Open your DVD creation program.
Create a new workspace. Click “File” and select “New.” A pop-up will appear. Change your width to 11 inches and your height to 7.5 inches. Change your resolution to 300 dpi. Change your color mode to either RGB or CMYK. Select white as your background color. Pixels are dots that make up a resolution. A higher dpi gives a crisper image. RGB (Red, Green and Blue) are the basic colors that make up a broad range of colors. CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and the key color Black) colors are pre-mixed colors that you can choose to alter.
Turn on your “Tools” bar. Click on “Window” and select “Tools.” Your “Tools” bar contains all the tools (commands) you will use to create your DVD cover.
Turn on your “Layers” window and your “Options” window. Click on “Window” and select “Layers” and “Options.” Select “Rulers” to turn on your rulers. Your “Layers” window is where your layers will be stored to work on. Layers are images stacked on top of one another. Your “Options” window will be at the top of your screen and contains shortcuts for the tools in your “Tools” bar.
Click your “Background” layer in your “Layers” window to duplicate your background layer. Click your “Layer” tab and select “Duplicate Layer.” Repeat this step for another duplicate layer. Your original background layer is locked and cannot be moved up or down in your “Layers” window. Double click on the layer and label your first duplicated layer as “Black.” Select your “Paint Bucket” tool in your “Tools” bar. Fill your background with the color black. Your black background will serve as your bleed layer. A bleed layer extends your print area so that there are no white lines when you cut your cover.
Select your second background layer and label it “White.” Scale your white background layer a quarter inch vertically and horizontally by clicking on the layer and selecting your “Move” tool in your “Tools” bar. Your “Move” tool is in the upper right hand corner of your “Tools” bar and is identified by the arrow and compass. Drag the guidelines to scale your layer smaller. Scaling makes an image larger or smaller.
Create a spine guideline using your ruler. Click on your vertical ruler and drag it to 5 1/4 inches. Drag another ruler line to 5 3/4 inches. The right side of your workspace will be the front of your cover and the left will be the back of your DVD cover.
Insert your image on the right front of your cover. Click your “File” tab and select “Open.” A pop-up will appear. Select your file and click “Open.” Your file will open as a different window.
Copy your newly opened image by clicking your “Edit” tab and selecting “Copy” or use the shortcut Ctrl and C. Click inside your DVD cover window and click “Edit” and select “Paste” or use the shortcut Ctrl and V.
Type the title of your DVD cover. Click on your “Type” tool which can be identified by the uppercase T in your “Tools” bar. Select your font type, font size and font color in your “Options” window at the top of your screen. Use the same step to type in titles on the back of your cover.
Select your “Type” tool and select the “Vertical Type” command. This will type your letters vertically.
Save your file when you are satisfied with your DVD cover.
Print your cover onto your bright white paper or brochure paper using your color printer.