DVD cover

I continued my dvd cover and used the font that I found last week then add Nurarihyon’s image.

For the fonts, I added a Drop Shadow as well as Bevel and Emboss effects on my text to make it stand out on the cover. These effects can be seen on the layer side where you can see the two letter word "fx".

Below is the settings that I used:

Bevel and Embross



And by the way, I also group my images into folder to organise my images. By grouping the layers, it will be easy for me to locate the different layers I'm working with.

Back to the text, I find it a little boring so I used the Warp to add some shapes. And here's the outcome:

So now, I'm done with my text. Working with Nurarihyon si almost the same as I worked with the other character. First is to used the Magic Background Eraser tool to delete the white background of the image.

As you can see on the image below, there are still unwated edges in the image. To get rid off this, I used the magic background eraser tool again and the Background Eraser tool.

Let's compare the two images below, the image above is before using the eraser tools while the image below is after applying it.

I also added some text I found in wikipedia about the plot of the anime.

(Wikipedia, 2011)

References:
Wikipedia, 2011. Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan. [online] Available at: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nura:_Rise_of_the_Yokai_Clan> [Accessed 15 October 2011]

Fonts - DVD cover

I wasn’t able to work much in my assignment because I tried the web images and animation. But anyway, I was able to find a good font for my dvd cover. Since I’ll be using the Twilight trailer, I decided to search for some font that is related to it.

So here's the font that I found that will be best for my DVD cover.

(runswithcamps, 2009)

Besides that, I was able to find another image of a character that I will be used in my DVD cover. His name is Nurarihyon, I chose to put him to have a "spirit effect" on my cover, the fact that he's the master of all the spirits.

(youkaitama, 2010)
 

References:

runswithvamps, 2009. Twilight Brushes. [online] Available at: <http://runswithvamps.deviantart.com/art/Twilight-Brushes-110807894> [Accessed 21 October 2011]

youkaitama, 2010. Nurarihyon. [online] Available at: <http://youkaitama.seesaa.net/article/150641294.html> [Accessed 21 October 2011]

Anime Theme

Finally, I already decided a theme for my assignment. I’m an avid fan of anime so I thought of using it. I’ll be combining the sound of a movie trailer, Twilight, to scenes from an anime, Nurarihyon no mago, for my video presentation.

The mood will be like there is a dark and a bright side because the character is part human and part yokai (demon). I’m still playing with the colours dark blue or black as the background.

Background:
Layer 0 is a drak blue background layer. To add an effect, I used Gradient Tool (encircled in red on the image above) for Layer 1 and used a lighter shade of blue.

For the characters, I searched and tried many images but decided to used:

(MPrincess, 2010) What I did on this image is to get rid off of the white background by using the Magic Background Eraser Tool and Background Eraser Tool for the sign.

(vl0v0lv, 2010)

Just like the first image, I also used both tools then cropped it to take off the part that I will not be using. Magic Background Eraser Tool is a big help to erase the background easily in just a click.

I then put them all together and have this result:

Regarding with the fonts, I haven’t decided it yet but I already searched for possible fonts that may fit on my theme. I’m still worried about the outcome though because I might exaggerate the design. But I know, as I go on with it, I’ll definitely change or add something from it.

References:
MPrincess, 2010. Nurarihyon no Mago: Rikuo Nura. [online] Available at: <http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/484097> [Accessed 14 October 2011]
vl0v0lv, 2010. Nurarihyon no Mago: Yuki Onna. [online] Available at: <http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/495200> [Accessed 14 October 2011]

Guidelines

We supposed to have a theme already and start working with it. Unfortunately, I'm still confused about my theme. While thinking of a theme, I started doing the DVD cover and label so that it will be ready for the design.

Working with the DVD cover, at first I have no idea about how to make a proper guide lines for the label. I know about having guide lines on a layer but with the right dimensions, I don’t. I just put a big circle on my layer and wonder on how I will know the right dimension. Having guide lines with right dimensions is crucial.

To set the guidelines, just go to "View" then "New Guide".

A window will appear after selecting it, here we can now set the positions we want from a horizontal line to vertical line.

The outcome:

In the DVD label, a dashed line is shown. I don’t know how to do that so I searched for a tutorial. I followed the steps (Planet Photoshop) but instead of a dashed line, cos I can't find a box brush, I used circle brush and made a dotted line.

The outcome:

I learn new things today!

References:
Planet Photoshop. Dashed Lines in Photoshop. [online] Available at <http://www.planetphotoshop.com/dashed-lines-in-photoshop.html> [Accessed 07 October 2011]

Photoshop Tools

We discussed about the different tools in Photoshop. At the laboratory, I encounter some problems in VegStart.psd. While I am trying to trace the image by the Quick Selection Tool, I can’t control the brush. The line is like flying away from the point that I want it to be. I just found out that I’m working with a different layer.

Scenario: I am tracing the the tomato but the layer visible is carrot. That's why when I tried to make changes in the tomato, there's no effect on the image. So make sure that you have selected the right layer before doing something on the image.

I used the Magic Background Eraser Tool to erase the white background immediately with just a click. After that, the Background Eraser Tool helped me to erase unwanted or hard edges on the image.

As you can see on this image, there's a drop shadow effect.

This can be manipulated by clicking the fx icon. After getting the right effect, I decided to copy the effects then paste it to other image layers so that they will have the same effect.

The outcome:

I also had some problems with the FlowerStart.psd regarding the colour adjustments. I tried using Colour Replacement Tool and manipulate the colours until I get the colour that I want.

The outcome:

Though I wasn't able to produce the same effect, in somehow it looks the same.