The concept of a digital magazine is rather simple, and yet completely capable of being as complex as needed. The core is idea was originally created after watching a DVD movie in which it had a picture “Gallery”. In some of the picture I had noticed that their was quit a degree of text intermixed with various pictures, sounds and even video. This suddenly sparked an idea. What if you build a magazine using these very concepts. Pick your favorite magazine, “popular Mechanics”, “Vogue”, “Entertainment” exedra. Could all be converted to a simple CD, or even DVD Rom. By doing so you could greatly reduce the production cost. After all, 90% of the populous has access to either a DVD player, Computer, or even a laptop. Because of this margin, a DVD Rom could be applied to any magazine sales in which instead of selling a Paper Magazine which has a wide variety of costs to produce, both ink related, shipping and distribution, a Simple Recorded media like a CD / DVD Rom has a mere fraction of the production price. Thus the smallest Business to the largest could readily produce their written material for a fraction of what it would cost to print the same material. The only printing needed would be a leaflet, or internal pamphlet needed for the Rom itself. Everything would be on the Rom.Since we are using Rom technology, we can add in the ability to store backup copies of the Magazine on the given disk. By using such technologies as “PDF” or “Doc” files we could easily produce a written material following standard writing techniques. Then Save it as either file type and finally store it on the DVD along with the additional material needed for that given releases production. Now, Once you have a Digital document, the trick here is to convert that entire document to “Pictures”. You simply convert each page to a picture either by doing a “Screen Capture”, (Print Screen), or if you have the document in “PDF”, simply do a “Convert document to Image’ and book you have a simple file full of Graphic images ready for production. Now the next step is simply creating a DVD or CD Rom that has a “Gallery” structure. Transfer all of the picture files to the given gallery, and viola, you have a basic digital magazine. Adjust the settings and picture size a little, as some sizes are not appropriate for some TV screens and off you go.
Now, since we have the basics down for creating a basic Digital magazine, we can add to it another added venue. Some DVD’s have the added option of background music, Videos, and even Web links, the same could be applied here. The difference is the level of complexity one applies to their design. One can apply Graphic images to their pages, or if they so choose even apply video as you would to any web page. Thus when a reader is reading your Magazine, they can have a video playing in a small box correlating to the given text. One could even apply Music, for the background based on which page the reader is on, or even apply a web link connecting them to additional information. The List is near endless of potential options that such a media product can produce. The catch here is simple, the more work and complexity put into the project the more versatile it can be. Since a standard DVD is 4.7 Gigs, you have plenty of space to create a wide variety of images, Music, and even video with your magazine. The production options are of course endless. Plus, since most DVD players will accept CD ROMs, You can release a Lighter simpler version of the magazine. You could produce a Magazine that is only text w/ pictures for a fraction of the standard costs of production. The most complex part of producing any media like this is the amount of work put into it and how it’s applied.
