Does this cover image work?

[mr ploppy]

I'm aiming for a sort of 1970s trash-fiction effect.

http://i42.tinypic.com/29bfhi.jpg

[Bilbo1967]

For me, the guy's face is too real. I'd kind of expect a more cartoony feel. Does that make sense?

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

I'm aiming for a sort of 1970s trash-fiction effect.

http://i42.tinypic.com/29bfhi.jpg

Hmm. Not bad. I almost wonder if the photo part should be in B/W instead of green?

[DrDln]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

I'm aiming for a sort of 1970s trash-fiction effect.

http://i42.tinypic.com/29bfhi.jpg

BTW, your link doesn't seem to work. I would consider changing the color. Not enough contrast between picture and letters.

[5thWiggle]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Hmm. Not bad. I almost wonder if the photo part should be in B/W instead of green?

I agree. If not B/W, some other colour. I read the title, saw the face and immediately thought: "It's people. Soylent Green is made out of people".

[mr ploppy]

He's supposed to be one of the motorcyclists.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

He's supposed to be one of the motorcyclists.

I got that... but the green still does not work, IMO. Try B/W and see what it looks like maybe?

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Hmm. Not bad. I almost wonder if the photo part should be in B/W instead of green?

Yeah, the green (or that shade of green) kinda turns me off....

[RolandD]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

For me, the guy's face is too real. I'd kind of expect a more cartoony feel. Does that make sense?

I agree. It doesn't have that seventies feel with a photo.

plus, he doesn't look very brutal, more wistful.

[dadioflex]

I don't like his spot.

Also, if he's a biker why isn't he wearing shades and a German WWII helmet?

I'd take one of those classic 60s/70s images, bump it around with Gimp for a bit, then apply a cartoon filter to it, stick with a red/monochrome look and make the small text jaggier.

"plus, he doesn't look very brutal, more wistful. "

Like he's wondering why his grandkids don't visit as often as they used to. I'll tell you why - that spot.

Ah, here we go:

http://www.itsdeadlicious.com/2008/1...h-library.html

Obviously, in the spirit of classic exploitation fiction, the cover should reveal a scene that never occurs within the pages of the book. May I suggest a biker launching across the raised Tower Bridge as a scantily clad pillion passenger (preferably female, but go nuts) clings on for dear life on the back of his Bonnie, while zombies swarm underneath. In dinghies.

[crich70]

Maybe a shade of purple or crimson rather than green.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by RolandD

plus, he doesn't look very brutal, more wistful.

Ah, I knew I shouldn't have used Steven Lyle as a model. Is this one any better?

http://i47.tinypic.com/34ga7p5.jpg

[kennyc]

Yep.



.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by mr ploppy

Ah, I knew I shouldn't have used Steven Lyle as a model...

So here I am, planning to just look at but not comment on a cover that I didn't think particularly worked... and someone has to get snide.

So...

Sorry, but the photo doesn't look like a biker; the over-the-top grimace makes him look like a retarded (or hopelessly drunk/high) homicidal maniac who eats bikers for breakfast (or gets beat up by them). It's also a bit close on him. Full head and shoulders, with a sneering look, would be much better. Better still, pull back some more and show either the bike he's sitting on, or the townspeople he's threatening.

Finally, if you want a retro look, tone down all the colors... wash them out, as if you just found this cover amongst the 60s remainders.

Done.

I'm going back to posing now.

[mr ploppy]

Originally Posted by Steven Lyle Jordan

the over-the-top grimace makes him look like a retarded (or hopelessly drunk/high) homicidal maniac.

That's how I would describe one of the main characters