I have this picture. (Second try up.)

Hiroko · Jan 18, 2012

I started giving a book cover a go but did not like the first attempt so much. It didn't scream out "different" -- as a good friend said, the first cover looked generic and did not stand out. I'm not here to whine about the first cover, however.

Here is the cover I have so far:

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/3381/othermaybecovercopy.jpg

Obviously this is still a work-in-progress. I am looking at changing the font used (Footlight MT Light) - I don't like how it looks - and possibly those tiny spark shapes around the text/artwork.

Would anyone like to offer some insight on it?
...Could this cover potentially capture your interest on a website?

merrihiatt · Jan 18, 2012

There are some nice elements there and it does stand out. I have no idea what the book is about, though. I think you can eliminate the words "a novel."

leahzero · Jan 18, 2012

I LOVE THIS.

And I'm hard to please when it comes to design.

I'd suggest an oval-ish vignette to darken the edges of the cover, and more depth in the background using gradients.

I LOVE the composition of this, the color, the sense of motion, the urgency/energy implied by the title extending past the frame, and the type treatment on the title (though I suggest putting all the text in caps, or changing the byline typeface to perhaps a bold sans serif for contrast).

ETA: Also, might wanna experiment with roughening up the edges of the circuit hearts. They're a little too clean when compared to the wildness of the sparks.

Great job.

Noah Body · Jan 19, 2012

Wow, that is one SWEEEEEEEET cover!

mirandashell · Jan 19, 2012

I can't see it. It won't load

DeaK · Jan 19, 2012

I like it. What's your genre?

Alessandra Kelley · Jan 19, 2012

mirandashell said:
I can't see it. It won't load

I can't see it either. Everything on the page except your images loads, then I get a server-isn't-responding message.

Gale Haut · Jan 19, 2012

For those who can't see.

I actually like it. It makes me think the book is a young adult SF that has a human & AI love affair in it.

Alessandra Kelley · Jan 20, 2012

My phone display has a big blank white space instead of a cover.

I'm beginning to think I'm just fated not to see it.

badlandz · Jan 20, 2012

I like the original as a concept, I downloaded it to play... I like it a bit better when the contrast is tweaked, a bit more red (to give it a hint of purple rather than greenish blue), and ... somehow... if the white/blue edges were sharper (but I couldn't do that just tweaking contrast.

Overall, I like it though. But do delete "a novel" and just leave "by..."

Hiroko · Jan 20, 2012

I didn't expect such positive replies. Thank you, everyone.

merrihiatt said:
There are some nice elements there and it does stand out. I have no idea what the book is about, though. I think you can eliminate the words "a novel."

badlandz said:
I like the original as a concept, I downloaded it to play... I like it a bit better when the contrast is tweaked, a bit more red (to give it a hint of purple rather than greenish blue), and ... somehow... if the white/blue edges were sharper (but I couldn't do that just tweaking contrast.

Overall, I like it though. But do delete "a novel" and just leave "by..."

I see with the "a novel"; I thought it might be a little clunky. I like the blue-green hue, though!

leahzero said:
I LOVE THIS.

And I'm hard to please when it comes to design.

I'd suggest an oval-ish vignette to darken the edges of the cover, and more depth in the background using gradients.

I LOVE the composition of this, the color, the sense of motion, the urgency/energy implied by the title extending past the frame, and the type treatment on the title (though I suggest putting all the text in caps, or changing the byline typeface to perhaps a bold sans serif for contrast).

ETA: Also, might wanna experiment with roughening up the edges of the circuit hearts. They're a little too clean when compared to the wildness of the sparks.

Great job.

Much obliged. I'll play with the design a little more; I think deepening the edges could give a darker feel. I do believe I've just gotten another idea for the background.

Noah Body said:
Wow, that is one SWEEEEEEEET cover!

Just like your comment.

mirandashell said:
I can't see it. It won't load

Alessandra Kelley said:
I can't see it either. Everything on the page except your images loads, then I get a server-isn't-responding message.

Pooh. I could attempt loading the image to another site, as I can't attach files here (or so it would appear). Wouldn't want to exclude you on the viewing.

Gale Haut said:
For those who can't see.

I actually like it. It makes me think the book is a young adult SF that has a human & AI love affair in it.

DeaK said:
I like it. What's your genre?

Well, Gale kind of nailed the genre on the head. You're on the right track as far as human/AI interaction goes, but I might spoil the book if I laid out all the details.

Hiroko · Jan 27, 2012

Ok, take two. I hate to double-post, but I didn't think making another thread would be appropriate.

Warning: It's pretty huge.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/33/othermaybecovercopy2.jpg/

I added some effects and whatnot, but I'm trying not to overdo it simultaneously. I like this product. Does it look nice to anyone else but me?

I have this picture. (Second try up.)

Hiroko

Which of them was the machine?

merrihiatt

Writing! Writing! Writing!

leahzero

The colors! THE COLORS!

Noah Body

Entertainment Ronin

mirandashell

DeaK

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Gale Haut

waxing digital artistic

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

badlandz

Hiroko

Which of them was the machine?

Hiroko

Which of them was the machine?