The document provides details on the creation of a CD cover design for the song "My Immortal" by Evanescence. The designer began with a template and added layers including an image of a dying rose for the cover, scenes from the music video in a film strip, and reviews and song information on the back. House colors of red, black, and white were used throughout. The final design was saved as a JPEG to share the one-layer cover widely.

2. As you can see from
the print screen on the
right, this is a layer
that will remain
separate as I will then
add the centre image
upon the cover that
will need to be under
the template. This is
due to the border on
the front that needs to
be seen to allow the
target audience of
goths, rockers and
emos to understand
which music institution
the CD has come
from, in this case,
‘Universal’.
As you can see, this is the main CD cover that we have used as a template, however, instead of leaving it like this, I have
advanced and developed around this in order to create an effective CD cover. The reason that I have chosen this CD template
in particular is because of the fact that it is the sound of ‘universal’, which understates good quality, an effective lure that would
guarantee and reassure the target audience as they would feel that the CD is worth buying. As you can see above from the
print screen, I have started to edit the template in order to ensure that it will be a firm foundation for the images that will be
placed on top. As we were going to have an image of a rose on the front of the CD cover, I erased all of the plain front using
the magic eraser tool. Despite this, certain areas of the overall template were erased, resulting in a very unprofessional
outlook. This then lead to me using the manual eraser tool that I had made very large to ensure that I delete any little pixels
that aren’t necessary. Although, when it came to doing the area close to the spine of the CD in the middle, I had to use a
smaller brush and had a steady hand, eventually, I gained the result above.

3. As you can see, this is the rose that we have taken from the music video (Cmd, shift,
3) that we were going to use as our CD front cover. However, when asking our peers
for advice regarding this rose, they felt that this didn't look as though it were a rose,
even if it were dying. After considering this, we knew that we had to take the picture
ourselves of a dying rose, so I had bought a rose and left it to wilt aside. Finally,
when I was able to take a picture of it, the lighting wasn’t good, so I gently moved the
flower else where, however, all of the petals were too brittle and began to fall until I
could not work with anything. Due to this, we resorted to the internet which we were
upset by as we wanted everything to be original. After scouring the internet,
eventually, we found the image on the bottom right that we could definitely work with
and create something new out of.

4. As you can see, I
have added the
image of the rose
which will be on the
front of the CD cover,
however to give it a
certain depth, we
have created an inner
glow around the
template of the CD
cover. Instead the
image will not blend
into the template but
contrast with it,
making it stand out.
As I have written on the previous slide, I have decided to
alter certain aspects regarding the template of the CD
cover. As you will see from the screen shots, I have
double clicked the layer and decided to create a pattern
overlay that will contrast with the house colours of red,
black and white because these are the colours of the
writing on the back. We decided to keep the grey aspect
as it looks as though the centre image of the rose with the
dull surroundings has influenced the rest of the CD cover.
This symbolises the dying rose and how love can easily
be destroyed over time. Above are three different pattern
overlays but they are very subtle as I have changed the
opacity to 39% as I do not want the pattern to be so
strong as to distract the target audience from the written
aspect to the CD cover. In the end, we decided to go for
the one on the left as it has a sheen marble effect that is
noticeable but not to the extent where it is overpowering.

5. As the rose petals are red, they symbolise the
intense love between the couple that is
consumed by death, reasons for which the
rest of the image is grey. Yet still, we wanted
this passionate red to be noticed immediately
by the Target audience of rockers, goths and
emos. In order to do this, I started
experimenting with the image, thinking of
ways in which I can ensure that the rose will
stand out. Eventually, I edited the Bevel and
Emboss, making the image darker then it was.
Many may feel that this is challenging the
codes and conventions as lighting is usually
kept to its best in order to create a good
effect. Despite this, I continued experimenting
and created a black shadow within the image,
that made the lighting quite limited with an
opacity of 69%.
However, to compensate for this, I created
another shadow, but made it white with an
opacity of 61% yet I limited the size to 122
pixels, that highlighted the rose very well. This
resulted in the very effect above on the print
screen.
As you can see on the left, this is the Layer,
where we are able to edit the style of the
image or text. As you can see we have
chosen global light other wise the light will be
scattered over the image instead of being
concentrated in one area. This is the same
image and effect but without global light.

6. Here I have started to add the main mastheads upon the CD front. As you can see it is essential to have both the name of
the single/album as well as the name of the artist, this I had realise when analysing different CD covers in my research
and analysis. The name of the artist is crucial, sometimes more significant than the actual song/songs, this is understood
when looking at CD covers in the music industry today. For this reason, I have made the name ‘Evanescence’ larger in
comparison to the song title, ‘my immortal’. To enhance the significance of the artist, I have placed their name on the top of
the cover as internet research indicates that the target audience look at the top of the image first. The fact that the light
around the rose is present above, draws the readers eyes straight to the artist’s name.
As you can see from the two images above, the My immortal in red has a black spiral effect that we have gained due to
the Smooth Bevel and Emboss on the image, this will carry the house style from the magazine, as the swirls will continue
through to the promotional poster. We have decided to use red as it is a house colour, nevertheless, when making the title
red, it didn’t seem to look right due to the overpowering shade of the rose. Due to this, we made the, ‘Evanescence’, black,
yet another house colour that looks effective as it contrasts with the strong lighting provided by the rose. We decided to
keep with this effect as it looked more professional and stood out upon the cover. As many CD covers today have minimal
writing, we have decided to keep this text on the cover whilst the rest will occupy the back of the CD cover.

7. As we wanted to incorporate
scenes from our music video
into the CD cover, we
decided to use a film strip as
you can see above. We had
clicked on File, then Place
and edited the film strip on
another layer upon
Photoshop, resulting in the
image above. We mainly
used the magic eraser tool
as it took less time to edit the
image, but we had to use the
manual eraser as well, in
order to remove small white
pixels as you can see on the
left print screen.
Eventually, we managed to
erase all of the white pixels,
resulting in the print screen
below. In order to add
images and put them into the
film strip, I will have to click
on File, and then Place,
similar to the way in which
we retrieved the film strip.
To display the dominance of
the film strip, we will have
the writing revolve around
the shape of it, this will
display the significance of
the music video itself (My
Immortal – Evanescence).

8. As you can see,
this palette
consists of all
the tools that
are necessary
for editing.
This is the
cloning tool.
This is the
eraser tool, and
when you click
on the little
arrow in the
corner, you can
then access the
magic eraser
tool that deletes
much more in
one go.
As you can see above, I have started to edit in some of the essential scenes from the music video, My Immortal including
the moon that provides an eerie effect as well as the dying rose. As I placed these images onto the photo shop document, I
needed to alter the angle at which each image was in as I can then erase the edges to make it look as though it fits in with
the rest of the film strip. By clicking Ctrl shift drag, I was able to make the image bigger without changing the proportions of
the image, making it easier for me to edit. However, to ensure that the image fit well within the film strip, I had clicked on
Cmd and then dragged the image, where the image looked as though it was at a different angle. As you can see above, I
have done this successfully, making it look as though the image was already placed in the film strip. A very useful tool that I
had used continuously was the cloning tool where, I would click Alt and select the area I wanted to copy and click on the
place that needed the pixels. This was very useful when I would delete some of the image by accident when clearing up the
edges, yet this allowed me to cover up my mistakes.

9. As you can see from the print screen above, I have added some more images but this consists of the artist. As you can see from
the previous plan, we were going to have the image of the artist on the back, but as our ideas evolved, we decided to take
segments from the music video. As we considered what scenes to use, we were well aware, that the artist must be visible as she
is the one that provides the music and influences the widow. Due to her extreme amount of dominance, the writing will revolve
around the film strip.
You may ask how we have managed to print screen the images from the Apple Mac Laptops, due to the fact that there is no print
screen option/button available on the keyboard. Well, the way in which we have managed to do this was by clicking Cmd, Shift
and 3 at the same time, where you will hear the sound of a photo being taken. These print screens were then available on the
Desktop of the laptop. I had then opened each print screen individually on photo shop, giving me the option to crop the image
that I had done. After this I was able to save the image and place it into the document with the CD cover, where I had edited the
images into the film strip.

10. Here, I am editing in the last few images, as you can From these print screens, you can see that the image I have
see, I need to zoom in (Ctrl, +) in order to see if the cropped and placed into the shot does not fit into the film strip
image fits in well as this will guarantee a professional box. I had then used the cloning tool, by pressing Alt and
CD cover. I have used the manual eraser tool through selecting the top of the image, I then copied and filled in the
out and have used a very small brush to ensure that gaps, resulting in the image below (after). In addition to this, I
had also used the brush tool to fill in a bit of black to make the
every pixel fits in the box. If there is a gap however, it
outline of the film strip more noticeable.
is clear in saying that the image does not belong
there. As you can see from the print screen below, this
is what the finished film strip looks like. Now, I am able This is the brush
to add the written aspect to the back of the CD cover. tool.
Before
After

11. Here, I have added reviews of the song, that have been commented on by respected organisations, in particular NME and
Kerrang who promote the genre of rock, indie and gothic music. As a result, any form of positive feedback from these
music organisations will definitely ensure that the target audience of goths, rockers and emos will be engaged. As you can
see, the text is written in Sharp Capitals that contrasts with Edwardian script to show a form of variety, this will also stand
out in comparison to the rest of the text. You will notice that the three quotes are highlighted in red, black and white to
signify the house colours that will run throughout the ancillary texts. To enhance this form of formatting, we then have this
text revolving and resurfacing around the film strip, creating a border like effect to enhance it’s dominance as it refers back
to the music video, My Immortal by Evanescence.

12. Here, I have started to add
the swirls that will carry the
house style through to the
promotional poster. What I
have done is go to the
custom shape tool and
clicked on shape, then
arrow and all, giving me a
range of images to work
with. As I wanted everything
to stay in touch with the
house style, the swirls and
flowery patterns were black
that contrasted well with the
dull background. As you can
see, I have added a range
of these patterns
surrounding the film strip to
look as though it is central
due to it being one of the
main aspects of the CD
cover, along with the front
image of the rose.
This is the
custom
shape tool.

13. Finally, we have added
the song selection that is
traditionally put on the
back of the CD cover.
The font for this was
going to be Edwardian
Script but as we asked
the essential target
audience, there felt that
the writing couldn’t be
read easily, so we
decided to go for a
similar font, ‘Brush
Script’, which is easier to
read but still creates that
posh ambience that is a
connotation of love.
Once again, we have
manipulated the house
colours as the text
consists of black and
white that contrast well
against each other.
This is the end product of the CD cover, which happens to be very simple but
portrays the message of the music video whilst promoting the song via the use of
lures. Nevertheless, many artists enhance this simplicity as it clearly engages the
target audience instead of boring them with continuous text. I have then saved this
as a JPEG that results in one layer that allows this to be seen by many in one
easily accessible format.