L'Bells!

[greencoat]

I'm gonna use this thread as my show n' tell. This is label for my first brew. I had a posted a black and white one earlier, but decided to scrap it and go color. It may return someday...anyway - mah new label:

Critiques always welcome.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

I hope the IPA tastes as good as the label looks. Great job! What program did you use to do that?

 

[KYB]

Looks great.

 

[greencoat]

I hope the IPA tastes as good as the label looks. Great job! What program did you use to do that?

Thanks for the kind words I used the mighty Photoshop, as per usual.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Thanks for the kind words I used the mighty Photoshop, as per usual.

I'm cheap...I use gimp. And it's nowhere near as easy to use as photoshop.

 

[greencoat]

I'm cheap...I use gimp. And it's nowhere near as easy to use as photoshop.

I only have it 'cause of scholarship money I got from high school years ago. I'm still using Photoshop 7, I think they're on 12 or something ridiculous now.

 

[clemson55]

Looks good, photoshop cs 4 is the newest I think that makes it 11 don't really remember there being an 8 think it went from 7 to cs.

 

[greencoat]

Here's a different label for the same beer, the main design is actually from a rock show poster I did last year. A local indie record label, Squids Eye Records, is releasing two new albums next month. The label's owner is a beer geek, so I'm gonna give him a few bottles with the new label glued on as a gift.

If anyone's gonna be in Dayton on August 14th, you should swing by Blind Bob's around 10PM. Yakuza Heart Attack and Astro Fang are both releaseing new CDs, and both bands are amazing live.

And, as always, critiques are welcome

 

[MBasile]

I hope the IPA tastes as good as the label looks. Great job! What program did you use to do that?

I hate when I go to the store and buy something new because the label is cool/the name is funny (like Moose Drool) and then the beer tastes like they put about .5% of the effort that they put into the label, into the beer.

Anyways, awesome label!

 

[greencoat]

Here's one for batch number two. I named it the Apathetic IPA because a lot of everything went wrong from the beginning of this brew, and I simply stopped caring. I had to go to my LBHS three times, I missed my target OG by many points and realized I forgot priming sugar well after capping all the bottles to name a few of the setbacks. I figured a half-assed "I give up" label would fit it pretty well. I used Photoshop, but Paint would have been more appropriate. I even used Comic Sans (my least favorite font of all time.) Anyhow - here is my attempt at an awful label:

Critiques are always welcome, but in this case, they will go ignored.

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

I actually like that label. It's amusing. I would probably buy something like this in the store because of a label like that. It makes it seem like the brewer doesn't care what I think of his product...which is probably where you're at right now if you messed up on the batch.

 

[witbierd]

My favorite part is the "5ish % ABV" at the bottom. That defines apathetic.
"So, how much alcohol is in this?"
Shrugs. "Eh, I dunno. Some. Like, 5ish?"

 

[greencoat]

My buddies' band made it to the final round of a the long running Dayton Band Playoffs, so I've decided to give them a six pack of homebrew based around one of their songs, "Rabid Beaver Attack." It's the same beer as the Apathetic IPA, which turned out much better than I had anticipated. I decided to give them some bottles to help ward off the beavers, and it's covered with references to the song's lyrics. Tell me what you think!

 

[greencoat]

I just won the Best Label award at Dayton's Oktoberfest for this variation of the Forestwalk IPA. Pardon the ridiculous text, I'm a big fan of cheese.

 

[globeboxxr]

Well done! All of your labels are great. I especially love the notes and directions on the Apathetic. And congrats on the win... I can't believe I missed Oktoberfest in my home town of Dayton!

 

[greencoat]

I just put this together tonight instead of sleeping. My scanner is finally back up and running, so I had to take full advantage of it. I know it looks kinda busy and 'lopsided,' but keep in mind that when it's on a bottle you can really only see three inches or so at a time. You're pretty much only going to be seeing the junk to the left and right if you choose to turn the bottle.



Click the image for a better view.

I hope this beer turns out well, haha.

 

[greencoat]

Printing this and the Christmas beer labels off at the Kink-holes tonight. This one is for my literal interpretation graff, based off The Dark Tower books. It turned out surprisingly well.



Click for printable size. Cheers!

 

[machinelf]

Great labels! I especially love the xmas one. Nicely crafted assemblage always trumps digital cleanliness.

 

[MultumInParvo]

Beaver Repellent? Man, thats hilarious. Well done.

 

[ptra1004]

"...stay the **** out of the woods..."

Awesome! Great looking labels man!

 

[greencoat]

Here are some finished products:

Beer fridge

And the team photo!

 

[Suthrncomfrt1884]

Great final look! I still love the IPA and Christmas labels the best. What label paper and printer are you using? It looks like they have a glossy look to them.

 

[greencoat]

Thanks! I just print 'em off at Kinko's and use their standard issue color copy paper. I'd imagine the flash is probably giving them the glossy look.

 

[machinelf]

Great looking bottles! Do you ever have trouble removing them?

 

[greencoat]

Not at all. I use a glue stick to apply them, and they come right off with hot water. Just don't over do it. I do a strip of glue down each vertical side, then a little squiggle in the middle, and it works out great.

 

[machinelf]

Thanks for the tip! I printed some out on adhesive backed paper and that was a pita to remove. Your solution makes more sense all around (that paper is pricey!).

 

[MVKTR2]

Greencoat I wanted to say those are some seriously sick labels. I have a Graphics Design degree, mostly useless now as a minister, and about 15 years experience. Thusly I fancy myself somewhat knowledgeable about design layout and such. You have a real talent my friend! The christmas, squid, & forrestwalk are off the charts!

Schlante,
Phillip

 

[greencoat]

Greencoat I wanted to say those are some seriously sick labels. I have a Graphics Design degree, mostly useless now as a minister, and about 15 years experience. Thusly I fancy myself somewhat knowledgeable about design layout and such. You have a real talent my friend! The christmas, squid, & forrestwalk are off the charts!

Schlante,
Phillip

Wow, thank you! I took a couple design classes in high school, and a few in college before I decided to become a rock star.

Needless to say, I'm going back to school in the winter.

 

[mmb]

I want that Forestwalker IPA hop image for my desktop background! That's friggin sweet!

 

[greencoat]

I want that Forestwalker IPA hop image for my desktop background! That's friggin sweet!

What is your desktop size (pixel x pixel)?? I can throw that together real easy like!

Edit: Here is the hop background @ 1280x1024.

Cheers!