97 Comments
CD Cover Design
July 31, 2008In this tutorial we learn some original Photoshop techniques through the creation of a CD cover. Some useful methods of enhancing workflow and efficiency are shown like using smart objects. The image we are creating will be in the style of some of the Ministry of Sound CD’s. We will explore a creative use of the displace filter in order to distort some of the image.
Tutorial Files
If you are a PSD PRO member then download the PSD file and much more by going here.
Introduction
The image that we will create will be in the style of some of the Ministry of Sound CD’s, we will try and mimic one particular image by Jeremy Somers which can be found here.
Step 1
Start by creating a new document with dimensions; 912×912px, feel free to use a different size but you may need to use different settings later on in the tutorial if you do. Fill the background black by hitting D to set default colors then hitting Alt+Backspace to fill the layer with the foreground color. Now for the text shown below we are going to create each word in a different layer as this will give use more flexibility. Hit T to select the text tool the click where you want the first word to begin and type it in capital letters in white. Highlight the text then go Window>Character to bring up the character editor. Here you can mess around with your text to get it looking similar to the image below. For the font I used Helvetica but other sans serif fonts like Arial will work also, make sure you decrease the character spacing and also alter the size to suit. DO the same with the other two words and arrange them like so.
Step 2
Select all the text layers in the layers panel then right click and select convert to smart object, if you’ve never used smart objects before then now is a good time to read up on them. By converting this to a smart object we can work on it as if it a single layer but have the layers within it still fully editable by double clicking on the smart object’s thumbnail. With the smart object selected, click on the layer mask button in the layers panel. We are going to hide parts of this text using splatter brushes, if you don’t have any splatter brushes then you can download loads for free here. Select the layer mask and with black as the foreground color and a splatter brush selected click on the image. Use splatters of different sizes and opacity until you have something that looks like the image below.
Step 3
Create a new layer then convert this also to a smart object. Now go Filter>Render>Clouds then Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur and use a radius of 20px. Now you will notice that since we converted this to a smart object we can now go back and edit the values of the filters we used by double clicking on them. It is a good habit to get into to convert anything to a smart object that you are going to add a filter to. Add a clipping mask between this smart object and the text smart object by holding Alt and clicking between them.
Step 4
Now add a levels adjustment layer and also a hue/saturation adjustment layer and make sure both of these are clipped like the clouds layer.
Step 5
Create a new layer and set the foreground color to white. Select the line tool then using weights between 1px and 4px draw lines at 45° by holding shift. Make sure that you have something that resembles the image below. Hide all the other layers except this one and the background now go File>Save As and save the file as something like dmap.psd. You can now unhide all the other layers then delete the one with the lines in it.
Step 6
Select the text smart object then go Filter>Distort>Displace, use the default settings then hit OK and choose the file you saved in the last step (dmap.psd).
Step 7
Select the brush tool then hit F5 to open the brush editor, now mimic the settings shown below.
Step 8
Create a new layer then use the eyedropper tool on part of the text to get a color. Use this color and the brush you made in the last step to draw bubbles coming from the text like so. Do this a few times around the letters then change the opacity of this layer to 50%.
Step 9
Below I’ve shown what mine looked like at this point, you’ll notice that I’ve added a few extra details like the floral designs, feel free to use any brushes you already have to add details like these.
Step 10
Create a new layer then using the line tool draw some thick lines at 45° in different shades of gray like in the image below. You’ll notice that I hid all the other layers just to make it easier to see. Now would also be a good time to organize your layers into groups.
Step 11
Grab the smudge tool and use a large soft brush to smudge some of these lines, use the image below as a reference.
Step 12
First convert this to a smart object then in the same way as we did with the text in step 2, add a mask to this layer then use some splatter brushes to hide parts of the line.
Step 13
Add a displace filter to this layer using the settings shown below and the same map as before.
Step 14
Create a new layer above this layer then using the brush tool with a soft brush, brush some bright colors onto the layer like in the image below.
Step 15
Create a clipping mask between the color layer and the smart object with the lines in it. Put these two layers within a group then move the group to directly above the background layer if it isn’t already there, lastly unhide all the other layers.
Step 16
Using the same brush as we did in step 8, draw some more bubbles in a new layer, make these ones slightly larger than before.
Step 17
Double click on this layer to bring up the layer style panel then add an inner bevel using the settings shown below.
Step 18
We are going to use the same technique as in step 14 and 15 to color these bubbles so first create a new layer then brush on some bright colors.
Step 19
Next just create a clipping mask between the color layer and the bubbles layer.
Step 20
I thought it would be a good idea to show how smart objects can be used effectively to increase the efficiency of your workflow and also leave layers fully editable. First find the smart object which contains the text then double click on the thumnail next to it. A new document should open with a transparent background and the white text on it. Since the text is quite hard to see create a new layer, move it to the bottom of the layer stack then fill it black.
Step 21
Create a new layer at the top of the layer stack then using the ellipse tool, draw a white ellipse over the letter O like shown below. Here you can also add some more text in like I did. Feel free to add some more elements in at this point.
Step 22
Now hit Ctrl+S to save the document, you have to do this or the changes will be disregarded, then hit Ctrl+W to close the document. When you back to the other document you will notice that the changes you made have updated this image.
Step 23
The last thing I did was to put in a logo in the top left and I was finished. Below I’ve shown what my layer stack looked like.
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July 31st, 2008
Lennart:
Nice! Keep it up.
July 31st, 2008
Matt Strange:
Fantastic effects.. be sure to see this tutorial on other sites as a feature favourite. Good Work!
July 31st, 2008
Ross:
Thanks guys, I was pretty happy with the way this one came out and hopefully the techniques are fairly easy to follow. And yeah, displace filter rules!
August 9th, 2008
cgurnea:
For some reason this isn’t working for me. I obviously messed up somewhere. Too bad because I really liked this tutorial.
August 17th, 2008
TwoFace.:
cool cool!
August 23rd, 2008
lalababe:
can you please submit a video of this tutorial because am not getting it.
August 25th, 2008
Crimson Insanity:
I got a question, when Im making the tutorial, on the step of painting with black the letters to make it get a grundge effect I use the layer mask, but the effects dont appear, what am I doing wrong?
August 25th, 2008
Crimson Insanity:
Forget about it, I found out ._., forgot to change color >.< XD NAAB ERROR
August 31st, 2008
Gadgetboi:
I’m trying to do this tutorial, and im only up to the Filter > Render > Clouds bit. It says about putting it into a smart object, but when i do this, i can’t do the clouds without rasterizing, and if i put it on a layer mask then it just doesn’t show up!
This probably sounds really n00bish, but can you please help?
August 31st, 2008
Ross:
Gadgetboi,
It probably depends on what version of Photoshop you’re using as smart object are a fairly new addition. In CS3 you can add a filter to a smart object and it will be added as a smart filter which is then editable however it will work just as well even if you don’t make it a smart object; just means you can’t edit the filter’s values. Give it a try without converting it and see what happens.
September 4th, 2008
Panther:
Nice work, Ross. Love the choice in colors.
September 18th, 2008
FACALDO:
excelent
September 19th, 2008
ruleking:
Cool ty!
September 21st, 2008
Matthew Heidenreich:
great outcome! Nice work!
September 21st, 2008
watajoy:
awesome!
September 24th, 2008
TC:
Made http://angellover89.deviantart.com/art/New-ID-98833207 with it :)
September 26th, 2008
Inventief:
Hello,
How do I become a PSD PRO member so I will be able to download the PSD file?
September 29th, 2008
ketbeophi:
Very nice!!! I like it…
exellent! fav!
October 1st, 2008
printers brisbane:
I just tried this tutorial out. Very nice thanks for your work !!!
October 7th, 2008
ekramy:
wow >> perfect design thanks
October 14th, 2008
glebson:
Congratulations, very cool tutorial
October 21st, 2008
Carenc Webdesign:
Schön erklärt und super Cover-Wahl;) Ein hoch auf Ministry of Sound
October 23rd, 2008
Joel Harrison:
Looks Great!
Check out my work at
http://www.albumartdesign.com
Thanks,
Joel;
December 15th, 2008
Gunawan Tjio:
Nice color
December 31st, 2008
ejenks:
looks really interesting, nice job
January 1st, 2009
mostafa:
amazing tutorials.thanx
January 3rd, 2009
jokole:
pantek…!!
February 1st, 2009
angeeLaaa:
oieee enseñamela qomo le ponqoo
de lettra xfaa
lo qiero de letra para poneer
de mii mii fothos
o zii qiiere the mandoO
mii metro eez http://www.metroflog.com/angelabonita
February 3rd, 2009
Shone:
Shone
February 6th, 2009
Andrew:
I’m confused at step 4… When I create new layers and clip them, they won’t allow me to adjust levels or hue/saturation. The message that pops up is “Could not complete the Levels command because the selected area is empty.
Help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Andrew
February 6th, 2009
Andrew:
Nevermind, figured it out. Sorry about that…
February 9th, 2009
amber:
This tutorial rocks! What an awsome result!!! I was well happy : )
February 28th, 2009
Robert:
First find the smart object which contains the text then double click on the thumnail next to it.
everytime I try to do this step PS crashes.. I have PS3. does anyone know what’s wrong?
March 13th, 2009
ritu goswami:
nice tutorial..
March 16th, 2009
avi:
simpaly too good
March 23rd, 2009
Monroe:
Excelent …really good…………………….
March 31st, 2009
Jeff:
I’m not really getting step 3. The clouds cover everything (CS4).
April 27th, 2009
hardass:
this is extremely gay
April 27th, 2009
Joakim:
Thanks!
Easy to follow, and gives stunning results after a while of playing around!
May 1st, 2009
5eal4Design:
nic
iliket
May 7th, 2009
Lasse:
I have some problem with step 5. It doesnt work, Im trying to use the line tool with the options: paths,line tool,4px and exclude overlapping path areas. Is that right?
June 13th, 2009
NSaint:
Pretty nice
June 15th, 2009
quasi87:
having an issue with step 5. i hide the rest of the layers, save and open. but if i delete the lines layer, how can i distort in step 6?
if anyone knows, please hit me up @ mmistry87@hotmail.com
cheers, but this tut is dope.
-quasi
June 18th, 2009
e11world:
Very Nice tut. I think some of these tips will come in handy in my next project.
June 27th, 2009
Nadia:
Love it!
I wish I had photoshop:)
July 14th, 2009
viNay:
awesome it roxX…keep it up…..;)
August 1st, 2009
JACK:
Finally! A simple, but amazing tute!!!
December 31st, 2009
B Kouba:
Check out this set of PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS. Basically you can just create your art for covers in Photoshop, then run an action to turn your art into a 3D CD or BOOK etc etc.
http://www.coveractionpro.com/232.html
I bought it a month ago and it’s been totally worth the money.
January 7th, 2010
Edit Digital Photos Easy:
man this looks like it could take some time nice tut I make mixtape covers but i do it diffrent this looks a bit simpler.
January 12th, 2010
Nilesh Bhau:
very cool
January 13th, 2010
Simon:
Great tutorial but i think what would be useful is showing how this design would now be prepared for print.
January 14th, 2010
Emilyy:
I’m confused. what program is this and what version???