DVD covers

Discussion regarding the entirety of the franchise in a general (meta) sense, including such aspects as: production, trends, merchandise, fan culture, and more.

Moderators: Kanzenshuu Staff, General Help

User avatar
Super Sonic
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 5171
Joined: Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:45 pm

DVD covers

Post by Super Sonic » Sat Apr 03, 2004 1:53 am

Now a lot of times when I read DBZ dvd reviews on the web, I often times read that the reviewer usually complains about the cover art. When I read this I wonder if the reviewer has ever heard of the phrase, "You shouldn't judge a book by its cover". Why are some people mad about the cover? Everyone I know usually buys dvds for what's on the dvd, not the cover. Any thoughts on this anyone?

tablet the eunuch
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:28 am

Post by tablet the eunuch » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:18 am

because coverart for 100+ DVDs is a crpaload more expensive than coverart for 6-12 DVDs, as per normal anime series.

Despite this, I still dont like the DBZ covers. So a few days ago, I began playing with photoshop, and got some nice results. I'll post three here

Perfect Cell - Temptation

Fusion - Evil Buu

I am lazy

These are for Thinpaks, which are pretty popular on the AoD forums (unfortunantly, they arent being sold in Canberra yet, so shame for me :().

What some fans (of any fanbase mind you) is that you can't expect everything to come for you/ Someitme syou just gotta do your own thing, and that doesnt involve "MIKEZSSJ76GOKUJA'S PERTITION TO BAN FUNIMAITON FROM DA PLANET LOLLLOLL"

User avatar
Kodoshin
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:39 pm

Post by Kodoshin » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:24 am

It's just that a good portion of the other releases on the market have some nice custom made covers, stuff that took time and effort to put together. While most of the (post Pioneer) discs for DBZ are merely touched up (if that) screen caps.

The original Dragon Ball has nice cover art for the "style" they are trying to accomplish I think, and I like one or two of the GT covers, though most of them are less than spectacular.

For a series as exposed and well known as Dragon Ball, having great cover art isn't particularly important as it will sell no matter what (everybody knows what to expect), but for a lesser known series a standout cover can draw consumer interest, and that might be the difference between a purchase or the title being passed over.

EDIT: Woah, those custom covers are great stuff.

User avatar
Deus ex Machina
I'm, pretty, cozy, here...
Posts: 1917
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 3:47 am

Post by Deus ex Machina » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:33 am

Those are some pretty good custom covers; I had considered doing the same thing myself because I was disatisfied...but their's like 100 covers, and I'm way too lazy for that. Do you actually use them?

tablet the eunuch
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:28 am

Post by tablet the eunuch » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:37 am

might consider it if I had good paper, a better printer, and clear thinpaks

User avatar
Kodoshin
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:39 pm

Post by Kodoshin » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:43 am

The hype about the Thinpaks is true, I bought 60 of them at my local Wal-Mart recently. Absolute life saver.

I am rather surprised they haven't appeared overseas yet, on the bright side it looks like some production studios are finally starting to convert over to Thinpak releases, Pioneer recently announced a Thinpak boxset for Sailor Moon S I believe.

Hopefully Thinpaks become the standard over the course of the next few years.

tablet the eunuch
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:28 am

Post by tablet the eunuch » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:45 am

Kodoshin: Do you happen to use MSN messenger or any other programs where I could send you files? I have the four Perfect Cell covers done, and I want to see how they look in real life

So assuming you have a digital camera and decent printer and stuff, could you contact me somehow so we can see how they look?

thanks.

User avatar
Kodoshin
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:39 pm

Post by Kodoshin » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:49 am

Sadly, I lack a digital camera :(

My printer isn't exactly the greatest either (6 years old, going on 30) :(

tablet the eunuch
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:28 am

Post by tablet the eunuch » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:53 am

Snap dawg :/

User avatar
Kodoshin
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:39 pm

Post by Kodoshin » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:55 am

Those covers you uploaded, are those of the actual dimensions you plan to use for the Thinpaks? If so I could at the least tell you if they fit properly.

tablet the eunuch
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:28 am

Post by tablet the eunuch » Sat Apr 03, 2004 2:57 am

They're the same dimensions, but I am sure they fit because they all come from a fairly reliable template, form a site which specialises in DVD covers. So I dont have to worry about measurements.

The actual pictures are massive, these are just small to fit onto my shitty free webspace

User avatar
Kodoshin
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:39 pm

Post by Kodoshin » Sat Apr 03, 2004 3:01 am

Ah, ok just wanted to check.

Other than Photoshop, did you have to use any other programs to make those covers? I have a lot of free time, lately at least so I'd like to try my hand at this as well.

I'd just like to try figure out how much it'd cost me beforehand.

tablet the eunuch
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:28 am

Post by tablet the eunuch » Sat Apr 03, 2004 3:07 am

I use photoshop for image editing, and all the pictures are screencaps or manga scans (for the face in the top spine)

The background pictures on the front canvary. The fusion one consists of cells, the cell ones are either sky or flowers.

The front picture (the bolder ones, like Evil Buu and Vegeta) are drawn over in photoshop, and have areas filled in with one colour.

Everything else is filtered and resized.

User avatar
Kodoshin
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:39 pm

Post by Kodoshin » Sat Apr 03, 2004 3:09 am

Thanks for the information Tablet, I better get to bed now since I have to get to work in a little bit, thanks again.

User avatar
M-Vegeta
Beyond Newbie
Posts: 171
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2004 2:56 am
Location: Greeley, Co.

Post by M-Vegeta » Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:49 pm

Did you happen to enter Daizenshuu's cover art contest way back when, tablet the eunuch?

They look pretty good to me.

I'm playing around with some of my Funimation disc by adding the commercial break to some of the DVDs that don't have them. I'm kind of having trouble, though ...

NeverRamza
Not-So-Newbie
Posts: 98
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 6:25 am

Post by NeverRamza » Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:10 pm

The cover art is supposed to represent the awesomeness that's packed inside :)

Some people just appreciate a well put together package. Nice covers are part of what seperates getting a legit DVD and finding a bootleg copy somewhere. It's not the major issue that determines whether or not I buy a DVD, but it's still kind of annoying when it's so bad.

User avatar
PsyLiam
I Live Here
Posts: 2064
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2004 11:13 pm
Location: Liverpool, UK
Contact:

Post by PsyLiam » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:30 pm

So, er, what's a Thinpak then?

User avatar
Dai
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 356
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 12:44 pm
Location: Here.

Post by Dai » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:51 pm

I'd recon it's a pak that's... thin...

I have no clue.

Maybe it's a non European thingie.

User avatar
Jerseymilk
Born 'n Bred Here
Posts: 5477
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2004 2:01 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by Jerseymilk » Wed Apr 07, 2004 5:51 pm

I was just going to ask the same thing. :?
Jerseymilk: "Can I tell you something?"
B-kun: "What?"
Jerseymilk: "I see Fangirls."

User avatar
Kodoshin
Beyond-the-Beyond Newbie
Posts: 435
Joined: Wed Feb 04, 2004 11:39 pm

Post by Kodoshin » Wed Apr 07, 2004 10:09 pm

Thinpaks are clear plastic DVD cases that takeup half the space of a normal DVD case, I.E. so on a 150 DVD shelf you can now fit 300 DVD's using Thinpaks.

Post Reply