[Sway]

I've almost finished and wanted to see what you all thought. I've always liked Smallville alright, and this season especially I've really gotten into it. I can't always catch it, though, and so I download the episodes I've missed. Turns out it was more than I thought, so I decided to get the rest and create a DVD "boxset" (really it will be 2 or 3 discs in a thinpak case, about the size of a standard DVD case) of the episodes. Of course the season does not end for several months, but it never hurts to get a head start.

Well, you know me, I can't make something without making it the best I possibly can. So yesterday and today I've been working on a DVD cover for the episodes, and I think it's turned out really well. But, I'd like feedback and suggestions from others as well, so I'm posting this here.

I decided to go against what I normally do, which is mimic a studio's design perfectly. If you've seen a Smallville boxset, you know what they're like. I decided that since this was going to be so different from a boxset, I might as well change the whole design as well. This I copied some elements from the official DVDs and changed them, but nearly everything is off the top of my head. This means I stuck the logos I wanted on there, decided against a UPC and DVD number, and things of that nature. I know it's strange to cover up some letters in the logo on the front, and my high school art teacher would probably have hated that because it's impractical, but I think it works. I don't know if the lightning is too much, but I like that too, and I think I've got it looking artsy but realistic.

Anyway, yeah, suggestions and comments appreciated.

Here's the preview, it's slightly less than 1/3 the actual size.

Attached File(s)

•  dvdcover.jpg (264.7K)
  Number of downloads: 1

[Sway]

And it might be hard to picture as a DVD cover, so here are some case mockups.

Fun fact: Both cases are the exact same size.

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•  casemockups.jpg (100K)
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[Project Z.E.R.O.]

Oh my God, Sway! I love this! (Note: I am not gay...) Not only is this a perfect photoshop creation, but it's Smallville, the greatest show on WB! Thank you! Pepper will be all over you because of this. She loves Smallville more than Angnix and me.........

[Sway]

Well, thank you kindly for the comments Xander. If anyone wants the full-res version for their own use, it's available.

I'm mainly posting to show my label I just finished though. I also updated my cover slightly (you'll hardly notice a change) and improved my case mockups (plus adding the CD).

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•  dvdlabel.jpg (84.37K)
  Number of downloads: 0

[Sway]

I'm moving this for two reasons:

1) I'm not getting any exposure and I'm honestly looking for improvement suggestions, because I want to make this the best I can.
2) I suppose it's more of just a "creation" than a "fan creation", if you know what I mean.

[Project Z.E.R.O.]

Yes I know what you mean. No one looks at 'Other Fan Creations' besides me....

[Pepper]

OMG! OMG! OMG! Smallville! Smallville! Smallville!! That’s the best photoshop I'V ever seen! I didn’t know you were a Smallville fan Sway!

[Master of AFTER]

Son. Of. A. Bitch.

When I first saw the image, I honestly thought that was the official boxart for the set (I've never really looked at the real Smallville sets, so I didn't have anything to compare them to), and I was wondering why Sway bothered to post it here. It was only after reading Sway's message that I even had any idication that they were fake. I'm dead serious Sway, those are some of the best and most thorough Photoshop jobs I've ever seen on the net. You could submit these to dvdempire.com and they'd probably put them up as actual conceptual boxart.

NICE job on those man. To say those images look professional would be an understatement. Man, those make my Amy Rose Show set images look like shit...

[Sway]

Well, now that is a real ego booster, I can't stop grinning, thanks a lot MoA. Thanks as well Pepper, good to be appreciated.

I've been tweaking things a little bit, making subtle improvements, and I'll be sure to post the absolute final versions soon.

[Selatein]

Master of AFTER, on Dec 18 2004, 10:18 PM, said:

Son.  Of.  A.  Bitch.

When I first saw the image, I honestly thought that was the official boxart for the set (I've never really looked at the real Smallville sets, so I didn't have anything to compare them to), and I was wondering why Sway bothered to post it here.  It was only after reading Sway's message that I even had any idication that they were fake.  I'm dead serious Sway, those are some of the best and most thorough Photoshop jobs I've ever seen on the net.  You could submit these to dvdempire.com and they'd probably put them up as actual conceptual boxart.

NICE job on those man.  To say those images look professional would be an understatement.  Man, those make my Amy Rose Show set images look like shit...

You obviously didn't see the Resident Evil: Apocolypse posters that he made. Man, the ones that won were crap, too.

[Sway]

Oh yeah, those damn judges.

I am wondering, can anyone recommend some good ochestral music for my DVD menu? I'm using the flying scenes from episode one as a background video. I'm looking for something fast-paced and powerful.

[Selatein]

Hmmm............... Pachelbel's Cannon?

Don't ask me. I don't even know why I thought of that.

[EnigmaEchidna]

Must I sedate you again Sway. You know the Feds won;t be happy

[Cookie Monster]

neat

[dorkiness]

Wow Sway... You have some really talent in photo shop!! I love them... MoA is right.. It DOES look real...

Can I see the Resident Evil: Apocolypse posters?

[Sway]

Thank you.

Here are small previews of the posters. They are all very similar because I thought it was a strong design, and the right one could put me over the top in the contest, but I guess not. Regular red, more effects red, and regular blue.

Looking back I guess they really aren't so great, but certainly better than or on par with some of the ones they chose as finalists in the contest.

[dorkiness]

They look like real posters...

[Cookie Monster]

fucking hell! theyre fucking amazing

[Sway]

Well, I've made some improvements to the design. It's not much different overall, but there are lots of little changes.

First of all, I scaled the plowed field back so that it fades out on the spine rather than the back. I think it looks better and makes more sense. I also added and took away gradients, made the credits look better, aligned everything much better and smoothed out everything. Clark's torso is also a little longer (more showing) on the front. Ever-so-slightly though, I doubt you'd notice even if you overlayed one on the other. Oh yeah, and the logos are different -- I took away ones that didn't fit and added ones that do, and I also got around to fixing my Warner logos (they should have said "Warner Home Video" rather than "Warner Bros. Pictures", but I doubt anyone noticed).

One interesting technical feat is that all text and logos you see are totally vector-based. Even the Smallville logo on the front. Even that box under the credits. All vector, baby. Combined with 300 dpi photo elements, this thing will print great.

There are two things that might keep this from being the final version - 1) I had to recreate those Warner Bros. logos myself, and I think the text on them is a little thin and might not print well. 2) The body text on the back is mathematically aligned well, but it looks more awkward than I had hoped. I might move it back close to the edge, so let me know what you think of its position if you care.

The DVD label is about the same, except the Superman logo has a gradient now, the Warner logo is fixed and all text/logos are vector, so I won't post that.

Attached File(s)

•  dvdcover.jpg (265.78K)
  Number of downloads: 0

[Sway]

... and here is the newly improved case design mockup (with worse-looking DVD):

Attached File(s)

•  casemockups.jpg (84.41K)
  Number of downloads: 0