This thesis is about cover illustrations of DVD movies as examples of visual communication. I have studied the cover illustrations of the three movies Gran Torino, Secret Window and As White As Snow. My research assignment has been to find out how the cover illustrations of DVD movies communicate in relation to the story. I have also been looking for what makes a cover illustration interesting and if the interest in itself is individually considered or if there are certain general rules regardless of the observer.

To reach a conclusion I have been studying components in advertising pictures, visual communication and how the commercial producers use advertising to communicate with the observer. Semiotics, advertising and comparisons between the cover illustrations have been my method for analyze.

I have come to the conclusion that cover illustrations are meticulously produced, and that every single part of them is important for the observers’ over all impression and interpretation of the cover illustration. The place of picture elements, colours, looks and occurrence of persons in the covers are striving to send a uniform message about the cover and movie. They also guide the observer in his/her interpretation of the cover and what kind of movie it represents, and they are components that make the cover more visible. What makes the cover illustration interesting is both something individual and something general. For example the occurrence of humans, looks, strong emotions and colours make the cover more visible and interesting in relation to others. The observers’ interest for the cover may be individual depending on the observer’s experiences and interpretation.