Album Cover WIP (Warning: Cringy Content/Mild Violence)

So I'm working on a cover for an album which is mostly dark jungle/dnb. It's called Amen Formulation and I thought, for some reason, of Dark City while listening to it and that lead me into the current concept, where the 'formulation' is injected into the listener for maximum impact. Of course, since it's dark, it's forceful, and thus the listener is bound and then given the 'formula' directly into their ear via syringe. I used some references from Dark City, mostly the syringe which is currently unshaded/finished at the moment.

At any rate, I thought some people would enjoy this.

This is about 4 hours of work on this particular iteration. Obviously, I spent a few hours kicking around ideas and doing sketches before settling on this. :)

Peace!Attachment 126035

Edit: I also wanted to note, this is the first piece I've actually used layers on. Normally I think of an image as just one big drawing, but this one I decided to try thinking of it in 'elements' rather than just a lot of shapes/groups. I'm not sure I enjoy working with layers over simply creating groups, but it's a little helpful in quickly isolating things I want to work on/making selections. Just thought I'd mention that. I'm not sure how many other people use layers extensively.

Hmm? I like it in a perverse sort of way.

Now that gets your attention hseiken. Who's the femme fatale?

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....and done. I didn't have time to do all the stuff i wanted to for the back, such as ominous chains and other restrictive devices hanging off the top of the background, some spilled chemicals on the table, etc., but the main idea is still there.

:)

Despite a lot of looking, it took me a long time to decode ABYSS; to me, the AB part is too tangled.

Acorn

"Normally I think of an image as just one big drawing"
I'm with you there hseiken but layers do have their advantages.

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Originally Posted by Acorn

Despite a lot of looking, it took me a long time to decode ABYSS; to me, the AB part is too tangled.

Acorn

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Yeah, it is, but in this case, I know the audience and they'll already know it's Abyss. One of the freedoms you get with artistic license when you're not worrying about that too much. Plus, the revised back side has info like, 'All tracks written and produced by Abyss' etc. If this were any other project, I'd not have even done graff at all! :)

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Originally Posted by Acorn

Despite a lot of looking, it took me a long time to decode ABYSS; to me, the AB part is too tangled.

Acorn

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Acorn has a good point. I also find abyss difficult.

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Originally Posted by wizard509

"Normally I think of an image as just one big drawing"
I'm with you there hseiken but layers do have their advantages.

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Lately I'm finding it useful to make a layer and lock it with a hand drawn image from paper with 30% transparency above the actual image I'm vectoring. :) I do typically, though, just immediately group things a lot once they get locked down/finalized, but one of the advantages to layers I found is I don't have to waste a lot of effort drawing things behind stuff... :) Might use it a little more for this reason. I still like making entire image one layer in general, but for some things, it seems to have some advantages.

An conversely, not knowing of ABYSS, I picked up on it immediately.

I use layers quite a bit in my CAD work, and only sometimes in my Graphics. I tend to use groups more than layers, but really should use layers more. They give a lot of control over a finished product.

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Originally Posted by ss-kalm

An conversely, not knowing of ABYSS, I picked up on it immediately.

I use layers quite a bit in my CAD work, and only sometimes in my Graphics. I tend to use groups more than layers, but really should use layers more. They give a lot of control over a finished product.

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Your sentiments are mine. I feel like it's a case by case basis whether groups or layers are more appropriate. I like having both at my disposal. I think the 'professional' consensus is layers, but I just find groups, in general, are much more flexible to deal with. It's mostly when you have an image that is literally just a couple of elements that layers become more appropriate. This particular piece, layers were more appropriate: the logo, the face, the hand, those were the layers. In most of my works, groups work much easier for me because the elements interplay a lot more.

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Originally Posted by gray

Now that gets your attention hseiken. Who's the femme fatale?

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Femme fatle? Voldemorte? I guess? The hand is of a person who's not on the level in modern society, so nails...i felt was a good way of conveying 'evil' or 'not normal'. It's a societal reflection so...it's not a necessarily a woman, but I've never met or talked to abyss so maybe Abyss is a lady? I have no idea... :)

We'll keep it a secret. :)

Is the word abyss a font or did you hand-draw it? I do like it and have been wondering.

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Originally Posted by wizard509

Is the word abyss a font or did you hand-draw it? I do like it and have been wondering.

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The only font used is the label-maker font. All other lettering is by hand. :)