can I get feedback on my ebook cover

Gregg Bell · 05-17-2013, 01:04 AM

It's a suspense novel along the lines of Mary Higgins Clark. Thanks.

[mod: The image seems to have gone missing. the address was:
http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/94ea/adlnp0zm61w06qcfg.jpg]

cromag · 05-17-2013, 01:24 AM

Well, as long as you asked, the title looks a bit cramped at the top. Also, using three different fonts makes it a bit busy.

All just "My Humble Opinion." I'm not a graphic designer.

On the other hand, I've seen lots worse! Lots!

gmw · 05-17-2013, 01:31 AM

Obviously this is very much a personal taste thing, so in that vein, here is my reaction:

I like the image, but I feel as if the balance is wrong - mostly because of the text. If you really want "a novel by" (I don't think it's necessary), I would move this down closer to the author, and lower the lock slightly. I don't really like the all uppercase on the title and author, and it seems to me that the author text stands out too boldly - more so that the title. I'd be tempted to experiment with different fonts (and layouts) for the title text, though I don't have have specific suggestions.

VydorScope · 05-17-2013, 08:40 AM

Yeah, drop the "a novel by" completely. IMO. I am not putting "by" on my covers anymore... seems like the modern cover trend is moving against it.

BeccaPrice · 05-17-2013, 09:19 AM

I'd put your name up where there's less space, and put the title below the padlock, to give it more space and weight. I also agree, lose the "a novel by" - it's unnecessary.

You can have 2 different fonts, if they mesh well (but I don't think these do), particularly if you want to create a brand with your name in a specific font.

ApK · 05-17-2013, 10:03 AM

I agree that the text design needs to change. I don't know enough about typesetting and graphics design to say why, but even aside from the typefaces themselves and the word placement, there is something about the font effect that screams "I typed this on my home computer." Take a look at some other mainstream paperback who's cover screams "professional" to you, and perhaps you'll be able to verbalize it better. Maybe it has to do with embossing effect or drop shadows. I don't know.

I like the artwork. Is it just me, or does the visual composition leave subtle, erotic, 'chastity belt' impression?

ApK

gmw · 05-17-2013, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApK

[...]I like the artwork. Is it just me, or does the visual composition leave subtle, erotic, 'chastity belt' impression?

ApK

It's just you.

ApK · 05-17-2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

It's just you.

Hm. Must be all those green Orion slave girls I've seen on Star Trek.

JSWolf · 05-17-2013, 11:33 AM

Uppercase italic just doesn't work.

Gregg Bell · 05-17-2013, 12:34 PM

Thanks for all the feedback!

GMcG · 05-17-2013, 03:23 PM

Most of my American paperbacks have a cover with author's name and title in capital letters. All of them have the author at the top of the cover. Some have a certain font for the author like a kind of a trademark. So what do you think of this version of your cover?

George

Bilbo1967 · 05-17-2013, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMcG

Most of my American paperbacks have a cover with author's name and title in capital letters. All of them have the author at the top of the cover. Some have a certain font for the author like a kind of a trademark. So what do you think of this version of your cover?

George

I prefer this version, but would lose the word 'novel' at the bottom (not sure what the point of that would be). That would give room to move the title text down a touch thereby not obscuring important parts of the graphic.

All very subjective personal opinion, of course.

avantman42 · 05-17-2013, 05:13 PM

The title font looks like a bad choice to me (is it Times New Roman?). Joel Friedlander has lots of useful information on his site about covers - if you do a search, he did a post about display fonts for covers.
http://www.thebookdesigner.com/

teh603 · 05-17-2013, 05:51 PM

Yeah, the title fonts need a bit of work but otherwise it looks pretty good.

On the issue of feedback, though, I never get any reviews or feedback so don't feel too bad.

Gregg Bell · 05-17-2013, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMcG

Most of my American paperbacks have a cover with author's name and title in capital letters. All of them have the author at the top of the cover. Some have a certain font for the author like a kind of a trademark. So what do you think of this version of your cover?

George

I think it does look better. Thanks for the visual example.

05-17-2013, 01:04 AM	#1
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,264 Karma: 3917588 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	can I get feedback on my ebook cover It's a suspense novel along the lines of Mary Higgins Clark. Thanks. [mod: The image seems to have gone missing. the address was: http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/94ea/adlnp0zm61w06qcfg.jpg] Last edited by pdurrant; 05-19-2013 at 06:53 AM.

05-17-2013, 03:23 PM	#11
GMcG Writer Posts: 101 Karma: 590630 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Munich, Germany Device: none	Most of my American paperbacks have a cover with author's name and title in capital letters. All of them have the author at the top of the cover. Some have a certain font for the author like a kind of a trademark. So what do you think of this version of your cover? George Attached Thumbnails

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need feedback: non-Sony ebook software & borrowing ebooks from library (Overdrive)	Eugenie	Sony Reader	0	01-16-2012 01:38 PM
Ebook Description: Feedback Wanted	randyflycaster	Writers' Corner	17	01-30-2011 11:59 PM
"Feedback loops in eBook Success"	JRM34857	General Discussions	7	12-06-2010 09:59 AM
Download a test eBook and give your feedback to Diesel eBooks	Diesel eBooks	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	10	02-15-2005 09:49 AM

05-17-2013, 01:24 AM	#2
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,303 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Well, as long as you asked, the title looks a bit cramped at the top. Also, using three different fonts makes it a bit busy. All just "My Humble Opinion." I'm not a graphic designer. On the other hand, I've seen lots worse! Lots!

05-17-2013, 01:31 AM	#3
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Obviously this is very much a personal taste thing, so in that vein, here is my reaction: I like the image, but I feel as if the balance is wrong - mostly because of the text. If you really want "a novel by" (I don't think it's necessary), I would move this down closer to the author, and lower the lock slightly. I don't really like the all uppercase on the title and author, and it seems to me that the author text stands out too boldly - more so that the title. I'd be tempted to experiment with different fonts (and layouts) for the title text, though I don't have have specific suggestions.

05-17-2013, 08:40 AM	#4
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	Yeah, drop the "a novel by" completely. IMO. I am not putting "by" on my covers anymore... seems like the modern cover trend is moving against it.

05-17-2013, 09:19 AM	#5
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,145 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	I'd put your name up where there's less space, and put the title below the padlock, to give it more space and weight. I also agree, lose the "a novel by" - it's unnecessary. You can have 2 different fonts, if they mesh well (but I don't think these do), particularly if you want to create a brand with your name in a specific font.

05-17-2013, 10:03 AM	#6
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,318 Karma: 67930154 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	I agree that the text design needs to change. I don't know enough about typesetting and graphics design to say why, but even aside from the typefaces themselves and the word placement, there is something about the font effect that screams "I typed this on my home computer." Take a look at some other mainstream paperback who's cover screams "professional" to you, and perhaps you'll be able to verbalize it better. Maybe it has to do with embossing effect or drop shadows. I don't know. I like the artwork. Is it just me, or does the visual composition leave subtle, erotic, 'chastity belt' impression? ApK

05-17-2013, 11:33 AM	#9
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 74,015 Karma: 129333114 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Uppercase italic just doesn't work.

05-17-2013, 12:34 PM	#10
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,264 Karma: 3917588 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	Thanks for all the feedback!

05-17-2013, 05:13 PM	#13
avantman42 Wizard Posts: 1,090 Karma: 6058305 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite	The title font looks like a bad choice to me (is it Times New Roman?). Joel Friedlander has lots of useful information on his site about covers - if you do a search, he did a post about display fonts for covers. http://www.thebookdesigner.com/

05-17-2013, 05:51 PM	#14
teh603 Autism Spectrum Disorder Posts: 1,212 Karma: 6244877 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Coastal Texas Device: Android Phone	Yeah, the title fonts need a bit of work but otherwise it looks pretty good. On the issue of feedback, though, I never get any reviews or feedback so don't feel too bad.

Advert

Advert