JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Visual Arts and Photography Forum CD cover design: Input/suggestions welcome

Good people, some of you have heard this song.

http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/717579/page/1#Post717579

Largely due to Tom Yeager's encouragement, I want to send it off to a couple of places just to test the waters. To that end, I came up with a simple label and jewel-case cover design, and I wanted to run it past you. Get your thoughts as to whether it suits the mood of the song.

Any input/suggestions welcome. I can always do more fiddling in Photoshop. Thanks!

Donna

The colours/contrast on the CD label itself are poorly shown in this scanned version. On the CD itself, the black/white is much more dramatic and the red text stands out strongly. (One day I'll need to learn how to calibrate my printer. )

Jewel-case back insert


Jewel-case front insert

I really like the back lighting on this. Looks cool.

Hi Donna,

Looks good.
I'm excited for ya !

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Donna, it looks pretty good. I wouldn't change the design, but I'd put the author and copyright information both on the CD label itself and on the front cover. Get your name out there so nobody has an excuse to not know it. Good job.

Joe

I'd also put an email address where they can reach you on both the case insert and CD label. If they lose the CD you're out of luck but if they lose the jewel case but not the CD you'd still have a chance.

Scott

Yes. That too.

Joe

Jean, Calvin, Joe, and Scott, thanks so much for chiming in here. And yes, definitely spot on about having details on the CD label and copyright info on the front insert too.

Donna

It looks fitting and suitably forboding to me.
On the Email addy,I don't know if it's a point or not, but some people use a seperate E for a business addy, I guess to keep those responses seperate
Wy

I agree there, too. I have three edresses, and one (the "spacehamster" one) is for the music business. I have one for "normal" mail, and one for spam, too (a Godsend, that).

joe

Good point about the email addy, Wy. I do have another one I could use.

Donna

Hi there Donna,
I looked at this a few times and here's my take- the backlit image is beautiful. However, I'm not too thrilled with the title font. I notice it does have the "blood drip" like the old TV horror flick fonts, but it still looks too much like a typewriter - thus a very cold, lacking energy font. I'd like to see you explore a font with more splatter or excitement, something like the Floydian font (though that one in particular looks way too much like Pink Floyd art). Floydian can be seen here:
http://simplythebest.net/fonts/fonts/floydian.html

Check out this site:
http://www.fontasy.de/en-index.php?lang=en

Thanks, Tom! I'll definitely check out those fonts you mention. I take your point that the one I'm using lacks energy.

Donna

Tom, that's a great site. Lot of useful fonts, including some I haven't seen since Windows 98 days. I bookmarked it.

Donna, that "Floydian" isn't a bad font. Watch out, though--you'll probably need to make the letters larger anywhere you use it in order to be legible. Couldn't use it on your small print at all (in fact, you should probably keep your small print as simple--and legible--as possible).

You should (my opinion, now--but I did use to do this for a living) also watch out for being too imitative. You don't want the use of that font to recall Pink Floyd, in other words, because you're risking they'll expect your *music* to be like Pink Floyd. (And I don't know if it will. You should ask someone who listens to more Floyd.) You want this to be *you*, not anybody else.

I was glad you didn't use one of the *real* blood-drippy fonts; there are some out there--Creeper, Crypt, et al.--that are very well-designed, but also very cliche. It is better (my opinion) to be understated, to make people feel uncomfortable but not quite be sure why. They will remember your work better. The title font you were using does do that okay. There are obviously others that'll do it, too.

Lots of luck.

Joe

Joe, you're right, I wouldn't want to use too imitative a font.
(People have commented that they hear Van Halen but Van Halen doesn't have a font. )

The closest I've found to Floydian is a font called Fishalicious.
It's energetic but has thin letters. Was thinking I could fatten 'em up and create subtle blood spatters.

Or perhaps I could use the font I already have and tweak the letters a bit, then distress the text to make it a bit more grungy. What do you think?

Donna

Donna, I would be tempted to try to use the font you've got first. i wonder how those letters would look if they were more distressed?

joe

Yes, the more I think about it, the more I like the distress idea. The font itself (banhart-drip-black) isn't bad and could be "energised", I think. Then I could still use the same font (but the banhart-skinny-black version) for the smaller print on the back insert.

I'll give it a whirl and see what comes up. Stay tuned.

Donna

Hi Donna

I think that the Photograph is wonderful on this and I particularly like what happens in regard to the hole in the cd -- which is sometimes and after thought in the process and Looks like it too.

Nice work ~ jm

Something to keep in mind. Paper labels will screw up many CD players, particularly the type with loading slots vs doors and trays.
You might consider something like Lightscribe for demos.

Thanks for commenting, Joice. Yes, I'm glad the hole in the middle doesn't look bad. On the first "trial" I had the text too high and had to re-do it. (I'll be re-doing the whole thing again anyway.)

Dak, thank you for dropping by. The image was printed directly onto the CD. Luckily my printer has that capacity.

Donna

Here's another thought:
http://www.dafont.com/font.php?file...p;nb_ppp=10&psize=s&classt=alpha

Glad you are going forward with this process Donna

its a great song....I like the design graphics you have.....

in America we usually specify "Song Demo on front label/CD Label itself/and back plate as well.....this tells-or reminds the A&R guy reviewing it that you are trying to sell the song itself-not hoping they will sign the group....

I myself wouldnt put your whole address on it-your whole address will be on the Self Stamped Envelope you include in the mailing....if you are sending it to London-make sure it has adequate postage...publishers will not pay even if its 5 cents short believe me. same for the SASE for reply from them-you forget to put postage on there- you wont even get a rejection letter.

be sure and put your PRO on all the printing next to your name........if you dont put the PRO they will think you arent with one and therefore a amateur and thats how they will judge the song....so whatever the initials for that Dutch PRO are-put em on there next to your name...the guys who actually wrote music for the song need to have their PRO next to their name as well..........if they were just studio musicians and did what they were told they arent writers and can be listed seperately cause what you want to clearly communicate to the publisher is the names and PRO's of the Writers....

a professional email helps make a good impression-so use the best one you have or create one just for communication with the music industry...WriterDonnaDevine@Hotmail.com-you get the idea...make sure the phone number you give them is either your cell or a number that only you will answer.....they dont have the patience for dealing with third parties............and of course inside the CD case you must have the PRINTED LYRICS for the song....and the lyrics should MATCH EXACTLY whats being sung-word for word.....thats very important.if they are groovin along with the song and reading the lyrics and something or somethings dont quite match they go nuts- when you are of course trying to make them blissfully happy with your wonderful hit song.....these guys listen to so many songs that when they go home they would rather listen to the sound of a washing machine...so everything about what you send them -should sell them.....as much work as you put into all this anyway- proofing the CD printing is no big deal and you do that all the time as a editor/writer anyway...

save full address for the back plate...

on the front and on the CD itself

Title of the Song
SONG DEMO
all writers and their PRO
Copyright 2009
Contact Info
Donna Devine
phone number here
email address here....

again-really glad you are going forward with this- I think you have a great song....

best of luck

Tom

TomT, thanks for that link. A fun font! For the purpose of the song, though, I think it could end up being less effective. It could work on a one-word title but for several words I feel the viewer might be distracted by trying to make out all the little bones and so wouldn't feel the (hopefully ) high-energy impact of a more dynamic font/text. (Mind you, I could be wrong...)
In any case, I've downloaded the font because I can see myself using it elsewhere.

TomY, thanks so much for that tremendous information. I've printed it out as well and will tick off the steps one by one. Clearly there's a lot involved in submitting, but once I do it properly the first time, the next times will be easier.
I hope I can purchase International Reply (IR) coupons at the post office. Otherwise I don't know how I'll handle that return-postage thing. Guess I'd call the publisher to ask.

Donna

very welcome Donna

it seems complicated now but its really a standard process that will become 2nd nature after you have done it once or twice...you are a very smart gal and you will easily master the formalities of this..as I told you in the PM-all original work must be credited Above the Copyright 2009 line.....every toot-twang or beat contributed...percentages must be calculated before submission.......no publisher wants something of indeterminate authorship or questionable ownership.....I know you want to do the right thing by everyone..tell em they gotta join a PRO if they aint in one already....BMI is worldwide and free-so no excuse not to be in one.....no other worldwide international vehicles for assigning credit or paying royalties that I know of except PRO's......attention to detail and agreement beforehand now saves nightmares later.....sometimes songs have 5 writers-no problem.....as long as all their names are Above THE COPYRIGHT 2009 LINE.. if a publisher likes it-and hopefully they will-you will get a phone call-good work Donna-we want it yadda yadda.....we will be sending out contracts for all to sign.....and you best have that issue resolved before that call...its really just common sense.....the same principle as car titles whatever...I cant sell you a car i dont fully own.....well keep in touch-welcome to the wonderful world of demo submissions-lol.......

Tom

Picture is catchy, I maybe would change the font for a more bolded one (sorry i'm spanish sometimes i don't use the right words).
I think i'd enhance it with a few pro-details.
the back cd sheet should have the name of the album and author both sides, but also the reference code of the album (an internal way of name it or coding it within the label or editing company)

I'd use the standard copyright symbol for the (c) line, it has an specific size and can be found in internet in big site (c) and your name as composer (p) and your name as producers, keep some space for the label ID number of the cd and bar code. Also i'd l'd make part of the recording credits part of the booklet and would keep that space behind for the contact info and the track listing which commonly shows on the back of the album.
In the cd self, around the external edge of the circle i'd put the classical "do not copy, blah blah statement"

Thanks for that input, Priscilla.

Donna