Your opinion on this graphic

[Big ScareCrow]

Can you give me your opinions on this graphic please? Any suggestion on how to improve it would be great. Thank you

[Shooter]

Its difficult to read and it has a typo "casino"

[tmnt]

That's how they spell it in Belgium.

To be honest I don't really like it. Perhaps take the opacity of the landscape down to make the rest pop a bit.

[Capt Quirk]

The drop shadows really make it bad.

[milksac]

The imagery is too literal. Iconic images will likely work better.
Here are a couple of simple ideas.
http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19962/1214150753.jpg

http://www.dvxuser6.com/uploaded/19962/1214151137.jpg

[tmnt]

ooh, the second one's pretty. Just need a better snake picture where the heads the focus. In the words of Borat, "Is nice".

[onetime1]

A little dim though, still quite nice.

[dan]

The drop shadows really make it bad.

I agree. It takes away the depth you create on the right row of people contradicting the left guy; placing him very close to the screen (according to his shadow). Same about the screen (and its shadow on the snow). Dim the folks (to near B/W siluete) would add realism (imo)

[CherryTime]

Replying the the original post I would have to say I think there's alot of things wrong with the picture, some being the following:

*Font and sizes,
*Glow (you use the standard glow with the standard settings)
*The hardness (in colours) of the 2 dudes in hairs + the screenthing
*The shadows on the above mentioned
*Text placement does not correspond with the eyes own reading technique

Try to correct that, and if you think it's improving, hit me back and I can follow this up, otherwise just go with something that you like, photoshop taste is so multiple and personal.

Wish you the best of luck!

[PrismSpecs]

CherryTime is spot on, fix that and it will look great. I love the idea!

[Kyle Stebbins]

Really disgusting graphic here for several reasons, I will detail below.

First, I'm curious as to what medium this was designed for? Web? Print? Video?

CherryTime has hit it on the nose with almost everything. Maybe I can go into more detail with what she had to say. (Assuming CherryTime is a girl...)

Font and sizes: There is almost zero uniformity amongst the words, save the horrific glow and color choice. The blending options in Photoshop are meant to be tweaked and modified to fit your project. It is evident that you left it on a standard setting, and in doing so really compromised the overall polish of your piece. Beyond that, I see upper and lower case letters with no real motivation or purpose. The serif font, in my opinion, really has to go. -- Right along with the typewriter font below.

The spacing between your letters (especially on the website address) hurts my eyes and, as CherryTime highlighted, the text elements do NOT flow with our natural reading ability. Not to mention, we have to look over at the image of three people staring at a television. It throws my eyes off the track, and really lowers this ad's effectiveness.

As for the drop shadows. I don't quite understand.... if nothing else, wouldn't a grand majority of the light be coming from the television/projector screen itself? Aside from the angles of the shadows being completely incorrect....

I would actually prefer to see maybe a silhouette of the three people sitting to watch the movie. This would be more effective and could be used as a vehicle to draw our attention where it needs to go. I'm too focused on figuring out what the guy is eating to pay any attention to what is really at hand here... a film festival!

I could go on and on... but I'll try and summarize what you should do to make this better. Also understand that this is completely subjective. You asked for our opinions, and this is mine.

1. Eliminate the font choices, color, and glow. Rethink them hard. Typography is the MOST IMPORTANT element of your design. Hands down, no exceptions. I've loaded my MacBook with hundreds and hundreds of different font choices. I'll never resort to using standard fare fonts because I know how many new and better fonts are out there.

2. Rethink your imagery. The pople in front look like they are sitting INSIDE of a movie theatre. Are they supposed to be outside? The lighting doesn't suggest such. This in turn renders your drop shadows very inaccurate and very incorrect... not to mention, ineffective and ugly.

3. I like the image of the desert. It's got real potential. I just don't think you are using it as effectively as you could. I know that you placed light text on top of the darker parts of the image, but you didn't tie them down together. They don't fit.

4. Sell it to me. Spend some time away from the computer and leave the image up on your computer screen. When you sit down you will get a first reaction out of yourself and will be filled with ideas to improve it. I can't tell you how many times I have done this to myself. Sometimes something as simple as a small web banner can take 10-20 redos, and even then I still get ideas as to how I can improve them.

Think creatively. This ad is much too literal and looks like it was made in Powerpoint.
Polish it up, rethink your concepts, and come back to me.

I apologize how harsh I am when it comes to this. Design is a very important part of my life and I always find myself consumed with motivation to make better and better designs. You can too.

[Kyle Stebbins]

Maybe I was too harsh. We still haven't heard back from the original designer. Are you out there? Do you have a new version to show?

[metro2307]

Well...the first line was a wee bit harsh, but your analysis was spot on and very helpful. It would be nice to see a final product. I like the original concept.

[Rodney V. Smith]

I think Kyle may have made him uninstall photoshop or something. first line was harsh (but accurate... reminds me of my initial gut reaction before I try to use nice words).

Kyle and Cherrytime both have great points that should be listened to by anybody doing a design. Take it to heart and then take a look at some of the top designs for posters on the market (not locally, since those are usually shit) and you'll have a good idea of the style you should be going for. Always think national, not local and your design head should be in the right place...

[grinner]

a readable font would help it out.

[Kyle Stebbins]

Glad to hear from some people. I knew this area of the boards wasn't a ghost town.

I think someone here should take another shot at this design. -- Let's just use it as some sort of contest? Anyone down? I know I am... once I finish some of this damn homework...

[Kyle Stebbins]

Take it to heart and then take a look at some of the top designs for posters on the market (not locally, since those are usually shi*) and you'll have a good idea of the style you should be going for. Always think national, not local and your design head should be in the right place...

I guess I'm confused by this. I've seen some DAMN GOOD designs come from my area.

http://www.powertotheposter.org

Not all are local but many of them are.

[Rodney V. Smith]

guess i was talking more about the mindset. i've seen some godawful designs usually on a small local arena where it looks like someone let a secretary loose on photoshop. The mindset is usually one of: well it's only seen locally, so it's "good enough".

[Kyle Stebbins]

guess i was talking more about the mindset. i've seen some godawful designs usually on a small local arena where it looks like someone let a secretary loose on photoshop. The mindset is usually one of: well it's only seen locally, so it's "good enough".

Well there is no doubt that ads created for some sort of national release/publication/what have you have had a bit more money pumped into them, and as such have almost definitely been in the hands of a more experienced designer.

That's not to say that all national ads are good. In fact, a lot of them are terrible.

I can see what you are trying to say, though. Local, independently owned companies are more likely to have their secretary, intern, whatever mock up ads in Microsoft Word. -- Too bad, too. Lots of potential for some of these companies. Little do people know how important marketing and brand archetypes are, let alone ad polish.

I'm hardly one to talk on the matter, however. I'm just a student that's starting to learn about design and advertising. The portfolio I have online is really just a beginning. I've got a long ways to go.

[Kyle Stebbins]

I guess we lost the original creator of this graphic...

[coalclear]

make the text all white, also the blue on the chairs and the tv dont mix with the background, make them black or dark grey or dark brown.
my .02