Below I have displayed the gradual production of my contents page.
Step 1:
I divided the page into two, continuing the theme from the front cover by using the colour purple. I feel as if splitting the page in half using two contrasting colours gives the illusion of the page not looking too empty and cluttered. I used the same font style as the main title for the "This month in volume" so that the theme continues from the front cover.
Step 2:
I inserted a smaller version of the front cover image at the top of the page, with the caption "The boys from Chasing Daylight spill the beans". The image already makes the page look more interesting, and the black rectangle shape that acts as a background to the text separates the image from the rest of the white.
Step 3:
I inserted two boxes, each with a thick black border created using the stroke tool in photoshop. I filled the boxes in black, and made them nearly transparent to create a dark shadowy fill - still revealing the background underneath. I did this to make the boxes prominent, and stand out from the rest of the page. I used titles with on the top line of the boxes so the magazine contents are categorized, and so the readers can refer quickly to the section they'd like to read about. Although there aren't any boxes on the right hand side of the page, the white space still acts as an area for categorising the contents of the magazine. I have entitled the area "Features", and in the white space will be enlisted the main features of the magazine.
Step 4:
In the space between the main header and the first contents box I added the text "Chasing Daylight EXCLUSIVE Interview" and the page number that it's on. Being separate from the rest of the contents gives the reader the impression that this is the main story, which is true. The image on the right hand side accompanies this text too, so the reader knows who the header is referring to. The black star shapes (created in photoshop) draws the readers attention to the header.
Step 5:
I added the contents to the boxes along with the page numbers. I added the main contents on the right hand side, with small descriptions of each feature. The green of the page numbers and the purple of the main feature text coincide once again with the colour theme of the magazine. I also added a feature at the bottom of the page very similar to the feature on the front cover - enlisting the bands and artists which feature in the rest of the magazine.
Step 6:
To fill the empty space in the left hand corner of the page, I used an image of the band used on the cover of Nicola's magazine. This shows the link between the magazines, and ongoing themes and features. The image has been brightened and brought to the front of all layers, so it looks almost 3D with the models heads in front of the text box. The image caption "Othersideup's single review!" informs the readers that this the name of the band in the image. The black text against the black background is highlighted by using the stroke tool to create a white outline. The black box stands out against the purple background. I also used a duplicated image of a CD to make the page look more interesting, and to enhance the musical theme. The shadows on the CD's again make them stand out from the background. I also used the stamp tool in photoshop to create two large stars behind the text boxes. This was to make the page look more interesting and fun.