Album Cover Creation

Initial Front Cover Photoand TemplatesThis is my initial front cover photo for my album, unedited and at first phase. I plan to manipulate the photo in order for it to match one of the templates of which are below. I plan to design the photo in this way as I want the album to simulate a head, having the face on the front cover, the back of the head on the tray card, and the lyrics within the album, giving the impression that the inside is like a brain with all of the artists thoughts and feelings as the lyrics. I also want to include a light side and a dark side both to suggest that he has a light and a dark side to his personality and to connote that people all have different thoughts and perspectives on everyday life and that they will all see him in a different way. I may also use something to represent cracked glass to show multiple personalities and thoughts and perspectives of people on the artist and everyday life. I will try both to see the outcome.

Step 1I have opened the image in Photoshop and I have used the Polygonal Lasso tool in order to cut out the background. I understand that I could have used the magic want tool as the background is pretty much all the same colour, yet I feel that polygonal lasso is much more accurate and gets rid of unwanted edges when zoomed in far enough. It then outputs a clear cut image of which doesn’t have any outstanding edges that are clearly visible.

Step 2I then added a dark grey background and put a slight outer glow on the artist to try and put a bit more emphasis on him as opposed to the background as I am trying to portray the entire album to be his head. I have added a dark grey background as an initial colour of which I will develop as the process moves forward.

Step 3After applying the background colour, I used the polygonal lasso tool to create a bar stretching across the album diagonally to support the name of the artist and the name of the album. I also used a black colour overlay initially so I am able to distinguish it from everything else on the album, which is also mainly the reason why it is there to show the names of both the artist and the album.

Step 4Again, using the polygonal lasso tool, I created a new layer via cut from one side of be background, which will represent the alternate perspective or ‘dark side’ of the album cover. This is being used to represent the other side to both the artist and people in general so it can become more relatable to people who are not where they want to be. It also represents the fact that there is always another side to which a perspective is based upon, bringing the idea of counter or opposing perceptions of both the artist and individuals. I also used inner shadow to create a small vignette effect on the album to give it more of an in depth tone.

Step 5

Adjusting the saturation and lightness applied to only one layer, I made half of my artists face darker yet on the contrasting side to show that personality and thought can just as easily be two sides of the same coin as they are different to one another. I used polygonal lasso again to cut the artists face in half in order to separate the two colours from either side. I will carry on to do the same with the other side and add in all else that is needed to finalise the front cover.

Step 6After applying the same changes but with opposite colours, I decided to add more of an effect using the polygonal lasso tool and the inner shadow effect in the blending options. The bars that appear on the right side of the album are on the same layer as the red background which had an effect on the other side once applied. Therefore, even though the bars are the same colour as the grey background, the shadow brings out a strange effect which suits the album in a way as it is called ‘Distort Reality’ which encourages difference and obscurity.

Step 7I have produced two different final designs of which I am considering. I have one that includes the black bar which is used to firstly, put emphasis on the text in front of it and secondly, to suggest that the name is just a label that gets in front of who the artist really is and that they are just seen as a name with a bad history behind it as opposed to their true personality and characteristics of which the public don’t see very often, putting emphasis on the fact that the media is used heavily to exploit and create controversy. The other image does not include the black bar as it shows the actual divide between the two colours, and in a metaphorical context, the actual divide between the perceptions of people and the artist himself.

Final Design (Front Cover)

This is my final design for my front cover of the album. It is the first thing that the audience will see before purchasing it and it will set the tone for the way in which individuals will see it. It is tailored to the interests of the open and ever expanding mind, showing different or distorted views upon everyone and everything. I now need to export this into InDesign and make sure that the album matches that of the template.

Tray CardI have used the same template for the tray card, yet I have inverted the textures to simulate that it is of a transparent background and that the head effect is applied further. I now need to add a barcode which I plan to use on the back. I want this to symbolise that the artist is somewhat owned by the media and all they care about is the money they make from him as opposed to actually considering the personality and characteristics he has.

Paint Splatter Placement

I plan to have the barcode supported by a paint splatter which may represent the carelessness of the media towards the artist even further. I have also used the Warp tool in order to try to make the splatter look more realistic as I have tried to make it curve with the artists neck.

Barcode Placement

I have placed the barcode almost entirely over the splatter to try and show the fact that it may have been tried to be covered up. I have also centred the barcode with the album cover to try and bring a sense of symmetry to the tray card.

Final Design (Tray Card)

The final design of my tray card is used to the effect where it represents the head and mind of the artist to the full extent, having one half on one side and the second half on the other side. It, again, is used to represent that the album is just the case to something much greater that lies within, similar to when you look at someone, you just see them as an average person and you have no idea what that person is thinking, their limitations and what they are capable of.