[janlafata]

I'm looking for some simple, yet creative backgrounds to be used as a DVD label that will have text on it. I'd like just some basic background colors, preferably darks, filled with brightly colored shapes, swirls, lines, spheres, shapes etc.

I don't want anything psychedelic or a pattern or anything like that. I know they are out there. I used to just use Google Images but I'm just not running across anything I like. Believe it or not, when you visit sites like background.com and others like it, they do not have what I'm looking for.

[Knotbored]

I googled "quilting fabrics" and got a million and a half hits
then I google/images and got three million plus
Caution though-anything you find is probably copyrighted, so if anything you do professionally is at risk- but nobody will object for a few copies for personal use.
(my wife is a quilter and some of the background materials are spectacular)

[janlafata]

See the thing is, I don't want that quilted or patterned look, like the ones that you churn out in mass quantities from a graphics program. I want some stuff that was as close as possible to being made by freehand, still simple stuff though. Obviously though I'm not knowing what to Google.

[help4me]

Try doing an image search for fractals. That might be more in line with what you are looking for. Most of them will have a psychedelic feel to them though. However with the right color scheme those may work for you.

If you decide that you like the look of fractals, send me a pm and I can make some for you to use both personally and professionally, thus copyrights won't be an issue for you.

[Noyb]

Originally Posted by help4me

Try doing an image search for fractals.

He has Photoshop Elements 8 .. I wonder if These Fractal Brushes will work.

I'm going to have to do some playing around.

[janlafata]

Oh hey Jay! Yeah I actually posted this before I found the gradient black to blue that you tweaked for me, so that will do for now, though I'm still always on the lookout for nice backgrounds.

I actually had chosen that gradient because I was kinda running out of options when looking for a background for that project, but initially I had envisioned a one color background with just some type of design(s) on it. Things like colorful sphere's of different sizes, swirls, lines etc.

The reason I posted on here about, is because I just wasn't seeing much in Google Images. I guess the problem is that, at one time, I took some graphic design in college, so I know how the creative process works and I like the ideas that pop in my mind every so often. Problem is, sometimes I am not able to turn that idea in my head into a workable finished project. I usually end up getting by though!

[Noyb]

I have a hunch I know what you're looking for .. But it's beyond me.
Where These Guys come up with their backgrounds amaze me.

I think one of them is a wallpaper designer

Have you looked around at Deviant Art ??

[Noyb]

I've grabbed some Space Theme brushes for Photoshop .. Not what I expected, but they might work.

You'll need a lot more experience with PSE 8 to use them
Maybe I'll get a chance later to see what I can come up with.

I wish I knew how to do the swirls.

[Noyb]

Here's a couple quickies using my new space brushes .. I can have any color.
Whatcha think ???

If Help4Me (or others) want to play .. Here's my Photoshop working file.
It has the center hole that we have to work around.

[janlafata]

Wow Jay these are beautiful! Thank you so much for going that extra mile with these. I almost didn't catch them as, for some reason, I didn't get a notification on this latest update.

Would it be possible to try something? It would be nice if the marquee could be a little bigger and/or wider, for longer movie titles, and just in general. But the only way to do that, I think, is to maybe chop off the "Cinema" text. That would chop off some of the purple cityscape too but I think it would still look ok.

From a graphics standpoint, I found that having the text of "Cinema" with the text of the movie title in the marquee almost counters itself anyway, though it does look stunning by itself. Also if you could shrink the DVD logo some and just use the background for dvd3 and the black to blue gradient. Oh I also need the purple cityscape backed away from the edge a little more as the Acoustica software cuts off about an eighth around the edge.

This may or may not work. I do realize, from a historical perspective, the graphic is recreating what the old cinema's looked like from the front and to take out the so-called "name of the theatre" might kill it.

Don't worry about having to mess around too much with this though. I'm almost starting to have too many choices to pick from for my final classic movies template and I need to pick one soon as I have newly burned DVD's without labels building up. Yes it's becoming like an assembly line!

Can't thank you enough!
Jan

[Noyb]

How's this ???

[help4me]

Originally Posted by Noyb

I've grabbed some Space Theme brushes for Photoshop .. Not what I expected, but they might work.

You'll need a lot more experience with PSE 8 to use them
Maybe I'll get a chance later to see what I can come up with.

I wish I knew how to do the swirls.

I have a TON of PS brushes... however I'm not sure if they'll work with all versions. I'm using CS4.

[Noyb]

Bonnie ... I was hoping you could so some fancy Swirls .. or Lines.
Those tricks escape me.
I think all PS brushes work in any Adobe ... even the Elements versions.

And a couple more ... with the top stretched

[janlafata]

Wow...They look amazing...I never to know how to express my appreciation for all the fine work you've done for me, so I'll just keep saying, thanks so much for all your help. I think I actually like it better with the smaller cityscape and do you think you can bring in the sides of he marquee just a little bit? Maybe about a quarter of an inch on each side and also make
me one with that black to blue gradient background with no speckles or colors or anything, so I have it on hand? ...The I promise I'll shut up for awhile!

[Noyb]

No Problem ... any more suggestions ???