2. After going around the pencilled
image with black to make it look
digital, we then used Photoshop to
edit our drawing for our album
artwork. We had to remove the
background (white) from the image.
When we applied a background to
the image the white should not
show through. We removed the
white bits by using the magic wand
tool. This way the background
behind the drawn image would be
removed and all that was left was
the outline of the image so we can
therefore play around with the
image to make a front cover.
3. We then used the brush tool to fill in the gaps that the scanner had missed to make the outline crisper and bold. This made
the image look less like a drawn image and more like a digital image. This gave the outline a more professional look and it
all started to come together with the font. We added a stronger and more even red to the image to really emphasise the
joker reference we are making. Then we added red to the font. We did this as we found our colour scheme was red white
and black. These colours are commonly used for rock bands and themes. Kerrang! One of the Uks biggest rock magazine
uses this colour combination as the black symbolises the darkness , the red symbolises blood and passion and the white
symbolises innocence and blankness.
4. My group chose the font, Adler. We chose this font because it looks destroyed and edgy. This looks a lot like
fonts that rock/metal bands use as it symbolises the attitude of the genre of being bold and distorted,
standing out and looking different. The font that we have chosen actually looks a lot like the avenged
sevenfold font itself that is used for their album covers. Therefore we have tried to stay close to Avenged
Sevenfold’s work, whilst adding our own twist on things. This way people will recognise that it is Avenged
sevenfold.
5. Here we used the design from the poster and outlined them in different colours. The colours represent being different
and standing out from everyone else. Each death bat is a portrayal of the band members and they all have their own
distinct colour. Also because we went for the joker (clown) theme the vibrant colours link to the circus. The font has a
drop shadow to add depth to the image. The shadow itself links with the idea of a nightmare as shadows are used in
horror films to add tension of being alone and surrounded by darkness.
6. Here is the back of the Digipak which lists the contents of the CD. We added lots of images of the death
bat to add detail and really promote the band’s symbol. Therefore the image of the death bat we be
recognisable to the band and everyone will know who the band is when seeing the death bat. The font
has a red fill with a black stroke to add depth and to make the font stand out. We used the colour
scheme of red, white and black as we found from our research that this was a popular colour scheme for
the rock/metal genre. The red symbolises anger and blood which is stereotypically placed with the rock
genre.
7. Here is an image of what our first draft looks like. We have found that it looks rather plain and too bright for a rock
album Digipak. Therefore we are now looking at ways to change and progress our first draft to make it look more
professional and more of the rock style you would stereotypically see. Changes to make would be to add more black
to show it is a dark album as we are doing a dark song. The background colour we have had trouble with as the
lighter colours make the font and drawings stand out but it does not really fit in with the heavy metal style we have
gone for. In addition we need to find a way to add the dark scheme in to the Digipak without it dulling the rest of
the contents.
8.
9. Here we have progressed the Digipak to match the chosen genre we are aiming for. We added the starry night
background which was used in the poster therefore we have a consistent theme running through the products.
The starry background looks good with the idea of a nightmare as people have nightmares when it is dark and
it adds to the emphasis to not knowing what is in the dark. We then had to add a white outer glow to add
depth to the text. This way the font stands out and looks clearer. On the left hand side image we added a
rectangle with a gradient overlay starting from the middle so the colours of the death bats stand out. The
middle image which would be the back of the CD case has 4 different coloured bats, this way there is a
consistent colour scheme running through the Digipak as each bat represents the band members. The reason
there isn’t a red bat is because there is red text on the page; therefore each colours has been used. The spaces
where the CDs will sit will have manipulated images of the woods. This is clearly not in the dark colour scheme
but the starry night background could act as the sky above the woods and this way it may link quite well.
10. Something
like this
When the filming is completed we will add still images of the woods to the Digipak where the CDs will sit. When
the Digipak comes together the dark sky images will link well to the images of the woods as it will look like the
‘Nightmare’ sky of the woods.
11.
12.
13. We included the parental advisory logo to the front
cover of the digipak as warning that there will be strong
language within. My group did consider beeping out the
swear words in the song but there was a lot of bad
language. This would have been very time consuming
and most of the song would have been in silence.
Therefore we opted to keep it in and to just add a parental advisory label to the front cover to show that
there will be bad language inside. We also thought it would be unfair to remove the language because
that is the attitude of Avenged Sevenfold and many other rock bands. Bad language is used to show that
someone is really angry and rock was originally formed to show you was a rebel. We also added the
Warner Brothers logo on to the front cover to show who owns the rights to the song . This is called
synergy because two large companies are working together to promote each other.
Here on the CDs there is an image of the nightmare. When the buyer removes the disk the nightmare has
gone. Therefore when you remove the disk you are putting the nightmare into the CD player, bringing your
nightmare to life just like the lyrics say. This code and convention links to what Andrew Goodwin would say.
There is a relationship between lyrics and
visuals. We thought this would be a nice little
detail to include. Not everyone will understand
why this was done but if the fan knows the song
well they will hopefully see the connection we
have trued to make. We did this to just promote
the song even further by having the footage
from the song on the CDs. This will help gain
recognition for the song and getting the
nightmares fan base up and going.
14.
15. On the advertisement that would feature in a magazine such
as Kerrang! We thought it was necessary to add Facebook
and twitter logos. Again by using synergy everyone will
benefit. Our target audience is fairly young and a general
stereotype is that all young people use the internet to
socialise and interact with friends via social networking sites.
By working with Facebook and twitter those who do not
have face or twitter will join to get all of the latest news
about avenged sevenfold and those who do have Facebook
and twitter can access and promote the song. This way we
are appealing to our target audience and making the news
more accessible and easier to spread the word. This can be
done by posting YouTube links and sharing information with
friends for them to follow.
On the poster/advertisement we added an
image of the front cover. This was done so that
when the album is available in stores or on
iTunes for example the customers will know
what to look for and will recognise the
artwork. Also this gives a sneak preview to the
fans and hopefully start a trending discussion
into what they might expect from the new
album. We added a date underneath the
album so the fans know when to purchase the
album and they will hopefully spread the news
through Facebook and twitter.
