To commission a cover

GraciousMe · 05-20-2012, 06:57 PM

I am more or less finished with a book and realize that even if I can construct an epub book I am weak when it comes to graphics.

So I am thinking of commissioning a cover.

Anybody here has experience with this? Any tips? I am thinking of asking several friends who are graphic designers, to have more than one option.

BTW I already have a good photo for the cover, it is the rest I need help with.

aecardenas · 05-20-2012, 08:15 PM

Try DeviantART. There's a ton of talented artists who are interested in showcasing their talents in a variety of ways, including a book cover commission.

http://forum.deviantart.com/jobs/offers/

crich70 · 05-20-2012, 08:18 PM

You can also try over at NaNoWriMo in their forums. There are some talented people there who offer to make covers for others writing projects as well.

kennyc · 05-20-2012, 10:05 PM

Depending on what you are looking for, I might be able to do what you need if you already have the image and just need standard titling and appropriate sizing. wouldn't want to claim I would/could do anything fancy like actual artwork, but I did the ones on my titles at Amazon using public domain images. I won't claim to be an graphic artist because I haven't done much of that in a long time, have been more in the creative/fine arts area lately.

djulian · 05-20-2012, 10:45 PM

I use Paint.net or Pixlr, and I'm able to design covers fairly easily with those resources. If you already have the photo you want to work with, Pixlr (or PicMonkey) will work very well for you--you can edit the picture, add filter effects, overlay font, etc. An important key is to size the image right at 800x600 (HxW) and if the picture or cover is white, add a small, 2 pixel border around the edge in black (or dark blue).

VydorScope · 05-21-2012, 06:48 AM

You need to decide if you want something assembled or something created from scratch. There are great stock photo sites that offer a very large quantity of images of all levels of quality and cost. You can simply pick a few images, and combine them to create the scene you want. If that is the route you want to go then almost anyone can help you with that.

If you want something truly original, just for your... then as mentioned check out DeviantART and hire one of them.

Todd Young · 05-25-2012, 03:03 PM

You can find an artist on the yellow pages at KindleBoards:

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.ph...html#msg868939

crich70 · 05-25-2012, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

You need to decide if you want something assembled or something created from scratch. There are great stock photo sites that offer a very large quantity of images of all levels of quality and cost. You can simply pick a few images, and combine them to create the scene you want. If that is the route you want to go then almost anyone can help you with that.

If you want something truly original, just for your... then as mentioned check out DeviantART and hire one of them.

And you may as said before be able to find someone over at NaNoWriMo as at least one person I know of that takes part in NaNo also has a DeviantArt account. I know because they made a cover for me for the piece I tried to get written for last Nov.

teh603 · 05-25-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aecardenas

Try DeviantART. There's a ton of talented artists who are interested in showcasing their talents in a variety of ways, including a book cover commission.

http://forum.deviantart.com/jobs/offers/

I hang out on dA for more than just the odd cover. I tend to get plot bunnies out of peoples' artwork. The good kind of bunnies, mind you.

kennyc · 05-25-2012, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

I hang out on dA for more than just the odd cover. I tend to get plot bunnies out of peoples' artwork. The good kind of bunnies, mind you.

Never heard of plot bunnies...I like it though. What does this one do for you:

http://kennyc.deviantart.com/art/Sun...ower-171141923

hatefacecore · 05-25-2012, 08:38 PM

I used ELance to help me find an artist. It's a fairly simple process. Artists kinda compete for your attention by showing you their portfolio's and you choose the best one for the job.

orlok · 05-26-2012, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Never heard of plot bunnies...I like it though. What does this one do for you:

http://kennyc.deviantart.com/art/Sun...ower-171141923

Did you do that yourself? It's stunning!

I've been trying to use Photoshop Elements to design my book cover, but am finding a significant number of limitations with the product (can't seem to just paint with brushes, can't do a dithered wide border etc.).

Has anyone had experience of Adobe Creative Suite? I'm considering upgrading to this, but does it allow more artistic freedom? I want something more than just a photo editor.

kennyc · 05-26-2012, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orlok

Did you do that yourself? It's stunning!

I've been trying to use Photoshop Elements to design my book cover, but am finding a significant number of limitations with the product (can't seem to just paint with brushes, can't do a dithered wide border etc.).

Has anyone had experience of Adobe Creative Suite? I'm considering upgrading to this, but does it allow more artistic freedom? I want something more than just a photo editor.

Yep. (Corel) Painter. From a photo I took East of Denver.

Painter is a "natural media" type of painting app as opposed to photoshop which can do the same thing but is a bit more work to get there. There is a free trial of Painter if you want to check it out. I don't have Creative Suite, I do have the (almost) latest Photoshop and use it for my photography, but use Painter for my creative/fine art work.

orlok · 05-26-2012, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Yep. (Corel) Painter. From a photo I took East of Denver.

Painter is a "natural media" type of painting app as opposed to photoshop which can do the same thing but is a bit more work to get there. There is a free trial of Painter you want to check it out. I don't have Creative Suite, I do have the (almost) latest Photoshop and us it for my photography, but use Painter for my creative/fine art work.

Thanks (won't let me give you any more karma at the mo...), I'll have a look at Painter .

VydorScope · 05-26-2012, 07:26 AM

I love the full Photoshop CS line... but I am very good with editing photos, and building scences from others work. I am not a painter... so can not speak to creating work in it. Also as a student, it costs me WAY less then what it would cost most ppl to buy. I think it was around $150 for CS5.

05-20-2012, 06:57 PM	#1
GraciousMe Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 202774 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: none	To commission a cover I am more or less finished with a book and realize that even if I can construct an epub book I am weak when it comes to graphics. So I am thinking of commissioning a cover. Anybody here has experience with this? Any tips? I am thinking of asking several friends who are graphic designers, to have more than one option. BTW I already have a good photo for the cover, it is the rest I need help with.

05-20-2012, 10:05 PM	#4
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,891 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Depending on what you are looking for, I might be able to do what you need if you already have the image and just need standard titling and appropriate sizing. wouldn't want to claim I would/could do anything fancy like actual artwork, but I did the ones on my titles at Amazon using public domain images. I won't claim to be an graphic artist because I haven't done much of that in a long time, have been more in the creative/fine arts area lately. Last edited by kennyc; 05-20-2012 at 10:18 PM.

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05-20-2012, 08:15 PM	#2
aecardenas Kafkaesque Posts: 104 Karma: 1149770 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: California Device: Kindle	Try DeviantART. There's a ton of talented artists who are interested in showcasing their talents in a variety of ways, including a book cover commission. http://forum.deviantart.com/jobs/offers/

05-20-2012, 08:18 PM	#3
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	You can also try over at NaNoWriMo in their forums. There are some talented people there who offer to make covers for others writing projects as well.

05-20-2012, 10:45 PM	#5
djulian Evangelist Posts: 408 Karma: 1786912 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle Voyage	I use Paint.net or Pixlr, and I'm able to design covers fairly easily with those resources. If you already have the photo you want to work with, Pixlr (or PicMonkey) will work very well for you--you can edit the picture, add filter effects, overlay font, etc. An important key is to size the image right at 800x600 (HxW) and if the picture or cover is white, add a small, 2 pixel border around the edge in black (or dark blue).

05-21-2012, 06:48 AM	#6
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	You need to decide if you want something assembled or something created from scratch. There are great stock photo sites that offer a very large quantity of images of all levels of quality and cost. You can simply pick a few images, and combine them to create the scene you want. If that is the route you want to go then almost anyone can help you with that. If you want something truly original, just for your... then as mentioned check out DeviantART and hire one of them.

05-25-2012, 03:03 PM	#7
Todd Young Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1004164 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 2	You can find an artist on the yellow pages at KindleBoards: http://www.kindleboards.com/index.ph...html#msg868939

05-25-2012, 08:38 PM	#11
hatefacecore Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Jacksonville Device: Kindle	I used ELance to help me find an artist. It's a fairly simple process. Artists kinda compete for your attention by showing you their portfolio's and you choose the best one for the job.

05-26-2012, 07:26 AM	#15
VydorScope Wizard Posts: 3,418 Karma: 35207650 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: iPad	I love the full Photoshop CS line... but I am very good with editing photos, and building scences from others work. I am not a painter... so can not speak to creating work in it. Also as a student, it costs me WAY less then what it would cost most ppl to buy. I think it was around $150 for CS5.

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