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In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create a magazine cover in Affinity Photo.
Before you begin, go to the following links to download the images, fonts, and mockup used in this tutorial.
Step 1
First, go to File > New. Go to Print and select the A4 document size which is 8.5 in x 11 in. Change the Document Units to Inches and set the DPI to 300.
Step 2
Next, go to File > Open and select the image you downloaded.
Step 3
Go to the Layers Panel and click the Adjustments icon. Select the Curves adjustment. Click the pint on the left and move it to the right until it meets the beginning of the graph. Then, slide the point slightly up. Now, click and add a point in the middle, then drag it up some. After that, select the point on the right and slide it slightly to the left.
Step 4
Now, click the Adjustments icon in the Layers Panel and select the Recolor adjustment. Set the Hue to 200%, Saturation to 62%, and the Lightness to -10%. Change the Blend Mode to Glow.
Step 5
Once you’ve done that, click the Blend Ranges icon beside the Blend Mode. Select the point on the left in the Underlying Composition Ranges and drag it down slightly above the second line. Then, slide the point to the right. Next, click and add a point to n the line and drag it down some. Now, click and add a point on the curve and drag it down. After that, click the point on the right and drag it down slightly below the first line.
Step 6
Select the two adjustments layers and the background layer. Press CTRL + ALT + Shift + E to merge the three layers together. Now, select the merged layer. Copy the layer and paste it onto the magazine document.
Step 7
Next, turn on Snapping in the Toolbar. Then, go to the Transform Panel and turn on the Lock Aspect Ratio. Now, take the Move Tool and resize the image. Center the image on the document.
Step 8
With the merged layer selected, press CTRL + J to duplicate the image. Turn the original image off and label it original.
Step 9
Select the duplicated layer. Now, grab the Inpainting Tool from the Tools Panel. Take the tool and remove the piece of hair that’s sticking up on the lady’s head.
Step 10
Now, press CTRL + R to activate the rulers. Or go to the View menu and check Show Rulers. Then, take the Move Tool and grab a guideline from the left side and place it around the .3 in mark. Next, grab another guideline from the left side. Place it on the first ticks after the 8.
Step 11
After that, take the Move Tool and drag a guideline from the top and place it .3 in horizontally. Next, grab one more guideline from the top and place it 3 ticks above the 11.
Step 12
Once you’ve done that, go to the View menu and select the Lock Guides. Turn Snapping back on if you turned it off.
Step 13
Grab the Artistic Text Tool from the Tools Panel. Type the word VISIONARY in ALL CAPS. Select the text and go to the Font Family and change the font to Audrey Bold. Place the text at the top beneath the guideline and center it.
Step 14
With the text still selected, go to the Swatches Panel. Double click on the fill color to bring up the Color Chooser. Then, enter the following hex code #0E17B6.
Step 15
Now, grab the Artistic Text Tool again. Take the tool and click on the right side of the cover. Type Top 10. Select the text and go to the Font Family. Set the text to Didot Regular. Now, select the word Top. Go to the Swatches Panel and double-click on the fill color. Set the text to the following hex code #E66B0E. Next, select the 10. Then, change its color to the following hex code #19EAE3.
Step 16
With the text layer still selected, grab the Move Tool. Next, press CTRL + Shift and drag a copy of the text below the original one. Now, type the word Shocking and set the text to the same color as the # 10 which is #19EAE3. Set the size of the text to 45 pt.
Step 17
Next, grab the Move Tool again. Select the text layer. Then, press CTRL + J three times to duplicate the text layer. Take the Move Tool and drag the 3 duplicated layers beneath the first duplicated text layer. Now select these 3 text layers and change the color to the same color as the word Top which is #E66B0E.
Step 18
In the first duplicated layer, type the word Spring. Next, type the word Fashion in the second duplicated layer, and type the word Looks in the third text layer. Set the other 4 layers to 37 pt. Select all 5 of the text layers. Then, go to the Alignment Panel. Select Align Right and Alight Vertically. Hit Apply.
Step 19
Take the Move Tool. Select one of the text layers. Press CTRL + Shift and drag a copy of the text to the left side of the magazine. Type the name Joan Lee and set the color to the turquoise-looking color we previously used.
Step 20
Now, take the Move Tool and select the 3 orange text layers on the right. Press CTRL + Shift and drag a copy of the layers to the left side of the cover. Select the first text layer and type Exclusive Interview. On the second text layer type With The Mode. Then, on the third text layer, type Turned Designer.
Step 21
Select all four of the text layers. Go to the Alignment Panel. Select Align Left and Align Vertically.
Step 22
Now, select the three orange text layers on the left with the Move Tool. Press CTRL + Shift and drag a copy of these layers to the area that you see on the screen.
Step 23
Next, select the first text layer and type How to Dress For Spring. Select the second text layer and type Shorts. Then, select the third text layer and type Dresses.
Step 24
With the third text layer selected, press CTRL + J two times. Place the two duplicated layers beneath the original text layer the way you see it on the screen. Now, select the first duplicated layer and type Accessories. Then, select the second duplicated text layer and type & More.
Step 25
After that, select the four text layers beneath the How to Dress for Spring text. Indent these layers. With the layers still selected, go to the Swatches Panel and set the color of the text to the turquoise color.
Step 26
Now, select all five of the text layers. Then, go to the Alignment Panel and select Align Vertically.
Step 27
Select one of the text layers. Press CTRL + J to duplicate the layer. Place the duplicated layer where you see it on the screen. Type 15 Trendsetters You Should Know About. Select the # 15 and set the color to the turquoise color. Center this text layer on the magazine the way you see it on the screen.
Now, we’ll be adding some finishing touches to the magazine cover in Affinity Photo.
Step 28
Go to File > Open and click the barcode image and drag it onto the document. Take the Move Tool and resize the barcode. Place it in the same area you see it on the screen.
Step 29
Now, go to View and uncheck the Lock Guides and uncheck Show Guides.
Step 30
Select the background picture in the Layers Panel. Now, click the Adjustments icon and select the Brightness/Contrast adjustment. Set the Brightness to 15% and the Contrast to -5%.
Step 31
In the Layers Panel, unlock the background picture. Then, take the Move Tool and select everything. Press CTRL + ALT + Shift + E to merge the layers together. Turn the other layers off.
Step 32
Go to the mockup link. Scroll down and click the Download button. Once the file downloads, go to the file. Right-click on the folder and select Extract All to extract the file. Then, go to the extracted folder. Open the magazine mockup folder. Next, open the magazine with flowers mockup file in Affinity Photo.
Step 33
Turn off the layer at the top. Next, open the Magazine group. Double click on the Your Image Here layer. Next, go back to the magazine cover you created. Select the merged layer and copy it. Then, paste it onto the embedded tab.
Step 34
Grab the Move Tool. Go to the Transform Panel and turn on the Lock Aspect Ratio if it’s not on. Then, take the Move Tool and resize the cover to fit the document. After that, delete the other two layers in the Layers Panel and close the tab.
Step 35
Now, select the Light Effects group. Turn off Snapping in the Toolbar. Then, take the Move Tool and resize the Light Effects group so that it’s covering the magazine.
Congratulations, this tutorial is complete! You now know how to create a magazine cover in Affinity Photo. For more Affinity Photo tutorials, check out this article on how to create a vintage travel poster.
