Custom Cover Art Thread

[Demonology]

new cover for Helix Season 1

Working on season 2 now

[Keung]

I started this yesterday. The Road Warrior, Warner clamshell VHS-style!

[Scorpion Soldier]

So it's been a while since I actually posted something. Due to work, finals and everything my cover making time is somewhat limited, but I've been doing some fooling around with some ideas in some of my spare time. Haven't really been continuing older projects, but I do plan to follow through after I finish my finals next month.

Wanted to make separate slips for Star Wars for a while, but I've yet to find a way to work out the front and spine that I'd like, so I started with the backs.

Got 2 versions, a single and combo pack. (Never mind some of the info on the lower part as I haven't finished converting the template yet and there's some Avengers info left on there.)

The combo on the right is obviously a bit busy with all the text, but mostly due to all of the contents. Chose a more simple design for the single disc. Nothing fancy, but I'm just throwing ideas around to see in which direction I'd like to go.

The problem with the front and spine is mostly due to the fact that I haven't really found a way to do versions of the title that I actually like. Planning to drop the episode subtitles and stick to Star Wars: subtitle like the seventh film is doing atm, but I haven't really gotten a good redesign on paper yet. This is the franchise that I never really figured out what to do with to be honest.

Work time is limited, but I'm hoping to make something of it later on.

[suelto]

hi, first cover i post, it's for Requiem for a dream. prety amateur
I saw greats cover here.

[RebelPrince1986]

Originally Posted by Sukie

I got so frustrated with the back of this cover, I was about to commission someone to finish it for me. No matter what I do it still looks empty! I've done what I can on my part... I think, but if anyone has any suggestions for me whatsoever.... I'm all ears at this point!

[Show spoiler]

try making the synopsis a bit smaller and then filling in the extra space by making the images larger and the credits wider so there is a little less space on the sides. you could also try stacking the images vertically rather than horizontally along the right side and placing the synopsis in a column to the left of the images with the credits below them.

[Sukie]

Thank you RebelPrince

It looks a bit better I think...

[Show spoiler]

[Sukie]

OMG... I have such a new found respect for all of you who make these fully official covers. I mean I don't quite make mine look totally official but it still take me quite some time to make one. I couldn't imagine how much time it would take for a full cover with all the specs....

So in saying this, I'm currently trying to come up with my own stamp on my covers and I think with your help, I can someday achieve that. For example... here are two covers for the same movie... I didn't like one so I made another... I think this will be in WIP forever. Anyways I would like your input as to which is better and why you chose that one.... please

[Show spoiler]

[RebelPrince1986]

Originally Posted by Sukie

OMG... I have such a new found respect for all of you who make these fully official covers. I mean I don't quite make mine look totally official but it still take me quite some time to make one. I couldn't imagine how much time it would take for a full cover with all the specs....
So in saying this, I'm currently trying to come up with my own stamp on my covers and I think with your help, I can someday achieve that. For example... here are two covers for the same movie... I didn't like one so I made another... I think this will be in WIP forever. Anyways I would like your input as to which is better and why you chose that one.... please

It's been a lot of fun watching you grow and seeing you find your own style, I know first hand what it can be like to have what seems like a great idea in your head and not being able to make that idea come to fruition, but over time I've found my aesthetic and I can see that you are on your way down that path as well!
If official looking art is what you are going for, take a look at the official artwork you like and pick and choose the bits you like and try to replicate and eventually make them your own.

A few things I noticed on those WIP covers that you might want to try:
The barcode... If you want to include a barcode and you want it to look official, look at how barcodes are placed on official covers... They usually discount the art underneath of them (see the backs of JJ Abrahms Star Trek movies) OR they are made into quite a production and are included as part of a large banner (see most PIXAR releases), but they almost never are small inconspicuous bits that fit nicely into the artwork.
The faded screencap behind the text... while you may like the image, I'd suggest trying to incorporate it in a different way. And if you must use a screencap behind text, try avoiding covering crucial elements of the image with text.
The font... Play around with different fonts, sometimes when a font is too large it automatically looks cheapened and something as simple as shrinking the font down and filling in the space created with things such as screen caps or logos or specs can really add to the cover.
And the last thing I noticed that is a small detail that could make a big difference:
The formatting of the paragraphs... Try not to allow small words to stick out beyond a word in the line above or below it and in the last line of the paragraph, try to make sure that there are at least a couple of words (I find 1/4 the length of the rest of the lines at minimum is a good rule of thumb.) I'll post some examples below in the spoiler tags.

[Show spoiler]EXAMPLE 1:
The highly acclaimed director of Finding Nemo and the creative storytellers behind
Cars and Ratatouille transport you to a galaxy not so far away for a new cosmic
comedy adventure about a determined robot named WALL•E. Experience the exciting
animated hit film with theater-quality sound and the most pristine picture available on
Blu-ray.

(in the above example, "Blu-ray" is all by itself in the last line... try to avoid that, formatting the paragraph as seen below instead.)

The highly acclaimed director of Finding Nemo and the creative storytellers
behind Cars and Ratatouille transport you to a galaxy not so far away for a
new cosmic comedy adventure about a determined robot named WALL•E.
Experience the exciting animated hit film with theater-quality sound and the
most pristine picture available on Blu-ray.

(it suddenly looks much cleaner...)

Anyway... these are just a few things that helped me to learn over time. Take them for what you will, I realize these may not work for everybody, but try it out and see if you notice any improvement in your designs!

[Blu-ray Neo]

Originally Posted by suelto

hi, first cover i post, it's for Requiem for a dream. prety amateur
I saw greats cover here.

Are you making this available for download?

I would love to have it. Absolutely awesome cover dude...

[Will.]

I hope someone amazes us with a cool Babadook cover at some point to celebrate its release! Not loving the official cover...

[Sukie]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by RebelPrince1986

It's been a lot of fun watching you grow and seeing you find your own style, I know first hand what it can be like to have what seems like a great idea in your head and not being able to make that idea come to fruition, but over time I've found my aesthetic and I can see that you are on your way down that path as well!
If official looking art is what you are going for, take a look at the official artwork you like and pick and choose the bits you like and try to replicate and eventually make them your own.

A few things I noticed on those WIP covers that you might want to try:
The barcode... If you want to include a barcode and you want it to look official, look at how barcodes are placed on official covers... They usually discount the art underneath of them (see the backs of JJ Abrahms Star Trek movies) OR they are made into quite a production and are included as part of a large banner (see most PIXAR releases), but they almost never are small inconspicuous bits that fit nicely into the artwork.
The faded screencap behind the text... while you may like the image, I'd suggest trying to incorporate it in a different way. And if you must use a screencap behind text, try avoiding covering crucial elements of the image with text.
The font... Play around with different fonts, sometimes when a font is too large it automatically looks cheapened and something as simple as shrinking the font down and filling in the space created with things such as screen caps or logos or specs can really add to the cover.
And the last thing I noticed that is a small detail that could make a big difference:
The formatting of the paragraphs... Try not to allow small words to stick out beyond a word in the line above or below it and in the last line of the paragraph, try to make sure that there are at least a couple of words (I find 1/4 the length of the rest of the lines at minimum is a good rule of thumb.) I'll post some examples below in the spoiler tags.

[Show spoiler]EXAMPLE 1:
The highly acclaimed director of Finding Nemo and the creative storytellers behind
Cars and Ratatouille transport you to a galaxy not so far away for a new cosmic
comedy adventure about a determined robot named WALL•E. Experience the exciting
animated hit film with theater-quality sound and the most pristine picture available on
Blu-ray.

(in the above example, "Blu-ray" is all by itself in the last line... try to avoid that, formatting the paragraph as seen below instead.)

The highly acclaimed director of Finding Nemo and the creative storytellers
behind Cars and Ratatouille transport you to a galaxy not so far away for a
new cosmic comedy adventure about a determined robot named WALL•E.
Experience the exciting animated hit film with theater-quality sound and the
most pristine picture available on Blu-ray.

(it suddenly looks much cleaner...)

Anyway... these are just a few things that helped me to learn over time. Take them for what you will, I realize these may not work for everybody, but try it out and see if you notice any improvement in your designs!

Thank you so very much for all your input RebelPrince!

Here's the millionth installment give or take several hundred thousands

[Show spoiler]

[suelto]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Neo

Are you making this available for download?

I would love to have it. Absolutely awesome cover dude...

Yes, and thank you, glad you liked! I sent you a Pm with the image link.

[Robert George]

Here's a couple I finished tonight. Available the usual ways (EuphoricFX or PM)...

[Sukie]

Set for a 15mm spine...

[Show spoiler]

[Scorpion Soldier]

Minor update on the Star Wars set.

I finally think I figured out how I want to do the titles. I dropped the episode titles, and designed new title treatments for the film. So far these are only for use on the spines, since I don't know what to do with the fronts yet.

I haven't decided on a colouring scheme yet. I wanted to do different colours per film, but it didn't look right for these film. These are the three options I have atm:


Also a minor thing about the back of the single-disc template, here's how the disc print and slipcase would look next to each other.

[Sukie]

I'm trying so hard to get this to look full, but because I'm using to different programs, I'm afraid to put an image larger and find out later I have no room for the synopses or doing it too small and find out I have to much room... either way, I always have to start basically from scratch.

50 First Dates is the exact example... I think it doesn't look full enough



YAY me!!! I think I just finished one that I'm pretty happy with...

[Show spoiler]

[Nissen]

Thanks to the generosity of the original client I am allowed to offer an alternate version of his Star Trek The Next Generation custom cover.

Update:
This is available as either a 6-disc set collecting all the feature-length episodes
or
as a 5-disc set excluding the "Next Level" compilation.

Made to fit a Viva Elite 15mm spine case.



PM me for downloads.

[Sukie]

Well, I'm coming along... extremely slowly, but I am coming along. Eventually I would like to get them more professional looking, but for now, this is GOOD!

[Spooked]

horrorscreamer, I'm really loving the retro vibe I'm getting from your covers - awesome work!

(And now I have urge to watch Elvira for some reason... )

[RebelPrince1986]

Into the Woods