So I turned to the one friend I know who does professional cover design. She's cool and sweet, and right now she even has a holiday discount for any work you might hire her to do. Go check out some of her work at SketcherGirlStudios, and if you are considering some cover design or other art needs, write to Vic Caswell and find out just how nice she is.
Now here are two options she came up with amazingly fast, as in just a couple of hours, from the artwork I sent her. She's willing to make any changes needed, but you can see just from these that they are far better than the examples I managed on my own.
I like the way my name appears in the one with the borders (single border and a double border), but I'm leaning towards liking the one without borders better. What are your thoughts?
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The two with the borders rock! Now those look like a book from a big name author. I prefer the first one as it's a little simpler, but either design works.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely vote for border - more unique.
And Vic rocks!
Have to agree with ALex here :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to hear such opinions. I was afraid the one with the border might look a little too much like a graphic novel, but I do like it also.
ReplyDeleteI like the borders on the images, in one or two. The name isn't prominent enough on the third. The border gives it a finished look.
ReplyDeleteThese look much better! Consider one more change: making the author's name larger and extend over the border in the same manner as the title. Don't be too shy to put the name large enough to read in a thumbnail!
ReplyDeleteOn the one without the borders it looks as though the subtitle has been made smaller (harder to read) and the author's name is almost invisible. If you don't have the border, you need to give the title and author name MORE emphasis, to give weight to the top and bottom, I think.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the feeback. Tara, if I make the name larger and extend it over the border, should I keep it centered or move it left (my instinct is to move it left, but I'm no designer)?
ReplyDeleteI like the middle one. Its a shade lighter and still has the border. I love the cover; it makes me feel there is a lot of "story" to the story. Ya know? It feels epic, not like covers with a picture of the MC holding a sword or looking all freaky (weird color eyes, pasty faces, or outlandish clothing). I'd buy this novel just to get to the scene depicted and find out what all is going on here.
ReplyDeleteVic does good work. You must have also Ted for come up with this so fast. Awesome.
.........dhole
Thanks, Donna. Fortunately the works are still in project format, so if it needs to be a shade lighter but people like the top one better, I can figure out how to make that one a bit lighter.
ReplyDeleteI added a new one at the bottom, playing with my name.
ReplyDeleteNew one looks good too :) Bright enough to read everything.
ReplyDelete.......dhole
I actually like the one without the border but they're all great choices.
ReplyDeleteThat is frickin awesome. I'm off to contact this person right away as I have a novella I'd like to publish.
ReplyDeleteVic is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI like no border the best, but perhaps with a different font for your name.
Definitely a border. I think it has more pop and resonance, and it seems more polished that way.
ReplyDelete