By Mark Monciardini on June 24th, 2009
Video Tutorial: Covers in the Spotlight
You’ve worked real hard on your products and designs, how about placing them on stage?
Using a dark background we can create the illusion of a spotlight in just a few simple steps. Included with this tutorial is BOX009 from Cover Action Pro 2.0. YES! I am giving away another action. You can download and install the Action to follow along or just watch the video.
Action File: BOX009.zip
PSD File: pstips-spotlight.psd
How to Install
- Open Photoshop
- Go to Window > Actions
- Open Action Palette Menu (top right corner)
- Choose Load
- Locate Action on Harddrive and load
- Follow tutorial
Enjoy the Video and please submit your feedback.
~ Mark Monciardini
Mark,
Thanks for another tutorial and free action. Please don’t make us wait much longer.
A side note. Any interested in another action idea? I do lots of banner stand, trade show booth design. how about an action for that?
Hi Roger, yes! That’s a great idea. Maybe we could offer a special trade show package. I’ll add it to the list.
-Mark
Mark,
Is version 1 still available? I’ve looked all over and can’t find it. Working on a project right now and was thinking version 1 might be helpful while I’m waiting for version 2.
Hi Mark, I definitely love your videos (I always did and have a whole bunch of them on DVDs and CDs from your earlier days). One thing I particularly like is your speed. On many other video tutorials, you watch the guy moving the mouse pixel by pixel. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to break speed records here, but you’re doing good to be faster than the average (maybe this has to do with your fast car…?)
I’m really looking forward to CAP 2.0 - and more tutorials. All the best and keep having fun!
Hi Mark,
It’s Michael from the Warrior’s forum. I gave you a testimonial for CAP 1.0 and am breathlessly awaiting Version 2.
I really do appreciate you taking your valuable time to make these tutorials. they are helping me immensely.
I especially liked the trick with the shadow between the boxes using the layer mask. I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to figure out how to make a CD/DVD cover and book or report look right when I combine them like that.
A really big THANK YOU for doing these!
I can hardly wait ’til CAP 2.0 comes out!
Michael
Hey Mark,
Super video. Keep ‘em coming! You are very talented :-)
HI M,
THanks for the Actions & Tuts. Justr a small thing in the .zip files there are 2 atn files . when I try to drag and drop the Entire folder :I get a error..
Only if I drag and drop the .atn file without the underscore It will get into PS actions . was just wondering because I have version 1 and all folders could be dragged and dropped into Photoshop..
Thanks
Marco, yes I noticed that too. Let me look into it. I’m zipping on a Mac, so let me check the program options to avoid this confusion!
Awesome video
I just came across this site today. Going back now to watch everyone.
Emma
Great video and great action. Please continue, I come to this site 3 or 4 times a day. Thanks for everything.
Also, I am very interested in your trailer video. I would love to know how you put that together and what software you used for it… (Adobe After Effects?) The spinning “2″ at the end is awesome.
Thanks again,
- Taylor
Hi,
sometimes I also have “problems” with zip-files (for windows-user) when creating them with the os x system compressor.
Thats why I always use “BetterZip” for this work on my Macs …
(it even creates archives without “mac specific stuff” like resource fork and finder configuration) :-)
Hi T. Thanks for the tip, I’ll try this out!
Another good option for making PC compatible zip files on a Mac is YemuZip. I was having a lot of complaints from Windows users who had problems opening my electronic product files so I tested several zip utilities. YemuZip was the one that solved it for me.
Thanks again for the good tutorials. I’ve learned something useful in every one.
Hi Mark Very Cool Video I would like to see a video on how to create a wow factor cover package of dvd’s binders , membership cards , you know a really big package very glossy and colourful all in one that would help me out a lot
And I think this would benefit a lot of us marketers too if you could create a video on how to design premium quality video squeeze pages with the wow factor that would be so great because I haven’t found anything like this on-line yet
I have a few more that I would like to see but give me a email mark and we could discuss it.
Take Care
shaun
Hi Mark, Thanks again.
I wanted to let you know I downloaded, installed and successfully ran this action with no problem. I was curious because the first one you released, with the 3 reflected screen caps, capped out on me every time I tried running phase 1. And I tried several things: running it one step at a time, reinstalling, restarting, etc. I assume it’s me because most folks sound like they had no troubles.
Anyway. No problem at all with this one. Great job.
Hi Mark,
Just wanted to let you know, that I really appreciate the effort and time that you have put into these training videos.
As always you’re the man that delivers and right to the point and your videos have helped me very much.
Pro Covers FX
Ray
@ProCoversFX -
Thank you, Ray. That means a lot to me :-)
Hey Mark
Great tutorials. Learning a ton! Thanks.
I vote for keep ‘em coming.
Also I host an IM Podcast with 10,000 listeners, and I’d love to have you as a guest to talk about CAPro (no affiliate links or anything, we gotta be impartial, y’know!)
Used CAPro 1.0 since forever it feels like and I am so glad you are updating it. Your actions make my sales copy look a balzillion times better.
Thanks again
Scott
Hi Mark,
I just watched this video and wanted to say that I really appreciate your videos and want you to do 3-4 a week. Every video you produce helps me immensely, I am learning a ton.
Please keep posting more!
Great job on everything you do, your work is amazing and far superior to almost every graphic designer I have seen.
Kind Regards,
David
Hi Mark
WOW everytime I watch your videos, I have a HA HA moment…
Love the ideas you have, I can remeber when I bought your cover action pro version 1.0 when you first released it. the best action package out there by far.
You have lifed out products designs to the next level thank you
Love to see more videos like this mark
Thanks again
Danny
Keep the videos coming. I enjoy them. Plus you point out those little extra details that most tutorials don’t, like the realistic shadowing and lights that most of us probably forget about but it makes it look so much better.
Can’t wait for the release.
Mark, love your work! As you said, do more that makes the product look better as you have done already.
That’s the key!
You create very professional results and they are greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Steve.
Hi Mark,
This is really awesome. You are such a great tutor! I really appreciate you sharing your tips, as I pick up many things that I did not know. Plus, I am really grateful for the action scripts you have been providing for free.
Excellent stuff.
Maxx
this is awesome! i really appreciate your hard work! keep up the modjo! :D
Watching all the videos make me realize how unskill I am…
Thanx for the tips..