I was just wondering what people thought about the box art GW uses.

Lately they have been going more with models and photoshopped effects.

Do you like these or paintings?

I can't really decide which i like more. Obviously the paintings take longer and thus cost more which may be why they are going for photos of the miniatures.

I whipped up this example using photoshop in about 10 minutes. What do you think?


http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e99/InquisitorEarl/LemanRussSquadronArt2.jpg

I prefer the shooped ones, they just look cool.

I've got mixed feelings. On one hand, I like the added effects as they're not cheesy, but it helps you image how it would look on the battlefield. On the other end, it's only a model ;)

i liked the paintings because it just seems more skillfull and cooler looking. A space marine bike with blurred lights around it to make it look like it's going fast just looks cheesy.

I miss the paintings. If you want to see the models check online for them. I used to keep all my boxes because they looked cool. Painting and drawing are a dieing art, and we need to save it :C

I think I rather the photoshopped ones, just because if they do a good job, they end up looking quite neat.
That said, I love the paintings, like the codex covers, etc. as well.

Paintings, I feel ripped off when they just put a picture of a russ and photo shop a gun firing on it.

Paintings all the way. Also, the trench board looks great Earl.

I like the paintings better :) you can capture the emotions of the warriors etc when you look at them :) which you cant do with a photoshopped model (at least not that i know of :p)

Nah, both are good, but paintings are my preference :)

Shaabhekh :happy:

I liked the paintings. They had style and class and looked way cooler than shooped cover arts. But I don't care to much, the shooped ones looks decent at least.

I miss the paintings. If you want to see the models check online for them.

or just look at the back of the box

i also love the paintings i feel cheated with anything less with tanks its not as important but i would like you to see two exsamples of box artwork the made me wount to collect warhammer in the first place


first the art work on the zombie and skeleton regiments

and second the artwork on the necron warriors and monolith boxed sets

the clan rat box set is also pretty cool

I'm a big fan of the paintings. I can see the models online or on the back of the box.

Tekore

I find the painting are nice, they go a little over board with the photoshop stuff, for instance if you look at the scout box set, there is a scout running forward and holding his gun down and to the side, but he's still firing it, why? He looks like he's gona hit his buddy beside him.

I find the painting are nice, they go a little over board with the photoshop stuff, for instance if you look at the scout box set, there is a scout running forward and holding his gun down and to the side, but he's still firing it, why? He looks like he's gona hit his buddy beside him.

His aim is just that good. He doesn't even need to point it at an enemy :rofl

I personally liked the paintings a little more, but a lot of the photoshopped ones look cool. The tau ones especially caught my eye. And people, it's not shooped!

or just look at the back of the box
the clan rat box set is also pretty cool

Actually no. They don't give a contents list, which is just stupid. They just have a few paint scheme examples. What I really want to see is pictures of the sprues on the back.

And people, it's not shooped!

Yes it is! 4chan has taught me that! (not to proud of admitting that but oh well...)
Also, Encyclopedia Dramatica agrees with me. :)

I just bought a box the black templar upgrade sprues. Same art as the codex, and I still love it. Way more than seeing a couple of basic looking marines with good paint jobs. I honestly think GW just makes 1 or 2 models from each FoC options, then just photoshops them to look like an entire squad. If you look online at the IG you'll notice they are all the same

I just bought a box the black templar upgrade sprues. Same art as the codex, and I still love it. Way more than seeing a couple of basic looking marines with good paint jobs. I honestly think GW just makes 1 or 2 models from each FoC options, then just photoshops them to look like an entire squad. If you look online at the IG you'll notice they are all the same

Better example: IG codex. The Cadian 8th show-off. Shopped.
Latest WD. Ork armies. The Speed Freaks 2k army (think it was 2k). Shopped.

:X

I just like a picture of what's in the box, think the old ones. Back when everything was red and looked great.

As a design student, I'm going to have to agree that paintings beat photoshop jobs by a long way.

Nothing wrong with having the painting done in photoshop, but having pictures of the models with stupid little flashlights coming off of various bits, combined with overuse of the hideous "lens flare" filter and gradient layering just looks tacky from a design POV.

The paintings say "this is a quality product", and are far more evocative than the photoshops will ever be.

At the very least, I hope GW isn't stupid enough to replace it's existing painted boxes (such as the high elf spearmen, archers, silver helms) with photoshopped alternatives, just for the sake of consistency...

I think the shopped pictures appeal a lot to the younger crowd. Big warriors with laser guns pew-pewing all over the place and big monsters with slimy teeths. Etc.
I know that I would have loved it when I was 10...

I think the shopped pictures appeal a lot to the younger crowd. Big warriors with laser guns pew-pewing all over the place and big monsters with slimy teeths. Etc.
I know that I would have loved it when I was 10...

Not only that, but it ties to the models much more nicely. I personally prefer the artwork as well, but with the IG, there are all these commanders and sergeants with different faces, even different nationalities, in all these dramatic poses that just aren't possible with the model set that looks like "Attack of the Clones."

That's not a slam on the models, mind you, but I can see how someone looking at the dramatic paintings on the box, then opening a box for the first time might feel a little cheated.

This isn't an excuse, just a possible reason why they don't use the paintings anymore. I think it's a shame, too, regardless of the rationale.

I prefer paintings as I think they just look prettier. Anybody can take a picture of a model and photoshop it, but it takes true skill to make a good painting.

I prefer paintings as I think they just look prettier. Anybody can take a picture of a model and photoshop it, but it takes true skill to make a good painting.

Well said!

Thanks for all the replies.

I've had a look at all the boxes i have and considered the points made here. I've come to the conclusion that paintings are better.

There are obviously merits in both methods of illustrations in terms of aesthetics and commercial viability.

I think the imagery in paintings serve to give us a look into the world we are modelling. Although they dont specifically portray the models themselves, they give inspiration. I totally agree that they say 'quality' and are more evocative.

My personal favourite is the art of the catachan codex cover and the battleforce. Its what first got me into 40k and i think its beautifully done.

The fact that they showed the bits on the side of the old catachan box was very cool. Maybe this combined with a painting on the front and photoshopped images on the sides would be a good option.

I think paintings can help flesh-out and inspire gamers, while actual pictures of the models make the box look cheap and unappealing.

I've got mixed feelings. On one hand, I like the added effects as they're not cheesy, but it helps you image how it would look on the battlefield. On the other end, it's only a model ;)

Camelot! -it's only a model-

I prefer the photoshopped one!

as soon as i get my scanner working i will put some of my work up which i did when i was learning photography

I miss the paintings. If you want to see the models check online for them. I used to keep all my boxes because they looked cool. Painting and drawing are a dieing art, and we need to save it :C
So are spelling and grammar, apparently. Perhaps you should work to save them, instead? ;)

Personally, I think the altered photos are fine for box covers. They're a little hit and miss, but the paintings aren't all spectacular, either. I just don't think it's really worth worrying about.

I prefer the old days where you got a crudely painted model sitting against a blue background.
You knew what you were getting then!

What I'd like to see is sprues on the back, with a blurb saying 'you can make 10 marines'.
The sprue should be easy to see so i can see if i get a plasma gun and powerfist or get shafted with a flamer.
Painting guides never give you all the colours that they actually use on the models either!

I think they should photoshop (shoop da whoop) some lasers and bolter flares on the fantasy models, confusing the poor parents who are buying little timmy his 40k army into buying some fantasy

I think they should photoshop (shoop da whoop) some lasers and bolter flares on the fantasy models, confusing the poor parents who are buying little timmy his 40k army into buying some fantasy

Hehehehehe, that would be fun, aragorn with a lasrifle.

First thing i do when i get the boxes is get the sprues out and throw away the box, the box never really interests me that much, that said i like the photoshopped ones better.

I also prefer the photoshop boxes.
I totally understand everyone’s point about the art work
but there is plenty of that anyways in the codex’s or W.D, etc.
And some people think that even photoshopped pictures are a form of art work.

And some people think that even photoshopped pictures are a form of art work.

I think they are, and let's be realistic, it's what's inside that counts!

it's what's inside that counts!

Indeed!!!

If only my hive tyrant could really shoot fiery death like on the box!!
- I’m sure we could sue for false advertising!!

yes but i recon 1/2 of the ideas i get for possible armies or conversions are inspired by box artwork the classical example was when i was logically considering ether empire triydinds necrons or chaos and saw the skeleton regiment boxed set fell in love with the art work and i have just finished a 1500 point army of vampire counts

i prefer the painting myself, dont know why, guess im just into art.

it seems to me that 40k seem to get more photoshops and fantasy has more paintings, although it seems they are gradualy moveing over to photoshop for both.

Personally, I think photo shop suits 40K. kinda like a pict-capture of the battle and what-not. However, I really don't like the photoshopped stuff on the new fantasy stuff. I guess I didn't know elves had invented cameras.;o

I prefer paintings, because I think it fits more (I play fantasy). And that photoshop you did looks damn cool8Y.

some of the photoshopped ones are great

However I love all the old art.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/godaston/976.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/godaston/art-01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/godaston/scy_art_card.jpg

I definitely preferred the paintings, photosh00ping :P is a bit of a cop-out.

And a picture of the sprues would be so useful. Hell, making sure that GW online had a decent picture of every sprue would be a start. How hard can it be to take pictures of sprue? GW EMPLOY ME AS A SPRUE PHOTOGRAPHER.

And Daston, that is an awesome album. BOLT THROWER RULE!!!!!!!

never found the cd I remember it coming out but was too young to apreciate good music. Will google it