, fonts, and so much more. Before you wrap up your cover design, co-edit your project with others in real-time using an editable share link to make sure everything looks good.

Frequently asked questions.

The 10-step guide to creating eye-catching magazine covers

The 10-step guide to creating eye-catching magazine covers

Creating an eye-catching magazine cover is essential in this fast-paced digital world. Visually appealing covers will attract readers’ attention from the beginning, increasing your magazine subscriptions as a result. 

We’re here to help you create the best digital magazine cover you can. First, we’ll discuss a common design strategy to create a good cover. Then, we’ll show you how to create a magazine cover in Flipsnack by following 10 easy steps. And we have a surprise for you: valuable tips to share from our designer.

Table of contents

Lead article, supporting cover lines, 1. place the masthead in the most obvious place, 2. work with grids and layouts, 3. be consistent with your cover design format, 4. decide on a focus point and build everything else around it, 5. play with font styles, 6. emphasize powerful words, 7. learn to use color & contrast, 8. place a portrait on the cover, 9. avoid busy backgrounds, 10. give illustrations a chance, frequently asked questions.

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What must a magazine cover have? 

Before we tackle more complex questions like how to create a magazine cover, let’s learn the basics and discuss the elements of a good magazine cover to see their impact on your audience. Because, as you are probably aware, the cover of your magazine encapsulates the current issue’s subject matter.

Below, there’s a cover from the pioneer of magazine covers – Vogue. We’ll use it as a terminology glossary to see what elements a magazine cover design should contain. 

What are the elements of a magazine cover?

Issue and dateline

Let’s take them one by one and get into more details. We’ve also prepared magazine templates that showcase each element — all of them to inspire you.

Of course, we have to start with the most important one. The masthead represents the name of the publication and is the most crucial aspect of your magazine cover design. Professionally designed magazine covers make the mast head stand out besides the other elements. Therefore, it’s good practice to set it right in the center and make it as big as possible. It will also help people to recognize your magazine among all the others. 

So follow what magazine designers do and use a big and bold font for the masthead. Also, don’t forget that the masthead’s color has a crucial role in making it pop even more. Therefore, it’s helpful to adapt the title’s color to match the image and theme you’ll use on the front cover. 

how to make magazine cover art

Designer’s tip: The masthead uses the largest font size of all the elements on the magazine cover. Be consistent with the placement and size of the text throughout all the issues, and change colors to accommodate the different themes.

This section contains the publication’s date, month, year, and issue number. Some magazines, like Vogue, only specify the month and year, as they only publish one issue monthly. Other magazines also use this section to add the price of the magazine.

Look at this issue and dateline design – discreet, yet strategic.

how to make magazine cover art

Designer’s tip: You can make this section as discreet as possible to not overcrowd the magazine cover with secondary elements.

The focal point of a magazine cover is always the main image. This is the element that represents the essence of the issue. Big magazines typically portray a well-known celebrity or a visually appealing illustration that easily triggers an emotion. However, more recent magazine issues have also gone the abstract route with their main image.

You should keep one thing in mind when designing your magazine cover, though – use professional images. Investing in high-quality photos and having a cover image that stands out improves your chances of gaining more subscribers. Furthermore, the image you use will draw readers in and pique their interest in learning what the latest issue is about.

Here’s a beautiful magazine cover template

how to make magazine cover art

The main image is the focal point; it stands out and foreshadows the issue’s main topic.

Designer’s tip: Choosing the right image is an essential aspect when it comes to designing your magazine cover. Make sure it reflects the content within the magazine the best. Always use high-quality images, and be mindful of the background – keep it light and simple.

The lead article reflects the central issue of the magazine. Maybe an interview with an artist , an expert on a subject , or any other matter you know will emotionally impact your audience. 

Here’s a template you can use if you want to have good inspiration for your lead article.

how to make magazine cover art

Designer’s tip: Make sure you use a unique font for the lead article title to let the readers know the issue’s theme and main story. This will make it stand out and grab your readers’ attention.

The supporting cover lines are topics that can revolve around the same subject matter or differ entirely from the issue’s central theme. When it comes to placing them on the magazine’s cover, balance is key. 

Look how well these supporting cover lines are working together to bring out the information covered in this issue of the magazine.

how to make magazine cover art

Designer’s tip: Try to make supporting cover lines clear, short, and concise. Also, go for a more subtle font and choose a smaller size to avoid distracting the reader from the lead article.

The printing house you are working with is usually responsible for creating this particular section of your cover. However, it’s helpful to plan ahead for it and keep it in mind when designing your magazine cover. 

Here’s a placement idea for your magazine’s bar code

how to make magazine cover art

Designer’s tip: Leave a little space for the bar code in the corner area. You can shuffle the placement from issue to issue, or you can keep it in the same place at all times. Just don’t forget about it when you design your magazine cover.

And now, without further ado, let’s dive into the most exciting part and learn how to create a magazine cover from scratch! 

Disclaimer: no design skills needed!

How to design a magazine cover from scratch

Now that we’ve covered the most important elements of your magazine cover, let’s just get down to the nitty-gritty. Using one of our magazine templates is easy and doesn’t need any additional explanations. So, in what follows, we’ll discuss the 10 steps to creating an eye-catching magazine cover, and our designer will show you how to do it effortlessly in Flipsnack . By the end of this, you’ll have a good idea of what the process of creating a great magazine cover looks like, and you’ll be able to do it on your own.

Here are the 10 golden rules of magazine cover design:

  • Place the masthead in the most obvious place
  • Work with grids and layouts 
  • Be consistent with your cover design template
  • Build the cover design around a focal point
  • Play with font styles
  • Emphasize powerful words
  • Color & contrast go hand in hand
  • Place a portrait on the cover
  • Avoid busy backgrounds
  • Give illustrations a chance

Let’s start with the first one!

We’ve already covered how important the title/name/masthead is. That’s why you should start your magazine cover design by adding the magazine’s name in the most visible place. Placing it right at the top and in the middle of the cover will ensure that your readers will recognize it immediately. You should organize the overall layout of the magazine cover around your magazine’s name. 

And speaking of visible titles, take a look at the image below. See how the flower crown hides quite a few letters from the title, but you can still tell it’s Vogue? Everything screams Vogue, starting with the image, font styles, colors, and layout design.

As a matter of fact, Vogue became such a big brand thanks to recognizable elements they share on all their platforms – website, social media accounts, printed magazines, etc. 

Let’s get back to our masthead and discuss color. Since we were speaking about building a brand, giving your masthead the color that best represents yours is advisable for consistency purposes. But you don’t have to use the same color all the time. You can always switch things up according to the issue’s particular theme, especially if it’s something special – this is common practice for fashion magazines .

Let’s start designing our magazine cover using Flipsnack’s Design Studio . If you follow our designer, you’ll have created your own magazine cover by the end of this article! Below is our designer’s idea:

Designer’s tip: magazines usually have names that are either 1 or 2 words . Make it the most prominent feature of the cover. Make it big, bold, and as visible as possible. 

Next on our list are grids and layouts. They are your friends when it comes to organizing and aligning your magazine cover elements in relation to each other. Layouts are responsible for giving the cover a visually appealing look and maintaining balance from page to page. Grids are the backbone of these layouts; they act like a skeleton of sorts, meant to help you create clear and consistent layouts.

Grids and layouts are helpful, especially when you plan to print the magazine. Professional designers and print studios use them to know exactly where the safe margins are and where the printed pages of the magazine should be cut. However, even if you just want to have a digital magazine, they’re also essential to help improve the overall design comprehension of your magazine cover.

Below, you can see how our designers placed each element using grids and layouts to give themselves some safe margins.

Designer’s tip: Try to balance your magazine cover elements to create cohesiveness and clarity. Grids and layouts will help you maintain a crisp, clear cover design.

Now that you have your grids and layouts ready and the masthead location and style set, think of them as a template for future issues. We’ve discussed that the masthead can change color, but everything else about it should stay the same because consistency is key! Keeping the same cover format for your following magazine issues helps your readers get used to your specific magazine layout and easily recognize it. 

And most big brands do this! They mainly change the image cover, keep the name in the same place, and only adapt the colors to match the image. This is a tried-and-true method that works wonders. Just look at Vogue!

As depicted in the Vogue covers above, consistency doesn’t mean every issue of your magazine should look precisely the same. That’s counterproductive. In fact, the layout of your magazine cover is the only thing that shouldn’t be changed. It’s the positioning of the elements that must be consistent, not the elements themselves. 

Now let’s see what different variations of our masthead look like in Flipsnack:

Designer’s tip: When you’re planning your magazine cover layout, think about the type of content you have inside the magazine. Then, pick out the information that’s usually on the cover (article highlights, quotes, etc.) This is going to help maintain consistency throughout your magazine issues. 

Now that the magazine cover template is ready, it’s time to decide on a focus point that will help you find a balance between content and design. You’re here because you’ve already decided on the main subject of your magazine. Whether it’s fashion, nature, cooking, business , or whatever else, the focus point of your magazine cover will help bring every other element together. 

What do I mean by that? The focus point of the cover should be the main attraction – it should grab attention while still respecting the material that’s inside the magazine. This is why you should do your research on your audience beforehand. It’s important to cater to their needs, but developing something that will hook them instantly is also necessary.

So make sure you choose the focus point, and then try to build the entire cover design starting from there. Figure out when to be subtle with your supporting cover lines and when it’s okay to give more information to your audience. Let’s see our designer’s take on this:

Designer’s tip: The magazine cover’s focus point should be chosen with your audience in mind. Think about what would attract them — what would instantly catch their eye.

Font styles also play a significant role in how a magazine cover looks; sometimes, they can make or break your entire magazine cover design.

Magazines feature the headlines of the most important stories on the cover, and using suitable font pairings can make a big difference in how the audience perceives them. Combining font styles can help you balance out the magazine cover design. Let’s see how they work together below:

We recommend using a maximum of three different fonts for consistency purposes. Choose an impactful one for your headlines, and then play around with the text block. You can use bold, light, or italic – depending on the type of information you’re delivering. Whatever font style you use, make sure the text is easy to read. 

And if your magazine is in a different language than English and uses diacritics, prioritize finding a font that has them. 

Designer’s tip: Your chosen fonts should match the look and feel of your magazine cover style. If it’s a fashion magazine, use a serif font; if it’s a more somber type of magazine, use a sans-serif.

We’ve talked about how the primary purpose of the magazine cover design is to sell the stories inside. Emphasizing powerful words is another great way to achieve this. The short teasers reflected through supporting cover lines are the elements that can provoke the reader’s curiosity the most.

So, don’t neglect the value of using specific words that usually appear in headlines. In the past, magazines used words like “NOW,” “FREE” and “EXCLUSIVE,” but today, you can generate more powerful words using new technology. You could use ChatGPT VPN to find new words for your magazine cover.

You’ll see this practice of using buzzwords in many fashion magazines. And even graphic design experts emphasize these words by adding a 3D effect or by playing with backgrounds to make them pop more. Let’s see what our graphic designer’s take is on this one:

Designer’s tip: People buy on emotion! Use words that people will feel connected to and match them with appropriate colors. Using powerful words increases your chances of having a perfect magazine cover that will quickly sell itself through all the ever-changing graphic design trends .

Every element on your magazine cover should be selected with a clear purpose, and the colors and contrast should be no exception. You first have to decide the image you’re going to use, the focal point of your magazine cover, and starting from there, make use of colors and contrasts to allow elements to stand out.

A common practice among designers of magazine covers is to use green the least and red the most. But if you look at more recent magazine covers , you can tell that your dominant color doesn’t matter too much. The important thing is to use contrast wisely to help you highlight your magazine cover elements – the masthead, the lead article line, and the supporting cover lines.

Designer’s tip: make sure you pick the colors on purpose. They WILL affect the overall feel of your magazine cover. So, based on your focal point and brand identity, use colors and contrast to bring out the best in your magazine cover design.

Most magazines feature people on their covers. There is a straightforward logic behind it – people are curious to know about other people, especially if these other people are celebrities. If they’re curious about it, they’ll buy it.

But it’s not just about the WHO; it’s also about the HOW. The way the person is portrayed on the cover is important; they have to create some sort of emotional connection with your audience. The standard practice is to have the person stare into the camera when they are photographed for the cover. Eye contact is vital to creating the emotional connection I mentioned.

Of course, you won’t always have a celebrity on your cover; it’s unnecessary. But if and when you have a person on your cover, pick a good photo that can rile up some sentimental feelings in your readers. Here’s our designer’s take:

Designer’s tip: You don’t need Beyonce on your cover to have success; you need great content . But a great image on your magazine cover is definitely the most important thing!

Busy backgrounds can dilute the message you’re trying to convey to your readers. So, keep the magazine cover elements light and well-organized to achieve a professional look. An airy look is always better appreciated.

If your magazine cover design has many supporting lines and 3D texts, avoid making the background very busy. It’s essential to balance how much text and how many background elements you have on your cover design.

Designer’s tip: keep your magazine cover elements balanced! If the background is heavily patterned or mixed-colored, the cover will look too cluttered, which might confuse readers. You, then, risk not selling your magazine because of a busy background. 

By this time, if you followed our designer, you should have your magazine cover done and looking good! We have an additional step, but it’s more of a bonus, as it’s something you might want to do for a special occasion – a celebratory issue, maybe.

Historically speaking, photos do better than illustrations on the cover page. But, throughout time, there have been numerous publications that have used illustrations very wisely and had great success. A special magazine issue might be worth switching things up and using an illustration instead of your regular photo on the cover.

Since this is a bonus step, we won’t create a new magazine cover in Flipsnack. Let’s instead analyze the most creative magazine covers and see what design tips we can draw from them.

For instance, this Washingtonian magazine cover can surely catch the eye quickly. It has a mix of good photography and a fun font choice that perfectly complements the photo of the food. It also looks like they had fun with their font choice, creatively surrounding the focal point—the apple pie with a scoop of ice cream on top—with the hand-written font style.

Magazine cover with beautiful illustrations

Regardless of your magazine’s subject matter, try to play around and get creative; dare to be different and bold. Illustrations can be a great way to complement the other elements on your magazine cover.

Last but not least, when you’re happy with the design, save it and share it directly from Flipsnack with your audience. You can start by sharing your digital magazine cover on your social media platforms , to give your readers a preview of what’s to come.

Design a magazine cover banner

If you got to this point, then you already have your cover design ready and looking sharp. We hope our design input was valuable! And thanks for staying with us for so long! We know that when you are assigned to design a magazine cover, your main job is to make it shine and sell itself. 

Following good practices and having a pinch of creativity is the trick! If you can, get as creative as possible to reflect the magazine’s content best. Don’t forget to choose the right fonts, use colors and contrast appropriately, and always pick out a great photo to complement the look and feel of the magazine cover. 

Get inspired by everything around you and take a look at magazine pioneers – you will surely find great inspiration there! And remember that a great image is key to a great magazine cover!

Ultimately, it’s all about balance – find that beautiful line and follow it through to the end.

* Magazine covers are copyrighted by their respective publications .

Magazine covers that are poorly designed can be a result of various factors such as cluttered backgrounds, inconsistent typography, unattractive colors, and contrasts that fail to grab the reader’s attention. Moreover, if the cover’s message does not align with the magazine’s content, it can confuse readers and alienate potential customers, as they may not get a clear idea of what the magazine contains.

An attractive magazine cover should have a balanced layout, eye-catching typography, and harmonious color schemes to catch the viewer’s attention. It should also align with the magazine’s content, giving a glimpse of what’s inside to spark the reader’s curiosity and create a strong connection between the cover and the publication’s theme.

When selecting a magazine cover photo, it’s important to remember your target audience and the theme or content of the issue. You should also consider the emotional impact you want to convey and choose a photo that not only visually represents your magazine’s content but also resonates with your readers and entices them to pick up the publication. The right magazine cover photo can make a huge difference in the success of your magazine.

Magazine covers serve different purposes: celebrity covers feature well-known personalities; even covers align with different holidays or events; and thematic covers are related to different seasons or topics. Special edition covers are designed to appeal to a specific audience segment and cater to a wide range of reader interests, frequently focusing on collector’s items or limited editions.

There are multiple apps out there that can help create magazine covers, including Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Flipsnack. They offer various templates and design tools to customize covers. Choosing the right app depends on your design skills, budget, and specific requirements, so it’s essential to evaluate each option to find the most suitable one for your project.

A successful magazine cover must have a visually captivating image, a compelling headline or main feature, and an engaging tagline or subheadline to entice potential readers and communicate the magazine’s content at a glance. Additionally, it should incorporate the publication’s branding elements, such as logos , fonts, and color schemes, to maintain a consistent and recognizable look.

To create a magazine cover mockup, you can use design software like Adobe Photoshop or specialized mockup generators available online. You’ll typically need to upload your magazine cover design, and the tool will turn it into a realistic magazine template, allowing you to showcase your cover design in a professional and appealing manner.

The standard size for a magazine cover in the United States is typically 8.5 x 11 inches (or 215.9 x 279.4 millimeters), but it can vary depending on the publication’s format and design preferences. It’s important to confirm the specific size and any bleed requirements with your printer or publisher to ensure the cover is properly formatted for production.

The size of a magazine cover can vary depending on the publication, but a common standard in the United States is 8.5 x 11 inches (or 215.9 x 279.4 millimeters), which provides ample space for engaging visuals and content. It’s essential to check with your printer or publisher for their specific size requirements, as variations can occur depending on the magazine’s format and design preferences.

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Anatomy of a Magazine: How to Design a Cover

how to make magazine cover art

Exploring the anatomy of a magazine reveals the intricate design process behind creating an impactful cover. This process involves a harmonious blend of visual elements, including captivating imagery, engaging typography, and a strategic color scheme that resonates with the target audience. 

Table of Contents

Every component is carefully selected. From masthead placement to cover lines, the aim is to grab attention. These choices convey the magazine’s essence at a glance. Designers must understand this anatomy to create covers. These covers should attract attention, tell a story, and establish the magazine’s identity.

Anatomy of a Magazine Cover Design

Magazine cover design is an art that combines aesthetics, strategic branding, and audience engagement into a single visual statement. The anatomy of a magazine cover design is complex, involving various elements that must work harmoniously to attract readers at first glance. This section explores the basics of magazine cover design. It traces its evolution and emphasizes its importance. The focus is on branding and engaging readers.

The Essence of Cover Design

At its core, the design of a magazine cover serves multiple purposes, including encapsulating the magazine’s content and essence while being a primary marketing tool. The anatomy of a magazine cover plays a crucial role in achieving these objectives. 

A well-designed cover communicates the magazine’s identity, attracts potential readers, and stands out in a crowded marketplace. The cover sets the tone for the reader’s experience, making it a critical aspect of the magazine’s overall presentation and appeal.

Evolution of Design Aesthetics

The aesthetics of magazine cover design have evolved significantly over the years, reflecting changes in culture, technology, and consumer behavior. Early magazines prioritized text over images, with covers that were often simple and focused on the magazine’s title and a list of contents. Today, a magazine cover features a delicate balance. It combines striking visuals, typography, and themes. The goal is to instantly captivate the reader’s attention. the reader’s attention.

As photography and printing technologies advanced, images became the centerpiece of magazine covers, leading to more visually driven designs. This evolution has enabled designers to experiment more. They use bold typography, dynamic layouts, and a mix of textures and colors. This results in covers that are visually appealing and emotionally resonant.

Impact on Branding and Engagement

A magazine’s cover is a crucial branding tool . It reflects the magazine’s personality, values, and target audience. Consistent use of style, color, and typography helps establish brand recognition and loyalty among readers. Understanding the anatomy of a magazine cover, with its visual elements, headlines, and cover lines, is essential for effectively conveying the magazine’s content and attracting potential readers.

A cover’s design elements work together. The imagery and choice of cover lines create an immediate emotional connection with the potential reader. This connection is vital for engagement, as it influences the decision to pick up and purchase the magazine.

Covers also play a significant role in digital spaces. Online publications and social media have changed the landscape. Now, a cover’s visual impact goes beyond physical newsstands. It extends to digital thumbnails and shares. This increases the cover’s reach. It also boosts its importance in driving digital engagement and subscriptions.

The anatomy of a magazine cover design shows how crucial visual storytelling is in the publishing industry. Using design elements, magazine covers convey a wealth of information and emotion, drawing readers into the world within their pages. 

As the media consumption landscape continues to evolve, the principles of effective cover design remain a constant, bridging the gap between tradition and innovation to create lasting impressions.

Anatomy of a Magazine: Analyzing Cover Design Aesthetics

The anatomy of a magazine’s front cover involves more than just its visual components; it’s about how these elements merge to form a compelling front page that captivates and communicates. Different parts of a magazine’s front cover, including imagery, typography, layout, and color scheme, are all integral to its design aesthetics, and they determine the magazine’s visual appeal and ability to connect with diverse audiences.

This exploration delves into the crucial parts of a magazine’s front cover, such as color, typography, imagery, and the overarching visual harmony that binds them, highlighting how these components vary across genres and target demographics.

Color: The Emotional Cue

Color is one of the most influential parts of a magazine’s front cover, acting as an emotional cue that attracts potential readers. The color palette can evoke specific feelings and set the tone for the magazine’s content. For instance, vibrant colors may denote energy and excitement in entertainment or lifestyle magazines. 

At the same time, more subdued tones might be chosen for scholarly or professional publications. The strategic use of color differentiates the magazine from competitors and appeals to the target audience’s psychological preferences.

Typography: The Voice of the Magazine

Typography on a magazine’s front cover is its voice, conveying the title and the publication’s personality. The font choice, size, and color of the masthead (the magazine’s title on the front cover) and cover lines (teaser text on the cover) are critical in grabbing attention. 

Elegant, serif fonts suggest sophistication, suitable for high-end fashion or business magazines, while bold, sans-serif fonts appeal to a younger, more dynamic readership. Adequate typography balances legibility with aesthetic appeal, ensuring the magazine’s message is communicated clearly and attractively.

Imagery: The Visual Storyteller

Imagery, whether photography or illustration, serves as the visual storyteller on the cover. It draws the eye and suggests the magazine’s focus, be it fashion, nature, technology, or culture. The choice of image, its composition, and how it interacts with text elements are vital in creating an engaging cover. 

Imagery that resonates with the magazine’s target audience—such as compelling portraits for personality-driven publications or striking landscapes for travel magazines—is one of the critical parts of a magazine’s front cover that enhances its appeal and effectiveness. 

Visual Harmony: The Cohesive Element

Bringing these elements together in visual harmony makes a magazine front cover stand out. This harmony involves the thoughtful layout of typography, color, and imagery, ensuring they complement rather than compete. 

The aim is to craft a unified design that instantly conveys the magazine’s essence. The cover’s overall aesthetic must be aligned with the magazine’s genre and audience—elegant and minimalist for luxury brands, bold and vibrant for pop culture publications, for instance.

The parts of a magazine’s front cover are crucial. Color, typography, imagery, and how they blend create a visually appealing whole. This blend is critical to its aesthetic appeal. These elements capture attention, convey the magazine’s identity, and appeal to its intended audience’s tastes and interests. Analyzing cover design aesthetics uncovers the art and science of magazine publishing. It highlights the careful considerations behind each cover’s creation.

Person working on the anatomy of a magazine.

Anatomy of a Magazine: Critical Elements of Cover Design

In magazine publishing, the cover is more than just a protective front; it’s a carefully crafted invitation to readers, encapsulating the essence of the magazine’s content and brand. The parts of a magazine cover layout are pivotal in creating this visual allure. 

This section examines these critical elements: headline placement, masthead design, cover lines, and the use of photographs or illustrations, along with the interplay between text and image.

Headline Placement: The Focal Point

Headlines on a magazine cover are not just informative; they are the focal point that draws the reader’s eye. Their placement is strategic, meant to balance the cover visually while highlighting the most crucial content of the issue. 

Headlines are typically placed at the top or center, ensuring they are seen first, making headline placement one of the critical parts of a magazine cover layout. The headline’s size, font, and color are also vital, as they must stand out but not overpower the other elements on the cover.

Masthead Design: The Brand Identifier

The masthead, usually seen at the top of the cover, is the magazine’s brand identifier. It’s often the most consistent element across issues, maintaining a recognizable and familiar design to establish brand loyalty. 

The masthead’s font, size, and color are selected to reflect the magazine’s personality and appeal to its target demographic. It’s positioned to be visible yet carefully integrated with the cover’s other elements, ensuring a cohesive look.

Cover Lines: The Teasers

Cover lines are the teaser text on a magazine cover, designed to entice readers to explore its content, making them an essential part of a magazine cover layout. These short, catchy phrases are placed around the cover, complementing the main headline and imagery.

The art lies in crafting cover lines that are compelling but not cluttering, offering a glimpse of the magazine’s content while maintaining an uncluttered and attractive layout.

Photographs and Illustrations: Visual Storytelling

Photographs or illustrations are a significant part of a magazine cover’s appeal. These visual elements tell a story, set the mood, and often become the centerpiece of the cover. The choice between a photograph or an illustration depends on the magazine’s genre and the message it wants to convey. For instance, fashion magazines may opt for high-quality photographs, while literary magazines prefer evocative illustrations.

Text and Image Interplay: The Harmonious Balance

The interplay between text and image on a magazine cover is critical in achieving a harmonious balance. This involves ensuring that the text is legible against the background image and that both elements complement each other. The cover layout must confirm that neither the text nor the image overwhelms the other. Still, instead, they work together to create a visually appealing and informative cover.

The parts of a magazine cover layout are vital. Carefully placed headlines and the choice of imagery create a practical and attractive magazine cover. Each element must be thoughtfully designed and strategically positioned to catch the reader’s eye and convey the magazine’s identity and the essence of its content . 

This balance is delicate. Headline placement, masthead design, cover lines, and the interplay between text and image, which are integral parts of a magazine cover layout, turn a magazine cover into art. It has become an essential marketing tool.

Anatomy of a Magazine: Typography and Color Schemes

In the visual symphony that constitutes a magazine cover, typography and color schemes play leading roles, serving as integral parts of a magazine cover’s design and significantly influencing a cover’s appeal and effectiveness. These elements are not just decorative; they are strategic, wielding the power to attract attention, evoke emotions, and convey the magazine’s personality.

This section delves into the nuances of typography and color in the context of the parts of a magazine cover, exploring their psychological impact and their role in the magazine’s visual identity.

The Psychology of Color

Color is a potent tool in the anatomy of a magazine cover, with the ability to influence perception and behavior. Each color can evoke different emotions and associations, contributing to the magazine’s ability to attract its target audience. For instance, red may convey excitement or urgency and is often used to draw attention to critical features or special editions. 

Conversely, blue can instill a sense of trust and calm, suitable for business or wellness publications. The selection of a color scheme is thus critical, as it sets the tone for the reader’s experience and reinforces the magazine’s brand identity.

Font Selection: The Voice of the Brand

Typography, the selection and arrangement of type, is another critical component. The choice of font for the magazine’s masthead, headlines, and cover lines plays a pivotal role in branding and reader engagement. A font can express the magazine’s personality—elegant serif fonts may denote sophistication and authority, appealing to high-end lifestyle or professional audiences. 

In contrast, modern sans-serif fonts might project a more accessible, contemporary vibe, attracting a younger demographic. Typography is one of the vital parts of a magazine cover, and the key is consistency; the chosen typography should reflect the magazine’s overall style and ethos, providing a visual continuity that readers can recognize and trust.

Attracting Attention with Typography and Color

The interplay between typography and color is fundamental to capturing the attention of potential readers. Bold typography against a contrasting color background can make a statement. In contrast, subtle color gradients with refined type can evoke sophistication and allure. 

This combination must be harmonious, ensuring the magazine’s title and critical messages are legible and striking. Typography and color schemes complement the imagery, creating a cohesive and appealing visual package.

Conveying Personality Through Visual Elements

Ultimately, the parts of a magazine cover, including its typography and color schemes, are the visual articulation of its brand and content. These elements work together to create a distinctive personality for the magazine that resonates with its intended audience. 

Through careful selection and creative integration of fonts and colors, designers craft covers that stand out on the shelf and communicate the essence of the magazine’s world to the reader.

Typography and color schemes are more than just aesthetic choices; they are essential parts of a magazine cover that engage, inform, and entice. The psychology behind these elements is powerful, influencing reader perception and behavior. By mastering the art of typography and color, critical components of a magazine cover, magazine designers can create covers that attract attention and beautifully convey the magazine’s personality and values.

Person working on the anatomy of a magazine.

Anatomy of a Magazine: Different Types of Magazine Covers

In the diverse world of magazine publishing, the cover acts as a silent ambassador, representing the essence of its content and attracting its target readership. A deep dive into the anatomy of a magazine cover reveals a range of cover types, with typography, color schemes, headline placement, cover lines, and imagery being parts of a magazine cover’s composition, each with its unique appeal and strategic use.

From iconic and illustrative to photographic, minimalistic, and thematic or unique edition covers, the variety is vast, catering to the myriad tastes of readers. It delves into the various types of magazine covers, providing insights into their effectiveness and use in context.

Iconic Covers

Iconic magazine covers capture a moment, person, or idea that resonates deeply with the public, often becoming a part of cultural history. These covers are memorable for their visual impact and the emotions they evoke. 

For example, Time Magazine’s Person of the Year covers, and National Geographic ‘s striking image of the Afghan girl with piercing green eyes are among the iconic parts of a magazine that make a solid statement instantly recognizable and often discussed long after publication.

Illustrative Covers

Magazine covers featuring illustrations utilize drawings, paintings, or graphic design components to narrate a story or express a theme. Literary, art, and culture magazines favor this cover style. Illustrations offer creative freedom to capture content essence in ways photos might not. 

The New Yorker is famous for its illustrative covers that offer nuanced commentary on modern society, politics, and culture. These covers attract readers who value art and intellectual conversation.

Photographic Covers

Photographic covers feature compelling images ranging from celebrity portraits to breathtaking landscapes. These covers are designed to make an immediate visual impact, showcasing the magazine’s lead story or theme through powerful imagery. 

Fashion magazines, such as Vogue, and sports magazines, like Sports Illustrated, frequently feature photographic covers. These covers capture the glamour of fashion or the intensity of sports achievements. They directly appeal to the interests of their audiences.

Minimalistic Covers

Minimalistic magazine covers are characterized by simplicity, using sparse elements to create a bold statement. Often featuring a single image or a bold typographic design, these covers appeal to an audience that appreciates clean, uncluttered aesthetics. 

Wired magazine sometimes uses minimalistic covers, which are the critical parts of a magazine. These covers highlight the core of their feature stories, engaging a tech-savvy audience that prefers substance to flashiness.

Thematic or Unique Edition Covers

Thematic or unique edition covers are specially designed for annual issues, special events, or one-off themes. These covers are tailored to reflect the specific content of the issue, often using creative and experimental designs to highlight the magazine’s focus. 

Rolling Stone’s anniversary issues and Vogue’s September issue showcase the importance of cover design. These designs signal the edition’s significance, drawing both collectors and readers.

The anatomy of a magazine cover reveals a complex interplay of art, psychology, and marketing, with typography, color schemes, headline placement, cover lines, and imagery being critical parts of a magazine cover’s composition. 

Each type of cover serves a specific purpose, whether through iconic imagery, illustrative artistry, photographic realism, minimalistic elegance, or thematic creativity. These elements are integral parts of a magazine and capture its essence and shape its identity. This ensures it stands out in a busy marketplace and connects with its target audience.

Anatomy of a Magazine: Balancing Creativity and Brand Consistency

In the intricate structure of a magazine, striking a balance between unleashing creative design and upholding the magazine’s brand identity is pivotal. This equilibrium is essential for aesthetic appeal and ensuring the magazine remains recognizable and reliable to its audience over time. Delving into this aspect of magazine design involves understanding the interplay between creativity and consistency and how both can coexist to enhance a magazine’s impact and appeal.

The Foundation of Brand Identity

Its brand identity is at the core of a magazine’s structure—encompassing everything from the masthead design to the chosen color palette and typographic style. This identity is constant amid each issue’s changing themes and content. 

It’s what readers come to recognize and trust. Consistency in these design elements, which form the structure of a magazine, ensures the magazine is identifiable even at a glance, reinforcing brand loyalty among its readership.

Encouraging Creativity Within a Framework

Creativity and innovation are the lifeblood of magazine design, introducing fresh perspectives and keeping the content dynamic and engaging. The challenge lies in allowing designers and editors the freedom to innovate while staying true to the magazine’s overarching identity. 

This is where the concept of a flexible design framework comes into play. Such a framework establishes guidelines for the core elements that define the brand but also delineates areas where creativity can be freely expressed, such as feature story layouts, cover designs for special editions, or the integration of interactive elements in digital versions.

Balancing Act: Consistency vs. Innovation

To navigate the fine line between consistency and creativity, magazines often employ recurring design features or sections, which are part of the structure of a magazine, that anchor the magazine’s identity while innovating within those spaces.

For example, a consistent layout or column structure can be paired with varying graphical styles or photography techniques. Thanks to familiar structural elements, this approach allows readers to navigate the magazine easily while surprised and delighted by new and creative content presentations.

Case Studies: Successful Balancing Acts

Many iconic magazines have mastered this balance, evolving their design to stay current with trends while maintaining an unmistakable core identity. Looking at these case studies offers valuable insights. 

Magazines can learn how to update their look and approach. This can be done with their current audience. For example, a fashion magazine can adopt bold, experimental cover designs and feature layouts. It can do this with the elegance and sophistication that mark its brand.

The structure of a magazine is a complex amalgamation of brand identity and creative expression. Balancing these aspects needs a strategic approach. Consistency in design elements forms a solid foundation. Controlled creativity adds vibrancy and relevance. 

This balance is critical for magazines aiming to remain significant and competitive in a rapidly evolving media landscape. With careful planning and thoughtful design, magazines can create harmony within the structure of a magazine. This appeals to long-standing readers and new audiences, securing their position in the constantly evolving print and digital media world.

Person working on the anatomy of a magazine.

Anatomy of a Magazine: The Role of Cover Design in Marketing

Within the anatomy of a magazine layout, the cover design emerges as a pivotal marketing tool, its elements meticulously crafted to capture attention, convey brand identity, and ultimately, drive sales. 

In a landscape where magazines vie for visibility on crowded newsstands and in the digital domain, the cover’s design is not merely aesthetic—it’s a strategic element of the magazine’s marketing approach. 

This section explores the multifaceted role of cover design in marketing, highlighting its importance in standing out, adapting to digital platforms, and influencing reader perceptions and sales.

Standing Out in a Crowded Space

A magazine’s cover design, a pivotal aspect of the anatomy of a magazine layout, is a beacon for potential readers on newsstands packed with many publications. The elements of design—vibrant colors, compelling imagery, enticing headlines—are all tools used to differentiate the magazine from its competitors.

The strategic use of these elements can make the difference between a magazine being noticed or overlooked. Iconic or provocative images, bold typography, and color schemes that pop are all tactics employed to catch the eye of passersby, making the magazine’s physical presence as impactful as possible.

Digital Adaptations for Online Platforms

In the digital world, the anatomy of a magazine layout transforms. The cover design must be optimized for various online platforms—social media, digital newsstands, and the magazine’s website. Thumbnail versions of the cover need to maintain visual impact at a reduced size, compelling users to click and explore further. 

This adaptation extends to animated covers or interactive elements for tablet editions, enhancing engagement in a way that static print cannot. Therefore, the digital cover’s design must be versatile, maintaining its allure across different formats and screen sizes.

Influencing Reader Perceptions and Sales

The cover design, an integral part of the anatomy of a magazine layout, significantly influences reader perceptions, encapsulating the magazine’s essence at a glance. It communicates the magazine’s genre, target audience, and content quality, setting expectations for the reader. A well-designed cover attracts attention and suggests the value of the content within, persuading potential readers of its worth.

This perception directly impacts sales, with a compelling cover increasing the likelihood of purchase. Moreover, special edition covers or collector’s editions leverage unique design elements to boost sales, appealing to regular readers and collectors.

The cover design is at the heart of a magazine’s marketing strategy. It is crucial for differentiation, digital engagement, and driving sales. In magazine layout anatomy, the cover is the interface between the magazine and potential readers. 

It has become an invaluable tool in the competitive print and digital media market . Through strategic design choices, magazines can capture attention by utilizing the anatomy of a magazine layout. They adapt to the digital landscape and influence reader perceptions. This secures their spot in readers’ hands and hearts.

Case Studies: Successful Magazine Covers

Magazine covers serve as the visual handshake between a publication and its audience, encapsulating the essence of its content while enticing potential readers. The parts of a magazine layout, including the anatomy of these covers, from their layout to the strategic use of imagery and typography, play a pivotal role in a magazine’s success and cultural impact.

It delves into case studies of successful and memorable magazine covers. The analysis covers design choices and their effects on reader engagement. It also examines the magazine’s role in cultural history.

Vogue’s September 2007 Issue

Vogue ‘s September 2007 issue became one of the most iconic in the fashion industry, not just for its record-breaking page count but for its cover featuring Sienna Miller. The cover stood out due to its use of vibrant colors and dynamic composition, which perfectly encapsulated the excitement of the fall fashion season. 

The strategic placement of Miller, dressed in a striking silhouette against a deep, rich background, exemplified how effective visual hierarchy and color contrast, integral parts of a magazine layout, can draw attention. This cover significantly increased sales and cemented Vogue’s status as a fashion bible. It showed the power of matching cover design with the magazine’s brand identity and audience expectations.

National Geographic’s “Afghan Girl” (June 1985)

The June 1985 cover of National Geographic featured the hauntingly beautiful portrait of Sharbat Gula, known as the “Afghan Girl.” Her piercing green eyes immediately captured the viewer’s attention, exemplifying the magazine’s ability to connect on a human level across cultural boundaries. 

This cover became one of the most recognizable parts of a magazine layout in history, highlighting the power of photography to tell stories. The decision to feature the portrait without cover lines, a vital element of a magazine cover, highlighted its emotional impact. This made it a poignant symbol of the magazine’s dedication to deep, impactful storytelling.

Rolling Stone’s “The Beatles” (January 22, 1981)

Rolling Stone magazine ‘s cover featuring John Lennon and Yoko Ono, taken by Annie Leibovitz just hours before Lennon’s assassination, is another example of a cover with profound cultural impact. 

The intimate and raw imagery against the plain background, a vital part of a magazine layout, created a powerful visual statement about love, loss, and fame. This cover showed that the emotional power of an image can turn a magazine cover into historical documentation. It deeply resonated with readers, leaving a lasting impact on pop culture.

These case studies of successful magazine covers demonstrate the critical role of design in the anatomy of a magazine layout. Each cover, through its unique combination of imagery, typography, and color, not only fulfilled its primary role of selling the magazine but also transcended commercial purposes to become a cultural icon. 

The strategic design choices in these covers—prioritizing visual impact, emotional connection, and brand alignment, all of which are integral parts of a magazine layout—underscore magazine covers’ potential to influence reader engagement and etch a permanent place in cultural memory.

What is the importance of magazine cover design?

 Magazine cover design is crucial because it is the first engagement point with potential readers. It communicates the magazine’s identity, attracts attention, and sets the tone for the content. A well-designed cover can significantly impact a magazine’s branding, reader engagement, and sales.

How have magazine cover design aesthetics evolved?

Cover design aesthetics have evolved from text-heavy layouts to more image-centric designs with the advancement of printing technologies. This evolution has allowed for greater experimentation with bold typography, dynamic layouts, and a mix of textures and colors, reflecting changes in culture, technology, and consumer behavior.

What are the critical elements of a magazine cover design?

 Key elements include headline placement, masthead design, cover lines, use of photographs or illustrations, and the overall visual harmony between text and image. Each element must be strategically chosen and placed to create a visually appealing and cohesive design.

How do typography and color schemes affect a magazine cover’s appeal?

Typography and color schemes are vital in attracting attention and conveying the magazine’s personality. The psychology of color can evoke specific emotions, while typography can express the magazine’s voice. Together, they create a visually compelling cover that resonates with the target audience.

How can magazines balance creativity with brand consistency in cover design?

Magazines can balance creativity and brand consistency by establishing a flexible design framework. This framework respects the core elements defining the brand identity while allowing room for innovation and creativity in each cover design.

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10 Inspiring Magazine Cover Ideas And How To Make Your Own

10 Inspiring Magazine Cover Ideas And How To Make Your Own

While we live in an ever more digital world, but you can’t deny the power of the nostalgia that comes from holding a print magazine in your hands. Digital materials may be more scalable, budget-friendly, and can reach a far bigger audience, but there will always be something special about print. In fact, adding print materials to your digital marketing strategy creates the perfect combination to elevate a campaign, product, or brand to another level. After seeing Facebook statuses and tweets all day, a magazine can be a creative and colorful alternative, and a breath of fresh air to your audience. Let’s explore some magazine design elements , specifically magazine cover ideas.

Table of Contents

What Should a Magazine Cover Include?

When it comes to a magazine design, some may argue that the cover is the most vital component. ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ does not apply in this instance. In fact, most readers will solely judge a magazine by its cover, and may or may not purchase it depending on what the cover looks like. This means that magazine cover design has to be on point. Here are the different elements a good layout should include.

1) Establish a Masthead

A masthead is essentially the magazine’s brand or logo, usually displayed at the top of the page. The typeface, font size, and placement of the masthead are usually constant, but the colors may change based on the theme.

2) Use One Main Pop of Color

Using an array of bold colors might work for some designs, but in the case of magazine covers, it’s more effective to use one main color. You can use accent colors for other elements to bring the design together. Try a bold red or lime green as the main color with black and white accents for a super attention-getting, refined magazine cover design.

3) Choose a Unique Main Cover Line

Aside from the masthead, the main cover line has the largest font size and will take up about a quarter of the entire cover. This will be the first or second piece of text your reader will see upon glancing at your magazine. Make sure your main cover line is catchy, informative, and aligns with your theme.

4) Choose Appropriate Typography

The typography you choose will have a major impact on your magazine aesthetic. Each font has a unique personality. Serif fonts tend to look luxurious, sophisticated, and aspirational, while sans serif fonts are contemporary, cool, and trendy. Consider your brand’s personality and choose fonts that reflect it. Pairing two or three fonts can also add a next-level aesthetic to your cover. Check out this detailed read on how to combine typefaces . Readability is crucial, so make sure your fonts are clearly legible.

5) Sometimes a Simple Layout Is Best

Depending on your magazine topic, you may want to simplify the layout of your cover in order to highlight one or two main elements. For example, if you’re designing a fashion or lifestyle magazine cover, you’ll want to go with a more minimal design to showcase photos. Choose a cover photo that reflects your theme and style against a simple background, or as the background itself. Don’t clutter designs with too much text.

6) Beautiful Photography

A beautiful photograph is indeed worth a thousand words. If you feature a photograph on your magazine cover, it should be high-quality, stunning, and take center stage. Your readers’ eyes should be immediately drawn to it. Any text on the cover should only support the photo, not detract from it. Make sure to select the right font color(s) so that your text is legible and aesthetic against your cover photo.

7) Create a Consistent Style

Your magazine cover should have a consistent theme throughout each design element, which should also be reflected from one page to the next. Take note of the following thematic elements to ensure there is consistency throughout your magazine design: color scheme, shapes and graphics, typography, and formatting styles such as page numbers and running headers.

8) Custom Illustrations

While photography can make for a stunning magazine cover, illustrative color can be next-level. A stylish illustration will most definitely make your magazine cover stand out as contemporary, trendy, and design-forward. This is a unique design approach perfect for genres like arts, technology, architecture, and any even special edition or collector’s edition publications.

9) Design a Bold Cover

Every element of your magazine cover design should cohesively come together in a stylish, bold aesthetic that will make your reader want to pick up your magazine and flip through it. The goal is to stand out on the shelf or news racks. Avoid a safe design. Take risks and go bold.

What Not To Include in Magazine Covers

Now that you have a solid foundation of what elements to include on your magazine cover, let’s go over what you should avoid.

  • Avoid Cluttering Your Cover This is a given. You don’t want to overcrowd your cover and have your reader spend time deciphering all the information. Keep it legible, clear, and attractive.
  • Don’t Include Irrelevant Text or Graphics While the content of your magazine may vary, you want to keep a similar theme on the cover to tie it all together. The elements on your cover should connect in a cohesive way.
  • Don’t Obscure Text With Images, Colors, or Graphics Your magazine cover may include a mixture of different colors, textures, graphics, and fonts. Make sure all text lines are readable and not overshadowed by other elements.
  • Don’t Use Images and Artwork that’s Not Yours This is a best practice you can apply to every design project. Use only your own images and illustrations to avoid copyright infringement issues.

Creative Magazine Cover Ideas

Check out these magazine cover ideas you can draw inspiration from when creating your own.

Minimal Magazine Cover

Modern magazine cover, portrait magazine cover, simple magazine cover, vibrant magazine cover, retro vintage magazine cover, texture magazine cover, travel magazine cover, fashion magazine cover, artistic magazine cover, how do you make a magazine cover.

Ready to trial some of your own magazine cover ideas? Follow these simple steps to make your own magazine cover design with Picsart.

1) Open the Picsart mobile app and tap on the purple plus sign to get started.

2) Tap on All Templates and browse the options.

3) Choose the template you like best and tap on Text to start adding your own copy.

how to make magazine cover art

4) Choose your preferred font, to stylize the copy.

5) Further enhance the copy layout with adjustments to shadows, opacity, sizing, and much more.

how to make magazine cover art

7) Select a shape to add as a graphic element for a particular cover sell.

how to make magazine cover art

Prefer to create on a desktop or PC? Here’s how you do it:

1) Open Picsart Template Editor.

how to make magazine cover art

5) Next, select Shapes to create a unique outline for your magazine cover. You can adjust the opacity or overlay it using the control panels. To add additional graphics to your design, click on Stickers and search for your desired sticker.

6) When you’re done with your design, click the Export button.

how to make magazine cover art

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  • 29 October 2021
  • 10 min read

In this article

Who else remembers when Kim Kardashian broke the internet with her Paper Magazine in 2014?

Jean-Paul Goude reworked his own Champagne Incident artwork from the 80s for this unforgettable cover image that exploded on social media and on newsstands.

This taught us a valuable lesson. If you can learn to create a truly creative and distinct cover image, you can get the world’s attention.

Magazine cover design is an underrated art medium that can be incredibly impactful and unique.

If you want to learn how to design the perfect magazine cover, stick with us. This article will cover the history of magazine cover designs, magazine cover design inspiration, and some design tips to help you create your own.

Jumpstart your ideas with Linearity Curve

Take your designs to the next level.

History of magazine cover designs

Magazine covers have been around since the early days of print media, and they continue to be popular even in the digital age.

The Golden Age of American Illustration, between 1880 and 1960, gave us great advances in printing technology, and with it, more creative publishing art like book and magazine covers.

We’re obsessed with this vintage Vogue cover from 1928, created by Porter Woodruff.

"In this era, publishers and advertisers capaciously demanded from artists to create artworks that would visually communicate with their audiences in exquisite styles that would appeal to aesthetic tastes of the modern-age public." - A History of Graphic Design, Guilty Novin

By 1910, there was a proliferation of both picture periodicals and illustrated weeklies. However, many of these publications lacked sufficient circulation to sustain themselves long-term and subsequently went under after only a short run.

Magazines such as The Century Co.'s Cosmopolitan , McCall's Ladies' Home Journal , Collier's Weekly , and The Saturday Evening Post all appeared in short runs of less than six months.

Others like Harper's Bazaar , Good Housekeeping , and Vanity Fair remained in publication much longer and are still in print today.

As time passed, more people became interested in learning more about fashion, home life, health care, religion, politics, education, travel, gardening, cooking, and other topics from magazines. This led to the creation of a large number of specialized weekly and monthly titles.

That demand hasn’t faltered even with the decline in print media. Magazines have remained in print but have adapted to the digital age by curating a strong online presence.

Magazines often specialize in one niche area and feature images, articles, and news related to that niche.

These diversified interests require different types of visual content—not just photographs but also illustrations, advertisements, cartoons, caricatures, editorial text, and colorful full-page spreads.

This has created a demand for skilled designers who can produce distinctive, eye-catching designs on various subjects, with none so crucial as the coveted magaziine cover image. The cover image is the first part of a magazine that you see, and it's the thing that determines whether you will pick the magazine up or not. So, it’s crucial that you get the design right.

Let’s talk about how you can do that, using the basic principles and elements of design.

What are the elements of a magazine cover?

The elements that make up a stunning magazine cover are similar to those used in other types of graphic communication. We’ve got a few other blog posts covering visual hierarchy and design principles more in-depth, so we’ll just give you a quick rundown here.

Many designers working for magazines have experience designing graphics or advertisements as well. The approach to a magazine cover is much like any other form of graphic design.

It requires careful attention to detail and adherence to the basic principles of design.

Magazine covers are unique enough to warrant their own category. They differ from advertising because they sell ideas about what people should buy instead of selling products directly.

The main goal of a magazine cover is to attract readers by engaging them visually through various forms of illustration and typography.

And while advertisers use visual cues such as typefaces and color schemes to direct attention toward their product, magazine editors aim to do so using layout techniques and images rather than relying too heavily on words.

So, when you're thinking about creating your first magazine cover, keep in mind the following four essential elements:

Four basic elements of magazine cover design

Color is the primary element of design that makes art stand out and look cohesive.

When designing a magazine cover, make sure to use brand colors if you’re designing for a brand, and ensure that colors are either complementary or contrasting in an exciting way.

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Visit our Academy to learn how to use color palettes.

It is also essential to consider color theory and the basics of the color wheel that we all learned in elementary school art class.

Remember that warm colors come to the forefront of the design while cool colors fade into the background. Use this to your advantage.

For a more minimal magazine cover, use muted cool colors. And for a more maximalist approach, use a bold variety of colors.

You’ll notice that more serious news magazines and fashion magazines use specific colors to create distinct brand awareness. Understanding how color choice can impact how the human eye perceives your design is crucial to making sure your design stands out.

2. Contrast

Contrast and color go hand in hand. You can use contrast in your designs to create depth and draw the attention of your audience.

Think of the bright, distinct colors in celebrity magazines like People and US Weekly.

These magazines grab your eye immediately while in line at the grocery store. That’s because they use contrast so creatively that your eye can’t help but see them.

Any prominent element you want to emphasize on your own magazine cover should either be a bold color or surrounded by muted colors to make it stand out.

Your approach to typography matters immensely in magazine cover design. The title of your magazine and the text previews of what the edition contains are significant factors in whether or not customers will decide to purchase it.

We love how Glamour Magazine opts for a hot pink font color to stand out on stands. It also fits with their bold branding and dedication to giving lifestyle advice to women.

Take time in selecting your perfect font, and make sure it’s readable while still appearing creative and unique.

4. Spacing and sizing

Spacing and sizing of images and text in your work is crucial.

This might seem obvious, but where you place things and the size they appear in your work will be a huge factor in how your design looks.

Check out this creative spacing in the Fall 2018 edition on GQ. They went with a minimalist approach that created a stark contrast on the page. It’s interesting to look at while not being overwhelming- sometimes simplicity is best.

It’s important to carefully use the space you have on a magazine cover while ensuring that your design isn’t overwhelming and too busy for an audience to be interested in reading.

Iconic magazine covers

If you need magazine cover ideas, look no further: we’ve gathered up some of the best magazine covers of all time.

Whether it’s a serious news magazine like Time or The New Yorker or one of the more casual celebrity magazines like People Magazine, strong images can stick in the collective consciousness for decades.

image

You might be surprised how many of these covers you recognize. Let’s get started with our first example of iconic magazine cover design inspiration.

Vogue, Beyoncé, 2018

All hail Queen Beyoncé. She looks fantastic here, and while it wasn’t her first appearance on the cover of Vogue (it was actually her 4th), it was her most iconic.

Vogue is an American fashion and lifestyle magazine based in New York City. Anna Wintour is the famous editor-and-chief and has been at the helm since 1988.

There are 26 international editions of Vogue, including U.K. Vogue and Vogue Espana.

Vogue uses blocky typography for its title text while still appearing sophisticated. Rather than listing out an array of stories, they simply preview their cover girl, Beyoncé, “in her own words.”

Despite the busy background, Beyoncé’s colorful attire and strong pose help her stand out.

This striking cover image is especially noteworthy because it was the first time a cover image for Vogue had been shot by a black photographer in the magazine’s history.

Esquire, The Passion of Muhammad Ali, 1968

This powerful image packed a big punch... just like its star, famous boxer Muhammad Ali.

Esquire is an American men's magazine based in the U.S. It has been published by Hearst Communications since 1986.

This edition was published right after Ali was stripped of his titles in boxing for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War. It was a contentious photo that perfectly depicts this contentious time in American history.

The art director for this cover, George Lois, opted to depict Ali as a modern-day St. Sebastian, a Christian martyr.

This image is minimalist in its design and features only a few words in straightforward black typography. The picture on the cover speaks for itself.

There were incredibly mixed responses to this cover image, and for that reason, it had to make our list of iconic magazine covers.

National Geographic, 1985

This classic image was an easy pick for this list, as the image on the cover has since become incredibly well-known and famous.

National Geographic is the well-loved monthly magazine of the National Geographic Society. It is one of the most widely read and popular magazines in history. They are known for their adventure shots and images from around the world.

"Afghan Girl" was shot by Steve McCurry and published by National Geographic in June of 1985.

McCurry was taking portraits of Afghan refugees in Pakistan when he snapped this image of Sharbat Gula. Her piercing green eyes are unforgettable. This is easily one of the strongest images on this list.

People, Princess Diana, 1997

Princess Diana is a beloved figure around the world. This image of her beaming at the camera in a crown perfectly displays her public image.

People magazine is a staple of American grocery stores and newsstands. It is an American weekly magazine that focuses on celebrity news and human-interest pieces with a heavy dose of gossip.

This cover image was run as a tribute to Diana immediately following her death. It is the first and only issue of the magazine to run with no cover line.

Explore our Academy to access complimentary courses and become a master in design.

People magazine used a subdued background and simply let Princess Diana’s personality shine through. She really was the “People’s” princess.

Fun fact: Princess Diana has been featured on the cover of People more than anyone else in the world.

Time Magazine, The Gun in America/The Gun Under Fire, 1968

This striking image held deep, controversial meaning behind its colorful facade.

Time magazine was founded in 1923 and quickly became America’s leading newsweekly. Time covers international affairs, science, television, books, and trends.

This illustrated cover was created by iconic pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. It was meant to jar the viewer and make an impactful statement about gun ownership in America.

This cover was run in the wake of Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination, which had occurred two weeks prior.

​​Life, To the Moon and Back, 1969

This image is cemented in our collective consciousness.

Life was an American magazine that was published weekly from 1883 to 1972. They also published occasional special editions until 1978 and moved to monthly publications from 1978 until 2000.

The golden age of Life Magazine was from 1936 to 1972, when it was a staple of every newsstand.

This image is perhaps the most famous of all Life Magazine covers. An iconic image of an American astronaut in space with the caption “To the Moon and Back.”

The great space race captured the entire nation’s attention, and this cover is one of the most famous shots from that historical era, published just two weeks after the 1969 lunar landing.

How to make a magazine cover with Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator)

Now that you’ve got loads of inspiration, you’re probably itching to create your own. There are countless DIY design software options out there.

We happen to know a great one that is free and easy to use: Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator) . It's an easy way to design your amazing magazine cover and other graphic design projects for free!

Whether you use Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator) , Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, or Canva to create your design, we know you’ll come up with something great.

Many of these options provide unique magazine cover templates that will help you make a stunning magazine cover. You might be a little lost about where to start to end up with a successful magazine cover, so here's a basic step-by-step guide to get you started.

  • Choose your photo for your cover illustration. You will need at least three different sizes that are 300dpi, 600 dpi, 1200 dpi; this allows you to make any size image work for any sized publication. For best results, use RAW files.
  • Customize your cover image with our Pen Tool , gesture controls, and Brush Tool.
  • Use some unique fonts to create a title and other text for the cover.
  • Pick a color scheme for your cover. This should support the content of your magazine.
  • Make sure to use visual hierarchy concepts to emphasize your content.
  • Don't use too many different fonts and colors, or your design will look messy and hard to read.
  • Get some feedback. Send your magazine cover mockup to people you trust and get their opinion on the design.
  • Finalize, save, share, and print your file. Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator) supports a wide range of file formats for importing and exporting your documents.

And that's it. Creating your own magazine cover is as simple as that.

If you make your own magazine cover and you’re willing to share it with the world, tag us in your posts on social media . We might even share it.

Making your own iconic magazine cover designs with Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator)

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Adí is an SEO developer working for Linearity in Berlin. Her hobbies include drawing comics, yoga, swimming, infinite scrolling, and birdwatching.

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How to Create a Stunning Magazine Cover in Photoshop

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Create a Magazine Cover in Photoshop

Today we are learning how to create a magazine cover in Photoshop! Many modern magazines use their logo or name as an integrated piece of art combined with photos on their covers. It is not uncommon to see a subject peering out from a logo, or the magazine name obscured by a Face. Some magazines like “V Magazine” take this a step further and place their Logo over the entire cover, forcing interaction with the subject.

In this episode we show you how to turn a photo into a magazine cover by integrating the “V” Logo with the subject.

Use the Pen Tool to Make Selections

The Pen Tool is one of the best ways to make accurate selections in Photoshop. When used efficiently, the Pen Tool can be used to cut out just about anything in a photo. You can also use the Pen Tool to make selections, and turn those selections into objects.

In this tutorial we create the “V” logo by tracing an example from a real magazine cover. After creating the “V” we use the Pen Tool to cut out our subject and allow more ways for her to interact with the “V”.

We also use different blending modes to combine the Logo with the subject, leading to a more interesting image.

Working with Type

Magazine covers almost always include type. You will often see Complimentary Colors used to create type so they stand off the Background. In this image we create Complimentary Colors using the Difference Blend Mode.

For the title of the issue “Pink is the New Pink”, we make both of the words “pink” into the Color pink. Then to help the type stand out from the Background we show you how to add a white Outline or Stroke. Then on the right side of the image we play with the Background a bit, inserting type over black stripes.

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How To Design A Magazine Cover 10 min read

how to make magazine cover art

Magazine covers are one of the most important pieces of marketing a magazine can do. It is the first thing potential readers see and it can make or break a magazine’s success. So, how do you go about designing an effective magazine cover?

There are a few things to consider when designing a magazine cover. The most important is the overall tone of the magazine. What style is it? Is it serious or light-hearted? What is the target audience? Once you have a good idea of the tone, you can start thinking about the design.

A good way to start is by finding a strong image or graphic that will capture the reader’s attention. The image should be related to the content of the magazine, but it doesn’t need to be a perfect match. It’s more important that the image is eye-catching and interesting.

After you’ve chosen an image, you need to come up with a headline. The headline should be catchy and interesting, and it should sum up the article inside the magazine. It’s also important to consider the font and layout of the headline. The font should be easy to read and the layout should be simple and clean.

Once you have a good headline and image, you need to think about the rest of the design. The layout should be simple and easy to navigate, with clear sections for the headline, image and article. The overall design should be clean and modern, and it should match the tone of the magazine.

Designing a magazine cover can be a challenging but rewarding process. By following these simple tips, you can create a cover that will stand out from the competition and attract new readers.

Table of Contents

  • 1 How do you make a magazine cover?
  • 2 What can you do when designing a magazine cover?
  • 3 How can I design my own magazine?
  • 4 How do you make a magazine cover photo?
  • 5 How do you make a magazine cover for a school project?
  • 6 What is the vogue font called?
  • 7 What makes a great magazine cover?

How do you make a magazine cover?

Magazines are a popular way to stay up-to-date on current events, read articles on a variety of topics, or learn about new products. While the content of magazines is important, the way magazines look is also important. Magazine covers are often used to attract attention and persuade people to buy the magazine. There are a few things you need to know in order to make a magazine cover that will be effective.

The first thing to consider when making a magazine cover is the target audience. You need to think about who is most likely to buy the magazine and what they are interested in. Once you know who the target audience is, you can design a cover that appeals to them.

You also need to think about the message you want to send with the cover. What is the overall theme of the magazine? What are the main points you want to get across? Once you know what the message is, you can choose an image or design that will help to communicate that message.

Another important thing to consider when making a magazine cover is the layout. You need to make sure that the most important information is easy to see and that the layout is visually appealing. You may want to use graphics, images, and fonts that are eye-catching and help to convey the message of the magazine.

It’s also important to make sure that the cover is professional and looks like it belongs in a magazine. You don’t want it to look like it was made by a student or someone who is not experienced in design. If you’re not sure how to design a cover, you can hire a professional to do it for you.

Making a magazine cover can be a challenging but rewarding task. By thinking about the target audience, the message you want to send, and the layout of the cover, you can create a cover that will help to sell magazines and attract attention.

What can you do when designing a magazine cover?

There are a lot of things to consider when designing a magazine cover. The most important thing to think about is the tone of voice that you want your magazine to have. You also need to come up with a concept or theme for your cover, and decide on the fonts and colors you want to use.

Another thing to consider is the layout of your cover. You’ll need to decide how to arrange the text and images, and where to place the logo and other branding elements. You also need to make sure that the cover is visually appealing and catches the reader’s attention.

There are a few things you can do to make your cover stand out from the competition. One is to use eye-catching graphics or images. You can also use typography to create a unique and memorable look. And, finally, you can experiment with different color combinations to find the right one for your magazine.

In the end, it’s important to keep in mind that the cover is the first thing potential readers will see, so it’s important to make a good impression.

How can I design my own magazine?

Designing your own magazine can seem like a daunting task, but with the right tools and advice, it can be easy and fun. In this article, we will discuss the basics of magazine design and give you tips on how to create a publication that is both visually appealing and representative of your unique voice.

Before you get started, it is important to understand the different elements that make up a magazine. The following are some of the most common:

-Cover: The cover is the first thing people see and is often used to attract attention. It should be eye-catching and reflect the tone and content of the magazine.

-Overall layout: The layout of a magazine should be visually appealing and easy to navigate. It should also be consistent throughout, with similar fonts, colors, and graphic elements.

-Headlines: Headlines are a key element of any magazine and should be punchy and attention-grabbing.

-Copy: The copy should be well-written and engaging, and it should be easy to read on both digital and print formats.

-Graphics: Graphics can add visual interest to a magazine and should be used sparingly to avoid overcrowding the layout.

Once you understand the basics, you can start designing your magazine. The following tips will help you create a publication that is both stylish and effective:

-Start with a sketch: Before you start designing in a software program, it can be helpful to sketch out your ideas on paper. This will help you to visualize the layout and ensure that everything fits together correctly.

-Choose a typeface: A good typeface can make a magazine look professional and polished. Try to choose a font that is both easy to read and visually appealing.

-Use color sparingly: A too-busy layout can be overwhelming and can distract from the content of the magazine. Use color sparingly to add visual interest without overwhelming the reader.

-Include your logo: Your logo should be included on every page of the magazine. This will help to build brand recognition and make your magazine more recognizable.

-Make it readable: One of the most important aspects of magazine design is making sure the copy is easy to read. Use a simple font and a generous amount of white space to make the text easy on the eyes.

-Proofread: It is important to proofread your work before sending it to the printer. This will help to ensure that there are no errors in the text or layout.

Designing your own magazine can be a fun and rewarding experience. By following the tips in this article, you can create a publication that is both stylish and effective.

How do you make a magazine cover photo?

Making a magazine cover photo can be a difficult task. There are many things to consider when creating a photo that will be used on the cover of a magazine. In this article, we will discuss some tips on how to make a magazine cover photo.

The first thing to consider when creating a magazine cover photo is the tone of the magazine. Each magazine has a different tone, and you will need to create a photo that matches the tone of the magazine. For example, a fashion magazine will have different requirements for a cover photo than a sports magazine.

You will also need to consider the target audience of the magazine. The cover photo should be something that will appeal to the target audience. For example, a magazine aimed at young adults might use a photo of a young person on the cover, while a magazine aimed at seniors might use a photo of an older person.

The size of the magazine cover is also important to consider. Your photo will need to be the correct size to fit on the cover of the magazine.

In addition, you will need to consider the layout of the cover. The photo should be placed in the correct location on the cover.

Finally, you will need to think about the composition of the photo. The photo should be well-composed and look professional.

If you are thinking about creating a magazine cover photo, these are some of the things you will need to consider. By following these tips, you can create a photo that will be perfect for the cover of a magazine.

How do you make a magazine cover for a school project?

Making a magazine cover can be a fun and challenging project for students. There are a few key things to keep in mind when creating a cover, including the layout, design, and fonts.

When creating the layout, be sure to use a grid to organize the information. A grid will help to create a clean and professional look. Additionally, be sure to use a consistent font throughout the cover. This will help to create a cohesive look.

Finally, use appropriate images to enhance the cover. Be sure to select images that are high quality and relevant to the content of the magazine.

With these tips in mind, students can create a stunning magazine cover that will grab attention and leave a lasting impression.

What is the vogue font called?

What is the Vogue font called?

The Vogue font is a typeface that was designed by Adrian Frutiger. It was released in 1978 and is named after the fashion magazine Vogue. The font is a sans serif typeface that is inclined at a slight angle. It has thin strokes and is highly legible. It is available in multiple weights, including light, regular, and bold.

What makes a great magazine cover?

A great magazine cover can make or break a magazine. It is the first thing that a potential reader sees and it needs to be eye-catching and interesting enough to make them want to learn more about the magazine. There are a few things that make a great magazine cover:

The first is a good headline. The headline is the most important part of the cover and it needs to be catchy and interesting. It should also summarise what the magazine is about.

The second is good typography. The typography on the cover needs to be legible and interesting. It should also match the tone of the magazine.

The third is good photography. The photography on the cover should be eye-catching and interesting. It should also match the tone of the magazine.

The fourth is good design. The design of the cover should be eye-catching and interesting. It should also match the tone of the magazine.

So, what makes a great magazine cover? A good headline, good typography, good photography, and good design.

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The art of magazine covers: 20 incredible examples from 2012

Feast your eyes on the art of magazine covers, with a look at 20 of 2012's best offerings including Wired, Little White Lies, and Wallpaper*.

The art of print design and magazine covers is more important than ever. With cutbacks, iPads, and the internet, it's imperative that art directors, editors, and photographers get their magazine covers right.

Thankfully, celebrations such as the D&AD awards continue to support the art of magazine covers. And rightly so; just take a look at our pick of 20 of the best magazine covers of the year and you could be surprised at the array of talent on offer.

Don't forget to check out:

  • The art of print ads : 50 stunning examples
  • 10 inspiring gig posters for 2012
  • Bloomberg Businessweek: a masterclass in magazine design

Bloomberg Businessweek : September

Bloomberg Businessweek have always made an impact in the print industry, with a string of D&AD awards for previous issues and endless critical acclaim. This design for their early September issue was created by Creative Director Richard Turley , with photography by Charlie Engman . Another stunning cover to add to their collection.

TransWorld Surf : The Travel Issue

TransWorld SURF is a magazine which strives to promote the sport of surfing with youthful eyes on the future. Each issue features contests from around the world, profiles up-and-coming surfers, interviews seasoned pros, shares tricks and tips and spotlights amazing action photos. Art director Sam Allen and photo editor Aaron Checkwood created this stunning cover for their travel issue.

Collect : May

Collect magazine describe themselves as 'old fashioned goodness,' It shining a spotlight on things done well and explores ways that we might be able to do things better. It's published bi-monthly and is only available in a handful of stores. Creative director Adam Johnson has done an amazing job with this one.

Little White Lies : Lawless

Little White Lies are arguably one of the most creative magazines out there. Every issue is lovingly created by a team of designers and illustrators, headed by creative director Paul Willoughby . This issue was particularly special, as the entire issue's design, from the cover to the introduction pages, was hand-carved from Japanese plywood.

The Ride : Issue 6

Started in 2008, The Ride is the journal for any bike lover. Filled with personal stories, beautiful imagery and illustration, The Ride set out to get under the skin and expose the passion that flows through riders veins. Wanting to give something back to the world of cycling, they donate all the profits from each issue to a variety of charities.

Elle : July

David Beckham was the first male to ever grace the magazine cover of UK fashion magazine Elle. This issue featured three covers, which could be collected by avid fashion and Beckham fans. We love the typography on this one and of course, the stunning portrait photography. The feature itself also packed a punch with a series of beautiful shots.

New York Magazine : July 14th

New York Magazine has been going since 1968 and covers, analyzes, comments on, and defines the news, culture, entertainment, lifestyle, fashion, and personalities that drive New York City. This stunning magazine cover was the work of design director Thomas Alberty and photography director Jody Quon. Just look at those colours!

Fiasco : Issue 21

Fiasco is a monthly print and digital unisex fashion, arts, and lifestyle magazine that has quickly grown in popularity since its first issue. They are always on the lookout for up-and-coming talent and this magazine cover is a perfect example of that. With photography by Phillip Meech, Fiasco commissioned illustrator Hattie Stewart to doodle all over it. Stylist and art director Hope Von Joel is responsible for the impeccable design.

Wallpaper* : April

Wallpaper* have always been known to impress with their magazine covers and this collaboration with illustrator Noma Bar is no exception. This cover is not a simple illustration but room sets painted in a three-dimensional studio and enhanced with actual products from each of the territories featured in this Global Design issue. Stunning work!

Interview : May

This stunning magazine cover of Keira Knightley was shot by the acclaimed black and white lens of Mert & Marcus . Styled by fashion editor Karl Templer, the contrast of monochrome and neon is a stunning feat for cover design. This cover differed to the April US edition of Interview by going with another photo from the shoot.

Next: Stunning portrait photography...

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    10 English Graphic Templates Magazine Graphic Design Print Design Designing a magazine cover can be tricky as there are many different approaches. An effective cover includes many different elements, and the challenge lies in making all of them work like a fine-tuned orchestra.

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    3,312 templates Create a blank Magazine Cover White and Black Professional Magazine Cover Magazine Cover by Purno Sudibyo Alabas Vintage Theme Magazine Magazine Cover by Rafiico Studio Nomadic Magazine Cover by Canva Creative Studio Nordic Minimalist Article Layout Magazine Cover Magazine Cover by Sadaf F K.

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    1 Sell out your printed and online editorials that capture your brand s image and the stories you tell. G 2 Create magazine covers for any field from fashion, beauty and decor, to travel and parenting. 3 et inspired by our designer-made templates and savvy magazine cover ideas! 4 Get more done, in less time! Design Magazine Cover

  8. How to Make the Best Magazine Cover Design (& Learn the ...

    1.4M subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 580 Share 19K views 11 months ago Design & Illustration Follow this video to discover how to make a great magazine cover design. Download unlimited...

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    01. Give the issue title pride of place Little White Lies, Jan/Feb 2011 Our first design technique? Little White Lies. The issue title takes pride of place on this cover, even more so than the masthead. An illustration of Natalie Portman's face is overlayed with black-foiled type that boldly declares 'The Black Swan Issue.' 02. Flip the layout

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    Fotor's magazine cover maker is user-friendly and intuitive, and it lets you create any manner of magazine cover without any design skills or experience needed. Apart from being simple to use, there is an ever-growing collection of stock photos, stickers, backgrounds, fonts, text combinations, and more.

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    1 Browse templates from the gallery 2 Customize with text, photos or videos 3 Save and download your design 4 Share it on social media or get downloads! Promote your Business Effortlessly with PosterMyWall Children Book Cover Create magazine covers that get noticed.

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    5) Next, select Shapes to create a unique outline for your magazine cover. You can adjust the opacity or overlay it using the control panels. To add additional graphics to your design, click on Stickers and search for your desired sticker. 6) When you're done with your design, click the Export button.

  15. FREE Magazine Cover Maker for [wcyear]

    How to Make a Magazine Cover. Select a free magazine cover design from the selection above. There is no need to select a template from a particular industry since the photo and text can be changed. Click on the template to open the magazine cover generator. Click on the image to add your own photo. Click on the text to edit and to change the color.

  16. Make Your Own Iconic Magazine Cover Design

    29 October 2021 10 min read In this article History of magazine cover designs What are the elements of a magazine cover? Iconic magazine covers How to make a magazine cover with Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator) Who else remembers when Kim Kardashian broke the internet with her Paper Magazine in 2014?

  17. How to Create a Stunning Magazine Cover in Photoshop

    When used efficiently, the Pen Tool can be used to cut out just about anything in a photo. You can also use the Pen Tool to make selections, and turn those selections into objects. In this tutorial we create the "V" logo by tracing an example from a real magazine cover. After creating the "V" we use the Pen Tool to cut out our subject ...

  18. How to make a magazine: A step-by-step guide to getting a look ...

    To do the same, click on 'Uploads' in the left menu. You can create a folder to keep your photos organized. Click on the 'New folder' icon and rename it to whatever you want. Then click on 'Upload Images' or simply drag photos from your desktop. Once you've uploaded them, just drag them to the right folder.

  19. How To Create Simple Cover Art Design in Photoshop

    Photoshop Tutorials by Webflippy 673K subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 628K views 3 years ago Text Effects - Photoshop Tutorials In This Cover Art Design Photoshop Tutorial, learn How to create...

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  21. The art of magazine covers: 20 incredible examples from 2012

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  22. Photoshop Tutorial: How to Make a Vintage, Pulp Fiction Magazine Cover

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  23. Create Free Album Cover Art

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