I’ve been thinking about big finish covers; specifically the use of compositing.
Big Finish uses compositing a lot to make new images of characters. This makes a lot of sense for characters played by actors who have visibly aged or passed on. If they want a new image or the 4th Doctor for example, it needs to be constructed from archival images.
However, it also gets used a bunch for newer characters. Take this cover from Torchwood.
Paul Clayton’s head has been obviously stitched onto a stock image of a man in a suit. But why? Paul Clayton still look like that!
This isn’t a unique case so I’m wondering why big finish doesn’t do more photo shoots? Is it expense? Rights to an actors likeness? Do they just love photoshop? Would the covers lose a certain charm if they weren’t obviously composited?
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I’d say it’s probably expense.
Same reason we don’t often get a cover for every story anymore 
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I expect it is budget reasons. The quality does range a lot. In some cases you can’t even tell but I think here it might’ve been worth buying a suit from primark and taking some snaps against a green screen.
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This one is done really well. I only know it’s a comp because I saw someone who found the stock image on twitter.
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I do hope Big Finish do some photoshoots with Jodie and Mandip, since they’re both fresh off the show and look almost exactly how they did on tv. It’ll give the cover artists more material to use in the long run.
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My first thought were these two audios, where it’s obvious they just brought the actors into the studio, took pictures, and slapped them on the cover. If the characters in question were from 21st century Earth, they’d be fine, but Constance is supposed to be a prim and proper woman from the early 1900s. She wouldn’t be caught wearing a t-shirt and jeans (especially with her undergarments showing!). Likewise, the characters from BTUA are either historical (Jason is from 18th century France) or theatrical (Crystal is a swanky nightclub singer), yet you wouldn’t think they were based on how they’re dressed. I know the exact photoshoot they used for the BTUA cover. Considering these characters dress in garb “not of this time”, this is when they should have used compositing at the least.
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That’s what I think every time Helen Sinclair - 60s girl - is wearing a tshirt and jeans on the 8DA covers. No way. Liv, I can see it completely, but Helen? The covers can say what they like, but I am not listening. And frankly, I’m not sure I want to see the photoshop job of trying to put their heads on a more period accurate body
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Here you go! Peri’s weird photoshopped body is all I see when I look at this cover.
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Oh horrible Big Finish cover art… how I love to hate you
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Charley Pollard is another example of a period companion without any photos in an era appropriate outfit. Bit of a shame
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