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Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:21 pm
by Kernie
Now that I've finished my Community and Fincher Collection covers (and gotten the Comic Book Collection to a point where there's little left to add), I've decided to work on a "complete series" cover for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Disclaimer: Anybody who mocks this show or questions why I'm doing a cover for it clearly hasn't bother to attentively watch seasons 1-4.

For a while now, I've wanted to try to do something like ShokXone's Avatar and Firefly/Serenity, HalfBreed's Terminator: TSCC, and Rooker's Kick-a$$ covers. They're all awesome examples of Wacom artwork in the style of Drew Struzan's legendary movie posters. Personally, I don't have the patience for all the Wacom illustration stuff, so I'm accomplishing this through Photoshop adjustment layers and filters... although I'm sure it's not nearly as impressive to those of you who like to do things the hard way. :(

I want to make this a complete series cover, so I'm trying to incorporate elements from all 7 seasons of the show into the artwork. However, when it comes to the cover itself, I'm not sure how to handle the fact that the series takes up 39-40 discs and I'm sure there isn't an amaray case that holds that many discs (or is there :chin: )? I don't want to do individual seasons, because honestly, I know I won't have the patience/ambition to do keyart like this for 7 seasons (let alone find the appropriate imagery). But I did consider using the same keyart, but altering the color of the sky/border and labeling each cover with something like "The Complete Series: Season 1." Here is where I really need some member input... :shrug:

Also, the title treatment is just temporary for placement... the TT will receive the typical Kernie title treatment styling, just haven't done it yet...

What do you think of it so far?? :D

[attachment=16772:buffy_preview_002.jpg]

P.S. If all goes smoothly and I still have motivation, I might do a matching cover for Angel as well.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 6:52 pm
by Kernie
No love? Darn... :(

Here's a small update anyway...

[attachment=16773:buffy_preview_003.jpg]

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:45 pm
by Paris
Nice character placement. The guy on the top right needs a brighter on the left side of his face to match the others.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 7:57 pm
by batboysmatboy
Looking good so far.

Seasons 1 to 5 were hosted by The WB. If I remember correctly, Season 1 has 3 discs and 2, 3, 4, 5 have 6 discs each (a total of 27) and Season 6 and 7 were hosted by UPN and have 6 discs each (a total of 12). The total is 39 if you buy separate Seasons or the Newer Complete set (the older one had 40 discs with the Bonus disc they added).

Altering the color of the border and labeling each cover with something like "The Complete Series: Season 1 may be the only way to work it.

I have a suggestion that will cause you more work (anyone looking at your covers and labels knows you are no stranger to that). I like the ensemble cover, would you consider making a "core group" (Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles) and then adding and subtracting additional characters (Angel, Drusilla, Faith, Oz, Cordelia, Dawn, etc) around the "core" according to the Seasons story line.

Just a thought

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:14 pm
by RRJR84
I like bat's idea. But this is fantastic start and no there is no case that will 39 discs,lol sorry don't exist to be knowledge the biggest case is 12 discs.

Now back on topic I would try border changes and different color schemes like bats said. I'm a big fan of this show I've seen the complete series more than once so I would most defiantly be interested in this cover.

But I would coll to see the character change up person seasons, just a suggestion it's your cover but just take your time at it. If you want to make space savers I'd do 2 seasons per cover at the most.

Looking forward to what you decided.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:24 pm
by Kernie
nikerun147 wrote:
QUOTE (nikerun147 @ Aug 3 2011, 02:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Nice character placement. The guy on the top right needs a brighter on the left side of his face to match the others.

Thanks, nikerun... already fixed! :D

batboysmatboy wrote:
QUOTE (batboysmatboy @ Aug 3 2011, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Altering the color of the border and labeling each cover with something like "The Complete Series: Season 1 may be the only way to work it.

I have a suggestion that will cause you more work (anyone looking at your covers and labels knows you are no stranger to that). I like the ensemble cover, would you consider making a "core group" (Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles) and then adding and subtracting additional characters (Angel, Drusilla, Faith, Oz, Cordelia, Dawn, etc) around the "core" according to the Seasons story line.

Just a thought

I like this idea, but I'm not sure exactly how to work it just yet... I kind of wanted to make a definitive piece of keyart that covered the whole series and not have to do a lot of tinkering with each season.

As much as I don't mind a lot of work, if there doesn't seem to be much interest in this cover, I might not want to waste that much time... :(

Thanks for the suggestions... I'll definitely be thinking about them!

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 8:45 pm
by batboysmatboy
Just to be clear

QUOTE
Altering the color of the border and labeling each cover with something like "The Complete Series: Season 1[/quote]

was kernie's idea (from his first post), I forgot to add the quotes.

I think this cover will draw a lot of interest it may take a little while to build.

With the press coming out about the remake (and re-imaging) of the original movie, there will be much heated debates and a I believe a renewed interest in the series.

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 10:17 pm
by Kernie
Hmmm... thinking more about this one and I'm still not sure how the "swapping out season characters" will logistically work.

For example, I could replace the Master (in the upper left corner) with each season's "big bad," but the problem is... Spike/Drusilla/Angel were S2's villain and they'll already appear elsewhere, same for S6 with Willow. I'm thinking it will be a big headache to switch out characters properly and to find images that are "switch-out-able," if that makes sense. Although I'm open to suggestions? :shrug:

Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:53 pm
by RRJR84
maybe here's some examples that could help.

Season 1- Characters, Master, Buffy, Xander, Willow, Cordelia,Giles

Season 2- Characters, Spike & Drucilia (replace master in way that only your genius can do) Vampire Version Angel,Buffy, Xander, Willow,Giles

Season 3 - Characters, Angel,Buffy, Xander, Willow, Oz, Mayor Wilkins, Giles

Season 4 - Characters, Buffy, Xander, Willow, Oz, Giles,Marc Blucas, Adam Cyborg (big Bad), (Maybe) Spike

Season 5 - Characters, Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Dawn,spike, Glorificus/Glory

Season 6 - Characters-Buffy, Xander, Dark Willow, Giles, Dawn,The Triumvirate

Season 7 - Characters- Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Dawn,spike, Caleb

these are just suggestions there's also Anya and other characters, if you need help finding hi-res pics for these I would have no problem helping you. This could be the best Buffy set ever made if you go through with it. i know it's time consuming but it's a great show that deserves your justice :innocent:

Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:06 am
by Kernie
Thanks RRJR... not that I really want to make a lot more work for myself, but I'm experimenting with how to easily switch out characters depending on the season... I'm trying to make it so that the changes are as minimal as possible (sorry, but no vampire Angel change, Angel's image will be constant for the seasons in which he appears). Unfortunately, this means that the character photos will not be season-specific (obviously that's S4 Willow with the shorter hairstyle), but I hope nobody complains (if they do, they can have fun making their own covers ;) ).

Here's what I'm thinking for S1...

[attachment=16775:buffy_preview_004.jpg]

Angel will remain in his place for S1-S3 and will be replaced with Spike for S4-S7.
Cordelia will remain in her place for S1-S3 and will be replaced with Anya for S4-S7.
The Master will become Drusilla (S2), the Mayor (S3), Adam (S4), Glory (S5), Warren (S6), and Caleb (S7).

Still to add to the keyart...
Principal Snyder will appear on S1, Oz will replace him in S2-S3, Riley will replace him for S4-S5, and Andrew will replace him for S6-S7.
I could include Joyce Summers somewhere (can anyone help me with a good head-to-waist pic of her?) for S1-S4 and she will be replaced by Dawn starting in S5.

Faith will reappear where she was in earlier previews, and be included on S3, S4, and S7. Kendra can be in her spot for S2. Tara can occupy her spot for S5-S6.

Sorry to write all this out, it's mainly for my own benefit, so I can organize my thoughts and plan out how I'm going to accomplish all the swaps.

Thoughts on the latest keyart and organization? Also, if there's characters that are missing and you think they should be there, please suggest it!

Thanks! :D :D :D

EDIT: Ugh... this is going to be a LOT of work... :( :( :(