Digipak Photoshop:

I have taken one existing album cover and developed it by using different effects within Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Here is the original copy of the album cover, The Wombats - Modern Glitch:

I then used the 'Filter' tool within Photoshop to create many different effects of this image; some change simply the colour variations of the image, but some of them alter the entire effect, of these most turn out to be successful.

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The previous images show the 9 different effects I tried out, my favourites from this task are 5, 7 and 8.

I think number 5 with the embossed effect puts a whole new twist on the original image, with the main colour scheme being grey it appears duller but the visual effect of the indents and raised sections distracts  the eye from the plain colour.

Numbers 7 and 8 are my favourites for similar reasons, the band name font is still readable in both images but the album name not so much - this would have to be altered if I used this effect on my final design. The images are still clear enough to see but the edit makes the cover look edgy and interesting rather than a plain photograph or drawing. The brightness of the sky in the image and the clothes that the models are wearing stand out a lot more in these edits as the colours merge together more; I really like  these effects and I am considering using these on smaller sections of my work for example on the background but not any foreground images so that they are still clear to the eye.

Anaylysing Band Websites

 Vampire Weekend- http://www.vampireweekend.com/

This website is very basic because it has a simple background and font. I think this works well because it allows the user to see exactly where each link will take them and enables them to navigate around the site with ease. However, I don't think the style represents the bands preppy look that they usually go for.

The Vaccines- http://www.thevaccines.co.uk/

I like the website for The Vaccines because the theme of the layout is similar to the style of the bands album so it shows a continuity of style throughout the band. It helpsto give them an image.

The Maccabees- http://www.themaccabees.co.uk/

This is a very simple site and you can see the main focus of it at the moment is advertising their new album that is set for release soon. You cannot see with just a print screen but there's also an intereactive aspect of the site because when you hover over the bands name it disappears so you're left with a white blank page. I think they have tried to go for the simplicity look but failed because it looks very boring, it could be improved by adding more colour.

Little Comets- http://www.littlecomets.com/

I think this is a very unusual website for a band because it's simply a blog that the band post on regularly. I'm not sure I like it because it doesn't appear very professional, but at the same time I think it works really well because it's more personal for the fans as you know it's the band essentially making the website and not someone they have hired. 

Digipak Opening

We have now finished all our research and planning into our music video and are in the process of filming it outside the lesson time. Whilst in the lessons we are looking digipaks and posters, the poster is obvious and advertises the bands album/single/EP. The digipak on the other hand is simple the album/single/EP cover including song lyrics and lists.

To start we shall analyse three digipaks and have a look at some posters.

What Is A Digipak?

Now that we have finished the research and planning for filming we are reading to start shooting, so we are also ready to start doing research into digipaks. A digipak is a CD packaging. It normally consists of paper packaging around a plastic tray for a CD. They can be used for all sorts of CD's such as: singles, EPs, albums or special editions.

I am now going to do some research into digipaks typical of our genre to give me inspiration as to what I could eventually create.

Digipak Opening:

For the task of the Digipak we have split off as our group of four into individual teams, this is because we have to design one Digipak each to represent the band. So from now our posts will be separate and will include our own unique ideas.

What is a Digipak?

Digipaks are the sections within CD cases which looks like a small booklet, in Digipaks there may be things such as: lyrics to the songs on the CD; photographs of the band; information about the particular CD or the band itself; or abstract images that have no relation to the band itself (this is more common among alternative/indie/rock bands).

To start the task of creating a Digipak we have to analyse at least 3 existing CDs with their Digipaks; this is to gather information about what a Digipak exactly is, different styles of them and how to create them to reflect the style of the band. I have looked at bands of a similar genre to The Skeleton Boys to help to create the indie/alternative vibe; this is rather than focusing on artists such as Justin Bieber or One Direction that do not relate to our genre or style at all.

For example some of the bands I have researched so far are; The Arctic Monkeys, The Wombats, The Maccabees, Little Comets, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Paramore, The Pretty Reckless, Greenday, etc. I have included some bands in that list that mix more with alternative/rock than alternative/indie, this is just to broaden my research a little further but still within the same area.

Shot Sequence

Shot Sequence
Here is the shot sequence we will use when filming. We cut each shot up individually and then placed them into groups of locations. After this we then decided what order the locations would be filmed and then what order the shots would be filmed in each location, for example the shots in the evening will be shot last.
Apologies for the poor quality!

A Note About The Shot Sequence List

I can only apologise but my scanner/ printer has stopped working so I am unable to complete the task of putting up the shot sequences today that I have in fact finished. However, they will definitely be up tomorrow because I am having a new one delivered then so I shall put them up straight away.