CD case
My brief states that 'You have been contracted by Alpy Design Studio to complete a range of client briefs. To show that the copyright of the work is unique to your final product the client insists that all research and development is documented digitally, in a form that is accessible.' We have to create a CD case/cover for a fashion themed compilation.
On my pinterest board I have uploaded my own images of my CD case net layouts sheets. Which i have produced at home whilst experimenting with measurements.
I have also pinned image that other pinners have uploaded, images that other people have taken of CD covers and cases.
I have also pinned artists album covers, colour schemes, graphics, illustrations and text from my chosen art movement (BAUHAUS). I have also scanned in some of my own images of photographs, text, graphics that i want to feature in my CD case.
I then made a mind map, to get me thinking about what i wanted to include in my CD case in terms of the colours and graphics i wanted, the art movement to base the design on, the songs to be played for the Fashion event and the story behind the event.
I decided to put the words CD case in the middle of the page, due to the fact this is what we have to produce from out brief. I then have lines coming out of the centre, with ideas I have had.
So I started with my chosen Art movement BAUHAUS, and I looked it up to find the meaning of the word. It is a German word meaning 'House of Building', the art movement took place between 1919-1933. I then realised how much shape and colours play a vital role in BAUHAUS, and some of the key characteristics of the movement come down to the use of simple shapes (triangles, squares and circles) and simple primary colours (red, yellow and blue). I also decided that I want my final product to be effective, simple and bold. I want it to involve architecture, either in my own photography or artwork. I also needed to decide what kind of music to include on the CD, so I decided to have a mixed genre CD- including House Music and Threepenny opera. I also have decided that I want the chosen venue of my fashion show to be in a derelict bulding.
I then took the text from my brief and the above explanation of my thought process, and copied it into the Word Cloud Generator (https://www.jasondavies.com/wordcloud/). The website allowed me to create a digital 'word cloud', it picks out certain words which i have used frequently and made them bigger (simple, Bauhaus, movement) on the cloud, and then other words that i have maybe only used once or twice are smaller (involves, building, charachetristcis). I like how it automatically creates an image and cleverly summarises what you have stated. Mindmaps and word clouds are a great way of putting on paper what is in your head, it helps you visualise your ideas and eventually come to a conclusion of your future product/ design.
Then I decided to use photos of a derelict building i visited in Scotland. St Peter's Seminary in Cardross was built in the 1960s as a college for priests but closed in the 1980s.
The A-listed building, near Helensburgh in Argyll, is derelict but considered by some to be a modernist masterpiece.
These images i have included, i would like to involve in my CD case. I have uploaded them for a reason, whether it being the lighting, colours, or shapes within the photos.
I love these picture that I captured on my phone. Because the building is now so highly securited, with plans to restore the building: We could only take pictures from a distance, and zoom in. I would love to properly walk round it and explore it.
Designed by Glasgow architects Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein of the renowned Gillespie, Kidd and Coia architectural practice for the Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow. It’s all up for debate the influence of the building, 'is it Modernist, Brutalist or Bauhaus?'. I personally see key features of Brutalism in the building, its dynamic geometric style that is massive, powerful and blocky in appearance, and typically contains large amounts of poured concrete. But i do also see characteristics of Bauhaus through it too, with the use of simple shapes (semi circles, rectangles) and the simple but effective feel of the building. Also the rumours of the two architects Andy Macmillan and Isi Metzein in particular followed the Bauhaus movement very closely, and have said to be heavily influenced by it.
When deciding what to include in my cd case, i not only wanted to include the Bauhaus related images from St Peter's. I wanted to include my own artwork and graphics. I looked forward to start creating and editing the pieces. I started off by creating the artwork, then scanning them into the computer then editing them on Adobe Illustrator before starting to include them in my cd case.
On adobe illustrator, i would edit them by choosing the image trace tool, and experimenting with the colours, contrast and brightness. I was very pleased with the outcome of some of my work.
This was the piece of art i created, using black mono ink, red paint and yellow pencil. This is it scanned into the computer. I thought it represented Bauhaus very well, with the colours. And in a way the shapes are formed, symbolise a circle, squares and rectangle. Then the yellow lines, create that simple but bold effect, that Bauhaus is known for.
This is the same image as above it has just been taken into Adobe Illustartor and used the image trace tool. I started to experiment with the contast and the saturation of the image. I like how it looks alot more digital, you can see the pixels and how the image was created. You can see what areas of the page had the most ink etc (darker shades) , less ink (lighter shades).
This was another piece i created inspired by a mixture of both very famous Bauhuas artists El Lissitzky and Wassily Kandinsky. I used a compass to create these overlapping sections of circle. I tried to use the 3 primary colours that Bauhaus is known for (yellow, blue and red). This is the scanned image of my artwork.
This is the edited version of the image above. Again i took it into Adobe Illustator and used the image trace. I decided to loose the colour on this edit, i love the difference in each circle. Some are really thick, others are very thin. I think i mainly changed the image to black and white and altered the contrast. I really like how bold this piece is for being such a simple process.
I look forward to including these edits into my cd case. Check out my pinterest to see some of my other designs, that i may or may not use in my cd case.
I then decided to look at other professional cd layouts and cases to find inspiration, and find out the kind of poster I am looking for. Pinterest is a great place to find the work of others, i believe that the cd case should be a mixture of bold and simple. It should give the message straight away aswell as making it a very visual object. People should be attracted to it, but at the same time it shouldnt be in your face.
I found this one on pinterest and was instantly drawn to it. I like how it is quite a simple design. I like how that if you saw it on a shelf you would go over and be pleseantly suprised when opening it. I like how it doesnt really look like a cd case. I like the idea of the tie at the top, helping to enclose the cd in the case. I do however think creating this especially on Photoshop, Indesign would be quite tricky. This particular pinner on pinterest (jakebox.com), didn't state whether he got this specially made or just made it himself. Either way it has opened my eyes to the idea of a net layout of a cd, and the points you have to consider e.g thick paper to use.
This is from Pinterest, the pinner (afuturewithoutpress). I like how professional it looks and the overall look is neat and I like how it is enclosed together. When I first saw it I started to ask questions such as is it an A3 or an A4 page. It got me asking if the case had been cut using a Stanley knife and whether it has been folded etc. There has been a lot of technical measurements and adjustments made to create it. I like the origami, Japanese effect of this and the smartness of it.
Again, if I saw this in a shop, I would be drawn to it, and I would want to open it and see how it has been formed. I like how it is alternative, and it isn’t your classic square cd case. This is a very statement case and I think there has been a lot of thought into creating this.
This last CD case I found on Pinterest pinned by the Pinner (pinthemall.net), i think is my main inspiration. As soon as i saw it, i knew that it would be relevant to my theme of my CD and make the overall presentation very clear. I like how it looks quite technical, i like how it doesn't look like your average square CD case. If i was in a shop and saw this, i would be drawn to it.
Not only did i think it was visually attractive, i thought it tied into my chosen Art Movement idea very well. Bauhaus is represented by form and shape, these shapes being triangle, square and circle in particular. The cd case folds into a triangle, after being a circle. So this got me thinking how i would add a square into the design.
I thought using this as a template, but experimenting with my own images, text and photos. I could create something quite unique and different.
I then began to look at how cd cases are formed, and began to think about how they are a net have been planned to be folded, and bent to form a certain shape. I was thinking about this and talking to my dad over the dinner table and i told him about this project in particular, and how i wanted it to include the 3 shapes (circle, triangle and square) - to symbolise BAUHAUS (chosen art movement). I grabbed a piece of kitchen towel and began to fold it into a triangle shape, seeing if it would hold an average cd in it (diameter of 120 millimetres (4.7 in). It worked!
The image below shows the piece of kitchen towel that i folded out and began to adjust. I have just taken the single shots on my camera and copy and pasted them into a word document to show the different sides.
I then decided to begin to try and work out the measurments using a mixture of compasses, phythagorus theorem and using the diameter etc. Its important to do this first before you start taking it into sofware such as Photoshop. The below image shows how i have used a compass to measure the radius and diameter of the circle. Making sure all the sides will be equal in measurements.
I then decided to create a quick draft on microsoft work, where i inserted the shapes, and made them the right meaurements. I then highlighted the 3 shapes (square, triangle and circle) involved in the case using the 3 primary colours (red, blue and yellow). Giving it a very simple but bold BAUHAUS feel. The tricky part was printing it A3, i have to make sure it was double sided and that each side would correspond together and create the double effect. It worked well, so i not only printed on normal printing paper, but on some thicker card. See the results below. I have just taken the single shots on my camera and copy and pasted them into a word document to show the different sides.
After experimenting with the net layout, i wanted to look into the occasion when this disc would be used, the songs that would be played, where the venue would be held etc. I began to research in depth Bauhaus buildings in general to get an overview of the key characteristics they have, I began to research into the music at the time to get a feel for which 3 songs I would have playing throughout the fashion event.
From the above picture you can see how the buildings tend to be quite blocky and include mainly the shapes squares and rectangled. Then the odd semi circle balcony for example. This idea of shapes being formed together to give an overall image made me think about how much thought and accuracy has to go into being an architect. Although i find the above images very pleasing to the eye, they don't seem to be the best kind of buildings to host a fashion event. I am looking for an open space and perhaps the use of colour on the outside of the buidling to draw people in, and to recognise that the event will be taking place there.
I then began researching open spaces in Belfast. I came across The Paint Hall (Titanic Studios). Described as a massive build space - a fully functioning film studio complete with lights and rigging. Located as you can see below in Titanic quarter, beside The Titanic Exhibition, up the road from Belfast Met and looking out over Harland and Wolff. I think this would be ideal for my event.
This image below i found online which shows the Paint Hall Studio (Titanic). As you can see it has been formed by using a simple rectangle and triangle shape. I love the colours and that although they are not Bauhaus colours (red, yellow and blue). The colours look well in their enviroment, with the metal structure of the Titanic exhibition and bright yellow harland and wolff. I think in terms of space, there is alot that could be possible for the event, with high ceiling and metal ridges inside. Its not your typical venue, but i think that is what will make it so exciting, and a good talking point as well as being a new experience for everyone involved.
After getting the venue for the event sorted and chosen. I then decided to start to think about the garments worn and the music that would be played. I looked at music to start, as i think it is so crucial to get right. I wanted 3 genres of music (classical, house and post punk). 1st genre: Classical music, looking at the Threepenny Opera with ballads such as 'Mack the Knife'- first performed in Germany (where Bauhaus first began). This classical music would be ideal for background music 'pre show', whilst people are being seated, chatting etc. 2nd genre: House music, looking at electronic upbeat created for club scenes and are upbeat (house music, Bauhaus means 'house of building'). This house music would be ideal for the show itself, where the models walk out to showing off the garments, strong beat to walk to. 3rd genre: Post-Punk band 'Bauhaus', English band, formed in Northampton England in 1978. Bauhaus were known for their dark image and gloomy sound, which mixed many styles, including glam rock, psychedelic and funk. (Bauhaus band named themselves after Bauhaus art movement). This post punk music would be ideal for after the show itself, when people are leaving, getting photos and saying goodbyes. The image below shows the album covers from each of the three genres. I like how I have decided to include a mix of genres, this way the audience should at least like one of the songs.
After getting the music and the venue organised. I decided to focus now on the garments that would be on show at this Fashion event. Because my theme is looking at Bauhaus art movement, I thought it was only right not only to make the building and songs relevant, but to make the clothes relevant too. I want the event to showcase 'local designers' products. So I have set the task of these designers to come up with a range of garments inspired by Bauhaus. Then the venue will help showcase their designs. I pinned a lot of 'BAUHAUS inspired garments to my pinterest page'. These garments are the sort of things you will expect to see at the show. I think I will include some of these images from Pinterest in my cd case, as I believe it is important to make the audience aware of what the venue will be like. The below images show a quick selection of these garments to create an overall image.
I then decided to create one last mind map. To summarise all my thoughts from above, to get a clear understanding of everything that would be involved in my CD case. I like how mind maps, lay out everything you have in your head, your thoughts etc. You place them on the page, and they help you feel organised. The image below shows the mind map i created, summarising all the ideas for the cd case, before i start using Photoshop, Adobe illustartor software to create them.
So i started with the word cd case in the middle.
Starting with the music involved, I have stated that Threepenny opera will be used as a pre show song whilst guests are being seated etc. Then House music for the actual fashion show, upbeat with a good rhythm. Then ending the show with Post Punk band Bauhaus, as people start to leave, get photos etc.
Then i moved on to think when i print this cd case it will be A3 size and i am going to need to get some thick paper, that will be easy enought to bend into shape of case.
I then moved on to the garments that are going to be on show, these will be designed by local designer and will be Bauhaus inspired garments.
I then stated that the shape of the cd case will consist of 3 shapes. A triangle, then to a circle when opened, with a square in the middle of the circle.
The cd case will include images of St Peters seminary, as my inspiration. Then it will include my own Bauhaus inspired artwork. It will include a use of the primary colours (red, blue and yellow). It will include images off Pinterest of Bauhaus inspired garments to let the audience know what to expect to see.
Then finally the cd case will include a bit of information for the event, eg time, location, date etc.
Before deciding on my own layout and appearance of my cd case. I have decided on all my image that i want to include in my case. So here is a quick review of them all, before i start to compose some more research into context.
This image shows a template i created on Photoshop, which has the exact measurements to hold a cd. It will be printed A3. I used the pen tool to create this traingle within the circle, and i used the marquee tool to create the circle. You have to save each individial shape as a seperate layer for you to then fill the shape, with different features e.g text, prints, images etc.
I had to make sure the meaurements were 100 per cent accurate. And make sure that the width and height were enough to hold the cd. Screen resolution is the number of pixels.
The image on your computer screen is built up from thousands or millions of pixels. The screen creates the image you see by changing the colours of these tiny square elements.
The screen resolution tells you how many pixels your screen can display horizontally and vertically. So i had to alter it to the right amount which was 450. This is what i found to be the trickest part of the assignment, getting the measurements right, so it equally folded over and it still was able to hold a cd.
I havent really used the magic wand tool much before taking on this task. I thought it would be relevant for me to read up on it, and maybe use lynda.com for help and guidence.
The Magic Wand Tool, known simply as the Magic Wand, is one of the oldest selection tools in Photoshop. Unlike other selection tools that select pixels in an image based on shapes or by detecting object edges, the Magic Wand selects pixels based on tone and color.
This video tutorial said in particular 'When we click on an area in the image with the tool, Photoshop looks at the tone and color of the area we clicked on and selects pixels that share the same color and brightness values. This makes the Magic Wand exceptional at selecting large areas of solid color. '
The tolerance value needs too, I could try again with a higher Tolerance value, but there's an easier way to fix the problem. As with Photoshop's other selection tools, the Magic Wand has the option to add to existing selections, which means I can keep the selection I've started with and simply add more of the sky to it!
To add to a selection, hold down your Shift key and click in the area you need to add. You'll see a small plus sign (+) appear in the bottom left of the Magic Wand's cursor icon letting you know you're about to add to the selection.
This brings us to the very handy technique to use with the Magic Wand, which is to select the area you don't want first and then invert the selection!
To invert the selection, which will select everything that wasn't selected and deselect everything that was, go up to the Select menu at the top of the screen and choose Inverse. Looking at this video tutorial really helped me when making my cd case and helped me understand the concept of the magic wand tool.
When i had all my images, graphics and text ready to put it into the cd case, i began to add each section one at a time. I brought my template into photoshop, and used the magic wand tool to select each segment of the case, to add the features.
As you can see, each segment is saved as a seperate layer, then you fill each layer with your chosen pattern (own Bauhaus prints). So the front of the cd case will just be a traingle, and the semi circles, will flap over. 2 of my own prints and an image i took of St Peters Seminary which was my first inspiration. Then i have given the cd some context with the time, venue and date of the event (fashion show).
This is the alternative side of cd case, it is the exact same circle. Just i have simply put a square into it. I wanted to keep this idea of 3 shapes known from Bauhaus (circle, traingle and square). So again using the magic wand i have split this into segments, Left hand side and top semi circle are my own Bauhaus inspired prints. Then the right hand side and bottom circle include some text about the Bauhaus inspired fashion show. Describing the music and the artists. Then the name of the local designers who will be showcasting their garments.
Then in the centre square i have taken a couple of images from Pinterest of Bauhaus inspired garments from previous fashion shows. I know this might be seen as plagiarism, but i believe that the audience of this event, need to be informed of the sort of example garments they should expect to see. I know this is copyright, but I cant really at this point think of an alternative way of showing an example garments for the audience.
At this point I have completed the content of my cd case, and am happy with how it has turned out. I like how it includes all of my own images, and illustartions. Above shows it in a PDF format. So now it is complete, it is time to work out the layout and play around with how it will cut and print.
This image shows how when I printed out the rough copy of my cd case on 250 gsm paper. I held it up against my bedroom window and noticed that it didn't perfectly aligned. So I tried printing it on the short edge instead of the long edge. This is just how the page flips when you print it double sided. I really liked the outcome when I printed it out and thought it suited well to my particular fashion show event.
Here shows what it looked like when i cut it out. You might look at this and think it looks perfect, but really on the right image, the top right segement the list if music genre has been cut off. Its not that noticeable and i personally dont think its a big deal, it doesnt effect the shape and folding of the case. But it is worth recording and seeing if it can be fixed.
These images above show how to resolve the aligning issue. I decided to print out the cd cases on 2 seperate pages, on 160 gsm paper from eason and i cut them out and then after buying some spray on mount glue i sprayed one side of the case and got the other one and carefully placed it on top and left it over night under heavy tins to try and get rid of bubbles and keep it as straight as possible. Then a couple of days later knowing it was dry i folded into shape and again placed under heavy magazines to keep shape.
The only thing i noticed which was wrong was despite my efforts there is a slight bubble of air on the bottom fold of the case.
I was impressed by the printers in tech from this experience, because i brought in my own paper to try and print on. So i filled the printer with a mixture of 250 gsm and 160 gsm and after a few paper jams it did work and on double sided as well. And more importantly when folded the paper holds the placed cd in the case.
Above shows a series of photos of me holding my finished product. It shows how the cd case folds and what people will see when they open it up. I am pleased with how it turned out and the next paragraph i will be discussing and anaylising the final product. I am glad that i went elsewhere to get it printed. This example is the technique where i used the spray on mount glue and stuck them together on the 160 gsm paper. Although there is a slight bubble of air on the bottom left image on the bottom of the case. I will hand in a couple of examples to show the different papers and techniques i used.
Critique
Overall I am very happy with my example of a cd cover for a fashion themed complication. I like how that I have included a mixture of my own images, illustration and text.
I think that overall the final product looks professional, I like how I stuck with my main inspiration of this chosen art movement BAUHAUS. I have come up with the story of where the fashion show will be, the music played, the garments on show and the time etc.
I like the font style and size, of my text. I have used the same font style but just changed the size depending on the use like bigger for titles, and smaller for some background information.
I think for this being my second time using InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, to create this cd case which I have never made before and the fact that all that is included in my own idea of the brief. I am pleased with the outcome and I am pleased at how much I have improved in my skills from 1st year to now.
Areas for improvement: The area I found most was getting the two templates to align when printed double sided before folding. Again, I have never ever had to visualise this kind of thing in my mind, and work out what the product will look like in my head. If I was to do this again and have more time, I would maybe think about making including maybe more of my illustrations, which I will show below that I have done that I would’ve included instead of the images from Pinterest of the Bauhaus inspired clothing. Looking at it now, I could have included the same template twice and stuck them together but instead of one having a main triangle shape, and one having a main square shape within the circle. I would have just designed two triangle shapes in the circle. But I wanted to capture the use of the 3 shapes that Bauhaus is known for (circle, square and triangle). As well as having a little section of the 3 primary colours in each shape (blue-circle, red-square, yellow-triangle).
Comparing my product to those of professional work I have looked at, I am quite pleased. Obviously, it’s important to take into consideration, that the people who create those posters, have high levels of skill and technique, and that is what they do for a living. But overall the work of professionals that I have liked carry the same features I have shown in my product. The features such as that one example of the professional work which was my inspiration, which was a triangle shape case and then when opened was a circle. Like the professional examples I looked at, I think I brought these points through:
I think that overall the final product looks professional, I like how I stuck with my main inspiration of this chosen art movement BAUHAUS. I have come up with the story of where the fashion show will be, the music played, the garments on show and the time etc.
I like the font style and size, of my text. I have used the same font style but just changed the size depending on the use like bigger for titles, and smaller for some background information.
I think for this being my second time using InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, to create this cd case which I have never made before and the fact that all that is included in my own idea of the brief. I am pleased with the outcome and I am pleased at how much I have improved in my skills from 1st year to now.
Areas for improvement: The area I found most was getting the two templates to align when printed double sided before folding. Again, I have never ever had to visualise this kind of thing in my mind, and work out what the product will look like in my head. If I was to do this again and have more time, I would maybe think about making including maybe more of my illustrations, which I will show below that I have done that I would’ve included instead of the images from Pinterest of the Bauhaus inspired clothing. Looking at it now, I could have included the same template twice and stuck them together but instead of one having a main triangle shape, and one having a main square shape within the circle. I would have just designed two triangle shapes in the circle. But I wanted to capture the use of the 3 shapes that Bauhaus is known for (circle, square and triangle). As well as having a little section of the 3 primary colours in each shape (blue-circle, red-square, yellow-triangle).
Comparing my product to those of professional work I have looked at, I am quite pleased. Obviously, it’s important to take into consideration, that the people who create those posters, have high levels of skill and technique, and that is what they do for a living. But overall the work of professionals that I have liked carry the same features I have shown in my product. The features such as that one example of the professional work which was my inspiration, which was a triangle shape case and then when opened was a circle. Like the professional examples I looked at, I think I brought these points through:
1. simple but bold work.
2. added a personal touch to their work- have made it their own.
3. have a clear message and theme throughout.
I believe I have brought these 3 features into my work, and there are obviously areas where I could work harder and experiment more with- but I believe I have taken a good stab at it. And in terms of the shape I have achieved, although there was an issue with the aligning when printing it, and it did take me a while printing and working out how the page flips on the short edge when printing. Also maybe if I were to do it again, the feature I could look at is how I would keep the case closed, using a button of a pin or something I’m not sure.
Check out my pinterest for examples of my own bauhaus inspired garments which i have edited in Adobe Illustartor i would've included instead of taking the ones from pinterest.
