DVD Cover and/or photochop help

[Doramius]

No, this isn't a problem with software or hardware. I'm pulling all stops here because I am having the hardest time finding a cover. It's not in any DVD cover database I have ever found. Nor in any VHS cover database I have ever found.

I'm posting 2 pictures, way to small to be used as DVD covers. But I'm hoping someone can either find something or create a cover for me. Preferably find something.

The one photo is the english cover, and the second is a foreign cover. They way the words fall in the foreign cover is a bit of work I can do to remove it, but then I gotta place something back, clean it up, etc. Plus it's not as high quality because it's not a very large pic. Both are the size & resolution I found them in.

The Movie is Earth*Star Voyager. Also seen as EarthStar voyager & Earth Star Voyager.

[adam]

I found a higher quality pic of that poster with the english title, but its still nowhere near being suitable for a dvd cover.



I can probably cook something up but it'd have to be just a generic sci fi cover, like space and planets and such. I did make a title treatment that is fairly close to the one on that poster. So if anyone else wants to try to make one they can use this. The full res version is saved as a transparant tif file.

[rhegedus]

If the artwork is not available on the net then you'd either have to make your own cover from captured stills or buy a VHS copy and scan in the cover.

[lordsmurf]

I used the fractal resize software, combined with some pro photography filters, and enlarged the image adam found, combined with the logo he created. There is not any enlargment noise as you'd find using simple methods.

It's not bad, it has a stained glass look to it, or a watercolor painting. Sort of like those old 1920s and 1930s sci-fi serial posters that were drawn (not photos).

Here's a 50% preview of it:



I think it'll look just fine printed out, especially if all you're using is an inkjet, which tends to hide minor flaws anyway. I turned the logo into a spine image too. And then all you need on back is some text (I grabbed some from imdb.com), a few screen captures (use VirtualDub for best results), and then your logos (DVD, R1, etc).

If you want the full sized version (PS7 PSD file) on a single case template, PM me.

[MackemX]

that's some great work Lordsmurf 8). I know Doramius has been in touch with the guy who took the photo on eBay and the guy offered to take another one which is cool. There was another better quality cover on eBay but the picture was too small and the guy didn't have a scanner but he may have a camera.

eBay isn't all that bad as it's good to see people are stilling willing to help even if you aren't buying anything.

LS, if you can improve a picture of that original quality to that then you should be able to make something acceptable out of a better quality pic

[adam]

I started on a cover. If you give me screengrabs I can fill in that empty space on the back. The logo on the spine is a symbol that I saw on a model of the ship that they used in the film. I assume its relevant, if not let me know and I'll ditch it. Every source I see lists a different runtime so let me know what yours actually is. Also the only rating I can find says PG, is this correct?


Here's the front at 100%. You can't polish a turd but I was able to keep from blowing it up sooooo much by making that border around it instead. Its heavily filtered and largely redrawn.

[lordsmurf]

Here's a quickie I started for you, pretty basic design:
http://uploads.digitalfaq.com/earthstarvoyager.zip

I'd merge what I did along with what adam did, add a few screenshots, and you're all done.

[Doramius]

THis is looking really good. It barely resembles the original cover, but it looks pretty DANG GOOD. Any way in particular you want the screengrabs?

[adam]

Just gimme a decent selection of maybe 7-10 stills. I'm probably going to blend them together so I need some options. I'll probably only use 4 of them. jpg is fine and no need to resize or filter.

[Doramius]

@Lordsmurf - My PSD viewer says the file is corrupt. It might be on my side, but either way, it's not letting me view it.

@adam - Here's 5 so far. Out of images I really want, my system doesn't bring them in very smooth. My PC that can grab them by the frame is having issues (Possible FDISK & reinstall ). So this is what I've got so far, on the fly, from a different machine. Let me know if these will work. I'll see if I can get more and possibly better looking, if needs be.

[adam]

Alright I'm very close to finishing but I need some different stills. Quality isn't really all that crucial for how I'm using them. But I need some more varied stuff. A headshot of an alien would be great. Otherwise maybe some space scenes or some hand to hand fighting. I probably only need one more pic, its just a matter of finding the right one.

See I need something for in the middle...

[Doramius]

The hand to hand fighting has too many odd angle sequences and gives very poor stills. There's not much in the way of aliens in this either. It was initially supposed to be a pilot show, so they hadn't made it far on their journey and met any aliens. I could try and get a headshot of the cyborg though.

Here's some space & other scenes though.







EDIT: Here's the Cyborg



I can probably get individual headshots of most lead characters bigger and better than shown below.

[rhegedus]

@adam & LS

What paint software are you using?

[adam]

Doramius those cyborg shots are perfect, that's all I need. If you can get the cast shots I'll work them into the upper box.

rhegedus I'm using photoshop for everything. In case anyone cares, I've got lots of custom covers that I've made. They can be found on r1db.com, generetic.org, and hirescovers.com among others. I post under the name CavemanLawyer.

[Doramius]

Give me a little time and I'll get those cast shots. THe show is 180min. (actually 179:28, but I think 180 is close enough )

EDIT: Here's the cast shots in order of importance. The first 5 are preferred to be incorporated, and the rest if they can be depending on the space available. It's actually your creation, so these are really at your own disposal.

[adam]

Ok I think I'm done. If you ever get a higher quality front poster send it to me and I can update it.

cover

[Doramius]

That looks way better than what I was hoping to get a scan of. Thank you all.

[lordsmurf]

My PSD was made in PS7, so anything earlier may have issues reading the file. I test downloaded and opened the file off the server, it was fine.

[Doramius]

Yeah, my photoshop could use some updating. The version I have installed is the version that came bundled with my very first burner. I sold that about 2 years ago (maybe longer). I don't think I've ever used it for anything.

[northcat_8]

Here is how I do my DVD covers

[Doramius]

Here is how I do my DVD covers

Yup, that's how mine was prior to. Unfortunately, I like showing off. Showing off a DVD without cover artwork is like showing off a candy apple red Ferrari Enzo with no hood The right door is yellow. and there are acid rain spots at various other spots around the body.

[northcat_8]

Call me crazy but wrappers have never meant too much to me, I mean Halle Berry dressed in rags is still Halle Berry.

[lordsmurf]

Yeah, my photoshop could use some updating. The version I have installed is the version that came bundled with my very first burner. I sold that about 2 years ago (maybe longer). I don't think I've ever used it for anything.

There's nothing wrong with PS6. If you have anything before PS6, they are just not very good by comparison, leaps and bound were made from v4 to v6. I had to use v7 because some of the filters require v7 or above.

If you get into making DVD covers, you'll be using PS a lot more.

[SquirrelDip]

One mod to Northcat's cover:

[Doramius]

Yeah, my photoshop could use some updating. The version I have installed is the version that came bundled with my very first burner. I sold that about 2 years ago (maybe longer). I don't think I've ever used it for anything.

There's nothing wrong with PS6. If you have anything before PS6, they are just not very good by comparison, leaps and bound were made from v4 to v6. I had to use v7 because some of the filters require v7 or above.

If you get into making DVD covers, you'll be using PS a lot more.

Right now I have a color inkjet printer. Soon I'll be looking into something a little better. I do have an HP 4200, but it's only B/W. Got a great price on it through work though.

I think my Photoshop is V.5, but may be 4. Again, it came with the first burner I ever got. and that was a few years ago.