OMG! IT CAN'T BE TRUE!

Post by **JollyRoger** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:07 pm

kernie82 wrote:
QUOTE (kernie82 @ Sep 11 2011, 11:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Looks great, JR!!

Quick suggestion... can you try using a Blend Mode on the gold Hogwarts symbol so that it picks up some of the Leather texture from the cover beneath? Maybe a Multiply, Color Burn, Hard Light, or Overlay blend mode would accomplish this? Not sure if it will look right, but maybe give it a try? The gold areas on the symbol are a bit too much "flat color" at the moment, which kind of clashes with how textured everything else is.

Or... you could try doing a Pattern Overlay layer style on the Hogwarts symbol layer...?

Thx ker

I've grunged it up a litte; Added grunge edges to the spine, and gave the border and crest on the front a worn look. Tried out different blend modes for the crest; this seems to be good, without being too much. What do you think?

Also worked some more on the glasses; gave the crest and wand directly beneath them a glassy, distorted look to imitate the lens effect. Better?

[attachment=17348:1.jpg] [attachment=17349:2.jpg]

Zungam · Post by **Zungam** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:15 pm

This is really good, JR! Love the front as it is now, and I agree that the red looks even better than the brown.

Post by **Kernie** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 10:16 pm

Awesome!! The grunge on the embossed areas looks great!!!

Excellent decision to distort the image in the glass... adds a subtle touch of realism to everything. But if we're going for optimal realism, the "glass" area of the glasses' drop shadow should brighten the book cover ever so slightly.

I'm really loving this, JR!

On a side note, this has given me an idea for a Hires Challenge... what if the winner of one month provides a PSD of one of their old covers, and entrants have to rework it? Not that your old cover was bad, JR... but seeing what you're doing with it now, I'm almost glad you lost the original PSD. You're taking what worked on the old version and improving on everything else for this new one! I'm very impressed!

venome · Post by **venome** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 1:32 am

Great updates JR, 100 times better than the old version. Love the red as well

Nightrider · Post by **Nightrider** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:57 am

Looks wonderful my friend, this new version is well worth it

Post by **JollyRoger** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 5:58 pm

Someone please remind me to NEVER EVER cut out a locket like this again!!! Took me the better part of an hour with an agonizing pain in my wrist to boot!

(but thanks for the pic anyways, Vman

)

Also, found a nice pic of Nagini, which I thought could be used instead of all the orbs I had on the old version. Looking at it now with fresh eyes, I think the number of them were a little overkill, lol

Haven't thought too much about the back layout, wanting to cut out the various pieces first.

[attachment=17360:1.jpg] [attachment=17361:2.jpg]

On the front, I finished Harry's glasses by adding tape to the middle pin.

I'm not 100% satisfied with the corner brushes on the front :chin: , so if someone has a better brush set, that will go with the swirl on the spine, I would be grateful. :cheers:

[attachment=17362:3.jpg]

What say ye?

Post by **Kernie** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:38 pm

I like it!

The chain on the locket is INSANE! Can't believe you had the patience to cut that out. Looks awesome, buddy!

I like the snake in the orb... I can't tell, but did you apply any distortion effects to the snake image to make it look like it's inside the glass orb? You did such a nice job on the glasses on the front, I'd like to see you try a fish-eye-lens/distortion effect on the snake to "wrap" it around the orb.

I agree about the corners on the front, they don't quite match the ornament on the spine. But at the moment, I'm not sure of a corner that would work better. Maybe do some googling of vector borders or vector frames?

I'm loving this!

venome · Post by **venome** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:45 pm

Yup, i'm sure you can find some cool frames. I was'nt keen on the orbs last time :P it's personal preference but i dont think the orb, as it is, complements your work

Post by **Kernie** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:05 am

Maybe this is already what you're doing, but I just had a thought based on venome's suggestion to nix the orb...

What if the back cover was a collage of the Horcruxes (or things that suggest the Horcruxes)? You've already got the locket. Nagini was a Horcrux, so you could leave him in the orb, or maybe just have part of a snake slithering along the edges of the cover? The diary, the diadem, the ring, and the cup would be easy additions. Which just leaves Harry, which you could suggestion by a repeat of his glasses, or use an orb and put Harry's image inside it, or heck, even a photo of young Mr. Potter...

If this was the direction you were already headed, I apologize, but if not, maybe it's something to consider?

Post by **JollyRoger** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:12 am

Actually I was thinking along those that lines.

Deffo want to incorporate a piece of paper with the Deathly Hallows sign on it. I'll wing that part via my wacom.

I haven't seen hires pics of the other horcruxes sadly

- but perhaps someone can help?

venome provided excellent hires promo pics of not only the wand and locket, but also the fang from Chamber of Secrets, the Marauder's Map, and Tom Riddle's diary. All way better than what I used on the old cover.

HiResCovers.net

OMG! IT CAN'T BE TRUE!

Who is online