Do you think the band is aware of the "bad planet cut" in their album cover?

[namgalsipsclar]

I really can't see anything wrong with it, I still don't understand what I'm supposed to be looking at

[atmyne]

YES! it's perfect. It looks as good as the original BEFORE noticing that horrid line. pitch it to RRtwitter!

I really can't see anything wrong with it, I still don't understand what I'm supposed to be looking at

After playing with the color curves of the image, this was seen.

[fibreoptix]

I can't see it in the original image and furthermore I don't care.

[Sycsa]

I can't see it in the original image and furthermore I don't care.

Good for you.

[The Stray Seed]

It's not perfect yet for my settings (I can still see a brighter area around the bottom right part of the majesty) but it's still miles better than the original image.

[ZirconBlue]

Yeah, even when I'm looking for I can't see it on my monitor. 

[puppyonacid]

I didn't notice it. It was pointed out and I thought it was shabby, but still couldn't see it in the original image. Then I highlighted the pic to see if that would show it up, and it does. I then clicked off the image and blam! I can still see the cut.

For me it's not an issue of whether it can be seen or not. It's there and it shouldn't be. It's tantamount to papering over the cracks.

An album cover has nothing to do with function (like an ugly looking engine under a car bonnett that actually does what it's supposed to do) and has everything to do with aesthetics.

I really hope that it gets resolved before release.

[RoeDent]

I don't care tbh. People spend too much time picking faults. We're all going to buy it, whatever the cover's like. This petty cover debate will pale into insignificance when the music is heard.

[ProgressiveIce]

This petty cover debate will pale into insignificance when the music is heard.

It will disappear into the darkness...

[Sycsa]

I don't care tbh. People spend too much time picking faults. We're all going to buy it, whatever the cover's like. This petty cover debate will pale into insignificance when the music is heard.

Well, duh, no need to overstate the obvious for the hundredth time. But until we hear the music, this is the hot topic. DT's prestige and professionalism shouldn't allow such a sloppy mistake on an otherwise classy looking cover.

[JPX]

Let me ask this in relation to the cover. Do you really, truely believe that someone involved in the artwork isn't aware of this? Or that any one of the numerous people in the DT camp that saw it before we did didn't notice it on some type of device?
The answer to this is most emphaticslly no, which leaves only two conclusions.

1. It's there on purpose.
2. It's a draft they released early on the Internet so we could see it.

Ask yourself which one is more likely.

[Nekov]

Blob please remind me, why aren't you the one making covers for DT?

[Bolsters]

Blob please remind me, why aren't you the one making covers for DT?

Because Blob has not previously made any covers for Rush.

[kirksnosehair]

I don't think the band noticed, and I'll tell you why:  I cannot for the life of me see where the planet is cut off in normal conditions.  Yeah, when you invert the colors, it's obvious, but the colors aren't inverted.  Even with my laptop on its brightest setting, I can't see the cut, and if I can't see the issue with a very bright backlight, then I doubt I'll see it when it's printed on an album cover.  So yeah, I think it's entirely possible the band is not aware of the "issue".

Word

[Setlist Scotty]

if I can't see the issue with a very bright backlight, then I doubt I'll see it when it's printed on an album cover.  So yeah, I think it's entirely possible the band is not aware of the "issue".

I doubt the band noticed this when presented with the artwork, and I understand why. But I think it would be foolish for them to ignore this issue, because it does reflect poorly on them (the cover is the first thing seen) and there's a good chance that the error *will* be visible in the final printed piece if not fixed beforehand. When I converted the RGB file to CMYK in Photoshop using standard settings (which will probably be what's used in the printing), the difference between the lightest area of the image and the flat dark area is more noticeable (especially in the black channel), and from my experience, will be apparent:

lightest area
C:77 M:69 Y:63 K:82

flat dark area
C:75 M:68 Y:67 K:90

[ZKX-2099]

Still better than the last cover.

[snapple]

Blob, thanks for the post on what the conditions could be like (with the monitors and all).

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

Honestly, when we all sit down and think about, are we going to care about the album cover when it's all said and done?

Wait, this is DTF, of course we're going to care about the album cover.

This is not because "we're DTF" and we obsess in all things Dream Theater, album covers are a pretty big deal and more if the band is trying to reach new fans. It's lame-ish that in their official "art work and track listing" press release they put out a cover that has a defect that bothers most of the people that have seen the mistake... if it bothers so much people and looks so bad, do you really think that cut is part of the concept? I don't know, Blob's fixed version is just perfect and I could live with that. In a Dream Theater subforum, we might as well discuss "all things" Dream Theater, and I for one am going to be kind of annoyed if, as I said in my original post, this album turns out to be amazing and the cover doesn't reflect one bit of that awesomeness. Image is extremely important for a band, first impressions matter.

[Mladen]

Thanks for the edited version, Blob, I set it as the wallpaper and the difference is obvious. However, it would be interesting if the cut weren't visible when printed as the cover.

[rumborak]

While I didn't see the cut in the original image, yeah, I do have to admit that once again it's a sloppy job.
What bothered me more is actually that the visible features in the planet (clouds) don't round off like they should. They just kind of cut off at the edge of the planet.

[matte.braso]

someone's interesting theory (found on fb) on how the cover could originally have been, explaining the crops:

the guy imagines that the Majesty logo would have been above the planet. But then they've changed idea and inverted the positions. 

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

I don't like the idea of the majesty symbol being cut. You know, I think that's the best part of the cover  but it might have worked.

[CrimsonSunrise]

While I didn't see the cut in the original image, yeah, I do have to admit that once again it's a sloppy job.
What bothered me more is actually that the visible features in the planet (clouds) don't round off like they should. They just kind of cut off at the edge of the planet.

Funny, I thought your "Clouds" were Ice floes or snow/ice covered terrain.  As far as the cut?  I don't see it on my monitor.

[matte.braso]

I don't like the idea of the majesty symbol being cut. You know, I think that's the best part of the cover  but it might have worked.

it would have been above the globe, not cut

[Lynxo]

someone's interesting theory (found on fb) on how the cover could originally have been, explaining the crops:

the guy imagines that the Majesty logo would have been above the planet. But then they've changed idea and inverted the positions.

Isn't it more likely that it's the original stock image that was like that, not the original cover?

[Sycsa]

I know the next thing that'll bug me after they fix the black line. The uneven contour of the Majesty logo. I know it's the reflection, but it makes the logo look somewhat sloppy, especially at that point.

[matte.braso]

Isn't it more likely that it's the original stock image that was like that, not the original cover?

yeah, but I'm curious to see the result in putting the logo over the planet...anyone that wanna try to make that?

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

I know the next thing that'll bug me after they fix the black line. The uneven contour of the Majesty logo. I know it's the reflection, but it makes the logo look somewhat sloppy, especially at that point.

I don't wanna be that guy but can't the fact that it's a JPG file play a role in the whole debate? It's probably a compressed image and with that comes artifacts and other deviations. Just a hunch though.

[Sycsa]

I know the next thing that'll bug me after they fix the black line. The uneven contour of the Majesty logo. I know it's the reflection, but it makes the logo look somewhat sloppy, especially at that point.

I don't wanna be that guy but can't the fact that it's a JPG file play a role in the whole debate? It's probably a compressed image and with that comes artifacts and other deviations. Just a hunch though.

I was halfway self-ironic in my previous post, but it's true, once you see a mistake, even if it's barely noticeable, you cannot unsee it. I'm fairly sure that the end product will have no shortcomings and it'll be a blast to look at the artwork while listening to the album.

[Kotowboy]

This whole debate reminds me of when Metallica put out The Day That Never Comes. There were pages upon pages upon pages of people discussing dynamic range, loudness wars and the word " clipping " haunted me for months afterwards.



1. People were convinced the finished retail CD would sound better
2. Others were sure it was due to being a low-res mp3 download
3. Others were adamant there was nothing wrong despite being shown evidence ( wave forms )
4. Others could hear the clipping but it didn't bother them
5. Others got a hold of the Guitar Hero files and made their own version which many preferred. . .

Not a million miles away from what's happening here.

[ZKX-2099]

Hey is it possible that the logo is reflecting something?

IE: a nugget?

[Kotowboy]

Space Chickens in Space Dye Vests.

[mocool13]

tbh I think that line is intentional

[Kotowboy]

It's a Line in the Sand....



... and Sea and tarmac and forests and cities and shopping centres and hair salons !

[Implode]

tbh I think that line is intentional

Why?