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Post by Divides the Waters on Sept 18, 2011 16:39:29 GMT -5
New cover concept. My friend, Matt Marcy, did the painting, and I photoshopped the design. Thoughts welcome. Attachments:
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Post by Bainespal on Sept 18, 2011 18:20:15 GMT -5
I like the painting and the title script, but I'm no so sold on the textured background and maybe the frame design. I think the pattern beneath the words detract from the script/font. I think both the fancy script and the pattern together may make the cover too busy. I would either go for a plainer title script or get rid of the pattern -- probably better to get rid of the pattern. Maybe the painting could be bigger as well; the large word "ARISE" in the title overpowers the image. Looking at it again, I think the caption on the painting also detracts from it, especially if the picture is going to remain the size that it is. That caption about the dead rising and such is really cool, but maybe it would be better on the back cover, or maybe beneath your name under the painting. I the caption fits with the painting thematically if the painting is all you're looking at, but when the painting is framed beneath the giant title, the words on the painting are distracting and hard to see. Just my initial thoughts that may be out of touch with reality, for all I know.  But it's a cool concept. I believe you used that painting as your forum avatar a while back. |
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Post by yoda47 on Sept 19, 2011 9:08:35 GMT -5
I too think the textured background distracts from the title. (Makes it hard to read at that size. Might not be an issue holding the book in person, but a lot of people are going to see it at thumbnail size first)
My opinion would be to either:
-ditch the texture, keep everything else the way it is
or
- Enlarge the painting to fill the whole cover, keeping the title font, position, and everything else where it is
But I do love the paining, it looks great!, the font, and the font size. I've read in several different spots that the title should be the biggest thing on the cover, and positioned to be clear and draw attention, yours looks perfect.
Disclaimer: This is just my opinion of what I like. I'm not a professional at anything except computer systems maintenance and troubleshooting, which really doesn't help here...
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Post by metalikhan on Sept 19, 2011 12:22:00 GMT -5
I have to agree about the texture. At thumbnail size, the only thing that shows clearly is Bid and Arise. Your name below is difficult to read as well, even at higher magnification. Maybe a less ornate script or one in black would show up better if you wanted to keep the texture -- it is lovely but too busy with the kind of script used. It's also a little jarring to see fancy script in the title and plain script in the cover's painting -- one or the other but not both.
I also think the white border on the painting makes it less integral with the cover. The painting could actually be enlarged by the amount of the border's width. Another thing that might integrate it better could be to echo some of the curves of the font just at the border's edges, perhaps even using some of the texture lines as framing rather than having the texture splashed behind everything.
Tuppence thoughts.
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Cat
New Member
Crafting worlds one inkspot at a time
Posts: 40 
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Post by Cat on Sept 19, 2011 13:33:59 GMT -5
I like everything except the texture. The colours go really well together, so I wouldn't change those. Just the texture.  |
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Post by birdnerd on Sept 19, 2011 17:04:46 GMT -5
I'll make it unanimous. Neat picture. Text was hard to read because of the background.
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Post by Divides the Waters on Sept 19, 2011 20:16:06 GMT -5
Wow.... great input, guys. I had thought of diminishing the texture somewhat so it would be more subtle, but I thought it looked a little bland. I may tinker a bit more and re-post. Incidentally, originally the cover was filled with the entire painting, but there really wasn't enough room for the title, and if you think it looks busy now, you should have seen it before! |
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Post by Divides the Waters on Nov 3, 2011 13:44:34 GMT -5
Second attempt. A little simpler, but a bit more readable. Thoughts? Attachments:
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Post by beckyminor on Nov 3, 2011 14:16:25 GMT -5
I think simpler is better in this case. Clean and professional is the way to go. |
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Post by Kessie on Nov 3, 2011 17:23:41 GMT -5
Oh, nice and clean. I like this new version.
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Post by Divides the Waters on Nov 4, 2011 22:26:18 GMT -5
Excellent. Thank you.
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Post by yoda47 on Nov 7, 2011 8:00:21 GMT -5
Love it!
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Post by Divides the Waters on Nov 19, 2011 22:31:37 GMT -5
Sorry to keep doing this. This one is exactly the same, except for a stone texture background, which I prefer to the plain texture. I think this one is my final. Attachments:
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Post by Bainespal on Nov 20, 2011 16:25:28 GMT -5
Very cool. I liked the beveled letters and the frame. I can't think of anything to improve. Good work!
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Post by birdnerd on Nov 21, 2011 18:00:54 GMT -5
That works!
The background doesn't distract.
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But it's a cool concept. I believe you used that painting as your forum avatar a while back.
