01-13-2013, 04:56 AM | #1 |
Country Member
Posts: 9,058
Karma: 7676767
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Denmark
Device: Liseuse: Irex DR800. PRS 505 in the house, and the missus has an iPad.
|
How not to design a book cover
For your edification, a lighthearted compilation of object lessons in how not to design a book cover.
http://lousybookcovers.tumblr.com/ |
01-13-2013, 08:16 AM | #2 |
The Dank Side of the Moon
Posts: 35,872
Karma: 118716293
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire
|
Some nasty stuff......
|
01-13-2013, 01:46 PM | #3 |
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Posts: 1,212
Karma: 6244877
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Coastal Texas
Device: Android Phone
|
I think someone linked this a few months ago. Although instead of just a "fail blog," IMO he should try actually pointing out how these could be improved. The internet is too full of destructive criticism.
|
01-13-2013, 01:59 PM | #4 | |
The Dank Side of the Moon
Posts: 35,872
Karma: 118716293
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire
|
Quote:
I actually thought the swamp one was not that bad depending on market and story/genre, same for the time tunnel thing....ever see Dr. Who lately? Last edited by kennyc; 01-13-2013 at 02:02 PM. |
|
01-13-2013, 06:13 PM | #5 |
occasional author
Posts: 2,315
Karma: 2064403292
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains.
Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.
|
|
01-13-2013, 06:52 PM | #6 | ||
Wizard
Posts: 3,418
Karma: 35207650
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: iPad
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
01-13-2013, 08:15 PM | #7 | |
cacoethes scribendi
Posts: 5,812
Karma: 137770742
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650
|
Quote:
I glanced through his archives. Okay so the majority are pretty atrocious, but there are some that aren't any worse than I've seen done by professionals. Several there remind me of old cheap paperbacks for horror/sci-fi in the seventies - and for all anyone knows, without talking to the author, that was the intention. Cheap shots are easy ... and sometimes even justified ... perhaps. But a lousy cover every day of the month? That's just filler for his site. Amazon had almost 92,000 new releases in the last 30 days, of course there's going to be some pretty ripe choices. |
|
01-14-2013, 06:27 AM | #8 |
Wizard
Posts: 3,418
Karma: 35207650
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: iPad
|
Oh its all link bait for sure. For what ever reason - put up a fail blog of some kind and people will come. People will talk about it on message boards and post how wrong it is.
To be clear, it is not a genre I am a fan of. At all. I would have like to see a "heres how ugly it was - and here is how we fixed it" style blog. That would be helpful to me. |
01-14-2013, 06:35 AM | #9 |
cacoethes scribendi
Posts: 5,812
Karma: 137770742
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Australia
Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650
|
You're thinking before and after photographs, like weight-watchers or something? Maybe we need "cover-watchers", and "blurb-watchers". We could all go on the diet, see how many pounds (sterling) we can gain.
|
01-14-2013, 06:56 AM | #10 |
Wizard
Posts: 3,418
Karma: 35207650
Join Date: Jun 2011
Device: iPad
|
|
01-14-2013, 07:34 AM | #11 | |
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Posts: 1,212
Karma: 6244877
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Coastal Texas
Device: Android Phone
|
Quote:
But like all things on the internet, its just too easy to be destructive. |
|
01-14-2013, 10:42 AM | #12 |
Connoisseur
Posts: 59
Karma: 712900
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Hull, UK
Device: Kindle PW, Kindle Keyboard, Kobo Touch, Sony PRS-505, 600 & Librié
|
I think it's great - even just as a reference point for what a cover shouldn't be. I don't really care if he uses it to advertise his own services. It's his site - and clearly his services are needed!
|
01-14-2013, 01:20 PM | #13 | |
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Posts: 1,212
Karma: 6244877
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Coastal Texas
Device: Android Phone
|
Quote:
"Yes, I did hear you tell me the main character dresses in gothic lolita. Well, I'm the artist, and I say that urban cowgirl suits her better! Who's the graphic artist, me or you?" |
|
01-14-2013, 06:01 PM | #14 |
Philosopher
Posts: 2,034
Karma: 18736532
Join Date: Jan 2012
Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2 gen, Kindle Fire 1st Gen, Kindle Touch
|
A lot of those covers are hand-drawn covers. Hand-drawn covers can be good if you have the talent for it. But if you don't, they can be bad. A lot of them (hand-drawn and otherwise) would be better if they kept it simpler. Plus, drawing people is hard, a hand-drawn cover might be ok, but it takes extra talent to be able to draw people well.
|
01-15-2013, 02:49 AM | #15 | |
Bookmaker & Cat Slave
Posts: 11,482
Karma: 158448243
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Device: K2, iPad, KFire, PPW, Voyage, NookColor. 2 Droid, Oasis, Boox Note2
|
Quote:
If you think that a lot of the wrong people believe that they are writers, you haven't hung out around people applying for cover design work yet. When I post ads seeking new talent, the responses I receive from folks who really believe (like the guy/gal who did the one with the rat, the pelican and the "neanderthal" in the boat) that they're ready for nearly-prime-time inundate our inboxes. And most of what we get for portfolio shots is just...painful. If you like constructive critcism, try "Your Cover Uncovered," http://yourcoveruncovered.blogspot.com/ , but I admit I have a sad addiction to laughing at truly bad covers. I know: it makes me a lousy human being. But in my defense, I'd point out that I sift through dozens of new manuscripts for production daily; in scrutinizing them for quotes, I inadvertently read a lot of them, and my poor brain needs an outlet. Thus, I confess, this guy slays me: http://causticcovercritic.blogspot.com.au/ Hitch |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Free on Friday (9/7): Book: "How to Design an Ebook Cover - For a Non-Designer." | kateharp | Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers | 3 | 09-14-2012 08:58 AM |
Book cover design software | owly | Writers' Corner | 7 | 06-17-2012 11:00 PM |
Ended Oberon Design Classic Nook Cover (Green Celtic Hounds Design) | apastuszak | Flea Market | 2 | 12-12-2011 09:11 AM |
Cover design | garygibsonsf | Writers' Corner | 2 | 07-17-2011 11:01 AM |
Cover Design | jaxx6166 | Writers' Corner | 79 | 07-03-2010 11:01 PM |