Custom Cover Art Thread

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Damage Inc.

Hey everyone.

I wanted to create a custom artwork for a DVD-case, but I'm wondering how I should go about it:

Designing the artwork is one thing, that's the part I'm good at.
However, in what program will I need to do this first of all? Is Photoshop the way to go, or is there something else like "InDesign" or something like that?

Then also, how do I create it in a program so that when it's printed, it's in the right size?
I mean, there's the front, the back and the spine, and then also the overall size of the whole print.
How do I do this? How will I know that the spine in the center of the full image is in the right position and the correct width and all that?

Is there a tutorial for this or is it as easy as creating some kind of template in a program or something?


Please keep in mind, if you suggest any sizes for me to work with in a program, that I'm doing this for a DVD-sized case.


Greetings!

Photoshop would probably be the best way to go, but only if you can afford to dish out almost a thousand dollars for it. That's why for now I just go with Photoshop Elements. It doesn't have all of the features that Photoshop has, but it's good enough for me, and only cost about $100. They let you download a full 30-day trial of each program.

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

Photoshop would probably be the best way to go, but only if you can afford to dish out almost a thousand dollars for it. That's why for now I just go with Photoshop Elements. It doesn't have all of the features that Photoshop has, but it's good enough for me, and only cost about $100. They let you download a full 30-day trial of each program.

Yeah? Not InDesign? Because I had a look at it today and it seems to really be for templates for books and other prints and all that stuff.
Only, I don't know how to work with it (yet), cause I couldn't even figure out how to insert an image.

But I have Photoshop, because torrents let me download a full version.
And I'm sorry, I buy films on home-video and games as well, and I do not condone piracy, but I won't accept ridiculous prices for software.

I already did a quick mock-up in Photoshop, but it seems a bit hard to get everything position.
I mean, InDesign seems to be more the kind of program for that and Photoshop more to really do the editing-magic.
Just... no idea how it works. XD Guess it's another case of finding out and getting used to the workflow, which is usually a drag.

[Ill_Be_Back]

Originally Posted by patch5129

More work from Nissen

I love the Batman and Terminator 2 covers there awesome!!

[jfcarbel]

Originally Posted by Ill_Be_Back

I love the Batman and Terminator 2 covers there awesome!!

How does one get these Nissen covers? I can't determine how to download them. IS there a site that has all his covers to browse as I am impressed with many I see and would like to know what others there are.

[Tim H.]

Originally Posted by runnersdialzero

I think i am the main culprit with the Criterion covers. I know many people find it odd that I am doing it.

For me, I love Criterion's cover design. So clean looking. I also love the case they use. I really don't like the floating heads covers that studios put out. I love Criterion's minimal designs. I kept finding so much great artwork for movies that weren't Criterions that I decided to make them "Criterions". I really don't care if it says Criterion on it. But since I already had a bunch of their movies, I thought I might as well have a uniform collection.

Plus, it's been a LOT of fun making the covers. Printing them out myself. It's been a blast.

It's an unusual idea and looks like you're having fun with the hobby so why the heck not I never knew the hobby existed until I came to this site and there have been many bad covers on the racks, much better ones here. Thanks for the reply.

[Scorpion Soldier]

Main image should be familiar since it's also part of my avatar, but i've been working on this for a while:

I know the Mark VII shouldn't be on there since it isn't used till The Avengers, but i liked the look so much i couldn't resist using it.

[runnersdialzero]

Anybody who comes over to my house and ever views my collection, will most likely not even know what a Criterion is. They will just see my collection and notice they all look the same. This is mostly for my enjoyment only since I will look at them the most.

It's no different then if I was making a new cover for every movie, I just happen to be using the Criterion template.

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

Main image should be familiar since it's also part of my avatar, but i've been working on this for a while:

I know the Mark VII shouldn't be on there since it isn't used till The Avengers, but i liked the look so much i couldn't resist using it.

I'm not the biggest Marvel-geek, so how can you tell it's the Mark VII?
All the ones I knew were, that gigantic rough one he made in that cave, later on the colorless "War Machine"-one,
then the colored one with the round power-source-thing and then on to the one that comes out of the suitcase and the one with the triangular thing.
So, what indicates this is version 7 and not like version 3 or so?

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by Damage Inc.

I'm not the biggest Marvel-geek, so how can you tell it's the Mark VII?
All the ones I knew were, that gigantic rough one he made in that cave, later on the colorless "War Machine"-one,
then the colored one with the round power-source-thing and then on to the one that comes out of the suitcase and the one with the triangular thing.
So, what indicates this is version 7 and not like version 3 or so?

The pads next to the shoulders are part of the added back thrusters. The gauntlets are thicker as they include additional weapons/tech. The Mark VI introduced silver parts, this one has them as well but in different areas. Plus the circular design of his chest piece indicates that the design is a combination of the Mark IV with the Mark VI design along with some new features.

[DrrnHarr]

Originally Posted by Damage Inc.

I mean, InDesign seems to be more the kind of program for that and Photoshop more to really do the editing-magic.

We have the the complete Adobe Creative Suite 4 and InDesign is the better program for making custom covers. The only reason I use Photoshop is because most of the templates etc that I use are in Photoshop.

If I coujld find those same templates in InDesign I would switch in a heartbeat because InDesign is the better software.

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by DrrnHarr

We have the the complete Adobe Creative Suite 4 and InDesign is the better program for making custom covers. The only reason I use Photoshop is because most of the templates etc that I use are in Photoshop.

If I coujld find those same templates in InDesign I would switch in a heartbeat because InDesign is the better software.

Originally Posted by Imrahil2001

That's probably only true if you don't really manipulate the images much.

Yeah, I was thinking about this. You can't really do much in terms of editing images together seamlessly in InDesign right?
Like using brushes and all that kind of stuff...

Maybe it's best to first edit the artwork in Photoshop, and then assemble it in a template in InDesign, getting it ready to print.

I'm having a real hard time only positioning and sizing images with InDesign though.
They keep deforming even though I click all kinds of "lock aspect-ratio"-buttons and all that.
And I though Photoshop was hard to work with... It's Word all over again! D: :P

[G:Box]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

Main image should be familiar since it's also part of my avatar, but i've been working on this for a while:

I know the Mark VII shouldn't be on there since it isn't used till The Avengers, but i liked the look so much i couldn't resist using it.

Would you move him slightly to the right, so you can show his blaster?
Just to test

[Scorpion Soldier]

This better?

Moving the hand wasn't hard as the image i made for it extends beyond the actual front, but the problem was the leg on the right. The original image of IM is much more slanted and therefore didn't have the lower part of the leg, so i had to copy the left leg and edit it a bit.

[G:Box]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

This better?

[Show spoiler]
Moving the hand wasn't hard as the image i made for it extends beyond the actual front, but the problem was the leg on the right. The original image of IM is much more slanted and therefore didn't have the lower part of the leg, so i had to copy the left leg and edit it a bit.

Yes!

I LOVE

[Torrente]

Me too!

Much much better!

[mdewater]

Originally Posted by runnersdialzero

I think i am the main culprit with the Criterion covers. I know many people find it odd that I am doing it.

It's not odd. I love your covers thus far. And I agree about the cases - the clear look is so much better than the blue amarays. I mean, I get that they have to differentiate bd from dvd, but seriously, I think people get it by now. Stop ruining otherwise great covers with a blue case.

I'm somewhat surprised that no one has tried some mock Criterion Disney covers.

[Steve1981]

Originally Posted by Nissen

A recent commission. The client asked me to share this freely, so PMs are welcome.

Just an Amazing Cover for this film.

[retablo]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

Like he said, he likes the simplistic design of the Criterion covers, but decided to make all of them Criterions just to make his collection seem more uniform.

It's kind of like putting a Porsche body on the shell of a Pinto. You still don't have a Porsche, no matter what it looks like.

[Damage Inc.]

Originally Posted by mdewater

It's not odd. I love your covers thus far. And I agree about the cases - the clear look is so much better than the blue amarays. I mean, I get that they have to differentiate bd from dvd, but seriously, I think people get it by now. Stop ruining otherwise great covers with a blue case.

I'm somewhat surprised that no one has tried some mock Criterion Disney covers.

I've been saying this ever since I first saw them, and it grew on me, but just the other day I realized once again it's pretty ugly.
Many people might be fascinated with all the "blu", but that's just obsessive, cause in a design-point-of-view it's just plain wrong.
My suggestion was always that they should have made the same case, only black.
So also the semi-transparent kind of thing, and glossy, but then just colored black.
Cause the size of the case and the Blu-ray Disc logo should be plenty to show it's Blu-ray.
The clear "color" is even better though, it also allows for the artwork on the inside to show through better.
But then, maybe it would be slightly confusing to people with PS3-games having that same case.

Speaking of these cases, are the clear ones available anywhere in Blu-ray-fashion?
Cause I'm thinking about replacing a couple of "blu" ones.

[mdewater]

Originally Posted by retablo

It's kind of like putting a Porsche body on the shell of a Pinto. You still don't have a Porsche, no matter what it looks like.

Yeah, but you have a damn nice looking car.

Also, Criterion sells their cases - you can buy a single one or a pack of 5. http://www.criterion.com/shop_produc...ay-case-5-pack