Final Ancillary Task: The poster

Final Ancillary Task: The Digipack

Ancillary Task: Making The Digipack

After I had created my digipack poster, I decided to create my digipack.

• I began by importing the same image I used for the digipack poster into Serif draw. As I had already edited it, I didn’t have to do this again. However, I did have to crop it as it was originally an A$ image but for the digipack template, the front cover was square. I also added the institutional information on again in the same positions as the digipack poster.

• Then I imported the picture I had decided to use for the back cover. I then did a similar process with this image and edited it so that the only thing in colour on the image was the red ribbon in Liv’s hair. I then cropped it so that majority of the picture was the background of the woods. This meant that when I added the song titles, the white contrasted against the darker background.

• I then added the image for the left cover. I used the image with the ribbon on the hands and again made the image black and white other than the ribbon. This continued the red theme from the other images.

• For the CD case side of the digipack, I decided that I wanted both the CD and the background to be plain black. However, I wanted there to be an image that would be revealed when the CD is removed from the case. Therefore, I added in the image of the red roses. To get this as a circle, I backgrounded the image onto a circle that I added using the ‘shapes’ button. I then used the ‘shape builder’ tool to blend them together and deleted the image outside of the circle.

• However, compared to the other images on the digipack, the strong theme or fed in the image as opposed to the subtle red in the others was too much. Therefore, I added a circle of white on the foreground to the image and reduced the opacity. This made the image darker and therefore conformed to the subtle red theme.

• Right inside cover, I added an image of Liv that has roses around her. I then made the image black and white and changed the rode to be red instead of pink. Also because the image was much lighter than the others I had used, I reduced the brightness and increased the shadows in the Photolab to continue the running theme.

• For the final image I used the image of Liv which utilised light to make shapes on her face. I edited this so it was darker and then used the colour retouch tool to edit her lips to be red. This was difficult as the original image was black and white so the lips originally looked brown when the red filter was added on top. However, eventually I decided to increase the brightness levels on the lips to allow the section to look red as opposed to brown

• Finally, I added the spaces for the spine between the covers.

Ancillary Task: Making The Digipack Poster

After I had taken the images for both of my ancillary tasks, I decided to begin by creating the digipack poster first. This is because in order to create synergy throughout the two products, I decided to conform to the conventions and make the key image from the digipack poster the same image as the front cover of the digipack. I therefore:

• I began by importing the image onto Serif Draw Plus and cropped the image to A4 to conform to the size of album posters. I then framed the image to my desired section. I chose the image to be a close up of Luna to conform to Dyer’s Star theory that the artist is the selling point of the products. 

• I then decided I wanted to have parts of the image in colour and some in black and white to challenge the typical codes and conventions of keys images. This would help it to be more ‘individual’ and ‘unique’ conforming to the indie genre. So I copied and pasted the image to make two layers. I used the cut out studio on the top layer so that there were only the glasses on the second layer. I then turned the black layer into black and white using the Photolab. 

• I then typed ‘Luna’ and ‘Sober’ (the album title) underneath and added two parallel white lines as it was consistent to the font type I sued in the video. I positioned it at the bottom left corner of the poster instead of the centre.

• I then imported the record labels logo in the bottom right to conform to the conventions of digipack posters. I used the same logo that Lorde used when she produced her posters. I also added a parental advisory logo in the top left corner due to the explicit language in some of the songs. 

Ancillary Task: Photography

During the ancillary task I used a variety of different props and location to take the images I could potentially use for the final products. As the inspiration was mainly taken from the photographer Brandon Woelfel, I tried to replicate some of his aesthetics within my images.

I decided after taking these images that the key image I would use for the front of my digipack and the key image of the poster would be the first image. This is because it is a close up of the artist which conforms to Dyer's star theory and allows the audience to instantly recognise the products as Luna’s through celebrity endorsement. 

I also decided that the 4th image would be the back cover of the digipack due to the framing. This would allow me to add the lyrics of the left hand side so they are still easily read as there is nothing significant in the background. 

I also decided that I wouldn't use the third image. This is because when compared to the rest of the images, it doesn't conform to the almost ‘magical theme’ created through the depth of focus.

For the rest of the key images I will experiment with editing the rest of the images and use the ones I like the most.

Ancillary Task: Institutional Information

To help me understand what institutional information should be featured on my ancillary products, I will research existing products. 

Parental Advisory:
The parental advisory sticker must be included on content that features: "strong language or depictions of violence, sex, or substance abuse to such an extent as to merit parental notification". Although our album doesn’t feature any descriptions of violence or sex, there are connotations of substance abuse and there is profanity within the song ‘Sober’ for which we mad the music video. Therefore, I will have to feature the sticker on my album.

How has this helped me?
This has helped me as I now understand what intuitional information I will have to feature on my ancillary tasks. Also, I am now aware that it is appropriate to use the parental advisory sticker on my album due to the topics features in the album and the profanity used in the song ‘Sober’.

Ancillary Task: Audience Feedback: Font

Font Decision:

To help me decide which font to use within my music video and within my ancillary tasks (to create synergy), I decided to analyse different existing fonts from similar artists within the indie genre.
From all the fonts I have looked at, the consistency is that they are all white. They also are all block lettering other than Birdy which is a convention of the indie font. However, within each font, there are subtle differences which make them unique which allows the font to become distinct to the artist.

Therefore, I decided to find three fonts which all conform to this style. The ones I found were:

I then asked for audience feedback from people within the indie genre to see which font they would prefer.  The results were:

Therefore, the final font I have decided to use is the third font. This will be used across all the products to allow me to continue the synergy and create consistency.

Ancillary Task: Photography Research

To help me to find methods of photography I could use to create my digipack and poster images, I decided to research some photographers and look into their styles. This can help me decide on a style suitable for the indie music genre and give me some inspiration.

Brandon Woelfel:
Woelfel uses light to create dynamic images. He uses prisms to create a rainbow of light and often utilises glasses to create a reflection within them to create in interesting image. As these are the two techniques I liked the most, I decided to research into methods I could utilise to help me recreate the look:

Rainbow lighting:
To get the rainbow lighting effect there are two methods you can use; a CD and a prism. In both cases, you need to find a ‘strip’ of lighting which you can create by using blinds that have slits in them. You then position the CD or prism in the light and direct it towards the object you’re taking the picture of.

I like this method as it creates striking images but also because the rainbow is also a symbol of the LGBT community which is a topic that is explored in the Sober video and also is suggested to be featured in other songs throughout the album.

Glass reflection:
To get the reflection of the lights in the glasses, you have to get artificial lighting and take an image so that the reflection of the lights are in the glasses and the lights can also be seen in frame. On Photoshop, you then edit the lighting to create an out of focus effect.
This method can be used to create connotations of ‘blurred vision’. This can be linked to the drugs and alcohol that are seen throughout the album. Not only this, but it can suggest that the reflective surface can have connotations of ‘not everything is how it seems on the surface’ creating deeper meaning which the indie audience enjoy.

Ian Brumpton:
Burmpton utilises light and shadow to create ‘mysterious’ images. He creates them in black and white and often uses people within the images. He does this by finding natural situations in which this occurs e.g. through slits in blinds or gaps ion curtains and other times he creates a stencil of which he places in front of a light source.

I like this method as the enigma created behind the shadows would create intrigue into the artist and although Dyer’s star theory suggests the artist is featured repeatedly to allow the audience to recognise them as a star, the indie audience would appreciate challenging the codes and conventions.


The final effect that I found was smoke photography. Although I couldn’t find a photographer who specifically photographs smoke, there are many people who do this type of photography. This is done by getting an incense stick and a plain black background. You place foil in the surface that the incense is placed on and use the flash of your camera to take an image of the smoke. You can also change the colour of the smoke in Photoshop by changing the colour gradients.

I like this method as it again can be lined to the symbol of the LGBT community when the smoke is different colours. Also, the smoke has connotations of smoking which can be inked to drugs which is again a common theme throughout the albums.

Overall how has this helped me?

Overall, after researching the photography techniques, I have now gained inspiration and a better idea into what types of images I will take to use for the poster and digipack. I will not be able to research into more depth how to recreate these methods and focus on the representations of the images.  

Ancillary Task: Lana Del Rey Synergy

To help me realise the importance of synergy across the two products I will be creating, I have decided to look at how Lana Del Rey utilised synergy throughout her advertising campaign for her album ‘Born to Die’.

The digipak and magazine cover:

The key image and font for both the magazine poster and the digipack cover is the exact same creating synergy across the two platforms. The overall simplicity of both products allows the audience’s attention to be undirected away from her as the ‘star’ as she is centre frame. The bold body language and high key lighting used to create her perfect skin makes her desirable to au audience, both male (male gaze) and females audiences. The bold simplistic style helps to create a memorable image, strengthening her brand identity and allowing her audience to recognise her products that conform to this style instantly.

The red white and blue theme used across the digipack (the back cover is red) along with the front cover can also have connotations to America. This is continued by the haristyle which has symbolism of Hollywood actresses. The fact Lana Del Rey is a typically American artist and the rooftop in the background can also conform to a typical American house creates an almost utopian environment; this being a subject she has discussed and sang about in previous albums.

Therefore, this American theme creates synergy with the music video for the ‘Lust for Life’ music video. The establishing shot features Lana stood in centre frame in front of an American flag assisted by the lyrics ‘climb up the H of the Hollywood sign’. This is a reference to the story of Peg Entwistle who committed suicide by throwing herself off the ‘H’ in the Hollywood sign. The music video draws a lot of similarities to Peg’s story and myth and the cultural reference can appeal to the indie audience who enjoy intellectual stimulation that this reference can provide.

Also throughout the music video, the red white and blue theme can again be continued through her costume of the blue flower crown (flowers are commonly used amongst her iconography) and the bold red lipstick and nail polish. This creates synergy to the way she was dressed in the cover for the ‘Born to Die’ digipack.

Overall how has this helped me?
This has helped me as I have realised the importance to not only create consistency throughout the digipack or the magazine poster as one product, but to make consistency throughout the whole campaign and therefore synergy. This helps to strengthen the brand image for the particular campaign but also allows the audience to establish the style and hence recognise further iconography of this style.

Furthermore, the use of symbolic and semantic codes that I have seen utilised in previous research is utilised especially well in this circumstance. As Lana Del Rey is known to be quite a controversial speaker and to discuss topics that are meaningful in her life, the use of the symbolic codes relating to the Peg Entwistle’s allows the audience to feel as if they are emphasising with her more as a character. This strengthens their relationship with her as an artist.