The main attributes that goes in for a magazine that the cover needs no words that have been added to the cover the cover should just be the only one doing the talking not the captions the picture its self.If your crowd does not know what you are looking at how can you tell them what are they looking with a picture the picture has to a subject that clear and people know if you have cover lines make sure that there clear and readable don't write a paragraph about you topic just write a few small words that are strong and tell the meaning of the magazine.If you have colors make sure that your colors match you picture. the cover lines are the most important part besides the cover page