Feedback for Digipak and Advert

Digipak:

 

I was given 9/10 for the design and draft of my digipak by Mr Ford, and the feedback he gave me was to change the volume button as it was too distinctive as being Apple's. This links to verbal feedback he also gave me a few days before the deadline, in which he said I could ether remove it or attempt to create my own. Verbally, he also mentioned changing the size of the text on the back cover, so the first and last track names weren't too close to the edges of the panel.

 

To accomdate this feedback I have changed the front cover so that the volume button is no longer included. I understand how it was recognisible as Apple's, and therefore not suitable to use on my final digipak and have attempted to create a professional album cover using only the background photo, text and the blue sticker effect. To create a plain background instead of the volume button image, I have used the same photo on the front as is included on the back. This means the back and front cover are essentially the same, just including different styles of text.
 

 

Magazine Advert:

 

I also got 9/10 on the magazine advert; just like the digipak , Mr Ford felt the volume button was the problem. However, after looking at my advert again, I also felt that the volume button was too large and distorted due to the blurred effect created by stretching the image. When developing ideas for changing the volume button on my magazine advert, I sought advice from George as we both knew eachothers ideas and felt we could help one another. He suggested that I include more star ratings, to not only break the magazine advert up a little and create more room, but to also give Rosa-Leigh more credibility and make her an even more esteemed artist.

 

When deciding on how the change my magazine advert I knew I had to remove the volume button, therefore decided also to use the image above on the advert, as a background. I then knew I needed to change the layout to compensate for the gained space within the layout. Because the image ties the digipak and advert together, without the volume button I also decided to play around with an added link; the swirl featured on the inside of the digipak.

DRAFT MAGAZINE ADVERT

DRAFT DIGIPAK

Designing the Back Cover

I have used the same photo that features on the front cover, but I have removed the volume image and used a different filter to edit this with. I have kept the light patterns and leaks that can be found on VSCOcam and Afterlight as in this instance it makes the image brighter and happier.  

I then decided to include track listing, copyright laws, a barcode and the record label logo, as these are conventions found on previously looked at digipaks. 

On each back cover the logo, barcode and copyright information are in the same place. The barcode is neatly displayed in the bottom right hand corner, next to it features a small yet easily visible Island Records logo. Producer and copyright information are displayed using smaller white text that is subtle, however I feel it is still easy to read. 

A Gentle Touch

I really like the looped handwritten effect, as it is similar to my chosen font on the front cover of my digipak. I like the amount of space left at the top and bottom of the track listing, as it doesn't risk being cut off, yet it doesn't look lost on the panel. I think the white really stands out and is easy to read.

Brain Flower

Even though I really like this font, I have to agree that it doesn't match my front cover and the handwritten style that I want to go for. The lines are also too thin and not clear enough to read, meaning that this font isn't a choice for my back cover.

Brain Flower (option 2) 

I thought that maybe a different layout would make this font look better, or maybe even the back cover as a whole, however I am unsure. I feel that even though it looks nice, the words are lost and too small in comparison to everything else featured. I think if I made it a larger size, the fact it does not match my theme would be even more prominent. 

Dawn of New Day

The scrolling font used here can be described as pretty and definitely matches the theme of my digipak. However, some words are not so clear to read because of the thin lines used. 

Signerica

I really like this font, it has to be one of my favourites and is exactly what I wanted my back cover font to look like. However, after putting it on the digipak and seeing how it portrays the album titles, I can see it won't work. The lines are not strong enough and the words cannot be deciphered easily, meaning that the album titles cannot be read. Also, it doesn't match the font of my front cover; going from an easily read font to a not-so-easily-read font does not depict a consistent theme. 

So Lonely

This font is not one I would choose for anything. It strikes me as old fashioned and even though it is in the handwritten style, the calligraphy is too scrolled and cannot be read too easily. Several words are not presented in a way which I would want them, so this font is not one of my choices. 

You Wont Bring me Down 

Even though this font is clear and easy to read, I do not feel that the font is pretty enough, and it seems quite basic; almost childlike. I don't think it looks right on the back cover, so I will not be using it as one of the choices. 

Chosen Font:

(final draft back cover)  

Never Let Go 

In order for my digipak to be consistent within its theme and the way it looks, I will use the same font as chosen for the front cover. The font that runs through the digipak will also be featured on the magazine advert to bring the two items together to form a clear link. I feel the writing on the back cover is bold, clear and easy to read, as well as portraying the style and handwritten effect I planned for. 

Photos for CD panel

CD Panel images, a set on Flickr.

To experiment with various flowers for Rosa-Leigh to hold I used several flowers from my garden and from bouquets of flowers within the house.

The smaller pink flower is pretty, however I think it is lost in her hands, and looks too small in contrast to the large orange flower. I like the orange flowered photos best, however I am unsure as to what it will look like when on the CD panel of my digipak; I will experiment with various tools and effects to make it tie in with the digipak theme and colour scheme. The dried rose is subtle and vintage, however I am also unsure about what it will look like in relation to my digipak.

Designing the Album Cover

My initial photo was taken of a vase of sunflowers in my house. After editing it on apps fpr iPod such as VSCOcam and Afterlight I decided to experiment with the volume buttons; an idea I gained from looking on Instagram. After adding further light leaks and filters
I decided I liked the overal effect and decided to use it for my album cover.

I then added a bold 'sticker' on the left hand side to draw the audience's attention to the album namethat will be featured within. I then thought of putting the artist's name in it too, however I realised there would not be enough room, so I thought of putting it in the bottom right hand corner. I then began to experiment with fonts, sticking to the theme of handwritten styles.

A Gentle Touch

I liked this font but was unsure about spacing in between the letters, as they are tightly packed together and I wanted something that was more free.

Always in my heart

Even though it is grammatically correct, the style of the capital A, in my opinion, doesn't match the album cover. The writing at the bottom is too rounded and it's not a font I wish to use.

Brain Flower

I like the shaky, skeletal style of the font, however I don't feel it matches my style of album cover.

Brain Flower (option 2)

I then experimented with the sizing of the font, making beautiful bigger and overlapping with the edges of the circle. I titled the font so it wasn't parallel with the edges of the volume button. Even though it looks interesting I still don't think  it matches my album cover.

 

You wont bring me down

I think the font is too thin and not bold enough for people to read it easily, therefore it is not one of my main choices for my album cover. It seems too sketchy and thin, it doesn't acheive the style that I want it to.

 

Chosen font:

 

Never Let Go

This is my favourite font and the chosen style to use as my album cover. I like the handwritten effect and the boldness of the text,as it is easy to read yet still looks authentic and matches my style and theme.

Planning the Digipak

Female Artist Album Artwork

I have decided not to include Rosa-Leigh on the front cover of my album cover, as she is a professional and renowned artist who doesn't need to sell her music based on her brand or look, but on what it sounds like. These album cover show how you can advertise and sell and album, even though the artwork doesn't contain an image of the female artist. 

The Sticker Effect

A circle added onto an album cover can be used to include the album title and band or artists name, in an usual and neat way. These album covers adhere to this different convention; something which I wish to include on my album cover also.