Custom Cover Art Thread

[AmishParadise]

I just implemented a fun little update to the Shout Select version of my "Surviving the Game" cover art. It's amazing what a difference a small pop out can make. Before and after images of the pop out as seen in Photoshop shown below. (Preview image available in my prior post updated accordingly.)

POP OUT (OFF):


POP OUT (ON):


And for those wondering what that "PIC 02 (ALAMY)" layer looks like. See below.



Yes, I removed all the watermarks. Paying Alamy for the image just wasn't within my budget this month.

[AmishParadise]

I decided this morning to rebuild the front portion of my "Surviving the Game" cover art. When initially creating the front portion I was playing it by ear. With the steps involved now established I went back to square one and was able to precisely implement what I had done originally. This time I was able to be more precise however, the end result offering a nice improvement over my original attempt.

(The full size images for each version have been updated accordingly. Credit blocks updated as well to address some spacing issues.)

That being said, I thought I'd post example pics showing the progression from the source image used to the final result, a "look at the man behind the curtain" if you will. As you'll see below, it wasn't just a matter of resizing the source image and slapping some text on top of it. There was far more work involved in this case.

Source image used...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Image resized while maintaining the correct proportions, then positioned vertically...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Background from top to bottom outside target on each side stretched not including floating heads...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Image de-saturated so floating heads no longer had sunburns...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

White level increased so that the sky seen through the trees popped more...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Increased white level made floating heads too bright so they were removed...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

White level layer and layer prior to increasing white level combined...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Touch up work around target and in and around floating heads...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Title treatment and textual elements added...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Transparent layer of black placed on top of background so title treatment and textual elements stood out more...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Gradient added to bottom to give "Also Starring" text more pop...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

Gradient added to sides to give tagline more pop and overall image better balance...

(Click on the image above to view a larger version.)

The progression shown above is far more dramatic when viewing the images at full size. The small example pics still do a nice job of demonstrating the progression though I think. Well, the larger versions of the example pics do. I'll mention this as well. I might have preferred the front portion of the cover art to appear brighter, but my goal was to strike a balance with the spine and back portion while at the same time drawing more focus on Ice-T. In any event, just thought I'd share. I appreciate everyone indulging me.

[John_Carpenter]

Rosemary's Baby



The Exorcist

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by BillyDuffyLove77

Do any of you have a high quality scan of the front & back cover of this beauty? I love this film, but can only get it as a Mill Creek double bill job.

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Reser...lu-ray/152972/

I resumed my work on the "Reservation Road" cover art today. Preview image provided below for your viewing pleasure.


(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

There's still a few items I need to address, but it's pretty much there. I'll make the full size image available next week.

[AmishParadise]

I spent some time today replacing the collage of images on the back portion of the "Reservation Road" cover art I'm working on. The images I was using prior were carried over from the DVD cover art, the image quality leaving much to be desired. The updated images make for a nice improvement. See below.

Collage of images lifted from DVD cover art...


Searching online I was able to find the source images used for the first and second pics. For the first pic I worked up two different versions. The version below reveals more of the scene in question. The other version mirrors the framing used by the DVD cover art.

For the second pic I just mirrored the framing used by the DVD cover art. Well, the portion inside the frame anyway. The pop out here was a bit tricky to implement. Quite a bit of finesse was required to cleanly lift Jennifer Connelly's hair off the original background.

Images from DVD cover art replaced...


For the third and fourth pics I just rolled my own. The images aren't the same as what was used for the DVD cover art, but both work well. I looked online a number of times, but was only able to find the source images for the first and second pics so. Can't win 'em all I suppose.

[John_Carpenter]

Child's Play 2


Child's Play 3


Bride of Chucky


Seed of Chucky


Curse of Chucky


Cult of Chucky

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by John_Carpenter

Child's Play 2

[Show spoiler]
Child's Play 3


Bride of Chucky


Seed of Chucky


Curse of Chucky


Cult of Chucky

A suggestion if I may. The tagline on the back portion above each overview section, each look very understated. The tagline should grab your attention much like the title treatment, but to a lesser degree. There's nothing particularly interesting going on in the background behind the taglines anyway so why not make each more pronounced. You've got plenty of room to work with above each overview. Where possible I'd think about increasing the font weight and size. In all cases I'd go with a brighter color red, a "this is a horror film" red. Perhaps not as red as the title treatment, but much brighter than what's being used now. Anyway, just my two cents. And excellent job overall of course. Thanks for sharing!

[phraseturner]

I've whipped up a 4K Exorcist to combine my 40th anniversary 3-disc blu set with the new 2-disc 4K UHD release. It is cobbled together from some elements/text of the back of the 4K retail cover, some fan poster art for the front, and other older covers... just stuff I found by Googling. Is it great? Nope. Will it serve? For me, yes...


Exorcist 4K 5-disc by sgood3, on Flickr

[Sowhatwhocaresyo]

a.jpg

[Mikezilla3k]

Originally Posted by Sowhatwhocaresyo

Attachment 294448

Every time I see that artwork, I always chuckle at them using the Spider-Punk and the Scarlet Spider designs from the Insomniac games instead of the one from ATSV.

[John_Carpenter]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

A suggestion if I may. The tagline on the back portion above each overview section, each look very understated. The tagline should grab your attention much like the title treatment, but to a lesser degree. There's nothing particularly interesting going on in the background behind the taglines anyway so why not make each more pronounced. You've got plenty of room to work with above each overview. Where possible I'd think about increasing the font weight and size. In all cases I'd go with a brighter color red, a "this is a horror film" red. Perhaps not as red as the title treatment, but much brighter than what's being used now. Anyway, just my two cents. And excellent job overall of course. Thanks for sharing!

I completely agree! I should've thought of it, thanks for pointing it out.

[BillyDuffyLove77]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

I resumed my work on the "Reservation Road" cover art today. Preview image provided below for your viewing pleasure.

[Show spoiler]
(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

There's still a few items I need to address, but it's pretty much there. I'll make the full size image available next week.

Wow! Fabulous work as always AmishParadise! Thank you... really terrific!

You have a PM from me by the way

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by BillyDuffyLove77

Wow! Fabulous work as always AmishParadise! Thank you... really terrific!

Thanks. It's getting there slowly but surely. Today I addressed the textual elements on the back portion, the ones not appearing in white. I had carried that creamy yellow color over from the DVD cover art. The DVD cover art uses different artwork for the front portion though. The color was a good choice in that case, but not such a good choice when paired with the artwork I'm using for the front portion. That being said, I came up with a nice solution. End result shown below.

Before:

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

After:

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

The difference before and after is quite dramatic I think. The back portion actually looks like its intended to go with the front portion now. That creamy yellow color just didn't a pair well with the front portion. For the review text I added a clipping mask to each. For the other textual elements I went with a bit richer color, one that tied in better with the updated review text.
__________________________________

And why not, here's another "man behind the curtain" segment for those interested.

Initially I just tried changing the font color, but wasn't happy with the end result no matter what color I went with. The thought then occurred to me. If I want the text to pair better with the front portion why not physically bring the front portion to the text, hence my use of a clipping mask. See below for the play by play.

Prior to adding clipping mask...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Portion of font artwork copied, resized, mirrored and positioned on top of review text...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Layer above review text set as clipping mask (Ctrl+Alt+G)...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Clipping layer opacity set to 65% for a more subtle effect while also making text brighter...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Text calling out title within "Overview" and below "Credit Block" updated to pair better with "Review" text...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

[HonestJohn]

It seems the US 4K Release cover is inspiring a lot of people. I haven't made a cover in quite a while but I cobbled together 2 using stone knives and bearskins (Paint.net Free). I always liked the original poster art for this so I just combined a few covers from previous releases. Then I also found a poster which I thought was pretty cool, altered the color to grey-scale, and used that as a base for the second cover.

EDIT: Various changes to back cover. (10/2/23)

[BillyDuffyLove77]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

Thanks. It's getting there slowly but surely. Today I addressed the textual elements on the back portion, the ones not appearing in white. I had carried that creamy yellow color over from the DVD cover art. The DVD cover art uses different artwork for the front portion though. The color was a good choice in that case, but not such a good choice when paired with the artwork I'm using for the front portion. That being said, I came up with a nice solution. End result shown below.

[Show spoiler]Before:

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

After:

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

The difference before and after is quite dramatic I think. The back portion actually looks like its intended to go with the front portion now. That creamy yellow color just didn't a pair well with the front portion. For the review text I added a clipping mask to each. For the other textual elements I went with a bit richer color, one that tied in better with the updated review text.
__________________________________

And why not, here's another "man behind the curtain" segment for those interested.

Initially I just tried changing the font color, but wasn't happy with the end result no matter what color I went with. The thought then occurred to me. If I want the text to pair better with the front portion why not physically bring the front portion to the text, hence my use of a clipping mask. See below for the play by play.

[Show spoiler]Prior to adding clipping mask...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Portion of font artwork copied, resized, mirrored and positioned on top of review text...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Layer above review text set as clipping mask (Ctrl+Alt+G)...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Clipping layer opacity set to 65% for a more subtle effect while also making text brighter...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Text calling out title within "Overview" and below "Credit Block" updated to pair better with "Review" text...

(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

Thank you so much AmishParadise! A truly great job!

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by BillyDuffyLove77

Oh wow! I really like that AmishParadise!
I'm torn now... as I really like the Dutch cover too (I just can't find it).

I decided to work up an alternate version of my "Reservation Road" cover art this evening. See below.


(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

And here's what it looks like if I mirror the color scheme Mill Creek used for the title treatment.


(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

It's a work in progress anyway. The artwork I'm using for the front portion isn't of the best quality. I'm going to take the rest of the week here and see if I can improve upon that. Wish me luck!

[BillyDuffyLove77]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

I decided to work up an alternate version of my "Reservation Road" cover art this evening. See below.

[Show spoiler]
(Click on the image above to view a larger preview image.)

The front portion above is a work in progress. I should have both versions of the cover art completed in the next few days so. Won't be long now.

Hello AmishParadise!
Wow! That's it... that is simply awesome!
Thank you so much.
Great work!

[Heartbreaksoup]

Five new Fake Criterions:
Satan's Blood, The Witches, Captain Harlock: Arcadia of My Youth, Dick Tracy, and The Slumber Party Massacre, which was actually on their real channel in July, wildly. Hope you like!

[Heartbreaksoup]

Originally Posted by HonestJohn

I think one reason the original artwork has resonated for so long is that it's just so simple that it sticks in the head. Doing anything else just seems unnecessary... and yet, I really like what you did with this. It's very interesting and busy, but not crowded. Tradition be darned, I say go bold every once in a while!

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by BillyDuffyLove77

Hello AmishParadise! Wow! That's it... that is simply awesome! Thank you so much. Great work!

You're welcome and thanks for the continued kind words. On the menu for today was the spine for the alternate version. The elements on the spine were originally just sitting on a solid background color. I liked that, but decided to juice it up a bit. The spine is more vibrant now which I think I like better. Preview images updated accordingly. Check it out when you get a chance.