2 covers: which is better?

Gregg Bell · 12-25-2013, 11:47 PM

THE TEST is a romance novel about a law student who has repeatedly failed the bar and needs to pass this time or she'll lose everything, including her "pond house" (she lives on a pond and the setting is a big part of the story.) Thanks and Merry Christmas!

gmw · 12-26-2013, 02:35 AM

I'm assuming "CanStock" won't appear on the actual covers

The colours of the image on the right feels more dramatic, if that suits the story. I can't make out what those black squiggles are in the centre, and I feel as though it may be a be too empty in the centre with your proposed layout.

I like the image on the left when it's shown larger, I think it works better with the layout, but I think it may be a bit busy to work when small - the branches in the centre don't stand all that well in the thumbnail.

Neither of them give me the impression of a romance.

Merry Christmas!

Anna Drake · 12-26-2013, 06:20 AM

For a romance, I like the second cover better. I think I'd play with the fonts, though. With romance you can use some really pretty fonts. Take a look at those used on other romance novels. They're often lacy looking. I'd also drop the title and author name into the center of the image. (Into the pond, if you'll forgive me.) Of course, this is all based on your book being a sweet romance. If it's steamy, then I'd use a very different sort of image that suggests the passion inside the book.

Gregg Bell · 12-26-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

I'm assuming "CanStock" won't appear on the actual covers

No, it won't. It's just the watermark for the photo company.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmw

The colours of the image on the right feels more dramatic, if that suits the story. I can't make out what those black squiggles are in the centre, and I feel as though it may be a be too empty in the centre with your proposed layout.

I want the "dramatic feel." This is not a typical romance. And yes, the spacious center is an issue. Thing is the bottom has the nice dark background for my name. The black squiggles are just reeds.

[/QUOTE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Drake

For a romance, I like the second cover better. I think I'd play with the fonts, though. With romance you can use some really pretty fonts. Take a look at those used on other romance novels. They're often lacy looking. I'd also drop the title and author name into the center of the image. (Into the pond, if you'll forgive me.) Of course, this is all based on your book being a sweet romance. If it's steamy, then I'd use a very different sort of image that suggests the passion inside the book.

Thanks Anna. It's really more of a male romance (ala Nicholas Sparks or the Bridges of Madison County guy), neither steamy or overly sweet. Will consider your center suggestion. Appreciate the feedback.

VydorScope · 12-27-2013, 05:29 AM

The 2nd is better of the 2, but I do suggest you put a person on the cover somewhere. if you could find a stock image that matches the MC's description that would be ideal. Humans in general are drawn to faces - so faces make good marketing tools. Just a suggestion.

Barbara1955 · 12-27-2013, 06:15 AM

All I see on the 2nd one is Red! The title covers up anything else. I say go with 1st on the Green one that is!

Anna Drake · 12-27-2013, 06:47 AM

Hi again. I looked up the cover for Bridges of Madison County. I'm not sure I can add the link here. But you might want to take a look with a quick search adding book to the end of the search terms. My first try ended with all sorts of links to the movie. The book cover has a small bridge as a graphic with the text then split above and below it. It was quite pretty. But you're right. It had a more masculine feel to it. I think covers are so interesting! Hope yours comes out right on the money!

kennyc · 12-27-2013, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Drake

Hi again. I looked up the cover for Bridges of Madison County. I'm not sure I can add the link here. But you might want to take a look with a quick search adding book to the end of the search terms. My first try ended with all sorts of links to the movie. The book cover has a small bridge as a graphic with the text then split above and below it. It was quite pretty. But you're right. It had a more masculine feel to it. I think covers are so interesting! Hope yours comes out right on the money!

Yes, something like that is much better that either of the full-cover shots above IMO:

And I must say even this brief discussion has got me rethinking my covers that I've typically used full-cover images....hmmm....

Gregg Bell · 12-30-2013, 02:50 PM

Thanks everybody. I like the Bridges cover, but that will be indecipherable as a thumbnail, which is all they're going to see unless they click on it. I'm leaning toward the pink one (with working out the spatial issues) because it will be striking as a thumbnail. Thanks very much for the feedback (and encouragement!). Gregg

And Happy New Year!

Lazer · 01-12-2014, 10:02 PM

I vote for #2 but I don't like the color. The first one is a bit busy and it looks more like a swamp than a pond. You might play around with a different font for the title. I like simple graphics.

The Bridges cover may look fine in a bookstore but not on a web page. Even at the above size I have to stare at the image to figure out what it is.

TL

Gregg Bell · 01-12-2014, 11:13 PM

thanks Lazer

Lemurion · 01-12-2014, 11:45 PM

I'm with Lazer. The second is a better design, but the color really throws me off.

Gregg Bell · 01-13-2014, 04:07 AM

Thx Lemurion.

MichelleLouring · 01-13-2014, 07:55 AM

I prefer the second cover, both because the colors look better in the thumbnail and because the text doesn't really blend in well on the first one.

Gregg Bell · 01-14-2014, 02:06 AM

Thx Michelle (Agree about the text not working in the green one.)

12-25-2013, 11:47 PM	#1
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	2 covers: which is better? THE TEST is a romance novel about a law student who has repeatedly failed the bar and needs to pass this time or she'll lose everything, including her "pond house" (she lives on a pond and the setting is a big part of the story.) Thanks and Merry Christmas! Attached Thumbnails

12-30-2013, 02:50 PM	#9
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	Thanks! Thanks everybody. I like the Bridges cover, but that will be indecipherable as a thumbnail, which is all they're going to see unless they click on it. I'm leaning toward the pink one (with working out the spatial issues) because it will be striking as a thumbnail. Thanks very much for the feedback (and encouragement!). Gregg And Happy New Year!

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12-26-2013, 02:35 AM	#2
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I'm assuming "CanStock" won't appear on the actual covers The colours of the image on the right feels more dramatic, if that suits the story. I can't make out what those black squiggles are in the centre, and I feel as though it may be a be too empty in the centre with your proposed layout. I like the image on the left when it's shown larger, I think it works better with the layout, but I think it may be a bit busy to work when small - the branches in the centre don't stand all that well in the thumbnail. Neither of them give me the impression of a romance. Merry Christmas!

12-26-2013, 06:20 AM	#3
Anna Drake Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 2175016 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: rural Illinois, USA Device: Kindle	For a romance, I like the second cover better. I think I'd play with the fonts, though. With romance you can use some really pretty fonts. Take a look at those used on other romance novels. They're often lacy looking. I'd also drop the title and author name into the center of the image. (Into the pond, if you'll forgive me.) Of course, this is all based on your book being a sweet romance. If it's steamy, then I'd use a very different sort of image that suggests the passion inside the book.

12-27-2013, 05:29 AM	#5
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	The 2nd is better of the 2, but I do suggest you put a person on the cover somewhere. if you could find a stock image that matches the MC's description that would be ideal. Humans in general are drawn to faces - so faces make good marketing tools. Just a suggestion.

12-27-2013, 06:15 AM	#6
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,455 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	All I see on the 2nd one is Red! The title covers up anything else. I say go with 1st on the Green one that is!

12-27-2013, 06:47 AM	#7
Anna Drake Zealot Posts: 104 Karma: 2175016 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: rural Illinois, USA Device: Kindle	Hi again. I looked up the cover for Bridges of Madison County. I'm not sure I can add the link here. But you might want to take a look with a quick search adding book to the end of the search terms. My first try ended with all sorts of links to the movie. The book cover has a small bridge as a graphic with the text then split above and below it. It was quite pretty. But you're right. It had a more masculine feel to it. I think covers are so interesting! Hope yours comes out right on the money!

01-12-2014, 10:02 PM	#10
Lazer Groupie Posts: 174 Karma: 1498858 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3	I vote for #2 but I don't like the color. The first one is a bit busy and it looks more like a swamp than a pond. You might play around with a different font for the title. I like simple graphics. The Bridges cover may look fine in a bookstore but not on a web page. Even at the above size I have to stare at the image to figure out what it is. TL

01-12-2014, 11:13 PM	#11
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	thanks Lazer

01-12-2014, 11:45 PM	#12
Lemurion eReader Posts: 2,750 Karma: 4968470 Join Date: Aug 2007 Device: Note 5; PW3; Nook HD+; ChuWi Hi12; iPad	I'm with Lazer. The second is a better design, but the color really throws me off.

01-13-2014, 04:07 AM	#13
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	Thx Lemurion.

01-13-2014, 07:55 AM	#14
MichelleLouring Owl Lady Posts: 34 Karma: 23716 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Denmark Device: Android Tablet	I prefer the second cover, both because the colors look better in the thumbnail and because the text doesn't really blend in well on the first one.

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01-14-2014, 02:06 AM	#15
Gregg Bell Gregg Bell Posts: 2,266 Karma: 3917598 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Itasca, Illinois Device: Kindle Touch 7, Sony PRS300, Fire HD8 Tablet	Thx Michelle (Agree about the text not working in the green one.)