Abet Design Contest
Enter To Win $100 Gift Card In The AbetDisc.com Design Contest!
Calling all artists/designers! Want to add the accolade of “Best Cover Designer” in addition to all your other titles? Enter the AbetDisc.com design contest today for the chance to win a $100 gift card good towards future CD or DVD duplication, CD or DVD mass recording replication, or any services offered by AbetDisc.com.
Before customers can listen to your CD, they have to be tempted to pick it up and buy it. Only the best, most attractive, creative and artistic covers are going to get people to notice your disc. You owe it to yourself, after pouring your heart into your project, to now highlight your disc with eye-grabbing packaging. That is why AbetDisc.com is going to reward you in their best artwork contest for CD or DVD cover design.
You’ll have to think creatively to win the abet design contest- but that’s ok if you’re up to the challenge! It is all to the benefit of boosting your CD’s or DVD’s success. The folks at Abet Disc are musicians, too, and they understand the importance of creating an eye-catching CD cover design. Just check out their design that won the 2009 American Packaging Design Award for eco-friendly packaging design- a simple yet nifty envelope that invites customers to buy it just to see what’s inside!
So after you’ve made the disc, put your talents to work on the designing a cover suitable to win this artwork contest. What will be your inspiration? A “popping” holographic image of your logo? A provocative image or set of images highlighting your main song title and lyrics? An enigmatic symbol-only cover with no words? Or will you try for cover packaging with creative cutouts or simply a haunting black and white photo? Whatever works best to market your CD, use it to your advantage! Remember that a picture speaks a thousand words, so don’t waste the chance to capitalize on designing a cover that shouts for attention.
Entering the Abet design contest is easy and it’s free! You receive one entry with each CD or DVD duplication design, replication and printing order by simply checking off the box saying that you want to submit your artwork when placing an order. At the end each month, Abet Disc will choose a winner out of all the submissions. Win the $100 gift card and use it to purchase more CD duplication designs of your winning cover so everybody can see it! Show the world that you are the all-around accomplished artist! Good luck!
Visit http://www.abetdisc.com for more details on the abet design contest.
December 2009 Abet Design Contest Winner!
Eric Shouse December 2009 Abet Design Contest Winner!
Please join us in congratulating our December 2009 Abet Design Contest Winner!
To all contest participants, thank you for your submissions. The designs we have received were very impressive.
Once again, we appreciates your participation in the Abet Design Contest.
Congratulation!
Abet Disc
November 2009 Abet Design Contest Winner!
Burning Spear November 2009 Abet Design Contest Winner
Please join us in congratulating our November 2009 Design contest winner!
To all contest participants, thank you for your submissions. The designs we have received were very impressive.
Once again, we appreciates your participation in the design contest.
Congratulation!
Abet Disc
October 2009 Abet Design Contest Winner!
Edwin Rivera - Soul of A Dancer
Please join us in congratulating our October 2009 Design contest winner!
To all contest participants, thank you for your submissions. The designs we have received were very impressive.
Once again, we appreciates your participation in the design contest.
Congratulation!
Abet Disc
September 2009 Abet Design Contest Winner!
Please join us in congratulating our September 2009 Design contest winner!
To all contest participants, thank you for your submissions. The designs we have received were very impressive.
Once again, we appreciates your participation in the design contest.
Congratulation!
Abet Disc
August 2009 Design Contest Winner!
Please join us in congratulating our August 2009 Design contest winner!
To all contest participants, thank you for your submissions. The designs we have received were very impressive.
Once again, we appreciates your participation in the design contest.
Congratulation!
Abet Disc
Chill Mood – CD Cover Design
Turn off the world’s distractions and turn on your inner peace.
Let the gentle sounds and soothing melodies from stream of rejuvenation provide you with a sanctuary to indulge your sense.
Ambient Music | Relaxation Music | Yoga Music | Meditation Music | Healing Music | New Age Music | Nature Music.
Therapeutic Massage Music, Essential Music for Massage Therapist.
CHILL MOOD – Stream of Rejuvenation
Active ingredient (in each track) Purpose %Daliy Value
New Age 40mg…………………………………Healing…………………………..8%
World 108mg……………………………………………Meditation………………..18%
Ambient 120mg………………………………..Relaxation…………………28%
Use as needed for
• temporary relief of pressure
• Mood improvement
• Mind and body healing
Directions
• play as needed
• do not repeat more than 6 times in 24 hours
• adults and children 12 years of age and over: can play
• children under 12 years of age: ask your parents
Warning
My cause sudden up swing in wood, feeling, thoughts of joy and happiness, in some rare cases extreme happiness. Discontinue if disc is skipping and immediately contact your supplier.
Chill Mood manufactured in USA.
Distributed by Abet Music http://www.abetmusic.com
Questions? call 1-866-574-0275 between 9am – 5pm PST Monday – Friday.
Useful Design Tips
This tutorial assumes you have some experience with industry standard layout and graphics programs
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How to set up a Donut for on-disc printing |
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When creating on-disc artwork, you must include a donut template file along with the regular CMYK file. The donut template file is used to show where the silver of the disc will be showing. Use 100% K to indicate white base on-disc. White will indicate silver.
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How to set up bleed |
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When sending an .eps or .pdf, make sure you include crop marks so we can cut the job correctly.
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Does Abet Disc accept borders on jobs? |
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Yes, but if the border is too close to the cutline, it may be cut off-center slightly.
We cut through many sheets at a time, so watch your borders to avoid an unwanted mistake.
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What color mode should my files be? |
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If you send us an RGB file, there is a chance that a color shift may occur and you may not be satisfied with your job.
You should always start and finish your designs in CMYK color mode.
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What resolution should my files be? |
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Low resolution files may be printed as is or will be placed on hold until we receive new files, slowing your turn-around.
We only accept 300 dpi files and no less.
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What are hue and saturation? |
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What are hue and saturation? Photoshop CS4 color adjustments with hue and saturation, adding color to black and white image. Credits: Photo – Aeron Photography Music – Effusion – Forever My Love
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What type of files can I send to Abet Disc? |
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You may send:
PHOTOSHOP ILLUSTRATOR INDESIGN QUARK
.jpg, .jpeg, .psd, .tif, .tiff, .eps, .ai, .pdf
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Should I send a proof or sample file? |
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When uploding/sending artwork, do not include any extra files, like proofs or samples, only send the files you need printed.
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How should I set up a Spot UV job? |
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When creating a Spot UV job, You must include a Spot UV template file along with the regular full color file. The Spot UV template file is used to show where the UV will be placed.Use 100% K to indicate where you would like the UV. White will indicate no UV.
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How can I set up a file for silver ink? |
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Silver ink files must be sent in a vector format. You must use a vector program, like Illustrator or Indesign, to call out the object you want in silver ink.
To indicate the silver ink, you must set the object color to Pantone® 877 C. Any other color will not be accepted as silver. Also, labeling the layer as “silver mask” or “silver” will not qualify your file.
Remember, silver is a spot color and transparencies like drop shadows should be avoided.
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How do I set up an Metallics Unlimited (MU) file? |
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With our Metallics Unlimited (MU) system, you can make any CMYK color or full color image into a metallic color. MU jobs must be created in Photoshop. In addition to your full color artwork, you must add a chanel to your final file.
After creating your full color design in a photoshop layer, select what you would like to be metallic with the magic wand or selection tool.Make sure when making your selection, to only select the area that you need metallic. The MU system will not work on gradients so do not include them in your selection. After the selection is made, go to the channels palet, then the channels menu, and select “New Spot Channel…”Make sure the name of your spot channel is “mu channel”. Under “Ink Characteristics”, color is set to, C 0 M 0 Y 0 K 100. Solidity is set to 100%.The black parts indicate what will be metallic and the white parts will print as normal CMYK ink.
Remember, the color or area you indicated in the chanels must match the same area you want metallic in your layers.Save your file as a “Photoshop DCS 2.0″ file.The extension for this file will be .EPS. Your file is now ready to send to Abet Disc. Remember, MU works better with lighter colors and we cannot guarantee any color matching.
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How can I make sure my blues do not come out purple? |
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When using a blue in your design, always make sure to leave at least a 30% difference in your Cyan and Magenta values. Blue is close to purple in the CMYK spectrum. Remember, use a low amount of magenta whenever using high amounts of cyan to avoid purple.
Example: C-100 M-70 Y-0 k-0
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How do I export a .pdf correctly? |
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When exporting from any program such as Indesign or Illustrator, use these settings to make sure your .PDF files export correctly.
Adobe PDF Preset: Press Quality
Compatibility set to: PDF 1.3
ress Text and Line Art set to: Off
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How do I get a grayscale image in a CMYK document? |
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Grayscale images that are converted to CMYK will have a color shift in the final print. That shift may be green or yellow.
Always check the CMYK values of your grayscale in the final CMYK document. If there are other values other then K in your grayscale image, there is a chance that the color will vary.
To eliminate all values other then K, use your Channel Mixer (adjustment layer) in Photoshop, then click “Monochrome” and adjust accordingly.
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What is rich black and how can I get it? |
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Rich black is an ink mixture of solid black, 100% K, with additional CMY ink values. This results in a darker tone than black ink alone. If you print black alone as 100% K, the resulting black may not be as dark as you might like.
We recomend using…
C 60 M 40 Y 40 K 100
This will give you a deep, dark, rich black.
How To Choose A CD Duplication Company
Whether you need a few hundred CDs or DVDs or a few thousand, it’s important to choose the right company to help you with this process. A CD Duplication company has all the necessary equipment to produce high quality CDs or DVDs with professional artwork to make your discs really shine.
First, understand the difference between CD duplication. The two processes provide similar results, but differ in the quantity of CDs or DVDs you can copy and the methods used. For instance, if you need a few hundred DVDs, then DVD duplication will suffice. Duplication is the process in which the data is burned onto a recordable disc’s surface. Replication, however, uses a glass master copy to stamp data onto the CDs or DVDs. Quantities for CD or DVD duplication are usually between five hundred and a thousand, while replication is used for quantities of more than a thousand. You can even make a million copies using CD duplication!
If you only need a hundred or so CDs or DVDs, consider purchasing your own duplicator. Duplicators can range in price anywhere from a few hundred to two thousand dollars depending on the features, quality, and brand. This can help if you own a company or franchise and need to make copies for employees. Churches and non-profit organizations also find these to be handy for copying low-quantity items.
Choose a Company that Meets Your Needs
When choosing a CD duplication company, be sure the company offers all the services you’ll need from start to finish at a reasonable price. Some companies will do CD mastering, replication, and design for you. There are brokers that merely work as a middle man between you and the CD duplication company. Brokers can be helpful if you’re just starting out and have a really big project to complete. There are also manufacturers that outsource the replication work to other smaller companies.
Probably the best solution if you want very professional service is to choose a company that specializes in CD mastering, CD design, and CD duplication. A specialist can help you determine the best route for duplicating your CDs or DVDs and how to choose the proper design for your CDs and packaging. Some companies will even create artwork for you. This is a big plus because you won’t have to hire a graphic artist separately. You can complete the whole process professionally using a single company.
Locating a Vendor
There are several ways to find CD duplication specialists. You can contact those in your own city to compare their offerings and pricing. If you live in a small town, you might have to travel a good distance to the next largest city to find a CD duplication company. Or, you can benefit now from online services and never have to leave the office. Working with an online vendor can save you time and money. You can also check out what they offer and their pricing easily by surfing their website.
If you have the financial means, be sure to opt for higher quantities to get great discounts per CD. This will save you money in the long run and allow you to make higher profits when selling your CDs or DVDs.
If you’re in the music industry, motivational speaking, or need cd duplication for other purposes, use the tips above to carefully choose a CD duplication company that’s right for you!
2009 American Packaging Design Award Winner
Do you remember walking down the aisles of your music store and just skimming over the thousands and thousands of CDs? What made you suddenly stop and spontaneously pick up a CD? What’s the first thing that sparks your curiosity? Is it the content or the appeal? While most would argue, it should be about the music. It was the artwork that captured your attention. As much as we would love to believe it’s the inside that matters; lets face it, image is important. This is not, by all means, to discredit the music. The content is relevant in that; the music keeps the fans loyal and coming back for more. But if the customer just walked by your CD and never picks it up, the potential fan is gone.
Don’t underestimate the power of CD cover art! The design of your CD cover is a crucial factor that can separate the amateur from the professional. It has the power to capture new fans. CD cover design can mean the difference between having your press kit CDs ending up in the trashcans or in a CD players of A&R representatives. A captivated design can attract new business and enhance your image. Even in vinyl days, cover art has always been a major attraction.
CD design is vital, it provide a glimpse into your personality. It can tease and titillate the imagination. If you like what’s on the outside; wait until you turn me on. From country to rock and everything in between, CD cover art speaks volume about who you are. Don’t make the mistake of outsourcing the design work to amateur. Although, it might be cost effective to even design it yourself, this could cost you dearly in the end; your potential new businesses.
Graphic designers have the artistic expertise to creative eye-catching designs. You’ve taken you time to perfect your music, and your cover art is the first thing people see. Don’t chance it with an amateurish design. A professional graphic designer can give your CD cover the wow factor it needs to grab hold of your audience. CD cover art should attract customers’ attention, capture their interest and finally, sell your CD.
Remember: You only have one chance to make a first impression.
For more info. visit AbetDisc.com CD Design
Abet Disc an industry leader in CD/DVD Duplication, CD/DVD Replication Audio Mastering, award winning CD Cover Design and Printing.
Audio Mastering Way It’s Imperative
You are done recording and mixing, so now what?
You just recorded and mixed your tracks, now you are ready to duplicate it. You want to send out your CDs to radio stations, record labels, and music producers or you are ready to publish your work online, but you have few unanswered questions.
How good is the overall sound quality of my tracks compared to the competition?
Can my tracks sound any better? My tracks sound pretty good, is it good enough in the competitive world of the music industry? How do I measure the sound quality of my tracks?
Answer: Your first step should be to choose a mastering company who can professionally master your tracks.
What is audio mastering?
Audio Mastering is the final critical creative step in the process of making a master audio recording ready for Radio, TV, Movie and Multimedia. At this point all the final sound adjustments, stereo imaging improvements and sonic enhancements are applied to shape the final sound in to a coherent and sophisticated work of art.
Why do I need professional mastering?
In the competitive music business today there is continuous demand for higher quality sound. The ongoing evolution of digital technology makes mastering an indispensable step in any music, movie or multimedia projects. Our years of experience and unique techniques are counted on by our clients to gain the necessary competitive edge for the successes of their CD, DVD, Multimedia, TV and Radio releases.
Do demos need mastering?
Demo mastering is a standard practice in today’s highly competitive music market. A&R departments at indie and major record labels are flooded everyday with new demos from aspiring artists. In most cases, your music production and sound quality is closely scrutinized to weed out the amateurs. Mastering of demos is an indispensable step to give an artist an extra edge over the competition.
Do commercials and jingles need mastering?
Commercials are mastered to increase audibility of speech and narration with extended frequency response, maximized loudness and balanced dynamics. Clients that master their commercials are experiencing increasing effectiveness of their efforts. Properly mastered radio and TV commercials stand out from the rest of the program and immediately grab a hold of consumer’s attentions by facilitating audibility, loudness and powerful emotional impact even if the consumer have turned his/her attention away. Those who choose not to master are at risk of losing their impact on the market place and handing over the market share to their competitors.
What music genres require mastering?
All music genres benefit from mastering!
How do you choose a professional CD mastering house that I can trust and not spend a fortune on?
Professional mastering company will offer true 24-bit, 32-bit and 64bit support, all up to 192KHz sample rates. Final projects should be delivered as Red Book Pre-master CD’s (PMCD’s), ready for replication or duplication. Master disc should be burned with CD-Text, UPC and ISRC.
For more info on Audio Mastering visit: http://www.abetdisc.com