Beginners Book Cover

[PlacidTubs]

Hi, I'm new to all this world. Here is a mock up of a book cover I did today. Any comments would be appreciated.

http://www.butterfliesonstrings.com/explosionscover1.jpg

I really wanted a classic and clean look.

And yes, I know Explosions in the Sky is the name of a band (a completely amazing one too).

[urstwile]

What's the book about?

[morea]

welcome to gdf... I'm curious, too.

Somehow the cover seems to evoke a peaceful feeling that I find is at odds with the title... but maybe a little more understanding of the storyline would help me to see if differently.

[effigy4130]

This reminds me of a "calm after the storm type of situation." What exactly is that a photo of? It looks like something kind of post-war or right after a house burned down. Also, the title and authors name is the looking too similar. There needs to be more hierarchy, probably with the title on top and larger. I like the choice of font and the use of small caps to seperate the two lines, but as I said, I think there needs to be more. You should also think about what the end and back cover will look like. It would be nice if there was enough of the image to wrap around, especially with that chain-link fence being so directional and dominating in the image.

[tZ]

Why did you choose this image to represent explosions in the sky?

Your typography is very bland and is lacking contrast that could otherwise make it very interesting.

The box is not helping your cause.

Why the box?

There isn't a box or frame located anywhere else within the composition????

I find it interesting how you managed to place more emphasis on the authors name then the book title. Why did you do this?

Your area of emphasis within the photograph is in the direct center. Again why?

Something about the way you cropped the image looks akward to me. I can't put my fingur on it but I think its lack of a true focal point with supporting accents. Your image lacks all forms of emphasis which would otherwise guide and grab the viewer.

Pardon me for saying this but, one of my professors put it best… its like a snapshot.

There's no design element to the photography. It just seems like it was shot head on without little consideration for composition or the message(which is another story alltogether).

I also think the image needs to be retouched better. It doesn't look to me like you have large range in value(dark or black/ light / white). Your lightest area is a grayish tone and your darkest area is a dark gray also.

Now lets get back to the box. When you introduce something into a composition you should allways try to repeat some attribute about that item within the design. This is to create unity and balance. Without that repetitive factor the introduction generally will result in an unbalnced and ununified design. Since, unity is created through repetition and balance is created through variations of contrast on one given repetive element.

So knowing this now your box is more so a frame then anything else. That is actually what it functions as a frame. So perhaps introduce another design element which frames ssomething within the design. This will result in a more unified and balanced whole through repetition. You could also omit the frame idea alltogther and not frame anything at all if you think it hold no communitive value.

Does the frame say anything important visually. What is the frame there to do? Well… from the looks of it it is there to grab the viewers attention and create a contrast with the surrounding. A contrast which ultimatly… makes it the first thing the viewer see's. So… if you get where I'm going then this contrast can be introduced in a multiple of ways other then that frame. You could use value perhaps. Have the typography in contrasting value to its ground(the photograph). This would eliminate the need for the box and result in the contrast your looking for to emphasi the typography without needless 'decortive' element. I use 'decortive' loosly here but, really thats what it is. It serves no purpose beyond contrast so I think contrast can be better achived in other ways that won't disrupt the entire flow of the piece without introducing yet another element of the same repetitve form.

Now about your typography. Why so small? Really looking at it your typography doesn't take up alot of space. In addition, both the author and title have very little contrast in size. Most book covers I see use contrast in a way to emphasis the title more so then the author. So perhaps have have title much larger then the authors name. Not GIGANTIC but, moderatly larger so it becomes the focus. I would also recommend having the author below the title. Allthough if you introduced enough contrast between the two I think you might be able to get away with it(the author) located in either location.

Now lets talk about your photgraph. The reason I ask why you choose the image is becasue I am not seeing any communitive connection between it and your title. Sp perhaps there is logic in it beyond what is given but, I'll go ahead and state my initial reaction.

The ground and sky are two very seperate things. So why did you choose to represent a book title "Explosions In the Sky" with an image of something on the ground? Perhaps there is something I'm overlooking but, it just seems odd.

In addition, nothing about your image is really communicating EXPLOSION to me. Your image is more so an example of calmness in choas more so then anything else. So if that is what the book is about then great. otherwise I think you need to re-access the visual components associated with an EXPLOSION. Then also perhaps find a way to communicate a explosion in the sky rather then an explosion on the ground.

Lastly, placing your focal point in the center is generally a bad thing to do. As this stops visual movement throughout the rest of your piece and weights it down at that center. Also, when you ibntroduce a focal point into a design it should be immediate and intential. To me this photographs focal point does not appear 'intentional'. Intentional is about using contrast and the enviorment surounding to further emphasis the major area of emphasis. I would just recommend better use of the area surrounding your focal point to empahsis it. Think black on white or light on dark. You could also do somthing with the apeture. Alot of photos use a low apeture to create an imediate and intentional focal point. Where the area of importance is in focus and the surrounding area is somewhat blurred. There are a multitude of ways to utilize creative camera controls to achieve emphasis.

You also need to think about your crop. When you take a photgraph you are not bound to using the entire thing. many people if not most crop it to create a more interesrting and dynamic composition. perhaps if you shot your focal point in the center you could amend this by cropping it so that it i not in the center. Things that this could help increase the sucess of your piece.

Hopefully that wasn't to harsh…