Gregory McLaney documents the 11 step process for creating a double page spread article layout in Photoshop and InDesign. The steps include editing photographs, adding design elements like page numbers and mastheads, manipulating text, and using brushes and filters to link the two pages together with paint splatters. The final layout is designed to have a grungy, hip-hop aesthetic and feel cohesive across the spread.

1. Gregory McLaney
Stages of Production – Double Page Spread Article
Step 1: This is my original photograph. I'm going to use this for one of the
pages on my double page spread. First I need to manipulate this image in
Photoshop.
Step 2: The above screen shot is the edited version of the original long shot. I
edited this image before I started to add it to the magazine. To create the
effects in the composition; firstly, I added a hue/saturation layer and changed
the saturation to 20%. Then, I added a brightness/contrast layer and changed

2. Gregory McLaney
it to 20%. I also added a sepia tint using hue and saturation. Finally, I added a
vignette to create a dark hip-hop feel.
Step 3: In this next step I added my page number, mast head and date in the
bottom left hand corner. I used the original .png file mast head and I used the
text tool to add the date.
Step 4: Here is the edited main image of graffiti in Photoshop. I edited this

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image by adjusting the curves, brightness, contrasts hue and saturation. Plus,
I added a vignette to create a grungy feel. This image is going to be used for
my right hand page of the double page spread.
Step 5: Once I had both images in the composition I decided I needed some
typography. So, I added this text from 'dafont.com'. I then added a drop
shadow and stroke using blending modes in Photoshop. Once I had done this
I inserted it back in to indesign. I then added a flasher in the top right saying
'Impact Sounds' I designed this by using Photoshop brushes to create a paint
splash. Once this was done I added the text then placed the image in to
indesign and positioned it in the top right with the move tool.

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Step 6: In this step of my article production I added the article, which I had
previously, wrote. I used white text with a drop shadow so it's readable
against any colours. I then added the first letter drop caps and I made it red to
stand out even more. I finally added a caption with a red background (using
the shape tool) The caption text is 'Myrid Pro', bold italics with a drop shadow.
Step 7: In this step I added two shapes in the background of the first image
using the shape tool in Photoshop. I also added text with two lines going off
the artists. I did all this in Photoshop using the shape and text tools. However,
I wasn't happy with this design and thought it didn't fit the genre of hip-hop so
I changed it in the following steps.

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Step 8: In this step I replaced the small text and shapes with a large text,
which has a shadow reflection. To create this effect I put the text in Photoshop
and blended it with the ‘exclusion’-blending blending mode. I then flipped the
text vertically and made it in to a shadow reflection with the opacity turned
down to make it look faded. Finally I added an ocean ripple water filter to
make the text look even more like a reflection.
Step 9: I felt now that my article was nearly finished it needed to have more of
a link between the two images. So, using Photoshop brushes I created
various paint splodges with the intentions to place them over my double page
article.

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Step 10: I placed the paint splodges over the double page article and it
created the effect I was looking for. It links with the themes and connotations
of the hip-hop genre and it also brings both pages together so they don't look
like two separate pages. They're both linked now and it creates an overall
better composition.
Step 11 (Final Step): Now that my double page spread is almost complete I
need to add the writer of the article. So I added 'Writer: Greg McLaney' in the

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bottom right. I used 'Myrid pro' font with white and bold. This finished my
whole image creating a professional look.