 The model for the shot wore an all @-@ white makeup because it produces the " best results " ; for the image , the model wore a twill @-@ coloured cape . The computer could not read the colours so it was replaced with spikes , and the head in the image was chopped because the machine only scanned 30 centimetres . The editor of the magazine liked the image and eventually featured it in one of their publications . Martin saw the image in the magazine and approached Sundsbø for permission to use the image as the cover of A Rush of Blood to the Head . For the album 's singles , Martin asked Sundsbø what he could do ; the latter suggested scanning the head of each member of the band ( Sundsbø also did artwork duties for the Live 2003 home video ) . 
