Making cd cover explanation2
- 1. Creating My Digi Pack Chloe Allenby
- 2. I imported an image of a street from google maps onto the page, as initially I wished for it to look like my artist was stood on a street containing things to do with fame. Using this image as a guide, would ensure I got the dimensions, angles and sizes of items correct.
- 3. I drew around the road using the polygonal lasso tool then coloured it grey using the paint brush tool.
- 4. I imported an image of a weed leaf from google images which I will use as a stencil to make my own cartoon leaf.
- 5. Using the paintbrush tool, on a small stroke (9) and a slightly softened edge I drew around the outside of the leaf.
- 6. I then used the paintbrush tool (again) to fill in the outline with a different green colour. I placed this layer behind the outline and then merged the layers.
- 7. I then duplicated the layers and placed the leafs in my chosen design.
- 8. I adjusted the Hue of each leaf to give variation in the shades of green which they were, making the product more aesthetically exciting and colourful.
- 9. Using the elliptical marquee tool I placed a circle behind the leaves, holding shift as I did it to ensure an oval shape was not made. I coloured the circle a yellow colour to draw attention to the leaves and make them stand out. I added a stroke for further emphasis, outlining the circle.
- 10. I added a black stroke, this will be seen on all objects in my Digi pack to make them stand out, look bold, and conform to a cartoon style look.
- 11. Using the polygonal lasso, paintbrush and stroke tools I begun to develop my design. I chose to add a snake to represent the lurking dangers in the world of fame (a biblical intertextual reference) and added polka dots to conform to the bright, colourful, almost childlike cartoon design.
- 12. I then added a pink box using the rectangular marquee tool. And added text saying ‘fame’ in a poplar std font. I chose poplar std as it it bold and noticable yet also quirky. Using transform> rotate I rotated both these layers to create a random, busy look.
- 13. Using the polygonal lasso, stroke and rectangular marquee tool I drew a wine bottle. I used transform>rotate to make it lay down and then used the polygonal lasoo tool to draw drips of wine coming from it. I chose to have drops dripping and the wine laid on a side to represent the artist’s hectic, out of control life since becoming a celebrity. I chose to use the ‘Bradley hand’ font as I believe it is classy, like connotations of wine.
- 14. Using the Polygonal lasso tool and the text tool I made a newspaper. To ensure I got the dimensions, angles and sizes of the newspaper correct I used the road as a guide whilst using the skew tool, manipulating the angles of the shapes.
- 15. I used the polygonal lasso and paintbrush tool to draw a cartoon spotlight. This is to represent how the artist is constantly being watched and how her public life is like a show to the paparazzi. I used a very soft paintbrush stroke to create the yellow/orange gradient seen in the beam of light. As with all the other items, I added a black stroke to create a cartoon style (emphasising that nothing is real in the world of fame – it is all a show) and to create a house style.
- 16. I imported an image of my artist and cropped it appropriately.
- 17. I added text and the image to the newspaper and then skewed them to match the rest of the article.
- 18. I used the elliptical marquee tool to create a multi- coloured circle design, adding black strokes as I went.
- 19. Using the polygonal lasso tool I drew a flower. I added a black stroke. I duplicated the layer and then used the free transform to resize and rotate the flowers, creating a design with multiple layers.
- 20. I adjusted the hue to make the flowers multi-coloured, contributing to a bright, eye catching, visually exciting design which would target both females and a young audience. Using the polygonal lasso tool I added a stripy design, again a childlike pattern which would attract a young target audience.
- 21. Using the polygonal lasso tool and paintbrush and stroke, I begun to create a cartoon cocktail glass. Having imagery relating to alcohol conforms to hip-hops tendency to explore taboo themes, and links to the narrative in my music video to create continuity. Again I used the soft paintbrush tool to create a gradient.
- 22. I resized the finished cocktail glass and placed it in the desired location using the scale tool.
- 23. Using the polygonal lasso, stroke and paint brush tools I added more cartoon imagery to my design.
- 24. Using the polygonal lasso tool I further added cartoon designs. I added headphones as they’re imagery relating to the Hip-hop genre. I added music notes to reflect the artist’s rapping, a star to symbolise fame, and cropped a £20 note to symbolise money. I will leave the note as a real image as opposed to cartoonising it as this could symbolise that money has taken over the artists life (relating to the narrative of my video) and also it would be complex to cartoonise.
- 25. Using the polygonal lasso and stroke tool I added a blue area which will act as a background. I chose to use a pale colour so the background does not distract from the images on top of it.
- 26. I added polka dots, a child like pattern to attract a young target audience. However, I reduced the opacity of this layer to ensure it did not distract from the syringes.
- 27. Using the rectangular marquee, polygonal lasso and paintbrush tool I created cartoon syringes. These represent the artists drug abuse – linking to the narrative of my music video for continuity and conforming to the convention of Hip-Hop to explore taboo themes. I used the duplicate layer and rotate tools to create the look seen.
- 28. I imported the chosen image of my artist. I believe this is a good image because: the mise- en-scene a.k.a costume links to the narrative theme of fame. The pink fur coat connotes wealth and the sun glasses symbolise a celebrity. The pose is suitable to the hip hop genre, it suggests confidence and status, two themes commonly explored. The use of a selfie would attract young audience as it incorporates modern technology of an iPhone and selfie taking something which teens regularly do. Taking a selfie in itself suggests that the artist cares about her image, a part of the narrative in my music video for continuity. The pink in the mise-en-scene would attract a female target audience.
- 29. Using the polygonal lasso tool and the stroke tool I added a choppy white background with a black outline to the image. Conforming to the cartoon house style.
- 30. I adjusted the contrast, brightness and saturation of the image to make the colours more vibrant, and the overall image brighter and more eye catching. It means the image can still stand out despite being in front of a busy, bright cartoon background.
- 31. I added ‘Lukatar’ down the road next to the artist. Using free transform I re-scalled and rotated individual letters to make them fit into the design. Having the album name is a convention of digi packs to make them fulfil their purpose of marketing and displaying the album. I chose to use multi- coloured writing so the text would fit with the bright design. Later I added ‘baby B’ text – another convention is to have the artists name.
- 32. I began to design my disks. To allow for a house style I duplicated the flower design seen on the front cover and imported it onto the disk. I reduced the opacity of the layer so it would not distract from the text. I imported a graffiti ‘Lukatar’. I believe the graffiti font will be relatable to my urban, lower class target audience. It also represents the artist’s hypothetical background. I added the name of the artist ‘Baby B’ in Poplar Std for continuity and a house style. I reduced the opacity of the flowers so they did not distract from the graffiti.
- 33. I changed the graffiti text to pink to try to attract a female target audience. I believe it now looks more feminine as pink connotes females, representing both my artist and potential audience. I moved Baby B to the side as this looks more edgy and urban, layering it above the larger ‘Lukatar’
- 34. I increased the opacity of the flowery background to make the overall disk brighter and more colourful.
- 35. I imported an image of my artist to the 2nd disk, using the polygonal lasso tool I cropped out the background by selecting select>inverse>delete.
- 36. Using the circular marquee tool I cropped the image of my artist to fit the disk.
- 37. I increased the sharpness of the image to give a more professional finish.
- 38. I increased the levels of the image, including brightness and contrast to give a more striking, vibrant, image.
- 39. To intensify the colours in the image I increased the saturation.
- 40. Website I got the graffiti font from.
- 41. I imported another chosen image onto the inside cover. To fit with the feminine tone and create a house style by sticking to a colour scheme I coloured it pink, to do this I made the image black and white by reducing the saturation (So no other colours would mix with the pink tones) placed a pink box over the image and reduced the opacity of it to make it see through.
- 42. Increasing the contrast made the image more striking.
- 43. I imported the second chosen image and cropped it accordingly.
- 44. I made this image pink also to maintain a house style.
- 45. I imported the last chosen image. Using the polygonal lassoo tool I cropped it choppily with many angles. I believe this rugged look will appeal to my lower class target audience.
- 46. Poplar Std for continuity. Stroke to make it stand out. Feminine bright pink background Flowers to maintain a house style Conventional track list. Arial as it is easy to read. Narrow to fit text in desired place. Same graffiti as disk for continuity.
- 47. I began the process of cartooning the images. Using the polygonal lasso tool I drew around shapes in the actual image. I then coloured it using the brush tool. Using a softer brush I added shading. Then added a black stroke (outline) to enhance the cartoon look and match the front cover to make a house style. Shading
- 48. The colour selector tool meant I could use a colour which was realistic for her skin tone. However with lips, eyes, teeth etc. I used brighter unrealistic colours to make the image stand out, be more funky, and to create a cartoon look conforming to the bright cover.
- 49. I believe that cartoonising my images creates a quirky digi pack, which will stand out on a shelf as I aren’t following conventions. It would attract a young target audience who may liken it to comics etc. and is a fun addition. I also think it emphasises the ‘story’ feel to the music video (we go on a journey with the artist, cartoon reminds us however that it is only a media product). Cartoon also slightly resembles graffiti art. Attracting an urban audience.
- 52. I began to cartoonise the image on my cover, drawing around her hand and adding a stroke.
- 53. Small details such as the apple logo did not have a stroke: they were too small and it distorted the image.
- 54. Shading added using burn tool, a tool which slowly darkens whilst leaving the colour the same
- 55. Using the paint brush tool I added varying colours in the hair in strands, making the image slightly more life-like.
- 56. Colour selected using the colour selector tool.
- 57. I drew over the symbol in the paint brush tool as I believed it was too complex to trace using the polygonal lasso tool.
- 58. Further cartoon
- 59. Turning the face to cartoon, tools used:
- 60. I made the next image cartoon following the same process, however, this image was only pink. Using a soft brush I added shading to the nose and also added a black fade around the image to make the subject stand out against the bright flowery background (as she is the main feature). The flower background was added for continuity.
- 61. Making the hair cartoon was a monotonous process as I had to draw round individual clumps, and use many different colours, but the end product was what I desired. I think it is eye-catching, messy to suit a young audience, and captures that the artist is dancing in the shot.
- 62. End back cover.
- 63. Using the blur tool I softened the shading. I think this is more realistic and looks more professional, whilst still looking like a nose.
- 64. This is the completed face.
- 65. I removed the pink background and pink over the notes. I am not cartoonising the notes as that would be too time consuming and they may be no longer recognisable as money. As I wanted the money to stand out (the effect of wealth is a key ideology in my products) I chose to colour them green. This will ensure they stand out as green is opposite to pink in a colour wheel. I also believe green is symbolic of money (US dollars) and greed (in the video the artist has excess money and her life spirals out of control because of it).
- 66. To further make them stand out I went round each note using the polygonal lasso tool and added a stroke.
- 68. Using the polygonal lasso tool I traced around the notes and coloured them green using the brush tool.
- 69. Reducing the opacity of the green layer meant the money could still be seen whilst been coloured green.
- 70. Using the paint brush tool I changes the colour of the hair to add for continuity between each image (blonde hair is a signature look for the artist0 and to create a more striking, bright, eye catching image.
- 71. I imported money into the back image to use as a background.
- 72. Using the duplicate layer tool I added more flowers, this time in an oval shape.
- 73. Using the rotate tool I rotated some flower clusters to make a more random design to target a younger audience. I also added ‘Lukatar’ in graffiti text. I used yellow as I believe it is eye catching.
- 74. I chose a still from my video to turn into cartoon. I believe this pose has attitude and makes the artist seem confident. I like the direct mode of address, and the fact she is bobbed down means all her sports clothes are in the frame (including trainers), without it been a long shot (where the artist would look too small). I think the squint and mouth shape suggests cockiness – an ideology I wished to portray.
- 77. I no longer wanted the money image to be pink, as none others were so it did not fit the house style. I think I have adequately attracted a female audience in other ways e.g. flowers, bright colours, and girly poses e.g. pout. Therefore I adjusted the hue to make the colours of the image ‘normal’
- 78. I also added the money background to match the other inside image. This is the final coloured image.
- 79. Final Digi Pack.