What You Guys Think Of This Cd-cover ...
<div class="IPBDescription">I made with Photoshop?</div> Hello everyone,
Recently I've been fooling around with Photoshop. I'm not a 'creative' artist, meaning I cannot draw pictures myself. But I made a compilation of images to create a CD-cover for a selection of lounge-songs I have. <u>This is the first time I fooled around with Photoshop</u>, so be gentle with me. Basically I used three pictures.
<b>- The background</b> is an image from the manga <a href='http://www.manga.com/ghost/ghost.html' target='_blank'>"Ghost in the Shell"</a> which will remind you of 'the matrix' and 'the animatrix', but "Ghost in the Shell" was made before!! The first link is the "Ghost in the Shell" main 'movie' the next link <a href='http://www.ghostintheshell.tv/' target='_blank'>here</a> is of the series. In this link you can see a bit of the matrix-style (which the matrix took from them).
<b>- The girl in black</b> in the front I took from a CD-cover, I cut her out of the picture (from a lounge-CD, duh).
<b>- The girl in white</b> in the front I took from someone (I cut her out of the picture) who recreated the first picture and I 'mirrored' it.
<b>3)</b> Do you guys think this is an improvement to the other two pictures? I got rid of the old 'Ghost in the Shell' background.
<img src='http://img166.exs.cx/img166/126/loungeblackandwhitesecondtry9c.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<b>2)</b> EDIT: Added modified picture. I know it is too overcrowded, but somehow I like it that way. The main reason why I like the black and white is because I will make a compilation of my lounge cd's into two cd's (for a friend of mine). For 'lounge' the background is to full, but as I said I like it and I will post later on why I do so.
<a href='http://www.imageshack.us' target='_blank'><img src='http://img206.exs.cx/img206/5641/loungeblackandwhitesecondediti.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /></a>
END EDIT
<b>1)</b> I was just wondering what you guys think of the result, as I like criticism (feedback about what is good and not good).
<img src='http://img198.exs.cx/img198/6268/loungeblackandwhitecopy2hz.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Greetz,
XtOf
Recently I've been fooling around with Photoshop. I'm not a 'creative' artist, meaning I cannot draw pictures myself. But I made a compilation of images to create a CD-cover for a selection of lounge-songs I have. <u>This is the first time I fooled around with Photoshop</u>, so be gentle with me. Basically I used three pictures.
<b>- The background</b> is an image from the manga <a href='http://www.manga.com/ghost/ghost.html' target='_blank'>"Ghost in the Shell"</a> which will remind you of 'the matrix' and 'the animatrix', but "Ghost in the Shell" was made before!! The first link is the "Ghost in the Shell" main 'movie' the next link <a href='http://www.ghostintheshell.tv/' target='_blank'>here</a> is of the series. In this link you can see a bit of the matrix-style (which the matrix took from them).
<b>- The girl in black</b> in the front I took from a CD-cover, I cut her out of the picture (from a lounge-CD, duh).
<b>- The girl in white</b> in the front I took from someone (I cut her out of the picture) who recreated the first picture and I 'mirrored' it.
<b>3)</b> Do you guys think this is an improvement to the other two pictures? I got rid of the old 'Ghost in the Shell' background.
<img src='http://img166.exs.cx/img166/126/loungeblackandwhitesecondtry9c.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<b>2)</b> EDIT: Added modified picture. I know it is too overcrowded, but somehow I like it that way. The main reason why I like the black and white is because I will make a compilation of my lounge cd's into two cd's (for a friend of mine). For 'lounge' the background is to full, but as I said I like it and I will post later on why I do so.
<a href='http://www.imageshack.us' target='_blank'><img src='http://img206.exs.cx/img206/5641/loungeblackandwhitesecondediti.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /></a>
END EDIT
<b>1)</b> I was just wondering what you guys think of the result, as I like criticism (feedback about what is good and not good).
<img src='http://img198.exs.cx/img198/6268/loungeblackandwhitecopy2hz.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Greetz,
XtOf
Comments
gj tho
When you're making things to print, you should always work at least several times the original resolution. By default Photoshop is at 72 DPI, which is fine for anything other than print since it makes no difference, but when you come to print it, it will be poor quality, pixellated and generally crap.
You should aim to work in at least 300 DPI or maybe 600 DPI if you're feeling a bit saucy. When you create something with that resolution you'll notice that the image is massive in comparison, but when you print from it, it will be the same size, but the quality will be far better.
Working in higher resolutions means working with higher quality source art, which none of the cut and paste items you have there are.
Oh but you just KNOW when you see a CD cover like that its gonna be full of summer dance anthems. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Oh but you just KNOW when you see a CD cover like that its gonna be full of summer dance anthems. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
He said it was lounge, meaning chill beats and laidback grooves. I love producing that stuff.
Oh but you just KNOW when you see a CD cover like that its gonna be full of summer dance anthems. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He said it was lounge, meaning chill beats and laidback grooves. I love producing that stuff. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well I wasn't entirely sure what lounge was, so I decided to insult dance music.
The best album covers are original art, and not stolen photoshopped whatnot.
This one was originally twice this size (1600x1600) and it printed very well: <a href='http://www.deviantart.com/view/719593/' target='_blank'>http://www.deviantart.com/view/719593/</a>
This one was originally twice this size (1600x1600) and it printed very well: <a href='http://www.deviantart.com/view/719593/' target='_blank'>http://www.deviantart.com/view/719593/</a> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
thats pretty nice
That's what I call a CD Cover. Excellent.
Esuna was right. Think about the resolution there. And the two chicks on the left and right don't match the style.
This should probably go in the Art forum anyway.
Saying that it's about 67.5 times better than anything I could pull off and for a first go I say congrats.
Oh but you just KNOW when you see a CD cover like that its gonna be full of summer dance anthems. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He said it was lounge, meaning chill beats and laidback grooves. I love producing that stuff. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well I wasn't entirely sure what lounge was, so I decided to insult dance music. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Bad idea, overall. Lounge is what you use as background music for intercourse. That and Jazz. Mmmmm.....Jazz.
Thanks for the feedback I have been getting!! I added a <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91529&view=findpost&p=1439356' target='_blank'>modified picture</a> (look at the second one) at the beginning of this topic. I know you guys will probably say it is too overcrowded (and it doesn't reflect what lounge music is all about), but somehow -for personal reasons- I like it that way. The main reason why I like the black and white is because I will make a compilation of my lounge cd's into two cd's (for a friend of mine).
The lounge cd's I have been listening to are those of <b><a href='http://www.hedkandi.com/' target='_blank'>Hed Kandi</a>. </b>For some strange reason I cannot give you a direct link to the cd's I have, but if you go to the bottom of the main page, you just have to follow these links:
-> Music // Compilations // Hed Kandi // Served Chilled // Then go to the picture with the lady who is drinking something chilled, with the text: "True chill out tracks for the discerning horizontalist". <i><span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>Beware: the songs that play on the site are not necessaraly 'lounge'-songs.</span></i> <b>If</b> the site is too much to load with all the flash and music, you can also find the covers <a href='http://www.geocities.com/free_love98/pics/hedkandi/Picture_Display_Unit_Hedkandi.html' target='_blank'>here</a>.
The <u><b>artist</b></u> that made those covers is <b><a href='http://www.jason-brooks.com/portfolio/' target='_blank'>Jason Brooks</a>. </b>Click on the 'music' link to get examples of pictures he made for the Hed Kandi cd's.
Here is a list of the two cd's -which I will take the best songs from - to make two full cd's. I have marked in red the songs that <u><b>I</b></u> like the most. If you consider downloading songs you might want to download those three that I marked in bold.
<b><u>Serve Chilled</u></b>
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
<u>CD1 tracks</u>:
<span style='color:red'>01. Nightmares On Wax: Les Nuits</span>
<span style='color:red'>02. Morcheeba: Fear And Love</span>
<span style='color:red'>03. Groove Armada: Dusk You & Me</span>
<span style='color:red'>04. Urban Species feat. Imogen Heap: Blanket</span>
<span style='color:red'>05. E-Z Rollers: Walk This Land</span>
<span style='color:red'>06. 45 Dip: Lizzie´s Balloon</span>
07. Theivery Corporation: The Glass Bead Game
<span style='color:red'>08. The Herbaliser: Moon Sequence</span>
<span style='color:red'>09. Presence: Far Far Away From My Heart</span>
<span style='color:red'>10. Pepe Deluxe: The Beat Experience</span>
<span style='color:red'>11. Lewis Taylor: Lucky</span>
12. Anthea: Don´t Explain
13. The Amalgamation of Soundz: Enchant Me
<b><span style='color:red'>14. Doris Days: To Ulrike M.</span></b>
<span style='color:red'>15. Outside feat. Karime Kendra: Resist</span>
CD2 tracks:
01. Jose Padilla: Who Do You Love?
<span style='color:red'>02. Afterlife: Cry</span>
03. Bebel Gilberto: Sem Contencao
04. S-Tone Inc: Ainda Sonhar
05. Smoke City: With You (LP Version)
06. Jhelisa Freedom: From Pity
07. Black Science Orchestra: Hudson River Revisited
08. D*Note: The Garden Of Earthly Delights
<span style='color:red'>09. Ballistic Brothers: Marching On</span>
10. Eighty Mile Beach: (Arboleda De Manzanitas)
11. Jazz Vandalls: Beyond My Imagination
12. Fourth World: Silvia
13. Nighthawks: Hornflakes Diner <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<u><b>Serve Chilled 2</b></u>
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->CD1 tracks:
<span style='color:red'>01. Nitin Sawhney: The Immigrant
02. Mandalay: You´re Beautiful
<b>03. The Space Brothers: Your Place In The World </span></b>
<span style='color:red'>04. Afterlife: Falling Down
05. Aim feat. Kate Rogers: Sail </span>
06. Llorca: The End
<span style='color:red'>07. Santessa: Eyes On You
<b>08. Mono: Life In Mono</b>
09. 45 Dip: A Man & A Woman
10. Nova: Nova Plaid
11. Paul Hunter: Paul´s Pal</span>
12. Broadway Project: Directions
13. Korova: Changing Times
14. King Kooba: Koobesq
CD2 tracks:
<span style='color:red'>01. Morcheeba: The Sea </span>
<span style='color:red'>02. Sven Van Hees: Tsunami (Inside My Soul)
03. Kinobe: Slip Into Something More Comfortable </span>
04. Suba: Tantos Desajos
05. Mr Hermano: Christina
06. Zuco 103: Outro Lado
07. Solar Sides: Well You Needn´t
08. Ursula Rucker: Circe
09. Beanfield: The Season
10. The Jazz Vandall´s: Summertime
<span style='color:red'>11. Kate Rodgers: Fine </span>
12. Underwolves: Birdsong
13. Blue States: Your Girl
14. Night Source: Rise Above
15. Lux: Northern Lights<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For those who don't know 'lounge' and are actually interested in this music, here you can find some samples:
- <a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002JEP/002-6273580-1202452?v=glance' target='_blank'> Mono : Life in Mono</a> -> This is the song that made me buy lounge-music. I was walking in a cd-shop where that song was playing. I really liked the song from the first minute, so I asked the vendor what cd was playing at that time, the rest is history...
The song is also part of the soundtrack of "Great Expectations", and I think it really suits the movie as (for those who have seen it) "Life in Mono" stands for his (and her) search to capture the heart of the one he has allways loved. But it takes so long to capture her heart that it takes him the whole movie (and several years of his live), so he mainly lives "alone" --> he "lives in Mono" as opposed to "Life in Stereo" (together).
- <a href='http://www.dorado.co.uk/selectversion.cfm?site=dorado' target='_blank'> Doris Days : To Unlike M. (Zero 7 Mix)</a> -> click on discography and you should find it in the list (the media gave an error on my computer though). This is a really great song with a very nice up-tempo beat, sung in english but also with a little-bit of german mixed into it (I understand German).
- <a href='http://www.tunes.co.uk/tunes/featured/5834.htm' target='_blank'> Kinobe : Slip into something more comfortable</a> -> not my favorite song, but it's not bad at all. I have a version without the singers in it (instrumental) and which is better in my opinion. The song makes me think about the Bolero the Ravel (classical music).
<!--QuoteBegin-Swiftspear+Apr 7 2005, 11:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Swiftspear @ Apr 7 2005, 11:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->OMG PR0N, HAWT!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I know you are kidding. But the generall trend is that in Europe we are less conservative on the 'nudity'-subject. And rather ironically America is the biggest producer of PRON as you name it.
<!--QuoteBegin-Spetsnaz+Apr 7 2005, 11:19 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spetsnaz @ Apr 7 2005, 11:19 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->its a good first try tbh. But the two girls at the front dont realy suit the ghost in the shell back ground.
gj tho<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks, and indeed you are right about the fact that the two front girls don't fit the background. That's why I have added the 'rainbow'-circle to emphesize the girl in the middle as being 'another' object in space and time as opposed to the two front girls that are 'listening' to the music.
<!--QuoteBegin-Cold NiTe+Apr 7 2005, 02:33 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Cold NiTe @ Apr 7 2005, 02:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Esuna was right. Think about the resolution there. And the two chicks on the left and right don't match the style.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Again, you are right. That's why I have eddited the picture, as the two girls didn't have the same style. What I did is to 'mirror' the girl with the black outfit and placed this on the left side. Then I copied the outfit (in white) of the other girl and placed it over the black outfit.
<!--QuoteBegin-RobbyC+Apr 7 2005, 11:29 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RobbyC @ Apr 7 2005, 11:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->esuna, he did say it's a CD-cover, and i dunno about you, but my CD-cover's are smaller than that, so i think he has actually done what you said....
as for my opinion, i believe the text looks a bit pixelated, try a different font that's a bit more....round..
i don't know much about the manga or whatever it is so i can't really comment, and i don't know what type of music it is either so i can't say if it suits it or not....<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for your feedback. I have tried other font's, but in the end I think that a round font would not match 'lounge'-music. Take a look at the links I have given, they don't use round fonts either. I have made a print in colour and there is no pixel-problem whatsoever.
<!--QuoteBegin-Testament+Apr 7 2005, 12:20 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Testament @ Apr 7 2005, 12:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Sorry, but no. Especially considering you ripped Kusagi from Ghost In The Shell, which would no doubt be a no-no for any real release. It's a fairly dull CD cover. No offense, but it looks like an image a month old CS clan full of thirteen year olds would make in an attempt to be hip.
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
First of all, may I ask you if you know what lounge music is before you give any more comment? I don't think that it is a fairly dull cd-cover, considering it is the first time I used Photoshop. And who on earth is talking about a <u><b>real release</b></u>? Can't you give more constructive critisicm, like how I could <u><b>improve</b></u> my existing layout (considering you know what lounge-music stands for)?
<!--QuoteBegin-Testament+Apr 7 2005, 12:20 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Testament @ Apr 7 2005, 12:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> The best album covers are original art, and not stolen photoshopped whatnot.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree with that, but then again I am not an artist. I just wanted to make a cd-cover for <u><b>personal use</b></u> (and to give it to a friend). I have given a link of the artist that made the covers of the Hed Kandi-albums, and yes I wish I had the same gift as he does. <a href='http://animewallpaper.de/wallpaper/gits/aah?full=1' target='_blank'>This</a> is the originall picture I have used for my background. I think that the resolution is <u>high enough</u> for <u><b>personal use</b></u>. <b>"And not stolen photoshopped whatnot"?</b> Give me a break, this is for <u><b>personal use</b></u> and if you are so much better, why don't you make an example to show us what you are cappable of, perhaps we might all learn from that.
<!--QuoteBegin-Maus+Apr 7 2005, 02:02 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Maus @ Apr 7 2005, 02:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->This one was originally twice this size (1600x1600) and it printed very well: <a href='http://www.deviantart.com/view/719593/' target='_blank'>http://www.deviantart.com/view/719593/</a><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't know for what kind of music you think this cd-cover is appropriate for, but I don't like it that much. If it is for classical music I can understand it can be considered as 'good'.
<!--QuoteBegin-illuminex+Apr 7 2005, 08:50 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (illuminex @ Apr 7 2005, 08:50 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--><!--QuoteBegin-AlienCow+Apr 7 2005, 06:08 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (AlienCow @ Apr 7 2005, 06:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-illuminex+Apr 7 2005, 11:04 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (illuminex @ Apr 7 2005, 11:04 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-AlienCow+Apr 7 2005, 05:34 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (AlienCow @ Apr 7 2005, 05:34 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-RobbyC+Apr 7 2005, 10:29 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RobbyC @ Apr 7 2005, 10:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> and i don't know what type of music it is either so i can't say if it suits it or not.... <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh but you just KNOW when you see a CD cover like that its gonna be full of summer dance anthems. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He said it was lounge, meaning chill beats and laidback grooves. I love producing that stuff. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well I wasn't entirely sure what lounge was, so I decided to insult dance music. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Bad idea, overall. Lounge is what you use as background music for intercourse. That and Jazz. Mmmmm.....Jazz.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks illuminex for backing me up on that (by the way what do you mean by "I love producing that stuff?".
Aliencow, perhaps you can listen to the links I have given. Lounge music is not necesseraly 'mindless' music too, and it isn't 'summer dance musice too'. But it can be played for instance in surfers beachouses as it reflects the 'laid back' mentality of those guys. <u><b>Why</b></u> didn't you first inform yourself about what 'lounge'-music is instead of insulting dance music as it isn't 'necessarely' dance music but more of 'laid back' music, which is rather the opposite. If everyone that doesn't know something on a subject starts insulting that subject we would live in anarchy, a society without values. Please inform yourself the next time.
So let's cut the crap. I know my cover can't be compared to a real 'lounge' cover. It could have been more of a real lounge-cover if I had changed the background. Originally I was looking for a drawing that effuses a calm environment like in those originall Hed Kandi cd-covers.
But the reason I like my cd-cover is because of the symbolic value I see in it. I have a rather rich imagination, I know. The background-picture is taken from 'Ghost in a Shell', which is a manga from (according to my information) 1996. In some way 'ideas' from 'Ghost in a Shell' were used in the 'Matrix' (which is a manga-style movie). The reason why I like the background picture is that the person is the 'body of pureness which interconnects with the universe in a way comparable to the matrix' (which stands for lounge-music in this case) with the plug-ins that interconnect with the persons listening to that music (the girls in black and white). You can say that those two girls are listening to the music that is coming right out of her body which interconnects with the 'universe' as a peacefull entity. You may think this reasoning is far fetched, but then again your mind might not be open enough. This is my vision about it all, it's a matter of personel taste and personal style.
Greetz,
XtOf
didn't have time to find some clip art to paste in. sorry.
didn't have time to find some clip art to paste in. sorry.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No problem mate. I just wondered what that example stood for, if it was for lounge music, I'm curious what you would do with it. If you look at the examples in the links I have given you, you will understand what I mean (and -hence- why I rather think it is suitable for 'classical music').
If someone thinks he has a good <u><b>background</b></u>, please don't hesitate to link me to that drawing (I really would like it to be a drawing).
Greetz,
XtOf
I find it ridiculous that you're trying to convey peace or serenity by using those images. That cover neither looks peaceful, nor serene, it's too "busy," if you will.
The two styles, the artwork of Masamune Shirow at the back, and the two girls at the front entirely conflict too. Try and keep your choice in cutting and pasting at least to art styles that are similar.
Infact, there's 3 art styles there. There's Shirow's entirely japanese style at the back, there's the strange, poorly done vector style of a western charicature on the left and what i can only assume is the original western style characture on the right. Once again, an example of being too "busy" and also evidence of a poor selection of images on the whole.
As for colours, the blue in the background is in places too vibrant and on the whole too (Yeah, that word again) "busy," how many times need i say this, to convey a feeling of calm, you need to use calm images, for example, the exact opposite of the background.
And no, the quality of the source art is not what size it is. You can very clearly (Or at least you <i>should</i> see very clearly) that the background image has not only examples of poor jpeg compression, but also that it was evidently scaled up. I mean, i could scale a 60x60 image up to desktop size too, but the size isn't what matters, it's the cleanness of the lines, the lack of imperfections and the like, and to say that the background image is of print quality is to claim full ignorance as to what print quality is.
<a href='http://dump.creativeblank.com/pdep.jpg' target='_blank'>Here</a>'s a quick example of the last cd cover i bothered to make, no, it's not perfect, and yes the figure to the left is far too low res to be used for print, but sod it, i went and did it anyway. Most of my mix cds are just blank CD-R's with the genre of music written on them. That's all.
"So if you're gonna be so critical, at least tell me how i can improve it"
Well first, you have to realise what mood you wish to convey, which you have, you want to convey a feeling of peace, calm and serenity, right? Ok, now that's cleared up, you need to focus on things that actually convey that feeling. Using pright colours and "exciting" patterns are not a way to achieve this, stick to soothing, calm colours, khaki's, pastel colours, and the like.
Good choice on the blue though, blue is a calm colour, but with the pattern on the top you may as well have just used bright red.
Now you have a base colour scheme going, try and keep to that theme, too much contrast or too much variety in the colours will once again entirely detract from the mood you're trying to put accross. I'm not saying work strictly from a palette of two colours or anything, it's just don't go putting red, black, blue, green, purple, orange, etc, all in one image, you'll just, once again, detract from the overall mood.
And try and keep images to a minimum also, possibly try a more minimalist style, too many different images, lines, details and so on, the more "busy" it becomes. And that's not what you're aiming for.
It
just
doesn't.
You could get away with that background if you want; just fade it to heck so the ripples and whatnot of the water are subtle; if you want a calming effect that's what you're aiming for... smooooth and subtle.
Like essy said; to do that you need calm colours such as pastels, try and keep the general contrast of the picture down. once you pick a colour theme try and go with it too. The 'new' picture has too many random colours thrown all over it with no heed to composition or contrast and the effect clashes.
After that decide which you want for your main piece; major kusinagi or those two western-style fashion models; don't try and do both because quite frankly I don't think it'll work.
Unless... you could always bring kusinagi down so she's central (she's too high up just now) and wash the two girls blue to go with the background. Do a reverse filter on them so they look like part of the ripples and blend in a bit.
Just some thoughts and ideas :p
Not all CDs are for calm and peaceful music.
Thanks for all the feedback, I really appreciate it. I wouldn't say that I followed all the advice (because of my lack of skill on how to work with photoshop).
I have updated the picture at the beginning of this topic and wondered if you guys this is a good improvement. Beware to the new readers: the first picture is the last added, as I reversed the order of submission, so that the last one is on top!!
Greetz,
XtOf
I think if you just knocked off the two 'lounge's you'd be left with a pretty decent result :D
I don't know. Why don't you give constructive critiscism if you don't like it, so I can actually do something about it?