Final Digipak

Improvements

After receiving feedback from different people about my both Ancillary Tasks I felt some improvement needed to be done. 

Firstly the Magazine Advert didn't have a lot of conventional information. For example didn't include a website address. This I agreed on and added both an website address for the artist and then a QR code which audiences could scan to get exclusive information. I also changed the colour of the QR code and artist record lable to white to allow a similar theme to run across all my products. 

My Digipak didn't receive much criticism but the spine needed redoing. This was a quick process as I reused the forest shot which features on the front and back of my digipak. This helps create a link between all of Birdy's products.

Digipak Draft

Digipak Steps

After deciding on my Digipak options I took the improvements given to me from other people and put them into action. I made a prezi to show the steps I took to create my Digipak and embedded it below:
  

Digipak Options

I asked a few people in my media class about the two options I completed. Using a tally I found all
the 6 people I asked preferred the first picture because it was more pleasing to the eye. I was given some improvements for both Digipaks but  I'm going to focus and add to the first picture as it more natural.


Improvements included:
- Use my own picture
- Add more fire to represent 'fire within' (in eyes)
- Outline the Names so they stand out some more

Font

For both my Digipak and Magazine Advert I will be needing to add some text in to show various information on the artist and the album itself. As I will be creating it on Pixelmator I had a look at the different fonts available. They are the same normal ones featured on Microsoft. If I was to use one from here it would be between Bradley Hand, Lucida Handwriting, Herculanum and Monotype corrida. All these are flowy and help portray a feminine artist cover which will attract the initial target audience. My favourite from all of the above is the Herculanum font as it's very unusual and different which will help attract a different style of target audience. I written my artists name and album cover and pasted it below so you can see the effect it gives off.


I looked online and found a website that allows you to search for text. I came across 'Because I am Happy font' which was flowy and was the right fit for what I wanted. I managed to type the artists name and album name and pasted it below to give you an idea on what it looks like. This can be used for both my Digipak and advert.

Either one of these would be effective on my Digipak and Advert.

Birdy's Digipak

Birdy's Digipak by Georgina Huggett on Scribd

Double Exposure Experiment

Double exposure is a technique in which you combine two(or more) images into one to create an artistic look through combining ideas.

A number of artists have used this technique on their Digipaks.

My Experiment 

Using Pixelmator I had a go at my own double exposure. Although I've reminded myself of using the software I needed some guidance on how to create such an effect. I went on the Pixelmator Tutorials website to seek advice. Below I've added the steps I took and then my final practice image.

By following the steps provided in the tutorial I was able to produce my own double exposure image. Although it took a while to find buttons and move the image it was fairly easy to create. Next time I will be confident in producing  my own double exposure, using my images, without following the tutorials. 

Pixelmater Software

To be able to create my Digipak and magazine article I will need to be able to use the software Pixelmator to photoshop my ideas together. Although I used this in year 10 I had to review it to make sure I am confident on how to use it.

I tried to experiment with Pixlemator and posted the jpegs below:

This helped me understand how to crop and cut out various backgrounds. Also I was able to use the effects bar to make it black and white and change the brightness and contrast of Image.

I was again able to cut out the background of each image and transfer them together. I was also trying different effects to match the colours of the people to the background. Although it's not 100% I still have time to develop my skills before I complete my real thing.

Filming Day 1

Filming Day 1 by Georgina Huggett on Scribd

Isla also created a video for the day:

My Digipak Ideas

After opening a Pinterest board and collecting different ideas I've come to an initial conclusion. I like the idea of Double Exposure where two pictures are layered and optimised to create an effect. This will make up the front cover of my Digipak. On the back I will include the initial conventions to allow the audience to become familiar with the style. Using synergy I will try to correlate the images for the Digipak and magazine advert to match the style of music video.

These are the ideas I especially liked for the front of the Digipak.
I like the idea of using a human silhouette of our singer on the front along with a landscape image.

      

              

The back of my Digipak will contain some sort of landscape like the ones below:

Indie-folk Digipaks

I decided to look at some digipaks of bands from our chosen genre (indie-folk) so that we could see what the typical conventions are. My research is below.

Mumford&Sons by Georgina Huggett on Scribd

According to my research the conventions of a digipak for the ‘indie-folk’ genre follow an ‘old-style'. Both digipaks I looked at have a vintage look which adds an element of ‘folk’. The front of both album covers only include one relaxed image and the title of the album. The production company logo and bar code are included and the he colours are dull, they are not bright and eye catching like the colours of a digipak from the ‘pop’ genre would be.

Synergy

A way in which different elements of a media conglomerate work together to promote linked products across different media platforms. For example the music video, poster adverts and Digipak  all having a common theme to link them together. 

Examples: 

• Tom Odell: Long way down.

His Music Video, Digipak cover and advert has used the same imagery, text and colour theme all the way through to create a consistent marketing campaign. This makes it recognizable and conforms to both Tom's brand image and indie pop genre.

• Lana Del Rey: Born to Die.

A consistent campaign has been used to promote Lans album. Her music video for follows the same theme as her Digipak and Magazine album helping promote her brand image. 

Student Digipaks

This Digipack is visually appealing with it following a common theme. It contains all the conventions of a Digipack and informs the audience of the genre. The font is very fitting and the white stands out.  My only criticism is the album art on the back and front is very much repetitive. It could have contained a different angle for the camera.

I particularly like the images on this Digipack as they are very original and have been edited to cause an effect for the audience. This engages the audience and makes them become curious which is vital when selling a product. The colour themes match up perfectly and it follows the same theme throughout. 

My criticism for this Digipack is the spine, a simple word is not going to sell! It must contain information which will draw the audience in making them want to pick it up and buy it!

I like the way this one has 6 parts. It allows the audience to gather more information about the artist and get the most of what they buy. However more information could have been added as the close up of the tree is very repetitive. My favourite part it the transfer for of the face and tree, this is the theme i would like to follow in when creating my Digipack.

Collecting Digipack Ideas

I've created a Pinterest board of ideas for my own Digipack. It also includes passed indie/folk covers which inspired me into the themes I've chosen. I have linked it here.

Conventions of Digipacks