Album cover Crash test 'Breakthrough'

#1

Hi guys, I’ve been working on an album cover for a band. The albums called breakthrough. The music is indie rock, I wanted to go for something witty and gutsy and ended up with this. there are still a few tweaks - like the spot lights etc…

Playing with the notion of a crash test,with a crash dummy about to break through a plane of glass - there are two routes, the full on detail route and the more symbolic route (the second one, which is perhaps more graphical)

opinions and feedback are welcome!

#2

oh wow, nice

Since it is an album cover, I would get the bands opinion on which style to go with.

But, I like the second version. :smiley:
and my only idea for that one is to make the camera rotate up, or rotate the class more towards us so that we can see the well known texture of the “crash-test-dummy”
that adds a lot to the symbolism
but I like the white texture for the top, and only being able to see the well known look through the reflection

Cheers mate! Great cover! :slight_smile:

#3

It looks very nice already! :thumbsup: I would go for something inbetween the two versions.

The second version is graphically actually better, but not suggesting a crash test at all, looking more like falling into a hole. I think the interpretation at first glance is vital regarding the small size of a CD cover. Consequently the size of the dummy seems to be rather small according to the final purpose.

So i would suggest a wide angle shot, making the dummy larger but showing some environment. The white colour for the dummy goes actually nicely with the intended high-tech feel, and a dark environment with some blueish lighting could accent the subject even more, while suggesting clearly what’s happening.

PS: changed my mind :wink: - maybe better to keep the dummy skin coloured, so it can’t be interpreted as a robot.

#4

Hey peeps, thanks for the feedback. The band was pretty open, so I think it’s open for me to do whatever I feel will be striking. although they like the 1st one as it was more intensive.

@zokana: I like the idea of working on a mix of the two, also I think I’ll take your view of making the dummy bigger and making the angle wider.

@ Bergquist: I like the idea of rotating the glass in the second one so you can see the ‘other side’, dimension.

so, i’ll mike the two views and see what i come up with, it’s quite funny as i came up with the second one almost by accident when comping in photoshop…

#5

Hay guys, i’ve made a few tweaks to the first one, am still having a think whether to go for the more conceptual 2nd option… feedback would be great.

#6

Slightly better, accenting the dummy a little more, but changes look a bit half-hearted.

Did try some filtering, showing the colour mood as i meant before - a bit colder, more technical, and the picture cropped slightly. Click here.

If going for the second version with only the dummy and the glass visible, i would show the glass already exloding to make the subject clear.

#7

The other possibility is that you use both in some way, eg front cover/inside insert.

With regards to the images, they look good, I agree that the second is stronger graphically but less descriptive, perhaps a mix would be worth trying.

The only comments/opinions I would have are these:

The pose of the dummy could possibly be tweaked slightly, I’m not sure how well his legs read; his right looks like it finishes at the knee and his left is twisted a bit too far around. I understand that he’s a dummy so doesn’t need to obey human physics but a couple of very minor tweaks would help it a lot I think. I’d also knock back the upright immediately to the right (and behind the hand) of the dummy, its pretty much the same value as the dummy’s leg and it stops the dummy from popping out like it should.

Secondly I’d put a bit more detail into the 0-4.GB box in the bottom left corner. I’d also put a bit more dirt and variation on the walls and concrete plinth at the bottom, but this could be done in Photoshop.

Other than those points I think the concept is good and the image is nice and punchy.

Hope this helps!

#8

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback

@Zokana: thanks for the colour tinting and cropping, I will definatly make those changes- certainly the colder tint adds something. Also your right, I’ll spend more time on the next round of changes :wink:

@southpaw: one of my friends pointed out the pose was a little off, in fact said that it looked like the dummy was pole dancing, ha! So ill make some adjustment and take a look at the box, it’s suppose to be a video camera so maybe a little red light and so more details would help.

Well, I have an idea so will make up a rough render for your feedback, playing a bit more on the whole door-alternative dimension route. thanks again guys

#9

Hey guys, although i’m still going to make those changes mentioned before i thought that i would share some thing i worked on with the current comp…

what do you think?

#10

hmmm… not bad, i think i like it :slight_smile:

I might take it one step into the future and have the initial impact happen already.
This would allow you to have started the epicenter of cracks, and would let the viewer know it is a piece of glass. Right now, its not certain that it is a piece of glass and what you are showing is a reflection.

#11

Do you mean something like this?

#12

exactly :smiley:

Its just my opinion, but I think that looks much better! and really helps explain whats going on.

although, now your figures don’t line up anymore… hehe

#13

Well, i still think that you won’t get around showing some glass fragments if choosing this version :wink: The last picture does hardly illustrate the word “breakthrough”, looking more like a dummy falling into a mirror on the floor. So imo the dummy needs to get through the glass panel somehow.

Hope you don’t mind my 2 cents…

PS: and i agree with South-paw about the pose of the leg. Turning in the left leg a bit would make the shin more visible, getting there less foreshortening.

#14

hmmm… thats very true, it doesn’t really “breakthrough” anything…
And I like shards! hehe :wink:

Also, it does look like it could just be a mirror…
One thing that is a dead give away that something is a reflection in glass and not a mirror is that the reflection is lost in areas of shadow. It would help make sure its known that it is a piece of glass and not a mirror if there were shadows on the glass where you could see through it and not see the reflections anymore.

#15

Good idea! Or maybe some shards below the glass, showing it’s transparent…

#16

Hey guys thanks for the feedback, hmm ok, points taken :slight_smile: i’ll have a look at those points, i can def see what you mean.

i guess my reasoning for it being the moment just before impact, or the millie-second of impact is that this way it’s not so literal. Saying that i will still take on board your comments which i do very much appreciate :smiley:

I’ve made a bunch of the initial changes, and am now going to leave it to render and check back soon!

#17

I rather liked the black-and-white shot the first time that I saw it, and I frankly think that you shouldn’t stray away from it. If you do render anything below the glass, it too should be a black-and-gray shot.

An album cover needs to make its impact (so to speak…) instantly, with no thought required to “understand” it. Hence, the simplest of graphic elements … a prism, for example. (And if you’re old enough, I don’t have to say “which prism” because there is only one.)

I fairly-instantly understand the black-and-white man in a falling pose, an inch from a surface and looking down at it … “one second before face-smash.” Whether it was a happy accident or not, I’d push the STOP button right there.

#18

Hey guys, been busy so haven’t had time to work on this but am back with some changes, just trying to decide on the pose of the dummy, the first render is low quality and the second a rough photoshop comp.

might still do the abstract version but want to focus on this one first…

#19

hi miloman
here a nice pose for you (from a heavily photoshopped editorial)

http://www.funatiq.com/images/asian-girls-in-swim-suits-playing-soccer-in-mud.jpg

edit: (troubles with with image links) copy link to clipboard and paste it into the address bar of a new window

#20

Hey guys, here’s the the most recent render, i’m thinking that this is pretty much done and am ready to move on back to my legcar project - the band are happy with it so i guess all good, let us know what you think!