Lord Of The Rings - Custom Instruction Cards

[knight76]

Now that I have decided to buy Ando's LOTR I thought I would pass the time by creating some customer instruction cards for my pin.

I spent this arvo trolling the net for various pics from LOTR that was large enough to use for this purpose. I measured my cards off TOM and set the aspect ratio of my image to the same. It should be pretty damn close. If not I can adjust.

Here is my first effort at a number of balls card. Any feedback appreciated. I hunted down the LOTR font to make it look more Authentic.

This is a small version of the pic for forum purposes.



I will add more as I create more of them.

[Wotto]

Looks nice   - that image creates good depth
Would like to see it in the apron.

Was that one image you found OR did you copy sections and repeat it in layers etc towards the right of the card??
You going to flip it for the right side card so they mirror each other/ facing inwards towards each other?

My only concern would be laying the instructional text over that 'busy' image might make the text a bit hard to read?
Pick a nice bright font colour and stroke the outside of it so it stands out.

Keep posting updates 

[knight76]

Another, First go at an instruction card for the pin.

[knight76]

Looks nice   - that image creates good depth
Would like to see it in the apron.

Was that one image you found OR did you copy sections and repeat it in layers etc towards the right of the card??
You going to flip it for the right side card so they mirror each other/ facing inwards towards each other?

My only concern would be laying the instructional text over that 'busy' image might make the text a bit hard to read?
Pick a nice bright font colour and stroke the outside of it so it stands out.

Keep posting updates  

Found the image on the net. I'm not that talented lol to create a layered image, not that would look any good though. You are right, instruction cards are harder because of the amount of text that needs to be readable.

Here is a quick play with the blending options. Added some inner glow, drop shadow and a pattern overlay to give it a bit of solidness rather than text floating on the image.

[Wotto]

You using Photoshop?

Play around with the ‘Stroke’ in the effects options on your text.
It will outline around the text.

Try a black outline at 1 or 2 points value or maybe a deep maroon colour similar to the card colour.
See if that makes it stand out any more

[Strangeways]

Nice 

[knight76]

You using Photoshop?

Play around with the ‘Stroke’ in the effects options on your text.
It will outline around the text.

Try a black outline at 1 or 2 points value or maybe a deep maroon colour similar to the card colour.
See if that makes it stand out any more

Cheers Wotto.

Had a bit of a play.

Here is the instruction card redone



And I redid the ball card. This time with gradient overlay, inner glow and stroke.

[knight76]

Latest edit of an instruction card.

The fires of mount doom.

[ajlaird]

That last one is much more easily read. Probably better than the previous attempt.

Great images, by the way! Some nice web hunting there.

[knight76]

Yeah, the images are there, just have to find them, crop them and work out the text over the top.

Really not that difficult.

That last one it helps that the image is mostly grey so the text stands out fairly well.

[Wotto]

Looks really good now - congrats mate.

If you want that text to stand out even more ( not saying it's currently bad , just a further option here for you if you want to experiment & learn more effects ) you can also 'duplicate' the layer and it will sit straight on top of the existing text layer, if the STROKE is then too much ( may be , may not be ) - then go to the effects in ONE of the layers only and remove the stroke from ONE of the layers.

Sometimes you will find that by doing this the ( white/grey in your case ) stands out better again.

 

[knight76]

Here is another one, Balrog Balls.

[ajlaird]

Nice!

[knight76]

And last one for the night.

Ring instructions.

[ajlaird]

I think I prefer the fires of Mount Doom card still. To me it works better as a background.