Wanted: Graphic Templates for future 'design a label'

[digitalpress]

This was posted in PackratVG's contest but I wanted to open it up to everyone.

Does anyone have some basic "empty" templates for the various video game carrtridge labels and CD case covers? If so, please send them along (I'll give you full credit for them). It would be great to have a "starters kit", grab the template, maybe a few commonly seen fonts, and go. The hardest part of these design contests, I find, is getting started.

In fact, a whole page of such templates, with logos and symbols as they originally appeared would be NIFTY. I'd be happy to set this up but really need some help.

Can anyone assist here?

[Sofa King Gud]

As in scan up some carts at home, and using a program, edit it so that the picture is gone, and there is a blank space instead...
How would I go about doing this?

[Achika]

Do you want like illustrator or photoshop templates? That's how I've done my label designs, basically with grid lines and a ruler, going off the label that's on the cartridge.

[digitalpress]

Do you want like illustrator or photoshop templates? That's how I've done my label designs, basically with grid lines and a ruler, going off the label that's on the cartridge.

Actually I'm not even looking for anything as complex as that. A simple JPG or BMP would be fine.

As for how to go about doing it, if you're not sure how to blank out the picture then it's best to leave it there, I can manage that part easily enough. I can manage the whole process but I'd much rather get some help so I can work on the dozen other projects I'm working on :)

Thanks!

[Sniderman]

Dammit, there's a website out there that FILLED with blank Atari 2600 labels or all company releases - Activision, CBS, you name it. The guy did it specifically so folks could make their own labels for carts.

I did an article for Classic Gamer Magazine - Issue 6 several years back on "The Best Games That Never Existed" (fake labels) and I mentioned this website as a "do-it-yourself" resource. This guy even had the right fonts uploaded. I'm at work, but anyone who can look up that specific issue will find that website listed.

I'll look it up tonight when I get home if no one else has.

[digitalpress]

Cool.

I won't re-invent the wheel, but I'd like to have much more than Atari 2600 labels on the page. I'd be happy to link everyone to his site to grab the 2600 stuff. I might keep a few of the very common ones here just for those who want to dabble.

[Sofa King Gud]

This is all I could find: http://www.classicgamer.com/current6.html

I'll assist... I'll get as many as I kind starting now... 'Til then, good night.

[digitalpress]

This is all I could find: http://www.classicgamer.com/current6.html

I'll assist... I'll get as many as I kind starting now... 'Til then, good night.

You rock! Thanks.

[Sofa King Gud]

There... Done sleeping. Thats all a gamer needs in terms of sleep. Over an hour is pushing it. :) I'll blank out those pics I got, and report back in a little while.

[Sofa King Gud]

Here's an example of what they'll look like.

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aADVAjkhGOUxqfCIwEM4BakAcyGxkRwLHPxugp2cCKpGX3cFW bHbyC5WZMTTv10AtMYI9LERmJRN9jhGPZMx1dT3YYC*vOV*cRv 8RGCwssk6hJ5SXn5dbFn2rrHt!c6k9Rd55LvOHbBsqDhHsRLgK GxsYS80LjAg/Adventure%202600%20Template.bmp?dc=467544594075747 2985

Tell me, do you think this is neat enough... Because when making a label for a contest, you'll most likely go over the blank space using another picture. Unless you fill in the black space by adding a picture in the middle of it instead. Do you see where I'm going?

[digitalpress]

Almost perfect!

The only thing I'd change is to leave the graphic area in the center 'blanked out" but somewhat outlined. For example, replace the picture that was in there with plain white. That way the exact picture size as well as the detail of its shape (like rounded corners) is retained for authenticity.

Or you could just leave the picture there, but if you have the time to do what you did, please do. Looks great.

Thanks again!

Anyone else? 50 different consoles, it would be nice to have a representative sample from a bunch of them, at least the popular ones.

[Sofa King Gud]

Alright, I'll edit it quickly by outlining it... Here I come MS Paint!

[Sofa King Gud]

This one:
http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0bADcAvIhJkIxqfCIwEM4BakAcyGxkRwLHPxugp2cCKozl*IVG FUUpbpQbBT3I0MEyeRF!lpb2urA793g2zs1AWudHXq8TX11wXL JDDrrqXnAMyHh4EWFGQt9CIfNRFrxNgT3dJoM6tnRJwY6NwPEu DuUpWUf1hkH/Adventure%202600%20Template%202.bmp?dc=46754459430 64056538

Or this one?:

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0bADVAvkhP0QxqfCIwEM4BakAcyGxkRwLHPxugp2cCKozl*IVG FUUpTYJ*ZrPrDxcoU6kQNwJYlqsnCYl44l6ZwLOCLV7ctapa65 SRZQu9ELzhEaBJ0uPCb4p!sp4uviZvGM5It6uE5K*WUCfvGttz d8Cxk7Syk3R/Adventure%202600%20Template%203.png?dc=46754459430 65944733

The second one is a png file, therefore you can got into Microsoft Picture It! or other programs, and just delete the "Insert Picture Here" text.

[Sofa King Gud]

Once again, I'll let you do the choosing...

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0bAAAAPghK0RFWDZP0Z3S9FA3Tt8vKxyl9UtyaSmCyL*!ODyJ7 va!oFeje7E8shcvithrEHW*XA4DuDm7P8z*pLM3vUu3IrJ!wMZ iOCpPqeG47wFqwoUw3noMYnMybN9bQWX7MiYKqDH0sCWH5xj0e W*qXiityRTC/Asteroids%202600%20Template%202.png?dc=46754459448 60063924

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0aADLAj8hHedFWDZP0Z3S9FA3Tt8vKxyl9UtyaSmCyL!lZQbF0 3o9NRA70n!f3JfKxycWkNFwoI!8smr5ifEiKXuwoS5d46qn7X1 WmvLyVBBilJLbN2hBe*EFdXfrnYiJAg1E2f3edjVKvKqqOJcIC 2xsYS80LjAg/Asteroids%202600%20Template.png?dc=467544594486237 5252

[Sniderman]

Hold the presses! Joe! GO HERE!

Forge Your Own Atari 2600 Cart (http://www.retrogoodness.com/atari/forge/Forge%20a%202600%20Cart.htm)

This is a great site called "Retrogoodness" and this was the area I was referring to. It may be 2600-exclusive, but it's every friggin' style of 2600 label imaginable.

[digitalpress]

Hold the presses! Joe! GO HERE!

Forge Your Own Atari 2600 Cart (http://www.retrogoodness.com/atari/forge/Forge%20a%202600%20Cart.htm)

This is a great site called "Retrogoodness" and this was the area I was referring to. It may be 2600-exclusive, but it's every friggin' style of 2600 label imaginable.

Wow.

OK but we've got 50+ other systems to cover here! Also, I'd rather have a higher quality image with thumbnails in the size and quality he's using. It's a nice job but I pictured something a little better. Then again I'm a dreamer.

@Sofa King. I'd go with the plain black center version. I say this because if we have ten people creating blank templates I won't have to worry about what font, size and color they use on the "insert picture here" part. Can you do that with a 5200 or ColecoVision cart label? Or PSX, Master System, NES, etc?

[Oobgarm]

I've got a blank one of these:

http://www.dustincarter.com/images/nescart.gif

Get it right here (710k):

http://www.dustincarter.com/images/nescart.bmp

[digitalpress]

OK I've got things started here so hopefully you understand where I'm going with it.

http://www.digitpress.com/diy

So basically I need every other system, a full sized 200dpi scan with the picture parts blanked out!

[Sofa King Gud]

Oh, alright... But I'm quite occupied at the moment. So, perhaps I'll get some stuff done tomorrow.