The document summarizes the process of constructing a DVD cover in Adobe Photoshop and InDesign. Key steps included: 1. Editing a photograph in Photoshop by cutting off the top and experimenting with filters to make it stand out as the front cover image. 2. Editing a template in Photoshop by cutting out the inside to create a usable PNG template for the DVD cover and back. 3. Placing the edited image and adding text in InDesign to construct the DVD cover, changing font size and color to make the text visible. 4. Further editing a heart graphic and brick wall photo in Photoshop, changing colors to link the front and back

1. Construction of DVD

2. Firstly, we began to look through the photographs that we took in order to gain an idea of how we
could make the front cover and back of the DVD relate to each other. While looking through the
images we were drawn to the photographs where the actor was on the background of a brick wall.
After doing this, we came across an image that we felt worked the best as the front cover. To
progress with creating the DVD cover, we opened the image on Adobe Photoshop. It was
necessary for us to do this because the programme allows us to edit the photograph, by cutting
and using filters to a professional standard.

3. Secondly, after opening the image onto Photoshop we thought about how could make the image
stand out. However, before this we decided that by cutting the top of image off there would be
attention on the artist as the brick wall would be in the background. To do this we used the square
cutting tool, to cut the image we had to make sure that the image was not lock. Following on from
this we then moved on to trialling filters on the photograph that would relate with the genre of the
album, attract an audience, bring attention to the artist and to stand out from a general album. At
the beginning of this stage we focused on greyscale filters similar to the idea that we had for the
promotional poster. As you can see from the image above we experimented filters such as conte
crayon, although the effect did look clear and professional, we felt as though the image would not
be effective because it did not relate to all the sides of the album therefore would attract our target
audience.

4. Following on from the previous slide, at this stage we progressed from the thought of using
greyscale, this lead us onto the filters that were full colour but with a twist. After trying out
various filters we came across the effect of dark strokes, which is shown above, this filter stood
out us because it intensified the colours such as red, giving it an edge on general music albums of
our genre. The effect brought a vibrant atmosphere to the otherwise, calm and understated body
language of the artist, therefore incorporating two different music sides to the album, one being
energetic and other evoking emotions such as disappear. To get the right balance between light
and dark we had to drag the arrow from the black side to adding more white, this in turn caused
the image to stand out.

5. After feeling as though that we had completed editing the image, we then moved on to editing the
template of a DVD cover and back. As you can see above that the template wouldn‘t be usable without
editing because it was filled, therefore for us to be able to use it we would have to cut out the inside so
it can be saved as a PNG then later place the image on Indesign. In order to cut the centres of the
template out we tried out different cutting tools that would be the most effective at cutting out the
parts we wanted, as well as accomplishing at the simplest way. The tool that fitted the characteristics
was the magic wand tool, this tooled allowed us to select large areas that weren't needed in the
template and remove them in the cleanest way, meaning less editing was needed afterwards to
smooth out the rough edges. However, we did need to make some areas that we cut around
cleaning, we done this by using the blur tool this allowed us the smooth the appearance of pixelated
areas, creating a more professional finish.

6. As this stage, we had finished editing the template and
the photograph, to make progress, we then placed the
saved edited image as a jpeg onto a new document on
Indesign. To continue with the process of the DVD we
had to construct it on Indesign, because the
programme includes a wide range of fonts and has the
best quality finish. After placing the image onto
Indesign, we already knew what text that had to
included on the cover, this involved the name of the
artist ‘Katy B’ and the title ‘On A Mission’, this
information was essential to have on our DVD
cover, because this is a general code and convention of
music album. To add text on top of the image we added
two different layers in order for us to move the text
separately if needed, to make sure that they were in a
position where they are visible, as well as not
detracting from the artist. The font size and the
positioning of the text that we were initially going to
use, as you can see above, that from far it wasn’t clearly
defined from the background, along with the title ‘on a
mission’. On the other hand, the colour and type of font
which was ‘Gills San’ used did resemble that of our flat
plans which we wanted to keep a simple theme, theme
which in turn will look clear and effectively be seen by a
audience. Also we decided on a blue outline at this
point to help the text stand out from the background
and relate to the promotional poster.

7. Subsequent to this, yet again we used Photoshop when
editing a heart that we wanted to go on the back of the
DVD. To begin with this process, the first thing we
needed to do was to open the image on the programme
while doing this we noticed that the image was slightly
darker than we wanted it to be. To make the heart
lighter we had to change the brightness and
contrast, doing this was easy as we only had to move it
slightly more to brightness to gained the effect we
needed. For us to be able to us the heart as an
out, once again we used the magic wand tool to cut out
the white areas on the photograph that wasn't
needed, this was accomplished easily because of the
distinct difference between red and white.

8. To accompany the heart on the back of the DVD we wanted the front and back to link, therefore we
thought that having a photograph of a brick wall would clearly establish the connection to the front
cover as well as the genre. Similarly to the other images, we opened it onto Photoshop and thought
about what filters we could use on photograph to change it from just being a brick wall to looking
like a background that could be used on a real album. The effect we thought that could do this was
fresco, this gave an effect similar to the front cover. After doing this, to make the background we
took the edited heart from open document on Photoshop and dragged it onto the brick wall, this
allowed us to see what it would look like if placed on Indesign.

9. However, the appearance of the heart and brick wall on the previous slide did not
achieve the expectations we were hoping for, also the colour of the wall was to
dark to flow seamlessly with the front cover. This lead us to further our editing of
this image, because we felt the image was two dark we found by going on
images, adjustments then variations by selecting the whole area we were able to
lighten the image. Not only this but, by looking at the cover of the DVD the colour
of the background has a hint of pink, we thought that by incorporating this onto the
brick wall featured on the back of the DVD, it as a whole will look more together
and therefore would be of a high standard. Fortunately, by pressing magenta more
we were able to create a effect we were looking for.

10. Likewise, we changed the colour of
the heart to a deep pink to relate to
the pink in the background. The
colour was changed by using the paint To get the heart and wall on Indesign, we
bucket, by selecting the colour from first added a new page to enable the DVD to
the swatches and then pressing the be saved together. Firstly we added another
area of the heart that we wanted to layer on the page for the brick wall, then we
be change. one more put a second layer on this side
which we placed the heart. The reasoning
behind doing this was in case the heart
would work better in a different place.