Custom Cover Art Thread

[Hardkore]

Originally Posted by Nissen

Here is a set of James Bond covers I did a few years ago on Bond's 50th anniversary.
Original client Alphadec wanted to share these with everyone in gratitude for all the covers that have been shared freely by my other clients.

Send me a PM and I will provide you with copies. Please note that it is the express wish of my client that these do not show up on any cover sites, and I ask that everyone does their utmost to aid in this.

Now, without further ado, the James Bond 50th. Anniversary Custom Blu-ray covers:

PM sent.

[Robert George]

A recent addition to the collection, and I felt it needed original one sheet art...

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by Nissen

As often happens, once I've done individual covers I have all the resources at hand to easily put together new versions. I'm still trying to get Rambo out of my system, so here's a custom Blu-ray cover for the Rambo collection. This is made for a 15mm 4-disc case.

This started out as a recreation of the 1992 Pioneer Laserdisc box set released in the UK. I always thought that was a cool design so I thought I'd adapt it for a Blu-ray cover. In the end they turned out quite different, but the original idea is still there.

[Show spoiler]

I find doing the backs of covers a challenge, and especially so if doing something for a collection of several films. There's just so much info that has to be included, and giving every film equal share of the spotlight is essential. Each film should have at least one photo, and a short synopsis so people can tell them apart. I try desperately to avoid just the plain up-and-down listing for each film in their separate boxes, and make the design just as loose as if it was for just one film. I think I was mostly successful here. *

Once again I left out any specifics on extras to make this cover "suitable for all". I'm aware that the fourth Rambo was released as "John Rambo" in non-US markets, (Since First Blood was already called "Rambo" in many places) but I've stuck to the original US titles on all the films.

[Show spoiler]

PM me for links.

* So, what makes a back cover great? First of all, what is the intention of the back cover? Answer: Information and salesmanship, plain and simple. (Now, the requirements of a retail cover are quite different from that of a home-brew custom cover, but I'll get to that.)

You see all those people pick up a Blu or DVD in the store who first take a quick look at the front, then turn it over and study the back intently?
The first thing they should see is a series of images from the film(s) which will whet their appetite. Is George Clooney in this? If so, make sure he's prominently displayed. Show them a few action highlights, showcase the different scenes and locations which demonstrate the scope of the film. NO SPOILERS!!!!, I can't stress that enough.

Then comes the synopsis, which should explain succinctly and honestly what the film is about so that the customer can decide if this is something they would care to see or not. (NO SPOILERS!!!!! So many of these things tell you the whole story, including the twist ending or the "surprise" double-cross.)

Then comes the list of extras, or "value-added-material", which dupes some people into buying yet another version of that Disney classic. I see some retailers squeeze out as many bullet-points as possible. Listing the Disc Menu as an extra is just ridiculous (Lionsgate), as is boasting "Disc Artwork" in a bullet-point of its own (Disney), but these are the realities of retail. Plastering "NEWLY REMASTERED!" on something helps sales, and that's something a commercial designer has to be attentive to. Custom cover designers can take the high road here, luckily.

Of all the info on the back of a cover, the runtime of a film is what I always look for as I try to plan an evening's viewing, to see if I can squeeze this or that film in before bedtime. Some official covers go to great pains to hide the runtime in the small print and I find that to be just plain bad design! The cover fails on the basic utility level!

Speaking for myself, the tech-specs are of interest to me, but most people don't care if this particular Blu is the DTS-HD MA 7.1 re-release or not, or if the original aspect ratio is preserved. Know your audience and season according to taste, I say.

Most important of all, the universal basics of good design apply: LEGIBILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No tiny white text on a bright or busy background! A fancy design that conflicts with legibility is a plain failure of design. Sometimes we designers get a bit too creative (I'm guilty of this myself), but if the back is too busy or the type too small we've plain and simple failed in conveying the information we're supposed to.

Rant over.

I really enjoyed the read and am in 100% agreement with every facet of what you had to say. Rant as much as you like. :-) Beautiful "The Rambo Collection" cover as well by the way.

[Keung]

I made a Serpico cover a few months back, but recently found some better artwork to use. Here's what I came up with...

[BasedSPACER]

Sorry it took longer than usual, but here is the final cover
in the Phase Two Collection. Time to prepare for Phase Three.
Available now on my blog!

[Lt. Brannigan]

Originally Posted by BasedSPACER

Sorry it took longer than usual, but here is the final cover in the Phase Two Collection. Time to prepare for Phase Three. Available now on my blog!

[Show spoiler]

That's a cool cover.

[FreddyK]

Excellent Ant Man cover. What size spine is it?

[BasedSPACER]

Originally Posted by FreddyK

Excellent Ant Man cover. What size spine is it?

All of my Phase 2 covers can fit standard 1 & 2 disc Viva Elite and Vortex cases. So it's probably a 12mm spine.

[FreddyK]

Originally Posted by BasedSPACER

All of my Phase 2 covers can fit standard 1 & 2 disc Viva Elite and Vortex cases. So it's probably a 12mm spine.

Thanks.

[oldmario]

does anyone have something like this in english and also for 4-5.2?
Breaking Bad Saison 1-2-3 (BLU-RAY)

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by Nissen

* So, what makes a back cover great? First of all, what is the intention of the back cover? Answer: Information and salesmanship, plain and simple. (Now, the requirements of a retail cover are quite different from that of a home-brew custom cover, but I'll get to that.)

You see all those people pick up a Blu or DVD in the store who first take a quick look at the front, then turn it over and study the back intently?
The first thing they should see is a series of images from the film(s) which will whet their appetite. Is George Clooney in this? If so, make sure he's prominently displayed. Show them a few action highlights, showcase the different scenes and locations which demonstrate the scope of the film. NO SPOILERS!!!!, I can't stress that enough.

Then comes the synopsis, which should explain succinctly and honestly what the film is about so that the customer can decide if this is something they would care to see or not. (NO SPOILERS!!!!! So many of these things tell you the whole story, including the twist ending or the "surprise" double-cross.)

Then comes the list of extras, or "value-added-material", which dupes some people into buying yet another version of that Disney classic. I see some retailers squeeze out as many bullet-points as possible. Listing the Disc Menu as an extra is just ridiculous (Lionsgate), as is boasting "Disc Artwork" in a bullet-point of its own (Disney), but these are the realities of retail. Plastering "NEWLY REMASTERED!" on something helps sales, and that's something a commercial designer has to be attentive to. Custom cover designers can take the high road here, luckily.

Of all the info on the back of a cover, the runtime of a film is what I always look for as I try to plan an evening's viewing, to see if I can squeeze this or that film in before bedtime. Some official covers go to great pains to hide the runtime in the small print and I find that to be just plain bad design! The cover fails on the basic utility level!

Speaking for myself, the tech-specs are of interest to me, but most people don't care if this particular Blu is the DTS-HD MA 7.1 re-release or not, or if the original aspect ratio is preserved. Know your audience and season according to taste, I say.

Most important of all, the universal basics of good design apply: LEGIBILITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No tiny white text on a bright or busy background! A fancy design that conflicts with legibility is a plain failure of design. Sometimes we designers get a bit too creative (I'm guilty of this myself), but if the back is too busy or the type too small we've plain and simple failed in conveying the information we're supposed to.

Rant over.

Couldn't agree more. To me, the synopsis and having a few pictures on the back are the most important parts. I hate when studios basically replace the synopsis with 2 or 3 sentences just bragging that the movie is in HD. I'm like, duh, that's why I'm buying it on Blu-Ray.
To me, the arrangement of the pictures with the synopsis is always the trickiest part.

[Lt. Brannigan]

Originally Posted by gregmasciola

To me, the arrangement of the pictures with the synopsis is always the trickiest part.

We won't discuss the problems I have with back covers... or covers in general for that matter.

[Keung]

[Keung]

Made a cover for a film I've never seen. That's a first for me! It's on my watch list though.

[mjvmovieman]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Elements were taken from another artist's work on the back cover (whom I don't know but the cover was found via a simple Google search), while I made the front and spine.

[gregmasciola]

Originally Posted by mjvmovieman

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

[Show spoiler]

Elements were taken from another artist's work on the back cover (whom I don't know but the cover was found via a simple Google search), while I made the front and spine.

Any way to get a download link?

[Robert George]

'Tis the season

[Hubunkey]

Anyone heard from DrrnHarr lately? I was hoping he would continue his Bond Collection with Spectre but he hasn't posted on here for a long time and I don't wanna download an incomplete set but I also like his because it uses the original poster art and I don't wanna search through 100+ pages on here to find another set lol

[Hubunkey]

Since when did Customaniacs no longer accept Paypal as a form of payment for download credits? I went to buy some and noticed that Paypal is no longer an option and has been replaced by Stripe? I liked using paypal for the security and I don't know this stripe place so I don't wanna give me info to a site I don't know

[RebelPrince1986]

I've always been a fan of the Criterion Blu-ray layout, but I understand the frustration that comes along with "faux-Criterion" covers. So rather than adding films to a collection which they don't officially belong, I've decided to start my own collection that I'm calling "ICON X THE CRITERION COLLECTION"

Here is the first cover, you'll notice it's number 18 rather than 1, 1-17 will come soon, but it seemed like The Martian should be 18 as Sol 18 is a significant day in the film. If anybody is interested in the rest of this series, let me know and I will continue sharing. If there is no interest, that's fine as well!

The Martian, Version One


The Martian, Version Two