This is a tutorial explaining how we made our album cover, replicating the exact same process on our record company label. We will give you a step-to-step guide in how to re-create this funky image. Feel free to use a different image and different setting than we are showing. This tutorial was made using Photoshop on a Macintosh PC and recorded with Quicktime Player.
Step 1: Choose Your Image
Firstly, you need to choose an image to work with. We have chosen a panda because Conall felt the need to incorporate it, and something unusual is typically called 'indie', so it fits. In addition, it raises awareness in light of recent panda extinction awareness press. For the album cover, we chose two photographs that I took.
Step 2: Crop The Image
We naturally need to remove the 'comical' captioning of the image, simply leaving the image of a scared panda.
Simply select the cropping tool to the left side of the page and drag the sides of the box, so all of what you want to keep is highlighted, and the remainder is blacked out.
You should end up with something looking like this:
Step 3: Using Gradient Map
Next, click on the Fill or Adjustment Layer Button. Select Gradient Map from the drop-down list.
A wide palette of colours will appear, including a slider with all colours and a selection of gradients. To achieve the effect we need, select the Violet, Green and Orange option.
Step 4: Adding Text
Finally, click on the text button, "T", on the toolbar the left hand side of the screen. Choose what kind of text you want, the font, colour and where you would like it located. We went for a retro-disco like font in startling pink to contrast to the other bright colours we used. Here is the final result. We hope this tutorial was useful!
Firstly, I looked at poses and drew some rough sketches illustrating the variety. Purple are Mallory Knox, red are The Blackout, green are the Coronas and blue are Hurts. Through my research, I have discovered that pockets play an important role- members are commonly seen with their hands in their pockets or belt loops. I can only assume that this is to make that photo plus its subjects more interesting (less passive) and in some in cases, assert the 'manliness' of the members. It could also be interpreted as showing relaxation and carelessness. It is a challenge to see an image of a contemporary band without at least one member having their hands in their pockets.
I love the fonts/lettering used on these album covers. Alphavilles' lettering helps create a futuristic, polished feel. Bon Jovi's takes its album name literally, writing it on a rain covered surface. 
The colours on these two album covers are what I like about them. Alice In Chains' dark palette with the human heart reminds me of bruises, probably the intended effect of the title: Black Gives Away To Blue. On Fall Out Boy's, the contrasts of the colours and textures is brilliant. The 'drawn' light/halo is reminicit of middle age book drawings. 
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Both of these album covers are clever. 'Souvenir' is actually a souvenir, it looks like a Brighton Rock. The colors are associated with joy and holidays. ESPG- I love the juxtaposition of the cover, the torpedo and the amplifier tube, two things not commonly associated with each other. 
I adore the simplicity of these two albums. The colours in both covers compliment each other and create gorgeous tones.The lighting in both is also very different, but effective. With The Smiths, it looks dramatic and cold, whereas the White Stripes look warm and dramatic in a different way. 
Unlike the above advert, this one uses the album cover (including the writing) as the dominant, all consuming image.It also includes the an image of the latest released single to encourage the audience to buy the album, along with other successful single tracks.It also includes digital means such as iTunes and an artist website. Unlike the AM ad, this features colours. 
This is the busiest of all the adverts, conveying the most information to the audience. Like all the adverts, it has the album cover/artist as the central image.Unlike the others, it has a specific release date, as well as the different release formats. I do like the different structured levels- album names, singles, formats, website. The concept of a boarder is also nice. However, it does appear slightly cluttered to me. 
