Choose the movie that you want to create a cover of. Look at the original movie cover, think about the plot, and brainstorm different ideas that you want to create for the cover. Write the ideas down and even sketch a few of them out to help with the development process.
Remove the cover from the case and scan it onto your computer. If you do not have a scanner, you can go to CDCover.cc to find the DVD cover. Click on the "Movie" section, the letter that the movie starts with and scroll down until you find the correct cover. There may be custom covers already uploaded that you can look at and get ideas from.
Import the DVD cover into photo-editing software. Create a new file that is the same size as the DVD cover so that the program has one blank photo and the DVD cover.
Use photo highlight tools like marquee tools to select the title from the DVD cover. Copy and paste the title onto the blank movie cover template.
Go to IMDB.com or the movie's official website to get stills from the movie. If the movie is older, there probably is not an official website, but IMDB.com is host to classic photos, posters and promotional materials for the film. Right-click on a photo you want to use, click "Copy" and then paste it into the blank movie cover.
Get extra images from the actual movie. Play the disc in your computer, and pause the movie on the screenshot you want to use. Press the "Print-Screen" button and then press "CTRL" and "V" in the movie cover file to paste the screen shot.
Arrange the photos, text and other elements of the movie cover. Use a solid or gradient background to remove all the white.
Print out a test copy of the movie cover. Trim the white edges off the piece of paper and place it in the DVD case to see how it looks. Make any adjustments to the movie cover and then print out a high-quality version.