Fiddling with covers for e-story

Discussion in 'Cover Design' started by peachalulu, Mar 24, 2014.

  1. David K. Thomasson

    David K. Thomasson Senior Member

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    Curved text using a font with some wormy curls in it. (I assume the author's name is two words?)

    [​IMG]

    And going the other way . . .

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2014
  2. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    much better... you've nailed it, thomas!
     
  3. peachalulu

    peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

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    This looks great David. Love the fonts! Mind if I use them? - if I ever get this story done - lol
     
  4. David K. Thomasson

    David K. Thomasson Senior Member

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    Sure, you're welcome to them.

    EDIT: By the way, if you're re-doing your own cover, the title font is Harrington. The byline font is Pupcat.
     
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2014
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  5. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    Those curved lines of text are horrible, they fuck up the straight borders of the worms completely.

    Keep the font if you want, but get rid of that curve.
     
  6. David K. Thomasson

    David K. Thomasson Senior Member

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    You bring to mind something Oscar Wilde once said: “Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative.”
     
  7. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    That's cool, my BA in Graphic Design says, "The curved line of text pins the viewers attention on the word 'of' and offers no exodus."

    I didn't know Oscar Wilde was a graphic designer, but my guess is his letterhead was shit.
     
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  8. David K. Thomasson

    David K. Thomasson Senior Member

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    Another quote comes to mind: “When a man uses profanity to support an argument, it indicates that either the man or the argument is weak - probably both.”

    You're the second person I've put on ignore since joining this forum. Some people simply aren't worth listening to.
     
  9. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    You know, maybe the ignore button shouldn't be used as a badge to bludgeon people with? It's the equivalent of little boys pretending they can't hear one another, only more infantile.

    There's a reason I went to design school for four years, and it's not because the principles of graphic art are easily learned in an afternoon.
     
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  10. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    apologies for the name goof, david... first part of your last name somehow took over... hugs, m
     
  11. David K. Thomasson

    David K. Thomasson Senior Member

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    I've been called so much worse, 'Thomas' sounded rather flattering. :oops:
     
  12. Nightstar99

    Nightstar99 Senior Member

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    That's right. Those Starbucks' lattes aren't going to brew themselves.
     
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  13. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    Hah! Artist/barista jokes are so funny! Almost as funny as failed writer jokes, and we know this forum can't get enough of those!

    Seriously, I contract for $30 dollars an hour, I'm not making anyone's fucking coffee.
     
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  14. Selbbin

    Selbbin The Moderating Cat Staff Contributor Contest Winner 2023

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    It made my stomach churn. I'm not kidding. Personally I find it ghastly and cheap. But that's just me. I think the first version worked the best, but it's the worms that are the weakest link.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2014
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  15. Selbbin

    Selbbin The Moderating Cat Staff Contributor Contest Winner 2023

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    It seems to me that you put him on ignore, or threatened to, because he didn't support your claims with enthusiasm. It's probably frustrating for a skilled designer to see this kind of work being attempted, so I understand his profanity. Also, using quotes to put people down is silly. I swear all the fucking time and my arguments are sound. The quote is garbage. Personally I find his professional opinion valuable, regardless if you agree or if his language is less than civilized.
     
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  16. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    I like the worm graphics a lot, but HATE the way you've organised the words (in the original versions.) The vertical line of letters just doesn't work for me at all.

    Why not present the Title and Author's Name as straightforward, horizontal text? It's the way people read. Having to turn my head sideways and/ or rearrange letters in my brain, just to get the meaning of the words, is not a good plan. I know you're trying to emulate what a worm looks like, but I don't think it works.

    The goal of 'advertising,' be it a poster, a package or a book cover, is to instantly inform the potential buyer of what it is selling. It's nice if the presentation is artistic as well—and that's the challenge a graphic designer faces—but artistry should NEVER trump clarity. You only have a moment or two to grab the buyer, and if the buyer is confused or can't be bothered figuring out what it's all about, you've lost them.

    Let your graphics do the artistic work by showing us the coloured worms. But let the title and author credit do THEIR work as well. Figuring out the title of a novel and who wrote it should never be a mystery a reader must solve before they open the book.

    I really do think this title page screams 'amateur' and will put people off reading any more. Which would be a shame, as the story is great!

    ...........

    edited: just saw @David K. Thomasson's version, which I think works better than the originals. However, I don't like the font much. It's a bit too spindly, and some of the letters are too fancy to be easy to read. But it's a better effort, and at least the name of the author is now clear. I could live with this version, although I still think a more readable font and a straightforward horizonal line is what I'd prefer. Instant recognition. Since WicherWoo is not an instantly-recognisable 'name' or concept, I feel it's best not to make it hard to read as well.

    I'd say if you need convincing, take a trawl through Amazon and look at what other authors have done with their book covers. It'll give you an idea of what works and what doesn't.
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2014
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  17. AlannaHart

    AlannaHart Senior Member

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    THIS. I'd read the blurb.
     
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  18. Nightstar99

    Nightstar99 Senior Member

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    Yes, I realise the tips can be quite good when you get a group in.

    Is 'fucking coffee' on the secret menu though? I would rather just stick to the normal one please.
     
  19. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    Fucking coffee is the only kind of coffee I would serve you.
     
  20. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    Just for fun, I searched 'worms' in the Books section on Amazon uk. Fun. Lots of ways to write 'worms,' in everything from children's books to science books, but all the ones on the first 4 pages were written in a horizontal fashion. Some were slightly slanted, but all were very readable ...except one.

    The one unreadable one, because of an AWFUL font, was the George R R Martin one. You'll know it if you see it. He'll sell, of course, because of who he is. But yeegs...
     
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  21. jannert

    jannert Retired Mod Supporter Contributor

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    If it were me, I'd use this second version BUT, while keeping the font—it's a good one, very readable—I'd put the title on one horizontal line, and 'by Edimarchen' on another horizontal line underneath. Play around with placement of the two lines and see what works best. I think that would be elegant, readable, and would also convey the fantasy element quite well.

    I love your colour choice here, and the worms too.

    If it were me, I would completely can the idea of running letters down the sides, though.
     
  22. peachalulu

    peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

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    I've still been toying with covers. Although I love David's I'm not sure about the dirty worms with the stark white. Or purple lettering.

    Here's some new versions - I tried to go with a simple font.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I even did one for fun of Not Pink -
    [​IMG]
     
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  23. GingerCoffee

    GingerCoffee Web Surfer Girl Contributor

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    Love the Not Pink cover.

    You almost need a focus group to decide on the position of the title on the Wicher-Woo cover. I like @David K. Thomasson's covers the best. And I'd pick the white cover if the story is upbeat, the black one if the story is dark.
     
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  24. Selbbin

    Selbbin The Moderating Cat Staff Contributor Contest Winner 2023

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    MUCH better. I really like the first one of the three.
     
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  25. Jack Asher

    Jack Asher Banned Contributor

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    The first of the three is definitely the best. Someone is going to whine about the title not being capitalized, but I think that it's a good stylistic choice.

    Some centering issues, but those are easy to fix.
     
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