CD-20
Instructions: Please read all of the following information carefully:
Create a new folder on your “My Documents on daisy” student folder, call it “lastname_CD.” All of the work for this CD will be saved into this folder and the folder will be submitted for grading. Download the file called "CD_Cover_Template.PSD" and save it into your Lastname_CD folder. Open this file in Photoshop.
This CD is a “mini project” which will allow you to demonstrate
all of the skills that you have learned over the year. It is primarily a “Graphic
Design Process” exercise, but please make sure to incorporate as much
of your learning as you can into the project:
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Filters • Blending Options • Fills
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Layer Blends • Attach Text to Path • Cutting Objects from Backgrounds
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Shapes • Strokes • Image Adjustments
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Patterns • Gradients • Transformations
In addition, I would like to see evidence of the various Visual Communications exercises which we did this year, as well as some of the “History of Graphic Design” problems completed this semester.
THE PROJECT:
You are a graphic designer and you have been given the opportunity to create the CD graphics for a new album. Before you get started, you should review the following information regarding your album:
| Genre: | Rock |
| Artist: | blessthefall |
| Album Title: | "Witness" |
| Short Review: | Sound: A lot has happened in the past two years for Arizona quintet blessthefall. With lead singer Craig Mabbitt going to Escape The Fate, switching to Fearless Records and CDly acquiring ex-Take The Crown vocalist Beau Bokan. With their new complete lineup, blessthefall set out to create their sophomore album, entitled "Witness". Featuring new producer Michael "Elvis" Baskerette, the new album is amazingly produced, with crushing guitars and pouding drums behind Bokan's swooning vocals. Never before have blessthefall been so on the top of their game, proving over the 12 tracks that they are some of the best musicians in the post-hardcore scene. Opening the album is the introductory track "2.0", a simple, one minute breakdown with the whole band shouting "We're not dead, we're not like you said", a testament to the fact that blessthefall are back, and better than ever. Anyone who has followed the band on myspace will have heard the next three heavy hitting tracks: "What's Left of Me", "To Hell and Back" and "God Wears Gucci". Three stellar tracks, each with their moments, as Beau Bokan shines through in between bassist Jared Warth's screaming. "God Wears Gucci" particularly features some frantic tapping and heavy riffs before the epic chorus, with swooning melodies by Bokan. Next up is the softest song on the album: "Hey Baby, Here's That Song You Wanted". Featuring some amazing guitar work by Mike Frisby and Eric Lambert, it features some of blessthefall's best performances on the album. This is soon followed by what is easily blessthefall's heaviest song to date, "Witness". The second half of the album may not be as exciting as the first, but still makes for a good listen, with highlights such as "We'll Sleep When We're Dead", "You Deserve Nothing and I Hope You Get Less" and the closing track, "Stay Still". // 9 Lyrics and Singing: Beau Bokan takes over lead vocal duties on "Witness" and his voice fits with the band perfectly. In some places, first time listeners will have trouble setting him apart from his predecessor. Beau Bokan's swooning vocals sound enough like Craig's for it not to be a complete shock to blessthefall fans, though Beau's vocals sound much more mature. Bassist Jared Wrath's screaming has matured immensely over the last two years, and producer Mike Baskerette's production lets their tag team vocals shine on each of the twelve tracks. As for the lyrics themselves, there isn't any change since "This Last Walk" back in 2007. After the band's one-line assault of "We're not dead, we're not like you said" in "2.0", some of the bes lyrics on the album come from "What's Left of Me", with Beau Bokan almost begging while he sings "Blood is dripping from my hands?Tell me, Is this what you wanted??". Although everyone will have certain lyrics that touch them personally (and hey, to me, that's what makes great lyrics), standout tracks include "God Wears Gucci", a song about using religion to gain money, the title track, and the closing track "Stay Still". // 9 Impression: While some may have doubted what would happen to blessthefall after the departure of Craig Mabbitt, "Witness" lays all worrying hearts to rest. It proves that the band can take just about anything life throws at them and rise above it. Sure not to disappoint, "Witness" shows blessthefall 2.0 are here, and they're here to stay. // 9 |
| Sound clips from your album: | -Clip #1: To Hell and Back -Clip #2: We'll Sleep When We're Dead |
| Song Listing: | 1. 2.0 |
| Production Company: | ©2009, Fearless Records, Inc. |
NOTE: I HIGHLY recommend that you do not look up the actual graphics of this album, or if you are familiar with the album, put the graphics out of your mind, as preconceived notions will make this assignment MORE difficult, not easier.
To start, download this template file for your CD graphics and save it in to your “lastname_CD” folder. You will be creating your CD cover on this Photoshop file.
You will be creating the following for your CD graphics:
1. A nice typographic representation of the Group or Artist’s name, as
well as a typographic representation of the title of the Album (these SHOULD
NOT look the same!) Create these two graphics on separate files and copy them
into your CD project when needed. Please save these two files as .JPGs into
your “lastname_CD” folder.
2. Graphics for the front cover of the CD (and possibly continuing onto the
back cover, as well) which fit the mood and theme of the Album. This is where
much of your Graphic talent with Photoshop will come in. Use your blending,
cutout and filter skills here! Feel free to get images from the Internet, as
needed, to bring about your graphic. Remember, the Template is the outside
border of your CD, do not go over it!
3. Text for the spine of the CD which includes the Group or Artist’s
Name and the title of the CD.
4. Graphics for the back of the CD which follow a similar theme to the CD.
On the back of the album, you will include the Song Listing.
5. Include the production company information on the back of the CD as well.
6. Place your Artist and CD Title graphics onto the cover of your CD as you
see fit to enhance the look of the work.
When you have completed your design, please save the work as a .JPG file and
place it into your “lastname_CD” folder. Using “My Computer,” COPY
your “lastname_CD” folder to the class drop box on the M: Drive.
(If necessary, see highlandtechnology.org FAQ page regarding this step)