Is it a collection of home movies? A vacation video? Or maybe it’s a short film you made for school or fun.
Instead of just titling it “Family Vacation” you can come up with a creative title to make your DVD cover look more appealing. Say where you went on vacation, or use what you did as part of the title. For example, if it is a class project for history, call it something like “A Step Back In Time” rather than “History Class Project”.
You can always use a still image from some of the video you shot, or a picture you took. Alternatively, you can find a photo online that you like and think will work well. But you should be careful if you’re distributing your DVD to others as you have to obey copyright law for photos. [1] X Research source You can find free to use, Creative Commons photos by searching the Creative Commons website or through the Creative Commons section on Flicker. [2] X Research source [3] X Research source
If you want your DVD cover to have a modern look you can use a font like Helvetica, Folio, or Standard CT. [4] X Research source Maybe you went on a trip to Asia and want a font that embodies your trip. You can use something like Papyrus, or Bonzai. Or maybe you want a fun, funky font, try something like Distillery, or True North. [5] X Research source
Maybe you like a DVD cover with a collage of images or one with a funky font on it. Taking inspiration from what you like is a great way to envision what your own DVD cover will look like.
You can use a template in Microsoft Word or manually set up your document. In OpenOffice. org Writer or Microsoft Word, click Format then Columns then choose 3. Set the width of column 1 to 129mm (5"), column 2 to 15mm (0. 6") and column 3 to 129mm (5"). Click in line between. If you’re familiar with Photoshop you can also make your own DVD cover in that application. [6] X Research source
A standard DVD cover measures 184mm (7. 25") by 273mm (10. 75"). Depending on your printer and paper size, it is possible to fit an entire DVD cover onto a single sheet of paper (A4, which is the standard size of paper, is more than large enough). [7] X Research source You may need to reduce page margins to zero. If your paper size does not accommodate printing on a single sheet, then the front and back panels should both be 7. 25" by 5. 15". The title strip, also known as the spine, should be 7. 25" by 0. 5". This will leave a little overlap for connecting the pieces.
If you are using a word application, you can use the “Insert Text” function. Or, if you are in Photoshop, click the “T” button on your panel and then draw the text box over your photo. [8] X Research source You should see a blinking cursor which indicates that you can begin typing.
This will add some extra meaning to your DVD. You can even add fake barcodes and age ratings (like the MPAA or BBFC ratings) for added realism. [9] X Research source [10] X Research source
If you are running Windows, then you can find the print preview button under the “Menu” tab. [11] X Research source If you are running Mac OSX then you can find the print preview button under the “File” tab at the top. Clicking the “Print” button in Photoshop will also bring up a printing preview for you.
If you are using photo paper that’s glossy, you may have to let it dry for a bit longer.
If you have a DVD-disk with a white top and a DVD burner that allows you to burn images onto the disk, use it! It will really add realism to your DVD. If not, you can always place a label on it. You can find all sorts of press-on labels at office or computer supplies stores.
