Custom Cover Art Thread

[SpiderRock88]

^that Lion King is amazing!!!

here are my modified covers for Spidey 1 and 2. would really love some one to help me out if they get the chance im not to pleased with the titles but thats the best i can do with the program i have. i also do not know how im supposed to get the credits for the movies or other logos :/ lol as far as my layout what do you think, followed some pointers from my other pic heres what i have so far:





i feel that the back and spines are plane but nothing works with the text other than black lol

[gregmasciola]

I just started working on a cover for Event Horizon. I've been wanting to for a long time, but this was kind of a tricky one. I've never liked the current blu-ray cover they made.

The reason this one was tricky is I couldn't just crop the original image (too much of the ship would be cut off), but re-sizing it would leave empty space on the sides. I recently discovered a way of drawing smoke in Photoshop Elements, which made it possible to fill in that empty space. There's a little more on the sides than I would like, but I think it looks okay. The only other thing I could think of would be to put the original poster inside a box (kind of like the Mummy covers), but I didn't like the way it looked. So here's what I've got so far. I just have to do the back.

[Cactus]

This was also used in some editions. It's better, but not good. Looking forward to your version.

[Nissen]

Originally Posted by SpiderRock88

^that Lion King is amazing!!!

here are my modified covers for Spidey 1 and 2. would really love some one to help me out if they get the chance im not to pleased with the titles but thats the best i can do with the program i have. i also do not know how im supposed to get the credits for the movies or other logos :/ lol as far as my layout what do you think, followed some pointers from my other pic heres what i have so far:

[Show spoiler]

i feel that the back and spines are plane but nothing works with the text other than black lol

These are coming along great SR88.

You're actually doing this the exact opposite of me :-) I always type in all the text first, synopsis, credits, extras, legals, so I can fit the pictures and general design around that.

I have found that it is more difficult to shoehorn text into pre-existing spaces, than it is to resize images. Like in your covers, you've set aside a certain space for the synopsis. If the text you find is too short, you'll wind up with a lot of awkward empty space. If you just blow up the type it will look bad beyond a certain point. If your synopsis is too long, you'll have to edit the text or shrink it to fit. That will also give you trouble with legibility beyond a certain point. I used to paint myself into a corner too often doing it the way you are doing it, the text would suffer, or I'd have to re-do all the images to fit it in. I see a lot of covers where the text is obviously an afterthought, and I think those designers forget that text and images have to work together for a cohesive design, they're both equally important.

Anyway, the backs will come together when you put in the text, you'll see. Avoid putting text too close to the edges, or using a fancy (illegible) font for the synopsis. Whatever you do, give both images and text some room to breathe.

When it comes to studio logos and movie credits you don't really have a choice but to do it the hard way. Google all the logos, and type the credits using either Steel Tongs or Universal Accreditation, both free fonts I believe. Your plain black background should work to your advantage, as you may not find all logos with a transparent background. (Not sure if your graphics package supports transparent PNGs?)
Use an actual Sony cover as a guide to which logos to place where, and it should come out looking official.

Of course, if you were using Photoshop there are plenty of ready-made templates for Sony releases that would give you all that on a silver platter.

Joining a cover site like CustoManiacs or EuphoricFX gives you access to all of the logos in one handy place, but they may still be in Photoshop format (PSD) only.

Looking forward to seeing these finished. Is Spidey 3 coming too?

[Nissen]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

I just started working on a cover for Event Horizon.

[Show spoiler]I've been wanting to for a long time, but this was kind of a tricky one. I've never liked the current blu-ray cover they made.

The reason this one was tricky is I couldn't just crop the original image (too much of the ship would be cut off), but re-sizing it would leave empty space on the sides. I recently discovered a way of drawing smoke in Photoshop Elements, which made it possible to fill in that empty space. There's a little more on the sides than I would like, but I think it looks okay. The only other thing I could think of would be to put the original poster inside a box (kind of like the Mummy covers), but I didn't like the way it looked. So here's what I've got so far. I just have to do the back.

Greg, this is amazing work. Fitting posters on a Blu-ray covers is the most over-looked part of custom designs. You've made a seamless extension to the original artwork, and that's no small feat.

Is there any more image of the ship at the bottom? I only ask because I feel the cropping of the bottom doesn't sit well with all the empty black on top. If you can change the title treatment to a single line and bring the artwork up to include the full ship, I think that would balance it out.

Drawing smoke by hand, eh? I've never got the hang of fancy brushes in photoshop. I know people use them to draw flames, folds/creases etc. but I am never satisfied with the results. Instead I use photos of the real thing and manipulate them to fit. I've used smoke on a lot of my covers and it's all photo-based. The process does have its limitations, so I wish I could do it the way you've done it. I'd love to hear you describe the process.

Keep truckin'

[ScottDS]

Originally Posted by Nissen

Greg, this is amazing work. Fitting posters on a Blu-ray covers is the most over-looked part of custom designs. You've made a seamless extension to the original artwork, and that's no small feat.

^This!

I know I haven't been doing this as long as some of you guys but, personally, I had a breakthrough when I was doing Star Trek: Nemesis. The poster was too cramped so I had to zoom out, but what to put in the margins? I lifted bits and pieces of amorphous imagery from the Shinzon teaser poster.

[SilentDawn]

Hey everyone, I'm new to Custom Cover Art so I have a few questions. I am looking for a custom Blu Ray cover for the ultimate edition of Watchmen. I want it to showcase that it includes all cuts of the film, special features and the motion comic.
I have been looking all over the internet for pages to show me the ropes of how to print, where to print, what dimensions I would need for a cover that needs to fit in a 5-6 disk Blu ray case and more.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Silent.

[SpiderRock88]

Originally Posted by Nissen

These are coming along great SR88.

You're actually doing this the exact opposite of me :-) I always type in all the text first, synopsis, credits, extras, legals, so I can fit the pictures and general design around that.

I have found that it is more difficult to shoehorn text into pre-existing spaces, than it is to resize images. Like in your covers, you've set aside a certain space for the synopsis. If the text you find is too short, you'll wind up with a lot of awkward empty space. If you just blow up the type it will look bad beyond a certain point. If your synopsis is too long, you'll have to edit the text or shrink it to fit. That will also give you trouble with legibility beyond a certain point. I used to paint myself into a corner too often doing it the way you are doing it, the text would suffer, or I'd have to re-do all the images to fit it in. I see a lot of covers where the text is obviously an afterthought, and I think those designers forget that text and images have to work together for a cohesive design, they're both equally important.

Anyway, the backs will come together when you put in the text, you'll see. Avoid putting text too close to the edges, or using a fancy (illegible) font for the synopsis. Whatever you do, give both images and text some room to breathe.

When it comes to studio logos and movie credits you don't really have a choice but to do it the hard way. Google all the logos, and type the credits using either Steel Tongs or Universal Accreditation, both free fonts I believe. Your plain black background should work to your advantage, as you may not find all logos with a transparent background. (Not sure if your graphics package supports transparent PNGs?)
Use an actual Sony cover as a guide to which logos to place where, and it should come out looking official.

Of course, if you were using Photoshop there are plenty of ready-made templates for Sony releases that would give you all that on a silver platter.

Joining a cover site like CustoManiacs or EuphoricFX gives you access to all of the logos in one handy place, but they may still be in Photoshop format (PSD) only.

Looking forward to seeing these finished. Is Spidey 3 coming too?

Thanks for the reply! I really appreciate it I think I will so over with the backs like you said and do the text first. I have a bonus discs for these films which is why I want to bring them together. Yup Spidey 3 is in the works

[jaws3dfan]

Another Nissen Masterpiece.

[WhySoCereal]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by SpiderRock88

^that Lion King is amazing!!!

here are my modified covers for Spidey 1 and 2. would really love some one to help me out if they get the chance im not to pleased with the titles but thats the best i can do with the program i have. i also do not know how im supposed to get the credits for the movies or other logos :/ lol as far as my layout what do you think, followed some pointers from my other pic heres what i have so far:





i feel that the back and spines are plane but nothing works with the text other than black lol

I really love these, would you be willing to make these public when you're done? I would love to have all the bonus discs together.

My one suggestion is that you either take away "Go for the Ultimate Spin" off of Spider-man or add a tagline to Spider-man 2's cover just so they're consistent.

[SpiderRock88]

Originally Posted by WhySoCereal

I really love these, would you be willing to make these public when you're done? I would love to have all the bonus discs together.

My one suggestion is that you either take away "Go for the Ultimate Spin" off of Spider-man or add a tagline to Spider-man 2's cover just so they're consistent.

Thanks bud! Absolutely! I will make these public, just not so sure everyone has the amount of discs I have, especially SM3 which is 7 lol

Yeah man I was thinking about that too but im not sure what tagline SM2 has lol would you think I can use a comment review?

[RebelPrince1986]

#3 of 53. Alice In Wonderland.



#4 of 53. Fantasia.

[GoldMotel]

Originally Posted by RebelPrince1986

[Show spoiler]#3 of 53. Alice In Wonderland.



#4 of 53. Fantasia.

OMG, these are gorgeous. Can we PM you for copies?

[RebelPrince1986]

Originally Posted by GoldMotel

OMG, these are gorgeous. Can we PM you for copies?

Thanks, I'm glad you like them.
Yes, please include your e-mail address and which covers you would like and I will e-mail them to you.

[deathcab6366]

Here is the complete Ninja Trilogy custom to match the VHS box art.

PM me if you are interested.

[jaws3dfan]

Originally Posted by deathcab6366

Here is the complete Ninja Trilogy custom to match the VHS box art.

PM me if you are interested.

[Show spoiler]

Awesome job on these!!

[deathcab6366]

Originally Posted by jaws3dfan

Awesome job on these!!

Thanks Jaws!

[jaws3dfan]

Gotta love all these old school MGM Blu-Ray Covers:

[Show spoiler]

[Thomas Guycott]

This retro VHS kick is tickling all the right places.

[DrrnHarr]

Originally Posted by jaws3dfan

Gotta love all these old school MGM Blu-Ray Covers:

[Show spoiler]

I had a lot of fun converting the "Never Say Never Again" Warner Home Video VHS cover to a Blu-ray cover...it certainly brings back nostalgic memories.