Conventions of magazines.

A masthead is a normal occurrence on a magazine splash. These are usually in a specific typeface and very rarely change, especially not with every issue like everything else on the splash. This is because the style and typeface is significant and representative to the magazine and it's institution. The positioning of the mast head doesn't change either, it stays in the top left corner since this is the part usually visible to consumers in a shop.

The main image of the magazine splash is nearly always a shot of a person. These are centred in the middle of the splash but usually form the background of the magazine splash often too. The eyes of the model are usually central to the image and the face is in close up. The style and nature of the shot differs with the genre of the magazine, however, but is made this way to reflect both the institution and audience.

Coverlines are usually distributed around the main image but placed strategically as not to detract from the image. They are usually in smaller but still clear and concise enough to be read easily. The language used within these coverlines reflects the magazine and institution. For example: a fashion magazine would use language within a lexical field of clothes and style. A music magazine would use lexical fields around artists and bands, however, still differing with the genre of music the specific magazine is centred around. Or a women's magazine would usually have shock coverlines to entice their consumers.

Inkeeping with coverlines, there is also usually a main coverline. This has the same features of a usual coverline however, this one is very large, usually taking up about a quarter of the whole splash area. This is in a large and bold font to grab the attention of the consumer. This is usually where the main headline or article is featured as a way to encourage consumers to actually buy the magazine.

A selling line is also seen on most splashes. This is a short and snappy description of the magazine's main selling point. These, like everything else are different for each magazine in terms of language used.

A bar code is also seen on all magazine front covers, and regardless of the institution it is the same, standard bar code used by retailers.

Datelines are used on splashes. These give the month, year or issue number of the magazine, a month in advance though because magazines hit the news-stands the month before the cover date. Datelines are usually displayed with or near the cover-price of the magazine.

Model credit for the main image is only sometimes given on a splash. This depends on both the genre of the magazine and also whom the model is. If the model is a famous celebrity, for example Bill Kaulitz or Eminem, then his name would be given on the cover either in the main cover line or a smaller cover line, however if the model is merely an average woman (as seen on many women's magazines such as Take A Break or Bella) then model credit isn't usually given.