Step by Step - Finishing Touches

Here are the tools/effects that I will be using when making the finishing touches:

• New Layer
• Ellipse Tool
• Text Wrap
• Type on a Path Tool
• Place (Import)

I will now be adding the finishing touches to the DVD label design. This will be items such as the rights text around the inside of circumference of the circle, logos and layer masks.

Text Wrap

To start I created a new layer. To do this I went to the Layers Panel (the icon looks like two white squares on top of each other, located on the right hand side tool panel). I then clicked on the New Layer icon (looks like a little post-it note at the bottom of the layers tab). 

[I am going to be placing the text wrap in a new layer because I found that when placing items in different layers it makes it more easier for editing. This is because it will not affect all of the other elements of the design, so I do not have to kept undoing my mistakes. If I make a mistake it is only on the element is it affecting.]

I then created an ellipse with the Ellipse Tool (this look is located on the left hand side of the tool panels and is located under the rectangle tool if you hold it down a little menu will open and it will be there). I then held the Alt button down and then clicked on the center of the guides (horizontal & vertical Guides). A menu will open where I entered the dimensions 110.5mm x 110.5mm. The circle will then have been drawn (blue selected circle).

[I used the ellipse tool rather than drawing the text wrap. This is because there is more procession then there would be if I drew it. Especially if I was to either the pen, brush or pencil tool. Even though the pen also has procession, it will not serf ice for the task I had in mind.

If I were to use the pen tool for the curve paths then it would be very limited. this is because one) I can not really use the tool that way and two) it would not look right for when I draw another one to add to the one that is already there it will not match.

If I was to to use the brush and pen tool then I think it would be a waste of time and a great catastrophe. This is because I am not very confident about using these tools free hand, even though I would trace around the guide circle, it will not look the same as the shape. Even thought the pencil tool does come with a pencil smoother it still would not help smooth it out as well as I want it too.] 

Ellipse Tool used to Create a Circle for text Wrap

Now I made this ellipse as a text warp. To do this I went to Object> Text Wrap > Make. So now the ellipse should be ready for me to add text. To add the text onto the text wrap I selected the Type on a Path Tool (this can be found under the Text Tool on the left hand side tool panel which looks like a capital T. I held down the icon and went to where it was located. The Path Tool icon looks like a T rotated one a squiggly line). 

[I used the Type on a Path Tool over the normal text tool because when you use the normal text tool it just types in a straight line. I did not want this, also I do not think it is possible to move the text around the shape like I wanted. This is the reason why I used the type on a path tool because this allows you to type on any sort of shape whether it be a perfect circle or a shape you have randomly drawn on the document.]

Before started to type anything I then changed the colour of the text to white. I then changed the font to Microsoft Himalaya. I then clicked on the path where I wanted the text to begin and typed "(C) 2014 Film Slate and Ticket Stubs Studios all rights reserved. No unauthorized copying subjects applicable laws"

[I choose this font because I found that it was really a really clear font where you are able to read the writing because it did not have all fancy swirls and stuff which would ahve made it really hard to read. 

I also changed the writing to white because there was so much black whether it was chunky or not and black on black is a silly way to go. I also find that white really stands out really well on the black, making the writing stand out really well.] 

Here is the final text wrap. 

Text Wrap Finished

Logos and Icons 

I will now be adding the logos and icons which are required for the DVD label. The icons will be the pegi-15 logo, 15 Irish rating logo and the DVD/Video logo. The logos that will be going onto my label will the two I have created in Illustrator.

So to start off I will be placing the images onto the label, before that though I will be creating a new layer with the Layers Panel. I added a new layer so that I am able to move the logos and icons in just the one layer. This will be more pratical, then trying to move the logos and icons and ending up moving another element of the design and it becoming a big calamity. So, making sure this does not happen I locked all of the other layers. I then renamed the new layer as 'Logos'

Now I have my layer, I can start placing the logos onto the label. To so this I went to File > Place. I then went through my system and found the logo to place. I will start off with the DVD/Video Logo. I then clicked Place and then clicked where I wanted to place the logo on the label and then it placed it.

Icon Placed on the DVD Label

When the item is placed on the label it will automatically have a blue square around the item with little squares on the corners and the sides. These indicate that I am able to use these to resize the logo, which is what I did. When I resized the logo I then repositioned it, with this logo I wanted it in the middle of the other four logos.

I then did the same for all other the logos and placed them onto the label, resized and repositioned them. Here is the final result for the logos.

All Logos/Icons added to the DVD label

Clipping Mask

I am now going to be adding the final finishing touch to the whole design and that is adding the clipping mask to the design. The clipping mask will allow me to remove all the parts of the document which is not part of the design. Before I start the clipping mask I unlocked all of the layers and then added a new one. I added a new layer because I did not want it to affect the main parts of the design itself because if it did then it might remove other parts of the design.

So, to do this I will start by drawing a circle which is the same size as the biggest circle. I did this by selecting the Ellipse Tool and hold down the Alt key down on the keyboard and clicking in the center of the two straight guide lines. A little menu will open and I entered the dimensions 125.5mm x 125.5mm. This then draw an ellipse onto the label.

A Circle added to the Label using the Ellipse Tool

To make the mask itself now. First of all I had to select all of the items which I wish to have within the document, in this case it is all of them, so I clicked Ctrl + A. This is a shortcut for selecting all of the items. I then right clicked on the ellipse and selected Make Clipping Mask. Once it was created I clicked off the doucment.

Here is the finished DVD label. 

Finished DVD Label Design