HD-DVD/Blu-Ray Custom Cover Effort
 

Thanks to Josh Z sending over a case for me to base dimensions off of (albeit a Blu-Ray copy of Rumor Has It... :( -wink- ), I was able to give next-gen custom covers a try. I recently finished an SD-DVD design for Silent Hill, so I figured I'd go with that for the flagship cover.

Unfortunately, my printer currently performs on paper the way a baby performs on a diaper, so I'm hoping one or two of you can help me see how close I've gotten in this effort. I dropped some of the stylistic elements of Sony's template that I didn't like but tried to basically stay within the lines. Once I (hopefully) receive confirmation that the spine matches up "well enough" to official ones, the front/back/spine width/height measurements are all okay, etc, I'll put this out as the official Sony Blu-Ray custom cover template and work on some HD-DVD customs (which I'm sure will be more popular).

If anyone out there could even print this out and take a picture of it next to some official covers, that would be extremely helpful. :)

http://bunnydojo.com/MJ/Front%20Sile...%20Blu-Ray.gif http://bunnydojo.com/MJ/Full%20Silen...%20Blu-Ray.gif
Full-Size Download: http://bunnydojo.com/MJ/Silent%20Hill%20Blu-Ray.jpg

(Dropped are the front banner, back generic template with Blu-Ray praise, and most of the strange spine template. Missing are the technical specs. [I haven't gotten used to the size constraints and something had to go] Still present are the bottom legal setup, the bar code, the bottom half of the spine, etc. from the retail design).

Also notable is it doesn't seem you need any tricks or special paper to print covers at this new case size! :)

It looks pretty good in the download, certainly better than the official cover. I'll try to print if off sometime this week and see how it holds up.

I do wish you could find some space on the back for the tech specs. I think that's probably more important to have on an HD disc than on normal DVD.

I'm not a big fan of plastering critics' quotes on a cover... unless they're my own, of course. :)

I actually spent a very long time in that corner trying to work in the specs, but with only two lines of text that shouldn't technically be highlighted that much I had some trouble coming up with something that looked good. Thus, plastering of quotes. :( On my next cover (and a re-visit to this one in the future, I'm sure), I'll be sure to learn the specs. lesson. :)

What I would like to see is custom covers that preserve a poster shape by having borders on the sides of the front art. It would be kind of like the Superbit DVDs but with more border area on the sides than on the top and bottom. There is a picture somewhere of possible cover art for V for Vendetta (HD-DVD) that does this. A shadow on one side and the bottom of the poster art could be added for a 3D effect.

Aside from not having to reformat a carefully composed (in some cases) shape for the new cases, it would eliminate the "cover creep" that occurs when the cover isn't perfectly aligned in the case.

I wouldn't use the "this disc is copy protected" logo. That isn't needed at all.

Also, regarding critic's quotes, I would only put them on there if they are particularly insightful or witty. The one on this one is ordinary. (Whether you choose a quote from a critic who loved or hated the movie would depend on how you feel about the movie yourself, I suppose. :)) However, it looks like the quote on this cover would be difficult to change since it isn't on a solid background.

Regarding the specs and list of features, it may not be a bad thing to leave them off. Many of these BD titles are missing extras that were on the standard DVD anyway, so why not make a cover that can be used for the re-release as well?

I could see including the sound mixes, but that is another thing that could change if these titles are released again.

That's why you keep the original .psd file with editable text layers. ;)

Any good sites with other hd-dvd or bd custom covers?

RTC (formerly the Den) is now accepting and (slowly) adding custom covers for HD-DVD's, with covers for Blu-Ray to be added as soon as some are submitted.

Awesome...im a member and have some credits....are you gonna make a separate section for hd-dvd/bd?

Im stoked. :)

There will eventually be a separate section for "NextGen Covers" when there is enough covers on site to warrant a separate section.

What are the dimensions for HD and BD covers?

RTC is using a standard size of 3120 x 1740 spine 140 (front/back of 1490)

Just out of curiosity, what does RTC stand for? By "The Den", do you mean "The Traders' Den"?

The Den = Dagon's Den (Custom cover site online since January 2004)
RTC = Replace the Case (the recently renamed Den)

Are you going to have different sizes for the newer hd-dvd covers or will these fit them also?

Nice work bunnydojo!

I host a whole bunch of HD DVD and BD cover art on my site. I'de love to put your Silent Hill cover up as well.

If you don't mind please PM me (since I just joined up here and I am not allowed to send PMs I guess).

-Evangelo2

9covers.com has a whole section for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD covers including the templates for most of the major studios.

Here's a couple examples:

http://www.9covers.com/forums/attach...1&d=1176572673
http://www.9covers.com/forums/attach...1&d=1172218191
http://www.9covers.com/forums/attach...1&d=1174626063
http://www.9covers.com/forums/attach...1&d=1171751654

Anyone have a cover for The Fugitive? (Blu-Ray)

So is there actually a place to get colored cases yet? or are these just prototypes?

I cannot wait to get black ones for hd-dvds.

These are just previews made with Imandix which is software made specifically for making previews of DVD, Blu-ray, HD-DVD, Play Station 3 and a variety of other covers.....

You can make the color of the case anything you want.....

http://www.9covers.com/files/dvdtalkultrapreview.jpg

Yeah, thats what I thought, but was hoping someone uncovered a place for various color cases.....Maybe some day soon!

Anyone have a cover for 'The Graduate'? I imported mine from France and can't stand that it a. does not say 'The Graduate', but that the text on the spine goes in the opposite way.

Question for those who make customs:

- What is a good paper to use?

- Any luck getting these to print at a Kinkos or Staples?

For me, any brand of standard "Glossy Photo Paper" works well, because it's thinner than the "Deluxe Photo Paper" but still has the glossy print surface that works well with photo printers. Actually, what I'm using right now is STAPLES brochure & flyer paper.

As for having someone else print these out, you'd be better off buying a cheap photo printer. Aside from the strange looks and absolute refusals you might get at places like Kinko's, you'll get nicer printouts, believe it or not. These places are in business to make money, so as long as you can actually get a printout, they won't be investing in the latest technology... at least until they squeeze every dime out of their 10-year-old laser printers. My experience with Kinko's (never had STAPLES print anything out for me) is that you end up with the kind of thing you see in video stores when they've lost the box or don't have enough boxes for the number of copies they have. It basically looks like a color photocopy, especially since most current photocopiers are essentially scanners sitting on top of laser printers anyway.