Cover Advice

pdurrant · 08-06-2010, 06:19 AM

I'm working on an illustrated version of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. The text is a bit of a nightmare, but I'm just about on top of that. I have good interior illustrations too.

But the cover worries me. Here's what I have so far. Comments or advice on how to make it better very welcome.

banjobama · 08-06-2010, 07:17 AM

I like it.

Have you tried to look at it on the screen of your Kindle or Sony? You might want to make it black and white/greyscale, raise the contrast, or make the "Kidnapped" on top easier to read if necessary. But in general it looks cool.

littleredplanet · 08-06-2010, 08:23 AM

I agree with Banjobama that it looks nice however, I wonder if it's too 'busy' to make a great ebook cover. With the ebook you really have only about a thumbnail size area to catch a potential customer's eye.

There was a very interesting thread last week about effective covers here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80665

Best wishes,
dale

lmpreston · 08-06-2010, 10:54 AM

I like the initial picture, but think you need to rework the Title words to pop out more.

pdurrant · 08-06-2010, 11:03 AM

Thanks for the comments so far. I think the comment about it being 'too busy' might be right. I might try to increase the size of the image, clipping some of the surrounding detail, and perhaps increasing the type size.

I will check that the contrast is sufficient for B&W Kindle display, but it's really for the display on the Amazon web site that it needs to be optimised.

And yes, it was that fascinating thread on cover design that prompted me to ask what people thought here.

neilmarr · 08-06-2010, 11:46 AM

Yup, Pdurrant. Nice, neat image for a paperback. Thing is that you must think of thumbnail cover presentation on line and also how things will look in black and white. My advice would be to think again and with very readable cover text in mind. Luck and best wishes. Neil

pdurrant · 08-06-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I might try to increase the size of the image, clipping some of the surrounding detail, and perhaps increasing the type size.

So, do people prefer this cover? I think my font choice might be a bit too delicate — something with thicker uprights might be more legible?

pdurrant · 08-06-2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Yup, Pdurrant. Nice, neat image for a paperback. Thing is that you must think of thumbnail cover presentation on line and also how things will look in black and white. My advice would be to think again and with very readable cover text in mind. Luck and best wishes. Neil

I think that you are spot on with the paperback comment. I need to remember that ebook covers aren't going to be viewed as nice 600x800 images, but as 120x160 thumbnails. I'll try some different fonts.

Valmore Daniels · 08-06-2010, 02:15 PM

The font on the second cover stands out - have you tried a sans-serif font, though? That might look a little cleaner.

pdurrant · 08-06-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valmore Daniels

The font on the second cover stands out - have you tried a sans-serif font, though? That might look a little cleaner.

I think you're right, although I want a hint of serif. It's certainly clear in the two samples you've posted which works better at a thumbnail size.

I found ‘Souvenir Gothic’ that seemed OK to me. I certainly think this is my best version so far. Any comments most welcome.

Valmore Daniels · 08-06-2010, 03:05 PM

I think you have a winner!

littleredplanet · 08-07-2010, 04:32 AM

The last one looks much better. Cleaner and more contrast to the image. The font works better too.

JSWolf · 08-07-2010, 04:42 AM

Cleaner? With all that overly compressed jpeg artifacts?

Is there a copy of the image that does not have any jpeg artifacts?

pdurrant · 08-07-2010, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Cleaner? With all that overly compressed jpeg artifacts?

Is there a copy of the image that does not have any jpeg artifacts?

Yes, this is a very compressed version of the cover. And indeed, with just a scaled up version of the 600x800 original image, rather than making a new 600x800 image of the bit I want.

I won't be using this file — I just wanted people opinions on the differences and overall look. Especially at thumbnail size.

I have to go an get lunch cooked for guests now, but hopefully I'll have time this afternoon to post a more finished version.

pdurrant · 08-07-2010, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

but hopefully I'll have time this afternoon to post a more finished version.

Well, this evening anyway. I found I was using the original proportions of the illustration, rather than 6x8, so I've fixed that. This has allowed me to increase the size of the text again, without taking away from the illustration. But perhaps I've overdone it?

Anyway, here's a rather less compressed JPG version. I'll be using this, I think, unless something else comes to me before I finish off the text.

As always, comments and/or suggestions are welcome.

08-06-2010, 06:19 AM	#1
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,496 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	Cover Advice I'm working on an illustrated version of Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. The text is a bit of a nightmare, but I'm just about on top of that. I have good interior illustrations too. But the cover worries me. Here's what I have so far. Comments or advice on how to make it better very welcome. Attached Thumbnails

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08-06-2010, 07:17 AM	#2
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	I like it. Have you tried to look at it on the screen of your Kindle or Sony? You might want to make it black and white/greyscale, raise the contrast, or make the "Kidnapped" on top easier to read if necessary. But in general it looks cool.

08-06-2010, 08:23 AM	#3
littleredplanet Member Posts: 21 Karma: 526 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: dandenong ranges, australia Device: kobo	I agree with Banjobama that it looks nice however, I wonder if it's too 'busy' to make a great ebook cover. With the ebook you really have only about a thumbnail size area to catch a potential customer's eye. There was a very interesting thread last week about effective covers here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80665 Best wishes, dale

08-06-2010, 10:54 AM	#4
lmpreston YA Author Posts: 46 Karma: 501408 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: none	I like the initial picture, but think you need to rework the Title words to pop out more.

08-06-2010, 11:03 AM	#5
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,496 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	Thanks for the comments so far. I think the comment about it being 'too busy' might be right. I might try to increase the size of the image, clipping some of the surrounding detail, and perhaps increasing the type size. I will check that the contrast is sufficient for B&W Kindle display, but it's really for the display on the Amazon web site that it needs to be optimised. And yes, it was that fascinating thread on cover design that prompted me to ask what people thought here.

08-06-2010, 11:46 AM	#6
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,216 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Yup, Pdurrant. Nice, neat image for a paperback. Thing is that you must think of thumbnail cover presentation on line and also how things will look in black and white. My advice would be to think again and with very readable cover text in mind. Luck and best wishes. Neil

08-06-2010, 02:15 PM	#9
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	The font on the second cover stands out - have you tried a sans-serif font, though? That might look a little cleaner.

08-06-2010, 03:05 PM	#11
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	I think you have a winner!

08-07-2010, 04:32 AM	#12
littleredplanet Member Posts: 21 Karma: 526 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: dandenong ranges, australia Device: kobo	The last one looks much better. Cleaner and more contrast to the image. The font works better too.

08-07-2010, 04:42 AM	#13
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 73,897 Karma: 128597114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Cleaner? With all that overly compressed jpeg artifacts? Is there a copy of the image that does not have any jpeg artifacts?

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