Song of Insects: Cover

Moejoe · 02-19-2009, 08:53 PM

This is a very early attempt at a cover for the novel I hope to be uploading to Mobile read in the coming month. This was created in the Gimp while I wait for my new Mac to arrive and can use Photoshop again. The fonts aren't great and Gimp just doesn't work how I want it to, but you'll get the idea. Comments gratefully welcomed.

zelda_pinwheel · 02-19-2009, 08:54 PM

i like it ! very nice ! the use of the treble clef as the wings is very elegant and clever. it's a very classy cover ; it looks like a cover of a good litterary book.

Ervserver · 02-19-2009, 08:58 PM

Looks good to me

jaxx6166 · 02-19-2009, 09:52 PM

I likee.

alehel · 02-20-2009, 05:39 AM

I really like it. It looks alot better than most of the ebooks I've seen on mobipocket.

Are you self taught, or do you have experience with graphic design?

europas_ice · 02-20-2009, 05:53 AM

Nice!

I use gimp all the time (on my mac) since it's free and photoshop isn't. If you have any questions about how to do something feel free to ask me. Also, check here: http://docs.gimp.org/en/

If you'd like a suggestion on your cover (it is very nice, this is just a suggestion) I would mirror-image one of the trebble clefs to make the whole thing a tad more symmetric. It would still give the musical flavor. I would probably first try flipping the one on the left so that the bottom of the stem doesn't cover up the insect. If one of them is in a layer by itself, use (http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-layer-flip-horizontal.html)

HTH.

Moejoe · 02-20-2009, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by europas_ice

Nice!

I use gimp all the time (on my mac) since it's free and photoshop isn't. If you have any questions about how to do something feel free to ask me. Also, check here: http://docs.gimp.org/en/

If you'd like a suggestion on your cover (it is very nice, this is just a suggestion) I would mirror-image one of the trebble clefs to make the whole thing a tad more symmetric. It would still give the musical flavor. I would probably first try flipping the one on the left so that the bottom of the stem doesn't cover up the insect. If one of them is in a layer by itself, use (http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-layer-flip-horizontal.html)

HTH.

Thanks for the advice. And you couldn't be more right on the symmetry. Whatever I tried in the Gimp to get that right, it just wouldn't come out correctly, now I know how. Shows you what ten years of working with Photoshop will do to you, I've just become fluent with that interface and it's awkward to use anything else. Seeing as I paid out for CS3 on the Mac, I'll probably go back to it today when my new Mac arrives. Saying that, the Gimp has come along in strides and bounds over the years and you can't beat free!

As to the other question. I'm hopeless at drawing in every sense of the word, but I did attain a qualification as a production designer in my distant past (thanks in part to the magic of Photoshop). That's what I love about the tools we have at hand now, with photoshop or the gimp, a few ideas and some public domain images anybody can be a designer.

Going further, I'm thinking of replacing the insect body with more musical notation. I'll post updates as and when they're complete.

Thanks for the feedback everyone

Dr. Drib · 02-20-2009, 06:54 AM

I love that cover. It makes me think it's a literary thriller.

Don

lilac_jive · 02-20-2009, 08:22 AM

Very cool!

GeoffC · 02-23-2009, 10:15 AM

An innovative cover, simple design - and whilst I did notice the lack of symmetry - it does still work.

Moejoe · 02-23-2009, 07:26 PM

So here's revision 2 after I got back on the Mac, there's still something missing (I think maybe the Font was a wrong choice).

jaxx6166 · 02-23-2009, 08:05 PM

I like the colors on this much better

Moejoe · 02-23-2009, 08:14 PM

And by way of keeping it all in the same thread. This is the cover of the Urban Fantasy (sort of) Novel I'm working on at the moment.

lilac_jive · 02-23-2009, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

And by way of keeping it all in the same thread. This is the cover of the Urban Fantasy (sort of) Novel I'm working on at the moment.

That cover makes me want to buy that book

Moejoe · 02-23-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

That cover makes me want to buy that book

It'll be free, just like everything I plan on releasing

02-19-2009, 08:53 PM	#1
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Song of Insects: Cover This is a very early attempt at a cover for the novel I hope to be uploading to Mobile read in the coming month. This was created in the Gimp while I wait for my new Mac to arrive and can use Photoshop again. The fonts aren't great and Gimp just doesn't work how I want it to, but you'll get the idea. Comments gratefully welcomed.

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02-19-2009, 08:54 PM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	i like it ! very nice ! the use of the treble clef as the wings is very elegant and clever. it's a very classy cover ; it looks like a cover of a good litterary book.

02-19-2009, 08:58 PM	#3
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	Looks good to me

02-19-2009, 09:52 PM	#4
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	I likee.

02-20-2009, 05:39 AM	#5
alehel Zealot Posts: 112 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Norway Device: Kobo Clara HD	I really like it. It looks alot better than most of the ebooks I've seen on mobipocket. Are you self taught, or do you have experience with graphic design?

02-20-2009, 05:53 AM	#6
europas_ice Groupie Posts: 190 Karma: 220 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Moscow, ID Device: iPhone 11 (Kindle app & iBooks)	Nice! I use gimp all the time (on my mac) since it's free and photoshop isn't. If you have any questions about how to do something feel free to ask me. Also, check here: http://docs.gimp.org/en/ If you'd like a suggestion on your cover (it is very nice, this is just a suggestion) I would mirror-image one of the trebble clefs to make the whole thing a tad more symmetric. It would still give the musical flavor. I would probably first try flipping the one on the left so that the bottom of the stem doesn't cover up the insect. If one of them is in a layer by itself, use (http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-layer-flip-horizontal.html) HTH.

02-20-2009, 06:54 AM	#8
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,611 Karma: 60184181 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I love that cover. It makes me think it's a literary thriller. Don

02-20-2009, 08:22 AM	#9
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	Very cool!

02-23-2009, 10:15 AM	#10
GeoffC Chocolate Grasshopper ... Posts: 27,599 Karma: 20821184 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scotland Device: Muse HD , Cybook Gen3 , Pocketbook 302 (Black) , Nexus 10: wife has PW	An innovative cover, simple design - and whilst I did notice the lack of symmetry - it does still work.

02-23-2009, 07:26 PM	#11
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	So here's revision 2 after I got back on the Mac, there's still something missing (I think maybe the Font was a wrong choice).

02-23-2009, 08:05 PM	#12
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	I like the colors on this much better

02-23-2009, 08:14 PM	#13
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	And by way of keeping it all in the same thread. This is the cover of the Urban Fantasy (sort of) Novel I'm working on at the moment.