Custom Cover Art Thread

[Justanothercrow421]

The Terminator (1984)


*Edit: just saw the above post. Total coincidence; no plans to update for 4K at the moment, but I might when that new release's specs are released.

and:

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

[Stringer-Bell]

Anyone doing a cover for 'Love Lies Bleeding (2024)'?

[Nissen]

Originally Posted by mjvmovieman

Anyone doing Terminator 4k?

I made the entire set back in 2020. Feel free to PM me for links.

[AmishParadise]

When working up cover art for this title I wasn't able to find the keyart all the DVD releases used for the back portion. The same moment shown in the film only provides a 10,000-foot view. See below.



This evening I decided to give it another go. Performing a few more searches online I was able to find the keyart in question. Well, the pic isn't identical to what the DVD releases used, but is very close. See below.



Naturally I revisited the cover art working up a new back portion. Before and after pics provided below.

Before:

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

After:

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

I'm digging the new back portion, but still like the 10,000-foot view. So what does everyone think? Perhaps I don't need to decide. I could just make another set available that uses the new back portion.

[Nissen]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

When working up cover art for this title I wasn't able to find the keyart all the DVD releases used for the back portion. The same moment shown in the film only provides a 10,000-foot view. See below.

[Show spoiler]

This evening I decided to give it another go. Performing a few more searches online I was able to find the keyart in question. Well, the pic isn't identical to what the DVD releases used, but is very close. See below.

[Show spoiler]

Naturally I revisited the cover art working up a new back portion. Before and after pics provided below.

[Show spoiler]Before:

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

After:

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

I'm digging the new back portion, but still like the 10,000-foot view. So what does everyone think? Perhaps I don't need to decide. I could just make another set available that uses the new back portion.

Your attention to detail, in this and other projects, is admirable. My hat's off :-)

[AmishParadise]

I just completed an alternate set of cover art for this title, the background image used for the back portions more closely matching the DVD releases. Along the way I improved all the spines, the items below the title treatment having been increased in size a bit providing for a cleaner look and better balance with the rest of the spine. To view and download see my prior post, here.
__________________________________

Okay, I think I'm done now. Well, for the time being anyway. Just added another set to the mix, a version of each where the background image for the back portion carries over into the spine. To view and download see my prior post linked to above.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by Nissen

I made the entire set (Terminator 4k/UHD) back in 2020. Feel free to PM me for links.

[Show spoiler]

Phenomenal work on this Terminator set. The cover art I'm using with my cataloging software for these titles at present is a mixed bag. A unified look across all titles would be sweet. Must have some link action. Sending you a PM now.

[Justanothercrow421]

A Christmas Story (1983)

[eledoremassis02]

going through some older files and will be sharing some as I find them

The Dark Road (generic)

[Moviefan2k4]

OK y'all, I need some help here.

As some may know, I've designed a few DVD and Blu-Ray covers in the past, though admittedly not nearly as actively as some of the other artists around here. That said, I want to take the next step and start making covers for the 4K UHD cases, but I've run into a series of problems. Here's the rather long-winded rundown (sorry in advance for the rambling)...

(takes a deep breath)

So, the one constant between Blu-Ray and 4K UHD covers is the height, which is 1760 pixels, or about 5.87 inches at 300 ppi resolution. The front and back panels are a different matter though, because their width is determined by whether the case has a flat or rounded spine, and the artwork's design has to account for that. What I found with Blu-Ray covers was that the flat-spined cases usually permitted a width of 1540 pixels per panel, while the more rounded ones only allowed for a slightly shorter 1520.

Beyond all of this, it gets even more complicated. You'd think the major studios would use the same cases, appropriate for how many discs they hold...but nope! There's cases with slots on either side for two discs, cases with stackable hubs, and finally cases with swing trays inside. So all of these things present a very real challenge when trying to make your own covers.

For example, the films from the 4K releases of The Matrix trilogy each have 3 discs, and the cases feature both rounded spines plus a swing tray. Warner Bros. is responsible for those, but then I compared that type of case to the Shout! Factory 4K version of Escape From New York. That case has all the same features as the one used by Warner, yet its definitely at least a couple of millimeters thinner at the spine. Just for kicks, I also looked at the cases used by Universal for the Back to the Future trilogy, and they all have thinner cases of the same size, but the first two have individual hubs while the third case has a swing tray.

So unlike the days of Blu-Rays, where most of the cases were universal in design, the UHD format is much more diverse...and not in an easy way. My apologies if this appears too extreme in detail, but that's just how my mind works. I don't want to start creating covers again, and have them shift around or otherwise not fit properly.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice on this; I appreciate it.

[Nissen]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

[Show spoiler]OK y'all, I need some help here.

As some may know, I've designed a few DVD and Blu-Ray covers in the past, though admittedly not nearly as actively as some of the other artists around here. That said, I want to take the next step and start making covers for the 4K UHD cases, but I've run into a series of problems. Here's the rather long-winded rundown (sorry in advance for the rambling)...

(takes a deep breath)

So, the one constant between Blu-Ray and 4K UHD covers is the height, which is 1760 pixels, or about 5.87 inches at 300 ppi resolution. The front and back panels are a different matter though, because their width is determined by whether the case has a flat or rounded spine, and the artwork's design has to account for that. What I found with Blu-Ray covers was that the flat-spined cases usually permitted a width of 1540 pixels per panel, while the more rounded ones only allowed for a slightly shorter 1520.

Beyond all of this, it gets even more complicated. You'd think the major studios would use the same cases, appropriate for how many discs they hold...but nope! There's cases with slots on either side for two discs, cases with stackable hubs, and finally cases with swing trays inside. So all of these things present a very real challenge when trying to make your own covers.

For example, the films from the 4K releases of The Matrix trilogy each have 3 discs, and the cases feature both rounded spines plus a swing tray. Warner Bros. is responsible for those, but then I compared that type of case to the Shout! Factory 4K version of Escape From New York. That case has all the same features as the one used by Warner, yet its definitely at least a couple of millimeters thinner at the spine. Just for kicks, I also looked at the cases used by Universal for the Back to the Future trilogy, and they all have thinner cases of the same size, but the first two have individual hubs while the third case has a swing tray.

So unlike the days of Blu-Rays, where most of the cases were universal in design, the UHD format is much more diverse...and not in an easy way. My apologies if this appears too extreme in detail, but that's just how my mind works. I don't want to start creating covers again, and have them shift around or otherwise not fit properly.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer some advice on this; I appreciate it.

Yeah, these things can drive you crazy :-)
I suppose the only thing you can do is go for a happy medium. There is always some leeway, and worst case the final user will have to trim a mm. or so on each side. Just make sure you don't put text or other important info too near the edge. That's what gutters in the design is for.

Many years ago I just decided to go with the specs defined over at CustoManiacs, and I've slept well ever since.

Here's what CustoManiacs state in their template tread:

Blu-ray cases tend to come in several different sizes. Most important is the spine width measurement, which is typically either 11mm (approx size in USA and some Europe) or 14mm (Europe). Larger disc sets may also come in a 25mm spine format. We will allow some variation from the suggested cover sizes below but at a minimum the spine must be accurate in each case.

3118 (1523+72+1523) x 1762 (6mm spine)
3173 (1523+127+1523) x 1762 (10.75mm spine)
3120 (1490+140+1490) x 1748 (11.8mm spine)
3172 (1516+140+1516) x 1762 (11.8mm spine)
3172 (1501+170+1501) x 1762 (14mm spine)
3212 (1521+170+1521) x 1762 (14mm spine)
3224 (1523+178+1523) x 1762 (15mm spine - VIVA ELITE 5 DISC CASE)
3306 (1523+260+1523) x 1762 (22mm spine)
3317 (1511+295+1511) x 1762 (25mm spine)

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Nissen

Yeah, these things can drive you crazy :-)
I suppose the only thing you can do is go for a happy medium. There is always some leeway, and worst case the final user will have to trim a mm. or so on each side. Just make sure you don't put text or other important info too near the edge. That's what gutters in the design is for.

Many years ago I just decided to go with the specs defined over at CustoManiacs, and I've slept well ever since.

Here's what CustoManiacs state in their template tread:

I've been a CustoManiacs member for over 17 years, and very few of my designs have adhered strictly to their numbers, but they've rarely taken any of them down. Most of my work has been based on my own measurements, because unlike the retail covers which kept shifting around, I wanted mine to fit snugly without bunching. As such, the most leeway I ever really allowed was about 1/16" total, or 1.7 mm. I've also been extremely precise when trimming my printed covers, because I didn't want to cut any of the image off or leave any white behind - my goal was always to hit the mark perfectly. And sometimes if I messed up, I'd gladly reprint and do it again. Call me obsessive if you want, but I've been accused of much worse in my life.

[Moviefan2k4]

A small but notable update, folks - after doing more of my own number-crunching (and some practical comparisons) early this morning, I realized that Lionsgate, Paramount, Warner Bros., and Universal all use the same 11 mm case. Shout Factory and Warner both use different cases for titles that hold 3 discs, but that's all I've come across so far. I don't own any other 4K titles yet (Disney for example), so I can't measure their cases. But I'll be sure to post more info once that changes. Peace!

[bifi]

John Wick 1-4 (4k)

[AmishParadise]

I worked up the below earlier today in the process of contributing a couple images to the Blu-ray.com database.


(Click on the preview image above to view the full size image.)

Thought I'd share the Photoshop file and font used with everyone. Click here to download.

[Justanothercrow421]

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)



The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)



The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)



These are meant for the 5-disc Extended Editions of these films (15mm spines). The backs look like the studio ones, but they've actually been re-created from scratch.

[Moviefan2k4]

Originally Posted by Justanothercrow421

[Show spoiler]The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)


The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)


The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

These are meant for the 5-disc Extended Editions of these films (15mm spines). The backs look like the studio ones, but they've actually been re-created from scratch.

I know all about the insanity of doing that, having to undergo the painful process many times. Finding the right fonts and logos, matching colors and textures, plus spacing everything so its all evened out - the whole thing can easily take more than a full day per cover. Its not easy by any stretch.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by AmishParadise

When working up cover art for this title I wasn't able to find the keyart all the DVD releases used for the back portion. The same moment shown in the film only provides a 10,000-foot view. See below.

[Show spoiler]

This evening I decided to give it another go. Performing a few more searches online I was able to find the keyart in question. Well, the pic isn't identical to what the DVD releases used, but is very close. See below.

[Show spoiler]

Naturally I revisited the cover art working up a new back portion. Before and after pics provided below.

[Show spoiler]Before:

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

[Show spoiler]After:

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

I'm digging the new back portion, but still like the 10,000-foot view. So what does everyone think? Perhaps I don't need to decide. I could just make another set available that uses the new back portion.

I prefer the picture that's more zoomed out, but both look good. Either way, great job and I definitely appreciate that I won't have to make my own cover for this.

[adamjankowski]

Edited.

[Nissen]

I'm jumping on the recent Aliens bandwagon with my own set of covers :-)
Coincidentally or not, I was recently commissioned to do a set of covers for the Alien films. (He didn't want the AVP films, but I felt compelled to make them to complete the set.)

Obviously there is no physical release of Romulus yet, so the specs on that is a best guess. I'll probably have to do an update once the actual release is out.

My client wanted these shared with fellow forum members, so feel free to PM me for download links.