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Proofs from the layouts are fine but it helps some clients to see digital mock-ups of the finished CD packaging. I create Perspective Mock-ups in Photoshop.

First, I open the layout and grab screenshots of the front cover, back cover, and insert sides, then open these in Photoshop. Next I duplicate these on new layers of  a photo of the jewel case, disc, traycard and insert, which I’ve also opened in Photoshop. Then, using Edit  –> Transform –> Distort, I layer and fit the screenshots of the cover, back and inserts over the photo. I mask areas and add drop shadow to create depth. After flattening the layers I save the composite as a pdf, and I’ve got a very accurate representation of the finished product, that can be emailed to the client.

Front of CD, Disc and Insert

Paper Kisses

Cover

Paper Kisses Cover (in progress)

Paper Kisses Layout (in progress)

Paper Kisses is the forthcoming CD from Tom Mank & Sera Smolen, produced by Julie Last. Tom and Sera are not only music colleagues and clients but also good friends. This is the 4th project we have worked on together. Sera and poet Susan Hoover hired me to design their forthcoming CD, Xerox The Clouds (see the post).

Tom and Sera chose the “Green” 6-panel Wallet package from Oasiscd.com. I like this package — no plastic. The CD slips into a die cut sleeve instead of sitting in a plastic tray. I have designed many CDs with Oasis templates. What a great company! The have lots of choices and layout templates come in various formats. I am using the InDesign format. The cover and fountain pen images were sourced from Shutterstock, an economical and easy to use stock photo and image site.

The stock images and photos are first adjusted and prepped in Photoshop then placed in the IDD layout as CMYK jpgs. The text is in Calibri font, except the back panel and spine, which are good old Courier. I used the calligraphic style ChatoBand for the title and monospaced, typewriter style Courier as a complement to it, in keeping with the title song about love letters. I like to get my fonts from MyFonts.com.

I am making pdf proofs to show the client. IDD makes it easy to export the file to pdf format.

This is a fun project and it’s going quickly. What a pleasure to work with such great clients!

Sea Green and Go

Two things:

  1. Blogs are often the perfect substitute for a top-heavy website, and
  2. Green is the new black!

Ceci (who happens to be my sister) is launching a new venture — literally — a travel blog with “the planet and pennies in mind.” She asked me to help her set it up, design a custom header and upload her content. I designed the custom header using royalty-free graphics found through google image searches. I also wrote the text for the About page.

Click on the image below to visit her blog.

"Sea Green and Go" Custom Header

We plan on collaborating as she adds content. It’s a real treat to work with my sister!

Xerox the Clouds

One of my current projects is a CD design for “Xerox The Clouds,” a compelling collaboration of spoken word and improvised cello from poet Susan Hoover and cellist Sera Smolen. The tracks were recorded by legendary producer Julie Last.
Xerox the Clouds screenshot

Xerox the Clouds

For the artwork, the clients provided images from old magazines that had been run through a color photocopier. I scanned some of the images and together we chose one for the cover and interior panels behind the text.

The clients have chosen a standard, clear jewel case with a full-color tray card and a 4-panel insert. I recommended mixonic.com for the short run manufacturing. Mixonic is an affordable CD manufacturer with an easy-to-use web interface. Their templates are .psd files. Artwork files must formatted as psd files at 300ppi, so the final layout must be done in Photoshop. But first I bring the template into InDesign and layout the text over it. Then I export the .idd to a pdf file, which I place as a layer in Photoshop, where I can also manipulate the images.

It’s a pleasure to work with such talented clients!

What can I do for you?
  • Functional Websites and Blogs
  • CD/DVD packaging
  • Press, blog & copywriting
  • Ads, Banners and Displays
  • Photoshop & digital retouching

Leave a comment or email patti@pattiwitten.com

Graphic Design Services

  • Functional Websites and Blogs
  • CD/DVD packaging
  • Press, blog & copywriting
  • Ads, Banners and Displays
  • Photoshop & digital retouching

What do you need? Leave a comment or email patti@pattiwitten.com

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