Colours in Magazines

PlayStation Official Magazine

The main colours used in the magazine are white, red, black, blue and orange. These colours are used specifically because of the target audience and the genre of the magazine. The target audience is for males and females ages between 15-30. It will attract people that enjoy playing video games and that own a PlayStation console themselves.  

Throughout the magazine the colours which are used on the front cover are also mirrored in the different articles and pictures used. The colour white represents a sense of purity and freshness, it’s also a colour that stands out on the magazine against all the other colours used on the front cover. If the colour stands out it will attract the readers into picking it up. The white is mainly used for the title and main coverlines which is what the editors want the readers to view first. The colour red has connotations of blood and danger and this is a good colour to use on a games magazine because many of the games that people play involve violence and death so it emphasises that by using it on the front cover.

The main image used for the magazine is a mid-shot of a character in action from a video game, it includes the colours blue and orange to show an actual shot you will find in the game. Using these colours they contrast the other bold colours used for the title and coverlines but it’s also used as an under layer because the orange and blue are not the most eye catching colours. The colour orange represents enthusiasm and determination which relates to the game where you need to have these traits in order to complete the game. Grey is a cool and dull colour so this will make it blend in the background and not have the readers distracted by the use of it.  



MixMag Magazine

The magazine Mixmag uses the colours white, red, black and grey. It

also uses other colours in small areas of the magazine. The target audience is for males and females aged between 18-28 and they will have an interest in dance music, grime and club culture. The white colour is very bright and will attract readers into looking at the magazines because it contrasts with the black background and image. Black is a dark and mysterious colour, this can link with the genre of the magazine as it’s about club culture. It resembles how in a club it’s usually very dark with strobes of light.

 The strobes of light are represented by the different weird shapes on the cover which include the colours blue, purple and green. These colours stand out on the black background and the use of abstract shapes suggests the club/grime genre of music.

The use of red connotes energy, power and passion. The colour red is used on the coverlines, taglines and around the magazine as a border. The three main colours red, black and white all complement each other well and they relate to the type of magazine it is which will attract the target audience into buying it.