Case Art Tips?

[cp32]

Help? I seem to hit a mental block with this. I'm sure there are a few others . Who has never made case art as well.
Can we start a sticky for Case art tips ?

HELP!!!!

For Example:
What Resolution to use ?
What size should images be for importing to your Cover/Insert ?
This cant be that hard.

[lordsmurf]

200-300 dpi for 99% of cases -- it looks the same
use Photoshop
Your source images should not come off the web, but from scans of other covers, comics, magazines, etc

[cp32]

Thats it?? Nothing else? Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooothing at all.............ok

[cnickle1]

There are several sites dedicated specifically to this. R1DB.com, replacethecase.com, rixgrafix.com, customaniacs.org - just to name a few. Most of them have help & tip sections, as well as template downloads for the various size cases and studios. They will also have artwork resource sections, which can be very helpful.

[wayshway]

I'll give you a call soon and help you.

[cp32]

Thanks Guys. I m just lost on this

[lordsmurf]

Talent, eye for design, skill with art

[cnickle1]

The templates help a lot. If you can't find them, send me a pm with a mailing address, and I'll put some stuff on disc for you.

Try finding a couple of covers that you like and recreate them. Its good practice and you'll learn a lot. You'll also discover that you need a lot more fonts.

If you are not well versed in photoshop, go buy the photoshop for dummies book. The big one. I've been making covers for 5 years now and I still refer to that book occasionally.

Eye Candy 5 is a good add on pack for photoshop. It has some great features like motion trail and extrude.

The biggest thing is to start with hi res artwork. All of the cover sites that I named above require covers made at 300 dpi. Which makes the front and back 1536 x 2175 pixels. That's a lot bigger than any wallpaper that you can download.

[cp32]

I do okay with Photoshop. :-) Just trying to tackle a new skill lol

[GreenRanger1]

I would say use 300dpi its standard for printing. Be careful with images. Sometimes you can print web images and scan them in if you own a good scanner. I do this sometimes. Also looke for printables online. Not too helpful in older shows, but I found several things when I was working on the Hannah covers.

Also sometimes you can find good sources on ebay...old books, comics, usually pretty cheap too. Im always looking for artwork. Im wanting to make a spectacular spiderman, and Im looking at buying a figure for the art on the box.

[cnickle1]

The Spectacular Spider Man cartoon that just started? I've got one very nice picture in a book that I was given for Xmas. I haven't scanned it yet, but if you want it let me know.