Closed WIPs

[stardragon9]

While making a retro cover for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (I'll post it soon) I got struck with an idea: to try and make a cover which emulated an album cover for the movie.  Here is my attempt so far:

I found the font from Queen's 'A Night At the Opera' album and used it for logos on the front and the spine.  Not quite happy with the back yet.  Any suggestions?

[chouette]

Oh, I like this Star! I actually like the back, so you're not getting any suggestions from me.

[stardragon9]

Oh, I like this Star! I actually like the back, so you're not getting any suggestions from me.

Thanks chouette.  I appreciate the comments anyways.  I am liking the back anymore, but also toying with a second version as well.  I'll post the concept tomorrow.

[ctaulbee]

I'm not keen on the red, white would likely be better since there is a lot of white on the back, then you could do away with that drop shadow too.

[tmscrapbook]

Maybe do the lettering on the front in the yellow-gold tone, but put the symbol in white. That way it's tied together a little more

[bankska22]

Good start

[stardragon9]

I'm not keen on the red, white would likely be better since there is a lot of white on the back, then you could do away with that drop shadow too.

I see what you mean.  Here is a version that has the logos all white on the front and spine:

I like the look of this one.

Maybe do the lettering on the front in the yellow-gold tone, but put the symbol in white. That way it's tied together a little more

Here is my attempt with the logos all gold:

I am leaning more towards the white, but I like the gold look too.  What do you think?
Many thanks for the advice so far, it helps out quite a bit.  

[stardragon9]

I also tried out my other option, which was various images in boxes around the track list in the center.  I'm not to sure about this one anymore but here is the example:

I wanted to try and use various images from the concerts they portray in the movie.

[sauron]

I feel like you need another colour, why not try overlaying this poster artwork over the image of the 4 on the front to bring in some colour, maybe something like this?

DF705F3D-5343-4824-A14D-A94017455A45.jpeg (280.88 KiB) Viewed 2721 times

  
Go To Download

You could then introduce some of those colours onto the back as well.

[stardragon9]

I tried that overlay when I first started this project and didn't like the results.  I may try it again with different filters to see what I can come up with.

[sauron]

I tried that overlay when I first started this project and didn't like the results.  I may try it again with different filters to see what I can come up with.

What I did above was done with Procreate as I’m on my iPad but you should be able to get similar results in Photoshop, all I did was desaturate the cover add the image and set it overlay (I think or another blending mode), I then duplicated the cover layer again, put it in top and played with the curves, sharpness and added noise to make it stand out a bit more and then reduced the opacity.

[ctaulbee]

I'm thinking would be good to get rid of the black on the front, since there really is none on the back, then go white on everything else, and have the synopsis text dark purple and have the tagline at the top white.

[chouette]

I'm thinking would be good to get rid of the black on the front, since there really is none on the back, then go white on everything else, and have the synopsis text dark purple and have the tagline at the top white.

Yep, yep. - I prefer the back as you had it initially also. No boxes please, lol

[stardragon9]

I'm thinking would be good to get rid of the black on the front, since there really is none on the back, then go white on everything else, and have the synopsis text dark purple and have the tagline at the top white.

Okay, here is my newest attempt:

I tried to reduce the black in the front.  I also changed the font color on the back tagline and added a blending option to the back image to make everything flow better.

Yep, yep. - I prefer the back as you had it initially also. No boxes please, lol

Don't worry chouette, the boxes turned out so wrong that I scrapped that version.  

As for adding the gradient from the other poster on top, I tried several things and I just don't like how the colors clash. Thanks for all the advice everyone, it seems to be helping.  

[ctaulbee]

I screened the purple layer over the other, I darkened the area over the faces slightly so it would have less effect.

Tip: With a layer set to "Screen" blend mode - the darker a color is, the less effect it has on what it is screened to beneath it.

Here is the PSD so you can see it  

BohemianRhapsodyColor.rar

(1.74 MiB) Downloaded 4 times

BohemianRhapsodyColor.jpg (380.72 KiB) Viewed 2698 times

[stardragon9]

[size=125]I screened the purple layer over the other, I darkened the area over the faces slightly so it would have less effect.

Tip: With a layer set to "Screen" blend mode - the darker a color is, the less effect it has on what it is screened to beneath it.

Here is the PSD so you can see it  :D

Thanks ct!  I'll see what I can do.

[stardragon9]

Thanks for the advice and the sample ct!  Here is the result of the advice:

Besides what you had, I added a full layer screen of dark purple and a photo filter of magenta.  Then I used a screen filter for the back photo (besides changing the colors on the text like you had suggested earlier).  I really like the results.  Let me know if you think it is ready to add the technical info for the bottom.

[sauron]

Personally I think the purple is too saturated at the moment and it looked better in C’s preview but I do still feel introducing another colour onto the front means you will then be able to work with another colour on the back.

Also, I would suggest reducing the size of the synopsis, it’s very long and the font size is quite big, reducing both could give you more space to add stills or something else maybe?

Obviously these are all suggestions and it’s your cover so go with whatever you prefer

[stardragon9]

Personally I think the purple is too saturated at the moment and it looked better in C’s preview but I do still feel introducing another colour onto the front means you will then be able to work with another colour on the back.

Also, I would suggest reducing the size of the synopsis, it’s very long and the font size is quite big, reducing both could give you more space to add stills or something else maybe?

Obviously these are all suggestions and it’s your cover so go with whatever you prefer

I will work on the saturation a little.  As for the color on the front, I will play around with that (perhaps a bluish color).  As for the synopsis on the back, I planned on leaving it as big as it is because I was trying to emulate the back of a Queen album.  I do not plan on adding any still images to the back (in fact I was not going to do a credits block).  I will post some variations on the front when I get the chance to mess around with them.  Thanks for the help sauron.  

[chouette]

You're definitely on the right track, keep at it. And just so you know, I'm learning here at the same time as you.

[sauron]

Personally I think the purple is too saturated at the moment and it looked better in C’s preview but I do still feel introducing another colour onto the front means you will then be able to work with another colour on the back.

Also, I would suggest reducing the size of the synopsis, it’s very long and the font size is quite big, reducing both could give you more space to add stills or something else maybe?

Obviously these are all suggestions and it’s your cover so go with whatever you prefer

I will work on the saturation a little.  As for the color on the front, I will play around with that (perhaps a bluish color).  As for the synopsis on the back, I planned on leaving it as big as it is because I was trying to emulate the back of a Queen album.  I do not plan on adding any still images to the back (in fact I was not going to do a credits block).  I will post some variations on the front when I get the chance to mess around with them.  Thanks for the help sauron.  

Oh cool, I’ve not seen the album cover work but looking forward to your next update

[stardragon9]

Oh cool, I’ve not seen the album cover work but looking forward to your next update

No worries.  Most of the album cover art for Queen simply has the track listing and a similar color to the front (very plain).  That is why I thought I would add the group to the back under the synopsis.  Here is a new update:

I used a desaturation level right above the front photo.  I like the effect it gave.  I tried a few variations on color (mainly tinting the original image and screening other layers on top) and didn't come up with a satisfying effect.  I may keep trying on it though.  For now, I am really liking the way the front is turning out.

You're definitely on the right track, keep at it. And just so you know, I'm learning here at the same time as you.

Thanks chouette.  I will keep trying, no matter how frustrated I get with my own lack of skills (even after using photoshop for years I am still learning).  

[ctaulbee]

I like the new update.

I'd be tempted to brighten the faces up some, maybe along this line.

Uses a Brightness Contrast Adjustment Layer masked on to the faces only, here is the PSD.

BohemianRhapsodyBR2.rar

(2.64 MiB) Downloaded 4 times

[stardragon9]

Thanks ct!  I really appreciate the help.  

[stardragon9]

Here is the newest update:

I took your advice and used the adjustments layer simply on the faces (something I never knew how to do until now).  I am going to try an focus on the back (at the moment I have the back picture set to 'screen' so that it blends better with the front).  I will start adding copyright information to the bottom of the next update so we can see what it will look like.  Thanks again for the great advice and help everyone (especially ct for the photoshop examples)!