What do you hate most on custom labels?

[SirArthur]

First of, I'm a custom label user and lover, for two main reasons:

a) Original labels are often not well cut squares - i.e. a scan that instead 1500x1500 is something like 1490x1501 will print a very odd result.

b) Originals have silver and gold plated areas that can't be scanned and prints an odd bronze coated pattern. To make it worse, some eve have holographic logos.

In this thread however I would like to know what flaws you hate most to find on a custom label.

Mines are, specially: letters overlapping the CD hole, cut logos, simple stretched covers used as label (I'm not against the use of the cover, as long as it is worked enough to fit on the label) or resized up images.

[omegaman7769]

What I hate about some CUSTOM uploaded covers are that, Somebody thinks they look soo good that they'll pass for retail. Dont get me wrong, I browse custom covers often. Some people do a VERY good job with them. But we cant call them RETAIL when in fact they are custom, RIGHT? To any newbies reading this... Custom covers look REALLY good sometimes. Do not hesitate to look at them from time to time. I just reported, "Incredible Hulk 2008" SO CALLED RETAIL as wrong info. Its an obvious CUSTOM. The barcode is 12345678 plus some of the layout is obvious. Just my 2 Cents

[SirArthur]

Yeah, that sucks... however labels and covers are a different subjects.
For covers I do prefer the original most of the occasions, but for label printing (face of the CD/DVD) the things go all the way around, specially because 99% of the original labels aren't even scan able.

[omegaman7769]

Ahhh... You mean disney transparencies and netflix grey discs? Yah... it sucks big time. I used a custom ironman that looked AWESOME to say the least.

[omegaman7769]

When ever I cant find one, I just make my own VERY legit looking silver printable. Just text assembled in such a way.

[SirArthur]

I'd just ordered those silver printable today, DHL must drop it here any minute now. So far I been using white printable on my Canon iP3000 (great printer btw, I can't ask better specially because it's already 5 years old and still runs, to not mention the cheapest ink on the market).
I'm looking forward to see the results on those silver printable :)

[kirbyj2]

I hate custom covers that a region specific, especially the regions that have those large solid colored shapes with numbers in them (whatever their supposed to mean I don't know cause the US doesn't have them). I don't like them because they look funny in the US. So I end up having to create my own custom cover or modify the one I find on here.

I also don't like it when someone simply crops out the outside edges of the disc or the inner part of the disc that is obviously a scan and calls it a custom. I prefer customs as they look better most of the time.

[Stochem]

kirbyj2

Could you post an example of what you are talking about with a link to the cover? I sometimes create custom covers and upload them here...

[omegaman7769]

Photoshop works wonders though :)

[Stochem]

omegaman7769,

If you didn't have photoshop, what would you use instead?

[omegaman7769]

I was using MS paint to start with LOL! Though Photo Impression was also OK. You'd be surprised the tricks I learned using Paint too LOL! :)

[Stochem]

I found that paint.net was better than paint or any other program that I used and I still use paint.net.

[omegaman7769]

Looks pretty similar to Photoshop. Might have to give that a shot sometime. :)

[Micromutt]

omegaman7769,

If you didn't have photoshop, what would you use instead?

ULead PhotoImpact

[RedWagnum]

kirbyj2

Could you post an example of what you are talking about with a link to the cover? I sometimes create custom covers and upload them here...
I was just looking at your Hunt for Red October (http://www.allcdcovers.com/show/105223/the_hunt_for_red_october_1990_ws_r1_retail_dvd/cd) label. Do you consider that a custom or a retail? Comparing it to my retail disc it is very close, missing only the CC and NTSC logos, and the Paramount logo, DVD logo, and two lines of text below the hole being black instead of red. I would consider that a retail disc since it faithfully recreates the look of the original.

An example of my own work. The first image is the original disc (the alternating stripes are due to an issue with my scanner). It has one of those matte silver labels with reflective silver lettering - very hard to scan well. The second image is what I recreated. Virtually identical to the original. Matching fonts is a PITA but the Discographer font helps with the technical logos (DVD, Dolby, region logos, etc). I couldn't find the correct studio logo at the time so that is a bit off but still close.

So, in your opinion or by the rules of the site or whatever, is what I made a custom or retail?

RedWagnum

[omegaman7769]

In my opinion, if it was not scanned from a retail disc, it is not retail. it would be considered custom. I recently uploaded the smallville Season 8 cover. The spine is the only custom part on it. And I used past spines as a reference. I imagine its extremely close to the retail version. Minus the superman emblem :P Which I now have on mine. But it is custom.

[Micromutt]

Not sure of the official site definition but for me I'm with Omega. Retail is purchased.

MY thinking is...

Retail upload... scan a purchased item, clean it up (ie, minimal cropping, remove dust, fingerprints, clean edges etc.), size per site limits, upload.

Custom upload... from a scan or scratch, once you start adding any text, images, or coloration beyond minor touch-up you've gone custom.

An exception (I've learned recently) to the retail concept would be full 'mirror' discs. A lot of coloring can be done to these and still not be considered Custom since the mirror effect can be rather ugly and distorting.
Ex. http://www.allcdcovers.com/show/142136/above_the_law_1988_ws_r1_retail_dvd/cd

YMMV :cool:

[Stochem]

I was just looking at your Hunt for Red October (http://www.allcdcovers.com/show/105223/the_hunt_for_red_october_1990_ws_r1_retail_dvd/cd) label. Do you consider that a custom or a retail? Comparing it to my retail disc it is very close, missing only the CC and NTSC logos, and the Paramount logo, DVD logo, and two lines of text below the hole being black instead of red. I would consider that a retail disc since it faithfully recreates the look of the original.

An example of my own work. The first image is the original disc (the alternating stripes are due to an issue with my scanner). It has one of those matte silver labels with reflective silver lettering - very hard to scan well. The second image is what I recreated. Virtually identical to the original. Matching fonts is a PITA but the Discographer font helps with the technical logos (DVD, Dolby, region logos, etc). I couldn't find the correct studio logo at the time so that is a bit off but still close.

So, in your opinion or by the rules of the site or whatever, is what I made a custom or retail?

RedWagnum

RedWagnum,

I had the same problem you did and tried to correct it, but in the process because I added colour and tried to duplicate the scan, it is not a retail at this point, it is a custom and it was my error when I uploaded it as retail instead of a custom....

I will report it and change it in the system and if you could report it also that would be great....

A retail has to stay true to it's scan...In your case, you can upload the white cover as a custom and I know what you're saying about the scanned retail disc, but it is not good and best not to be uploaded because it will be deleted....Those silver discs are a pain to scan, but if it doesn't come out good, don't bother wasting your time with it....

[Stochem]

In my opinion, if it was not scanned from a retail disc, it is not retail. it would be considered custom. I recently uploaded the smallville Season 8 cover. The spine is the only custom part on it. And I used past spines as a reference. I imagine its extremely close to the retail version. Minus the superman emblem :P Which I now have on mine. But it is custom.

omegaman7769,

I agree and nice new avatar, got bored of your old one?

[Stochem]

Not sure of the official site definition but for me I'm with Omega. Retail is purchased.

MY thinking is...

Retail upload... scan a purchased item, clean it up (ie, minimal cropping, remove dust, fingerprints, clean edges etc.), size per site limits, upload.

Custom upload... from a scan or scratch, once you start adding any text, images, or coloration beyond minor touch-up you've gone custom.

An exception (I've learned recently) to the retail concept would be full 'mirror' discs. A lot of coloring can be done to these and still not be considered Custom since the mirror effect can be rather ugly and distorting.
Ex. http://www.allcdcovers.com/show/142136/above_the_law_1988_ws_r1_retail_dvd/cd

YMMV :cool:

Micromutt,

In this case as you know, it is a retail because all these disc covers have the ring in the middle and the disc is silver with no text or pictures or logos on it and it is 1 colour (silver).

[omegaman7769]

LOL! My old avatar was somewhat of an infringement(Felt guilty). My new avatar, I created from scratch. Much more pride there :)

[Stochem]

The Hunt For Red October

All disc covers are now labeled correctly and I uploaded a retail disc cover that I scanned from my collection of dvd novies...

[RedWagnum]

RedWagnum,

I had the same problem you did and tried to correct it, but in the process because I added colour and tried to duplicate the scan, it is not a retail at this point, it is a custom and it was my error when I uploaded it as retail instead of a custom....

I will report it and change it in the system and if you could report it also that would be great....
Not trying to bust your chops there Stochem. I just happened across it when I was uploading better covers for Red October.
A retail has to stay true to it's scan...In your case, you can upload the white cover as a custom and I know what you're saying about the scanned retail disc, but it is not good and best not to be uploaded because it will be deleted....Those silver discs are a pain to scan, but if it doesn't come out good, don't bother wasting your time with it....Yeah, I would never upload something like that silver disc. Looks horrible, even worse at its full 600dpi scan. But I do rather enjoy the challenge of duplicating it as closely as possible. You may see me start uploading more custom disc labels.

Good points made by all. Now I tend to agree with you. Anything other than a direct scan with minor clean-up is a custom, no matter how closely it resembles the original.

Now a question about uploading customs. Say I have one of those "gray Netflix" discs (which is more a Warner Bros. and Dreamworks thing than a Netflix thing) and I make a custom for it. Sometimes I keep the gray background, sometimes I make it white (uses less ink). Sometimes I make both and decide when I'm ready to print. Is it permissible to upload two different versions of the same cover under the same (custom) title as CD1 and CD2? Or should I just upload one if they are identical other than the colors? Or upload each seperately?

Okay, that was three questions...

RedWagnum

[Stochem]

RedWagnum,

I'm glad you caught my error and it has been corrected...It was a few months ago and should have been corrected and the retail disc was never uploaded like I intended to at the time and it worked out well. I don't take it personally and I would like my covers or any members covers to be reported asap because the name of the game is to get it right and it's also about quality...

To answer your question, you should only upload 2 discs to 1 title, if it's a collector's edition, special edition and any edition that has 2 or more discs. You're not supposed to mix retail and custom covers. So if you have a retail case cover and a custom disc cover, they will have to be uploaded separately...Keep in mind that when you're scanning a retail disc cover and it doesn't look good, don't bother wasting your time uploading it. This is why some case covers don't have a disc cover uploaded along with it...You can only do so much! ;)

[RedWagnum]

Stochem:

I'm glad it worked out. Many of the covers here (at least in the movies-films section) are of very high quality which is why I started using this site rather than cdcovers.cc. I'll still go there sometimes if I can't find what I'm looking for here (which is rare) but that UI... UGH!

Got that part about uploading separately. I'll just decide which version I like best and upload that as a separate custom. I don't mind too much recreating custom disc covers from crappy looking scans though I usually won't spent much time trying to do anything with the double-sided discs. That takes a lot of effort and as you say, you can only do so much.

RedWagnum

[Micromutt]

Sometimes I keep the gray background, sometimes I make it white (uses less ink).

:D Glad I'm not the only one doing things like this to save on ink. LOL. I invert those solid black background with white print discs too. :cool:

[omegaman7769]

I dont worry about black :P for what ever reason, both of my printers use more yellow than anything. In fact, I have 2 unopened containers of black where the other colors are nearly gone. I don't think i'd ever upload anything plain anymore though. I have an unnatural amount of patience. You'd be surprised what I went through for the smallville Season 8 cover. Lets just say, a particular e-tailer was the only place I could find it in semi high quality, but I had to "snagit" one square at a time, 78 times I believe. Took me 3+ hours.

[Micromutt]

... I had to "snagit" one square at a time, 78 times I believe. Took me 3+ hours.

:eek: That is some serious patience!

[omegaman7769]

Ehh...listen to some music, get into a routine(down to a science), and it ain't so bad :) Besides, I was determined, and it was the ONLY place on the web, I could find 2/3 pieces of the cover.

[Stochem]

I dont worry about black :P for what ever reason, both of my printers use more yellow than anything. In fact, I have 2 unopened containers of black where the other colors are nearly gone. I don't think i'd ever upload anything plain anymore though. I have an unnatural amount of patience. You'd be surprised what I went through for the smallville Season 8 cover. Lets just say, a particular e-tailer was the only place I could find it in semi high quality, but I had to "snagit" one square at a time, 78 times I believe. Took me 3+ hours.

I have the same problem with my printer...Do you have a Canon? Nice job on that cover omegaman!

[omegaman7769]

Epson R260 and an Epson Rx595. Thanks. Ifigured A LOT of people would appreciate it. :)

[RedWagnum]

but I had to "snagit" one square at a time, 78 times I believe. Took me 3+ hours.Went through a similar process for one of my first custom covers for The Transporter 2. I went to the official web site and it was Flash based. The images slid out from the sides one at a time to form the main page image. I had to hit reload then print screen about a dozen times to capture the images I wanted before they were overlaid with other images or text. The end result was acceptable but not great. That was over three years ago and I have learned a bit since then... ;)

[omegaman7769]

LOL! We do what we must eh.

While im here...something I hate about custom disc arts/covers are when people colorize the logos, and it just plain doesn't work. E.g everything is red. That just doesn't look right. At least add some drop shadows, or a glow. :) Dimension/lighting is everything

[RedWagnum]

LOL! We do what we must eh.

While im here...something I hate about custom disc arts/covers are when people colorize the logos, and it just plain doesn't work. E.g everything is red. That just doesn't look right. At least add some drop shadows, or a glow. :) Dimension/lighting is everything
Care to post some examples? I'm not real adept with the fancy stuff like drop shadows and glows but I also don't colorize stuff that wasn't colorized to start with. :)

[omegaman7769]

Take this for an example :) Which one looks better. I suppose there are times, where its possible to OVER do it too. Depends on ones artistic style.
http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5920/universal.png

[breakaway]

Corel would be a better alternative. :)

[omegaman7769]

Im pretty hooked on CS3/CS4. Photoshop is pretty awesome. Im sure everyone has their own opinion though. I used Corel Painter X once upon a time. I think it resembled adobe photoshop...

[RedWagnum]

Wow! That does look a lot better! I use Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 which does a lot of the same stuff that Photoshop can do. I need to dig around in the help files and tutorials to find out how to do that.

Thanks for posting that omegaman!

[omegaman7769]

No problem buddy! Glad I could help :)

[foetfoeryda]

On some custom covers people put weird stickers on them, like the ones that say "MA 15+" and the Red Circle with the "15" in them, I hate that, I dont mind if they say Rated R and all, but I dont wanna make it seem like I got the DVD in a different country...... Like check out one of the G.I. Joe Rise Of Cobra custom covers. I dont know, I just hate it, it makes it seem like I went over to France and bought it.:confused:

[omegaman7769]

Not to mention, it looks extremely overdone that way. Overkill! I hate the way they do that in Region 2 and 4. Takes away from the artwork of the cover :( Region 1 is really simplified. Perfect! :)

[RedWagnum]

I think it is all relative to what you are trying to accomplish.

If you have a cover that is in poor condition or is difficult to scan and you are trying to recreate it as accurately as possible then by all means, put on all the logos the original had.

On the other hand, if you are trying to make a really nice looking cover, less is usually better.

And as always, if it is not and original scan, it is a custom.