Play our localized version of the album-cover game

Even if your lifelong dream isn't to be a rock star (but we know it is), the make-your-own-album-cover game that's been all over Facebook in the past week is oddly big fun. And addictive.

So we couldn't stop until we'd made our own version of the game for you to try, regardless of whether you're Internet savvy.

A couple of random phrases plucked from today's Daily Break, a random photo grabbed from HamptonRoads.com and - BOOM! - you've got your band name, your album name and local art for your album cover.

Like "American Idol," you don't need talent to have some fun with this one. If you send 'em to us, we'll print some of the best in The Daily Break next Tuesday, March 10.

STEP 1
Choose your band name 

Pick up today's (March 3, 2009) Virginian-Pilot, and locate the TechTalk section. Find the numbered note in the TechTalk section that coordinates with your birth month. The bolded phrase is your band’s name.

STEP 2
Choose your album title 

Find the numbered note that coordinates with your birth date. This is your title. Birth date the same as your birth month? That’s a wild card. Choose your own album title from among all notes.

STEP 3
Get your album cover art 

Go to HamptonRoads.com’s community photo gallery page: http://hamptonroads.com/photos.

- If you were born between January and April, go to the “Scenic Hampton Roads” gallery. The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover art.

- If you were born between May and August, go to the “Your pets” gallery. The second picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover art.

- If you were born between September and December, go to the “Weather” gallery. The first picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover art.

Click “View” to navigate to the larger version of the picture. Right click on the larger photo – not the smaller thumbnail – and choose “Save image as …” to save the file onto your computer.

 If you are a creative-type and somewhat tech savvy (and you have access to Paint or equivalent basic computer art software) ...

STEP 4
Put it all together: Use Paint or a similar program to marry your band name text, album name text and photo. Within Paint, you can add type onto your photo with the “Text” tool. You can select part of the photo, copy, and then create a new image (File >> New) and paste copied part from the original photo. You can create and draw shapes on your photo with the “Rectangle,” “Ellipse,” “Polygon” and “Rounded rectangle” tools. You can manipulate the colors, look and shape of the image by using tools in the “Image” drop-down menu. Save your work as a .jpg, .jpeg, or .gif; images will be resized during upload process.

STEP 5
Upload your album cover to 'Tech Talk’s album covers’: Go back to HamptonRoads.com and log in. You must be a registered user on PilotOnline.com/HamptonRoads.com to upload your digital artwork. Go back to the community photo gallery page: http://hamptonroads.com/photos and click “Upload photos” (in the top right corner). In the “Title” field enter your: BAND NAME, ALBUM TITLE. Browse to your artwork and choose 'Album covers’ gallery from the category drop-down menu. You can add a description if you’d like. It is not required.

If you are both a creative and a tech wizard (and you have access to Photoshop or equivalent computer design and art software) ...
STEP 4
Put it all together: Use Photoshop or similar to design your album cover. Save your work as a .jpg, .jpeg, or .gif and make sure the file size is no larger than 7 megabytes in size; images will be resized during upload process.

STEP 5
Upload to 'Tech Talk’s album covers’: When you are done, go back to HamptonRoads.com and log in. You must be a registered user on PilotOnline.com/HamptonRoads.com to upload your digital artwork. Go back to the community photo gallery page: http://hamptonroads.com/photos and click “Upload photos” (in the top right corner). In the “Title” field enter your: BAND NAME, ALBUM TITLE. Browse to your artwork and choose 'Album covers’ gallery from the category drop-down menu. You can add a description if you’d like. It is not required.

If you are a creative but technologically challenged ...
STEP 4
Put it all together: Using your home arts and crafts supplies, design an album cover that incorporates your band name, album name and photo. Send the finished piece to The Virginian-Pilot, attn: Daily Break album covers, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, VA, 23510. Be sure to send your name, city of residence and a contact phone number with it. The deadline is 9 a.m. Monday.