Magazines Part II

Image based covers- 

This is the most common cover, and it is based on one image. Celebrities often help sell magazines because of their portrait on the front. Travel magazines might use gorgeous nature photos to attract readers. One important aspect of these photos is that their "nature" should correspond with the publication. For example, a serious magazine will usually have a serious picture on the front cover.

Illustration based covers-

This is not a commonly used cover choice by magazines that rely on newsstand sales, but it used to be the only front cover option for magazines before better technology came along. Today, magazines use illustrations to show humor or something out of the ordinary, and illustrations are often computer generated.

Type based covers-

While more popular than illustration based covers, this cover option is also rare. Having type as the main focus creates a very startling and dramatic effect. Type can sometimes convey the message of what the magazine is trying to say, and can be very powerful.

Concept based covers-
This is a mix of all the above cover designs, and is used to be either very strong and shocking or hilarious. This design can be risky because the concept has to be understood by the audience, not just the publisher. 

Words and photos have an important relationship on a magazine cover. If the relationship is done well, the message that the magazine is trying to convey comes through in the three seconds the viewer takes to scan the cover. The number of cover lines vary depending on the publication, but there is always one big and bold cover line that is the best one.