CD-10
Instructions: Please read all of the following information carefully:
Create a new folder on your “My Documents on daisy” student folder, call it “lastname_CD.” All of the work for this CD will be saved into this folder and the folder will be submitted for grading. Download the file called "CD_Cover_Template.PSD" and save it into your Lastname_CD folder. Open this file in Photoshop.
This CD is a “mini project” which will allow you to demonstrate
all of the skills that you have learned over the year. It is primarily a “Graphic
Design Process” exercise, but please make sure to incorporate as much
of your learning as you can into the project:
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Filters • Blending Options • Fills
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Layer Blends • Attach Text to Path • Cutting Objects from Backgrounds
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Shapes • Strokes • Image Adjustments
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Patterns • Gradients • Transformations
In addition, I would like to see evidence of the various Visual Communications exercises which we did this year, as well as some of the “History of Graphic Design” problems completed this semester.
THE PROJECT:
You are a graphic designer and you have been given the opportunity to create the CD graphics for a new album. Before you get started, you should review the following information regarding your album:
| Genre: | Rock |
| Artist: | Shinedown |
| Album Title: | "Leave a Whisper" |
| Short Review: | Firstly, I'll start by mentioning the fact that I have not gone a day without listening to at least one of the tracks from this album - in three years. Yes, it's really that good. Shinedown is not your average mainstream rock band. They are mature. They know music. People here have attempted to describe this album, and usually unsuccessfully. Therefore, I'm not going to try to do so, because I just can't define what makes it so GOOD. Here's the overview: Fly From the Inside - What a way to kick things off! This is the most upbeat and fast-paced song on the album. The lyrics are uplifting and inspiring. My third favorite song on the album. 10/10 Left Out - I never really listened to this song as much as some of the other tracks. It is very meaty, with a lot of solid guitar and bass backing it up. The lyrics are so-so. 8/10 Lost In the Crowd - I love this song. It's a slower track, yet it heats up during the chorus. The style reminds me of Alic In Chains somewhat. It's a very dynamic song, great tune and easy to listen to. Includes a small guitar solo. 9/10 No More Love - Great, rough song. Lot's of blazing guitar intertwining with loud and in-your-face vocals. The chorus can start to get somewhat repetetive, but not nearly so as to ruin the song. 8/10 Better Version - For some reason this song appealed to me most when I first listened to the Album. In reality, it's an okay song, but nothing smashing. The lyrics are very clean and to-the-point. Can also become slightly repetetive, but a very good listen overall. 8/10 Burning Bright - THE song of the album. A slower song, but written and performed beautifully. Extremely melodic, a song that you can really get into. The lyrics are amazing, and the song itself is very focussed and directed. 10/10 In Memory - This song is on par with Better Version. It's a good song, but not amazing. (All of the tracks on this album are excellent, so keep in mind that I am being very picky with my ratings.) Very solid song, with a great bridge. 8/10 All I Ever Wanted - This is an awesome song to just listen to, very catchy. Not a whole lot to say about it, other than mentioning that it's, like every other song on the album; really solid, with good lyrics. 9/10 Stranger Inside - I rank this song and "Crying Out" in the same exact category. Both are amazing songs, both have well-written lyrics, both are well-performed. Yet another solid track.(Bet at this point the review is starting to sound robotic, eh?) 9/10 Lascerated: To break the cycle, this was my least favorite song on Leave a Whisper. In it's own light, I have a feeling I would have liked it more, had it not been in such great company. Guess the rest of the album spoils you. It's a deviation from the solidity of the rest of the CD, you can tell they were going for a different style. 7/10. Crying Out - See Stranger Inside above. 9/10 .45 - (Also known as "Colt .45".) This is My second favorite
song the album. The lyrics, the simple guitar, and the beautiful vocals,
all really merge to make this a memorable one. 10/10 |
| Sound clips from your album: | -Clip #1: No More Love -Clip #2: Stranger Inside |
| Song Listing: | 1. Fly From The Inside |
| Production Company: | ©2003 Atlantic Recording Corporation. |
NOTE: I HIGHLY recommend that you do not look up the actual graphics of this album, or if you are familiar with the album, put the graphics out of your mind, as preconceived notions will make this assignment MORE difficult, not easier.
To start, download this template file for your CD graphics and save it in to your “lastname_CD” folder. You will be creating your CD cover on this Photoshop file.
You will be creating the following for your CD graphics:
1. A nice typographic representation of the Group or Artist’s name, as
well as a typographic representation of the title of the Album (these SHOULD
NOT look the same!) Create these two graphics on separate files and copy them
into your CD project when needed. Please save these two files as .JPGs into
your “lastname_CD” folder.
2. Graphics for the front cover of the CD (and possibly continuing onto the
back cover, as well) which fit the mood and theme of the Album. This is where
much of your Graphic talent with Photoshop will come in. Use your blending,
cutout and filter skills here! Feel free to get images from the Internet, as
needed, to bring about your graphic. Remember, the Template is the outside
border of your CD, do not go over it!
3. Text for the spine of the CD which includes the Group or Artist’s
Name and the title of the CD.
4. Graphics for the back of the CD which follow a similar theme to the CD.
On the back of the album, you will include the Song Listing.
5. Include the production company information on the back of the CD as well.
6. Place your Artist and CD Title graphics onto the cover of your CD as you
see fit to enhance the look of the work.
When you have completed your design, please save the work as a .JPG file and
place it into your “lastname_CD” folder. Using “My Computer,” COPY
your “lastname_CD” folder to the class drop box on the M: Drive.
(If necessary, see highlandtechnology.org FAQ page regarding this step)