Entry 8 - Trailer Edit

My DVD is based on Alcatraz so for my trailer edit I will be using clips from the Escape from Alcatraz movie and Ghost Adventures. Whether I would add audio would depend on the amount of time I have to work on the project and whether I find one to suit the theme.

Entry 7 - About the Label

As for the label, the designing process was fairly straight forward as I already knew which image and text type to use. I made sure I included every detail that the assignment required.

The assignment mentioned using a logo. To do this I used the paint blotter tool and created a splodge on the label. I used the sliders provided to blend different shades of colours together to make it look like a form of professional logo.  

The assignment also mentioned demonstrating at minimum, the pen tool, type tool, placing images, brushes, clipping masks, guides, layers, transparencies, text wrap. I used all of these techniques. 

Below will state each of their purpose in my Label;

pen tool – I used the pen tool’s path to enable me to utilise the brush. The brush was used to add splashes of blood onto the label background

type tool – this tool was used to type out the title and the production detail. I used the text wrap to help keep the text in the right area on the label (wraps around other content nicely).

Placing images – this is just the process of getting images into the layers

Brushes (used with pen tool to create blood stains)

Clipping mask – created the circular template for the disc

Guides – the blue lines which helped me to manage my content

Layers – consisted of each different element

Transparencies the text was made on transparent layers

Mind Map For Label:

Evaluation – I would rate my overall progress at about 7 out of 10 as there was a lot of room for improvement. I could have put more effort in the realness of the outcome i.e. including real content such as a dolby digital sign or other similar content to make it look somewhat professional. Apart from that, the experience of this was enjoyable to a certain extent. 

I liked the fact that the brush and pen tool were vector tools as this enabled me to enlarge and stretch the content without it looking horrible and pixelated as it would with bitmap.

Next time I would perhaps consider spending more of my time researching the examples of labels and applying different techniques within my work to make it look much better.

Entry 6 - Evaluation

When I initially heard about the requirements of the project, I was quite excited as I really enjoy being creative, but a little part of me was discouraged as I knew that I’m not really a Photoshop genius. I gathered that there would be a whole lot of self-teaching if I was opting for the higher mark.

I put aside the negative factors and started my research on different tips and handy techniques for my design. I came across a variable amount of tutorials and even tested them out too, but most were a waste of time as it was not really what I was looking for.

Next time I would try out a tutorial only after I am sure that it would suit my requirements.

I eventually found a few tutorials which created a decent look for my project and used them. They turned out ok once I put them together on the file which was a relief as I knew that I already have what I need so that was the end of my search.

One slight problem I faced was making the images on the front cover blend with each other properly. The two images look alright next to each other in other peoples view, even though they’re aren’t wrong, I’m not exactly 100% satisfied with the overall look if it but I thought to myself, it’s alright as long as I achieve my criteria. 

·        What I would do differently next time.

To erase the watermark on the image, I used a spot healing tool. I figured out after, that instead of using this, I could have used the clone stamp tool or a patch tool as these completely cover the unwanted area with actual parts of the image effectively.

From this example, I understood that I should take the time to learn more about the tools included in the software since it would usually have an easier solution to certain problems.

I wanted the DVD inlay to be 100% original i.e. consist of no unmodified images but due to time constraints, I was only able to devote my time for extra design on the front cover of the inlay. The back cover was already existent images. But overall I am quite pleased with the little effort I did put into it.     

·        What I would spend more or less time on next time

If I was to conduct a similar project in future, I would dedicate more time to the research of techniques or tutorials. This is because from the experience I had with this project, I learnt that these help in different ways; firstly, it helped to fulfil my assignment criteria and secondly, it introduces new techniques and which generally allows me to explore and bring out my creativity side.

In future, with this sort of project, I would spend less time fussing and being indecisive about the image or tutorial idea to use, and more time on actually getting the work done at the earliest with the first exceptional looking image or tutorial found.

Entry 5 - Ideas, Tools And Techniques Used In My Design

I have chosen to create a horror themed DVD inlay. Since I was struggling for ideas, I researched different horror DVD examples to give me a form of inspiration. I came across a few tutorials which showed me various methods of making an effective horror theme. I applied some of these in my project.

Methods learnt / Tools Used

Rectangle tool – I used the rectangle tool as a frame or place holder for my images. I felt this method was useful as it enabled me to keep the images in a particular area of the inlay. I intended to have three images of the same size beside each other, the rectangle tool helped me to achieve this.

The good thing about placing images in vector shapes is that it gets encapsulated, so when repositioning the image (whilst in the shape), it moves within the shape, as the shape remains in the same place on the layer.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgVuSSduQKI

Gory Text – I found a technique which I felt would add to the feel of the theme and at the same time, display a great effect on my DVD inlay.

The options/tools used/methods learnt from this tutorial are as follows;

o   Filter, rendering, layers, fibres (variance, strength),

o   Levels (input, output),

o   Channels panel,

o   Clip mask,

o   Hue saturation options,

o   Blend mode (colour burn),

o   Text tool (font),

o   Move tool,

o   Base line,

o   Transform tool,

o   Composite snapshot,

o   Zoom,

o   Pen tool,

o   Paths (selection),

o   Layer masks.

Source: http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/video-tutorials/yt/2Fs0RcTXXXU/

original version of image:

edited version of image:

Ghostly Figure –I looked up a few more tutorials on horror themes and came across a technique that intrigued me. It was one which converts an ordinary person in an image (photograph); to one which appears as a see-through ghostly figure. I thought that this best suits my DVD as it is based on hauntings and the supernatural.

The options/tools used/methods learnt from this tutorial are as follows;

o   Selection tool,

o   Lasso tool,

o   Content aware fill,

o   Clone stamp tool,

o   Black and white option (red filter),

o   Brightness and contrast,

o   Convert to smart object,

o   Filter (diffuse glow),

o   Motion blur,

o   Eraser tool,

o   Blending options,

o   Opacity.

Source: http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/video-tutorials/yt/_Mxi2lR7go4/

original version of image:

edited version of image:

Spot Healing Brush -I noticed that one of my images had a watermark along the side. To remove it in a way that it becomes less obvious that it was apparent, I used the spot healing brush tool. This tool fills the selected area with surrounding pixels to blend the colours together.  

Entry 4 - Image Source

I had to make sure I used images from a source which allows one to use their images without bending the laws of copyright. I took advantage of the “usage rights” on googles “advanced search” to help me to achieve this. They had an option which returned web content (images) which I could modify or reuse legally.

Entry 3 - Mind Map

I put forward my initial ideas for my DVD inlay by drawing out a mind map. Here is an image of it:

Entry 2 - Planning the template

Size

It is important to keep in mind the fact that a DVD paper sleeve is not just designed as one would with a poster as it includes its certain sections i.e. the front, the back along with the spine area. So I must take this into consideration and provide myself with guidelines before including images. I must also remember to include the bleed area within the guidelines as this would basically show me the areas which are to be cropped out. The bleed area and guidelines essentially enables a degree of accuracy in my design.

I carried out a bit of research on the typical size of a DVD Amaray case which basically aided me to deduce the overall size of the file I will be creating and where about I would be placing ruler guidelines.

Site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keep_case

“The printed paper sleeve for a standard DVD case can be printed on a standard A4 sheet of paper which, after cropping, can be slipped into the outer jacket. The paper room on the front and back panels of the case is 129.5mm × 183mm and spine panels have a width of 14mm or less. This gives 273mm × 183mm as resulting maximum overall dimensions for the printout (which is less than the 297mm × 210mm of an A4 paper sheet).”

This is the template i will be working with 

Dpi (standard 300 dpi print/ standard 72 dpi web)

In terms of the file’s DPI resolution, I have chosen to use 300dpi as this is the standard print resolution, which is a necessary resolution to work with when creating a DVD inlay.

Transparency

I have chosen to create the overall file using a transparent layer. Working with transparent layers essentially enables flexibility when designing mainly because it would allow me transfer sections of an image to another file without carrying unwanted parts. It also enables a smaller file size which is generally better as the load time and the amount of storage space required will be small.

Whereas when taking a section of an image from a layer which is not transparent e.g. with a white background, there may be a chance that I will carry over an unwanted discreet white outline around the selected content. This would be inefficient as it would take time to carefully remove the unwanted background. The file size would also be quite large compared to that of a transparent layer as more pixels would be used in the files.

I conducted a brief plan of the overall look of the design on the DVD inlay and Label on word using the templates of each with shapes and arrows. This is saved in my work area.