Creative Assignment 01: Design a CD Cover – 50 Points
(THREE WEEK ASSIGNMENT — due Week 8 in class)
This assignment is all about understanding COLOR.
Download these files about COLOR
DETAILS:
DESIGN A CD COVER, FRONT AND BACK, OF YOU.
Blown away by your messed up Hawaii Postcard, or your other Lesson 4 collage, or whatever crazy thing you did in this class….you’ve been signed! Yes, YOU! Agents tracked you down at the Grammys, and well, they think YOU are next year’s big thing. Over lunch in Beverly Hills, you sign a multi-album contract for serious cash. So you agree to their demands. In addition to being an amazing recording artist, they know you have amazing design skills 🙂 and photoshop skills, and YOU agree to design YOUR CD cover, front and back, of your debut album! Oh my!
Three reasons album artwork remains important
10 Tips for Designing Album Art in the Digital Age
REQUIREMENTS:
1. Name your album the name of a color: You will choose a color, such as blue, yellow, red, magenta, hot pink, mauve, etc. It must be the name of your album. Both your name and the name of the album (the color) must be type – also know as “text layers.”
2. An image, drawing, or picture of you somewhere in the design. The front cover is the right side.
3. A listing of album tracks OR an explanation in type on the back (left side).
4. At least 3 other objects, elements, tints, photos, etc, that exemplify that color used in your composite image (such as green: money, leaves, leprechauns) be creative, be thoughtful, this is YOUR debut effort, don’t bomb LOL.
Yes, I’m giving you the photoshop template file, the link is above, with 300 pixels per inch goodness, and print guides, so download it.
Design the FRONT and the BACK. —colors, ideas, etc. Hey, you are the creative one, go for it!
5. Name your file: “YourName-CD.psd”
6. Upload a flattened COPY of your layered original – submitted to your D2L.
7. Print your CD Covers IN COLOR ON PHOTO PAPER.
They are due PRINTED in class for CRITIQUE.
GRADING RUBRIC (50 points total possible):
Being present in class for critique: 10 points
Color Print of CD: 10 points
Concept: 10 points total
Technical execution: 20 points total
Want to design an album cover, old school? The template is along side the CD Cover template.
Template for Online Streaming Services? That template is along side the CD Cover template too.
Learn more about the options for CD/DVD/Media packaging at these links:
CD / DVD Replication, CD / DVD Duplication, CD / DVD Manufacturing by Oasis
CD Replication | DVD Replication
AmericasPrinter.com – Full Color Printing Made Easy!
