Creation of the DVD disk.

   The second part of the assignment is to create an image to go on the DVD disk. I have decided to start this progress by creating a logo. I started by creating a new layer as I have my guides on a layer of their own already. I then began to create my company log using the Pen tool. I created 3 separate shapes using the pen tool. I next filled these shapes with a purple colour and gave the shapes a 10pt stroke weight in blue. I arranged the shapes in a pattern that I am using for my logo. It took me a while to find a logo I am happy with and many attempts using the pen tool to create the effect I had envisaged. I used a uniform variable width profile and a basic brush definition. Next I used the Type tool to add text to the company logo. I decided to use JD Studios as the company name and have therefore added a 'J' to one of the shapes, a 'D' to the second shape and finally the word 'Studios' to the final shape that is at the bottom. I have used a blue colour for the text as it goes nicely with the purple fill of the logo. I used a bold Ariel font for the text. 

   I proceeded to change the background colour of the DVD next. I thought it would look consistent if I used the same modified texture that I used for my DVD Inlay. I have therefore opened in Illustrator the RedSilkOilMod.psd texture that I created when making the background for the DVD inlay. I decided the easiest way to apply the texture to my circular disk would be to use the guides that I have for the DVD outline as a template for a clipping mask. I used the elipse tool to trace around my guide to create a path for the clipping mask. I then clicked the Make/Release clipping mask button on the layers panel. I created the clipping mask of the texture on a new layer. 

   The next thing I included was a small addition - the hole in the middle of the disk. I used the Elipse tool to create a circle with a white fill in the centre ring of the disk (using the guides I created as a template). I did this on a separate layer. 

   I then added the title to the disk. I had already used a clipping mask to create the title text for the DVD Inlay in PhotoShop which I saved as a separate .psd document. I opened this in Illustrator and placed it on the top section of the disk in a separate layer.

   On the DVD disks that I have looked at, they mostly have the ratings certificates on them somewhere, I have decided to include them on my disk. The position of these images seems to vary quite a lot so I have concluded that there is no standard placement for these logos and have placed them both in separate layers near the company Logo. I inserted the .png files in to my project using menus File > place. I used the selection tool to adjust the size of the the images. 

    Next I added to the disk the Dolby Digital Logo, I have this already from the DVD Inlay. I added the .gif file using menu options: File > Place. I had to scale down the image to be an appropriate size and then placed it next to the company logo and ratings certificates. I have decided that all the logos that need to be on the disk should go together on the left hand side of the disk. I have chosen this because I think that it looks better. I may decide to adjust this placement at a later stage. 

   I moved on by adding the DVD logo, I noticed that this appears on a lot of the designs that I have looked at. As I already have the image from the DVD inlay creation, I have added it to my project using File > Place menu options.To keep in line with my design idea, I have placed this logo next to the company logo and the Dolby Digital Logo.

   The next thing I have added to the disk is the warning that you often seen on DVD's :  "Warning: All rights reserved for home use only. Unauthorised public performance, Broadcasting or copying is a violation of the applicable laws". I opted to wrap the text around the edge of the disk. I achieved this by first creating a path on a new layer using the Elipse tool. I changed the fill to none and started at the centre point of the template. Whilst holding down alt and shift to keep the path circular and not an elipse, I created a path to wrap the text around near the edge of the template. Next I used the Type on a Path tool to add in the warning. I used a 6pt regular 'Times New Roman' font in white. In the Type > Type on a path menu option, I selected Rainbow. When I started typing on the path, it became a transparent path. 

   Following Peer review, as I expected the main criticism was that I had not yet placed an image on the disk. I decided to do this next. I have used the following image: 

PalZoo Celebrity Database, Bruce Willis stars in The Fifth Element 1997, [online] Available at: <http://www.palzoo.net/user/gallery/view/id_8030/name_The-Fifth-Element/title_bruce-willis-stars-in-the-fifth-element-1997/> [Accessed 13 March 2014]


   I opened this image in photoshop and used the quick selection tool to select the image of Bruce Willis. I then created a new layer of the selection using menus Layer > New Layer via cut. Once I had the image of him alone, I then used the Eraser tool size 47px to remove some of the lower half of the selection so it is smaller and I think it will look good on the disk as the picture is at an angle. I then used the menus File > Place to add this image into the project file on a new layer in illustrator. 

   I opted to add in some hearts to really sell the Rom Com theme (this will also hide the fact that some of his elbows are missing). I created half a heart using a 1px brush tool in pink outline, clear fill. I then selected the half heart and copied it. I reflected the copied half and placed it so that the paths overlapped and then used menus Object > Group to merge the two shapes. I then selected a white fill and used the Gradient tool to shade from white to grey. I copied this shape and made 3 replicas that I placed around the disk. I next used the transparency panel to change the opacity of the hearts. I set one to 90%, the next to 80%, then 70% and finally the last to 60%. I like the effect that the different transparencies give. I experimented by creating smaller hearts and arranging them into a knockout group but I think it just makes the disk look cluttered so I removed the knockout group layer from my project.