I'd like to think I've got a bit of character and a sense of humour (though I guess that's not really for me to judge, you can decide that for yourselves while I bully my way in). I don't hold my punches so don't want you to hold back either - don't be too PC - say what you want to say, rather than what you think you should say - I have a very thick skin. :ner:
Maybe read my profile for my attempt to both amuse you a little, and gently wind some of you up in the process. Note that although it is written tongue-in-cheek, if it does get your goat, then think carefully because maybe you're one of the people I'm talking about!!!
I don't particularly expect my design style to be especially popular amongst other designers, but if you understand the message in my profile that should not necessarily be a surprise. I do however expect to get my fair share of downloads from regular members (so far that's proving to be the case but this could just be a lucky blip - beginners luck?). I'm very happy with my style, so am not particularly looking to improve as such, and believe it's an indication of my design preferences, not my design limitations. You are welcome to disagree, and I'm happy for you to say so.
What I want from a cover is clean, clear artwork, with recognisable iconography, nothing flash! Modified poster art is usually more than good enough for me. Simple not clever, so long as transitions are smooth, nothing clunky. And if mine is better than the studio cover, then not only have I achieved my initial goal but, why shouldn't I expect a good deal of replacement downloads? I have a large DVD collection but because of the way I buy them (see this thread http://www.hirescovers.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19387) they mostly need new labels. So, like it or not, I'll be adapting everything I download of yours, to suit my own personalised spec, and designing new ones where there's nothing suitable (or nothing to my liking). I was anticipating asking some of you if I could re-post some of the adaptations but it's starting to look like that might not be a popular request so that idea has been put on the shelf (for now at least).
I don't post designs that I'm not pretty happy with at the time, but that's not to say I don't think they couldn't be improved, or that I don't think of improvements myself after posting. But I want to get on to the next one to complete my personal collection. My point is: I don't want to spend ages designing the perfect cover but I would more than welcome constructive criticism. It may not be obvious from my design style but for a good while I worked using 3DStudio Max, producing photorealistic 3d modelling (the sort of thing that's basic movie CGI nowadays, but back then was field leading). In our industry "Photoshop" was a byword for "cheap and nasty". I don't mean to offend so apologies if photoshop impresses you; to be fair, it has moved on a great deal since then. I'm just trying to make the point that I see DVD cover design as just a little hobby; and much as I do sincerely admire many of your designs, mine are done on a glorified word processor and that's not going to change as it's so simple to use and gives me the results I want. It's not that it dictates my simplistic style, it's more a case of it suits my simplistic style; using it causes me very, very little in the way of compromise because my needs are simple.
Mine are all UK spec; I never put on bar codes, I avoid special features etc (if they don't match my DVD I don't want them on the cover) and finally, I want my whole collection to be personalised and have the same setting out. Some of you will hate it and others won't mind, but I'm not designing for you, I'm designing for me, and then offering to you if you'd like them - and, as I said, I'm very satisfied with my download rate to date.
And I talk far, far too much... :yawn:
Ichy007
p.s. have you checked out that DVD thread of mine above yet?
