Digipak

I created the template for the front and back panels of my Digipak. Once again, I scanned in my own illustrations and edited them using Adobe PhotoShop Elements.

Tools I used include the paint brush, the paint bucket, the clone tool, the polygon lasso and the eraser to create the same effect as on the advert. I also used the same uniformed colour background to inkeep with the continuity of the set of media texts.

I included the same font as before in order to add the band's name, the album name and the song titles.

I then added the copyright information to the bottom of the back panel, as well as the bar code and web address. I then created a music label name and logo and added that to the bottom to make the Digipak look realistic.

For the two inside panels, I used the photos I edited previously and layered them over each other. I made the inside panels much more simple to balance out against the more detailed outside panels which I think works well for the overall finished Digipak.

Advert for Magazine

I used Adobe PhotoShop Elements to create and A4 advert for a magazine to promote my Digipak. I scanned in my own illustrations and edited them using tools such as the paint bucket, paint brush, shadowing effects and clipping. I then filled the background to give the effect of a nightsky. I used a uniform look for the edited photos by using the same navy blue background, as well as the star-shaped paint brush I used previously.

I added text using the polygon lasso tool. The text related to the space theme to incorporate with the genre of music and the theme of my music video and its plot. Text I added includes the band's name, the album name, the release date and the act's web address.

Overall, I think the advert has turned out to be a success, as I have used my own drawings and I feel that they have been edited to a high standard.

Still Photos

I took photos of the band members in costume to use for the inside covers of my Digipak. I varied between midshots and close-ups of the two members and used different levels between them (for example, one standing and the other sitting etc).

I also took photos of headphones to relate to the dance genre or music and the band's name Galactic Express on a sign as it links to the genre of their music; dance.

Once I had uploaded the images, I began to edit them using Adobe PhotoShop Elements. I adjusted the lighting levels and increased the contrast levels to give each shot an unusual red tint. For the image of the headphones, I did the same except I added a purple/blue tint instead to add interest to the overall design.

Editing Song

I edited the track using Adobe Premiere Elements to make it a suitable length for my video. I did this by using the razor tool to crop sections of the song and clipped larger sections to do this. I was able to have seamless transitions between cropped sections and therefore a smoother sound.

I added a fade to the end of the song, so that the volume of the track would fade to nothing, rather than having a sudden finish. This adds to the eerie feel of the song and its video.

Introduction to Adobe Premiere Elements

I started using a new program: Adobe Premiere Elements in preparation for my music video. Its functions include: adding numerous videos and audio clips to create layers with seamless overlays and adding effects to audio and visual clips (e.g: mosaic effects, fades, colour transitions, strobe lights...). Using this program, I will be able to edit the track I am going to use, and later add the video over the top of it.

Plot for Music Video

When listening to the song I am going to use for my music video, I had some initial thoughts and ideas as to what the plot could be. Some words and images came to mind including:

Dance, euphoric, utopia, gun shots, nighttime, robotic, scared to meet new people, alien, starship, eyes, galaxy, hysteria, Pet Shop Boys, Bloc Party, Sam Sparro, black & white/colour, fade.

This is the basic plot that came to mind:

- Point of view shots throughout (alien/robotic being?)
- Landing (dark lighting)
- Ramp of "spaceship"
- Delirious/strange contrasting colours
- Metallic
- Meeting new people/confused at new experiences
- Shaking hands/reflections
- Shooting stars
- Shots of people looking at the "being" in a strange way
- Dancers
- Eyes (circular theme)
- Tempo/beat matches the camera movement
- Walking past shop windows?
- Lightning/night sky
- Disco light to end? - Fade

With these ideas, I was able to create a storyboard for my music video to get the concept clear in my head, ready to start production:

Conventions of Digipaks & Magazine Adverts

I went into more depth when researching Digipaks in order to understand the codes and conventions I needed to include in my own. I looked at a number of examples, such as KT Tunstall's Acoustic Extravaganza. I found that the main things to included were:

- Album title
- Bar code
- Track list
- Images of artist
- Album artwork
- Colour scheme running throughout/house style
- Images overlapping as a common theme
- Theme images (in this case peaceful - links to acoustic genre)
- Booklet inside (more artwork, photos and a foreword)
- Contrast of colours from outside to inside
- Made from cardboard as it is a special edition
- Short reviews/ratings from industry publications
- Related websites (usually on reverse in booklet)
- Artist acknowledgements

As well as incorporating the essential elements of the Digipak, I could also include some of the additional features used in this one when it comes to creating my own.

I also looked at several examples of magazine adverts, and found the codes and conventions I need to include in my own. These included:

- Branding/band name
- Image relating to the product or picture of the band
- Tag line/information about the item being promoted
- Release date of product
- House style – colour scheme/theme
- Continual font
- Be unusual/individual

For my own magazine advert, I will use most of the codes and conventions, but will subvert some of them. For example, I would prefer to emulate the cartoon style used in the Digipaks, rather than a simple photograph of the band, as I feel it would add to their independent nature.

Digipak & Magazine Advert Research

I began my research into Digipaks, promotional CD packages, and magazine adverts and produced a sheet of examples which I found interesting and perhaps inspirational for my own promotional Digipak and advert.

The graphics used on particular CD covers I found to be intriguing, as they related to the style I wanted to emulate. For example, Kanye West's Graduation and Mika's Life in Cartoon Motion. I felt that the cartoon imagery was very eye-catching compared with other Digipaks I've seen, and I wanted to use this graphical idea for my own cover designs and magazine advert.