Closed WIPs

[ctaulbee]

This is one of those covers I've wanted to do for quite a while now but just didn't have a clue where I might want to start, I would look at the art and... nothing.

Today that has changed, this poster has this really cool line running across it but it's turned all wrong.

So a little working with it turning it all around then some adjustments and a we have a start.

Here's the factory version:

(H)

[RRJR84]

looking forward to an update,

[kylumi]

I like the factory version best...        

[ctaulbee]

 Thanks buddy     it's a good thing I work without a net  

Moving on---titles are on went with the other title, I like it a little better in that space, don't want it up top, so this one works better down there.

This will fit on the back upper part then a pic strip at some angle yet TBD and then a bg pic at the bottom, but let me get this one on first and see what's left...

[ericwh]

great start mate.

[jamshedt]

Looking good CT !! like the title...waiting for the update !!

[ctaulbee]

Ok got the dude hanging now, was not to bad really he kind of fit right in, started to work on the far edge and I'm like duh the image strip goes through there...

So with the image strip added it didn't need much touch up on that edge at all, imagine that.

Now this will fit down below just to avoid a white area really, could use a texture and/or a gradient but since the top bg has no image, I'm thinking will be better with some imagery down there, shouldn't be too tough, it's going to mostly be traced to highlight it then desaturated--a lot and blended in anyway so it won't be very dark, after all text has to go on there two...

So onward  

[kylumi]

This going great guns, CT m8

[ctaulbee]

This going great guns, CT m8

That sounds like a pun intended  

[ctaulbee]

Think this may be a bit dark yet, but that's how it goes when the text goes on, it will get some more adjusting.

Test fit here see how it's going, I know the gun barrel was put there on purpose, It will look cool on the spine and be easily recognized for what it is, these three piece previews, while they make things easier to see, they mess with how the cover will really look in your hand in a case as it won't be in three pieces like this.

Truth is it will look more like this and have a "3D look" because it comes over on to the bend

[wessim]

Maybe increase the blacklevels a bit from him on the back so it matches his trousers some more of the front pic.

so far so good

[ctaulbee]

Thanks Wes, he was a few shades light there, should be better now, fixed a few dark spots on the front and faded the bottom back image some, it had to happen was just a bit too dark.

Picked some stills for the pic strip, as stills go these aren't too bad should match up pretty good except for the backgrounds, oh well can't have everything I guess.

Moving on...

[bankska22]

As always, looking good.

[ctaulbee]

Thanks banks, stills added I think they worked out pretty good.

Moving on to the credits/logos/legal.

[wessim]

agreed, nicely blend. shaping up realy nice

[RRJR84]

i really like how your showing the resources you used for this cover, that's really cool and cover is shaping up nicely

[ctaulbee]

Thanks Guys, just a little update with the legal stuff...

Working on the synopsis and tagline now, that's a little more challenging to fit it into the space...

(H)

Edit

RR we posted at the same time lol, yeah I think it helps for others to see what the original art looked like, then they can see the changes made to it when it's added to the cover.

[kylumi]

Another masterpiece on its way methinks...  

[ctaulbee]

Thanks Ky your far too kind my friend.

Update synopsis and tag added, pretty happy with this layout here.

Going to extract the gun element from this and use it in a few places, not orange though.

So final things:

1. Special Features.
2. Critic quote on the front.
3. Add large scope site overlay to the front.
4. Add the little gun extract to the spine and the back.
5. Few final tweaks here and there, things you probably can't see in the previews, but they need fixing just the same...

So more coffee then, get it done...

[ctaulbee]

Well the critic's quote is not working for me.

I'm always iffy on them anyway so it will not have one, I tried several fonts, layouts and such it unbalances the front then if I put anything on the other side it just looks too busy, so that's out...


Moving on to other things.

[wessim]

Excellent stuff. Agreed forget the quote

[ericwh]

Excellent walk through mate , what would the spine title look like
with THE being small like on the front.

[ctaulbee]

Well I tried it like the front one first, it ends up about half the size it is now and nigh impossible to read, so that's the reason it's different, not practical to put the "THE" in the "M" like the front can't tell what it even is, it's just too little, so that is how I arrived at what you see now.

While I could make the font smaller but there is no reason IMO to do that with a short two word title, what I mean is it's short anyway, I usually only do that with long titles ie make all the short non-major words smaller.

So since I can't make it match the front, I just made it match itself lol.

[ctaulbee]

Think this is it, after mucking about with the damn quote wasted an hour or more of my time... lol.

Full Sized Gallery Download:  Link to the cover


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[nichart]

It looks great ct! It really is cool watching how you put these together.