Iron Eagle (1986)

[maxdefiant]

I was inspired to start a new DVD cover when I saw last months contest for a action/adventure movie but I couldn't get it done in time. A full time job, freelance work, and two little ones both under 5 leaves little time for my own designs.

So I finally got the cover to a place that I like, but it's definitely not done. The devil is in the details right? Here's what I still want to do...

- add more lighting/shading
- better blending of images
- better transition/cloudy area behind TT
- reflection of the F-16 engine on the TT perhaps?
- add rim lighting to characters
- digital HUD display faded in background
- a couple enemy planes and helicopters
- maybe a border treatment



And I'm sure there is more that I'm not thinking of. I'd love your help, thanks!

[Fidi]

Don't know the movie and about the resources but it's a good start I'd say.

Some thoughts:
- 3D-title looks good but a bit boring atm - add a texture or some colour to make it more intersting
- You have the 3D shadow, a shadow behind and a shadow to the front - that's to much in my personal opinion (get rid of the front and back shadow on the bottom)
- I'd change the sky into something brighter and more blue without the dark clouds and the sun in the middle (both you can do by yourself and that makes it much easier to place all images)
- is there a better image of the F-16 you could use without all the lights/shadows on it?

[sauron]

Some good suggestion Fidi

[maxdefiant]

I worked on the cover for a couple hours late last night and touched on these items:

- added more flight suit to Ted
- added rim lighting to main characters (first time I ever tried)
- removed lower shadow from TT
- added swirling clouds behind F-16 but in front ot TT
- lightened up blue sky a little
- added example HUD display in background - I may recreate this
- shrunk everything by 15%
- added a tag line I came up with (from the Queen song)




Thanks for the suggestions Fidi!!

TT:
Yes, I agree about the TT, it could use a little more. I will try adding a little texture and maybe some subtle lens flares... I'll have to try it out. Yup, as I mentioned above I did get rid of one shadow already, so we are on the same page!

Sky:
I originally had it blue but liked something about the sun-rays, however the sun-rays give it a serene almost religious feel which I don't want. So yeah, I'll definitely mess around with that.

F-16:
The F-16 is a screen cap from the movie and what looks like shadows is actually a camouflage paint job (planes in movie were from the Israel Air Force.) I'm going to see if I can add weapons to the plane at some point.

[RRJR84]

its shaping up fantastic, but how maybe for the tt trying making it look the like the original with the red white and blue, might work for you.

[Paris2]

Great start! I recommend trying to bring everything down to a limited color palette - it'll help everything feel better composited and more cohesive. Enlarging the characters will help give this more of a retail feel and will help them regain clear, information hierarchy.

I attached a .psd if you're curious about the exact (rough) changes

[attachment=35923:Suggestion.jpg]

[Paris2]

.psd of changes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B467HY ... sp=sharing

[maxdefiant]

QUOTE (RRJR84 @ Apr 29 2017, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

its shaping up fantastic, but how maybe for the tt trying making it look the like the original with the red white and blue, might work for you.

Thanks! I am playing with the original logo but removing the red/white/blue and making it more metal looking. The current TT I created was directly from the old logo, I just de-skewed it so the typeface is the same. I'll post a version with the new and old logos later.

Paris-
I should have made this apparent sooner but that little border is actually the edges of the DVD cover so everything else is extra for the spine. I agree and want the colors to seem cohesive but I don't know about a dark green sky, that I'll have to mull over a bit!

Thanks for the input. I'll post more later.

[RRJR84]

QUOTE (Paris2 @ Apr 29 2017, 10:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great start! I recommend trying to bring everything down to a limited color palette - it'll help everything feel better composited and more cohesive. Enlarging the characters will help give this more of a retail feel and will help them regain clear, information hierarchy.

I attached a .psd if you're curious about the exact (rough) changes

[attachment=35923:Suggestion.jpg]

i like the first one the best

[maxdefiant]

I had a little time today to play around and here's what I did...

- Added some texture to the TT
- Added a couple light flares to the TT
- Updated the sky in the background with more white clouds and less religious sun rays
- Removed Doug's Dad and the bad guy to make room in future for some more planes, explosions and to just simplify it



Oops, I'll need to fix the rim lighting now that I reduced the amount of light behind Doug's helmet.

That's all for today, g'night!