I like the text wheel. I think the blue of the box/text color could be more modern… heck, maybe the font could be, too. But I like the text wheel itself and the message/idea behind it. It says presenting your text in an interesting, organized manner. It’s clever.
I dislike the subtitle, though. I don’t know if its just the word “just” that irks me… and that could be a me thing. But it feels like a floating sentence fragment when you’re supposed to be telling me how best to present text, and that feels wrong.
Anyway, you may want to get someone to choose a different text color and font to make it look more modern – but have them keep the text wheel and the white background. If you go into getting a cover with the main image and a white background, you’ll likely pay much, much less for the finished product.
I missed the aardvark one originally and it reminds me a lot of a certain range of well known programming books! I must admit not to like the bookshelf – to me it suggests something getting lost in anonymity rather than standing out as special.
Interesting, Shell DiBaggio, because I used canva.com‘s presets for the colour and the text. I didn’t choose them myself; someone who, presumably, knows modern graphic design chose them.
Richard Abbott, the O’Reilly reference was kind of deliberate, and is the biggest problem with the aardvark, because of the tort of passing off.
In fairness to all the graphic artists out there, everyone has different taste.
In my experience with book covers, stories, etc. … It’s rare when even two people agree on something when I ask for an opinion. Which is frustrating in and of itself.
I kind of liked number 2 and 3, but they screamed “technical writing” and had me thinking of the O’Reilly books even before I saw the aardvark in number 4.
This may actually have been your intend all along, and if so then go for it. I just found it a bit dull for a book on (presumably?) fiction manuscripts. At least you could spruce it up a bit with some stronger colours?
I think we’ll all choose the bookcase because the colors are so striking. But I’m The Worst Design Person Ever. Look it up. It’s in the thesaurus.
I voted for Hire the designer but at the same time. Number one could be tweaked into something better.
Hire a designer.
It’s what they’re for. Also, professionally designed covers sell better.
And after several years of sales, you might make enough to pay the designer. Good luck. I’m always a sucker for bookshelves.
Marva Dasef I’ve got one on deck for ~$200US.
That’s not bad, considering the difference in sales that pro covers typically generate.
Marva Dasef That depends on what he wants. I got my steampunk cover for $75 and it might have been less but I wanted a couple of extra changes.
Of course he could spend $500+ too.
I like the text wheel. I think the blue of the box/text color could be more modern… heck, maybe the font could be, too. But I like the text wheel itself and the message/idea behind it. It says presenting your text in an interesting, organized manner. It’s clever.
I dislike the subtitle, though. I don’t know if its just the word “just” that irks me… and that could be a me thing. But it feels like a floating sentence fragment when you’re supposed to be telling me how best to present text, and that feels wrong.
Anyway, you may want to get someone to choose a different text color and font to make it look more modern – but have them keep the text wheel and the white background. If you go into getting a cover with the main image and a white background, you’ll likely pay much, much less for the finished product.
I missed the aardvark one originally and it reminds me a lot of a certain range of well known programming books! I must admit not to like the bookshelf – to me it suggests something getting lost in anonymity rather than standing out as special.
I was so wrong about the bookcase. Sorry!
Interesting, Shell DiBaggio, because I used canva.com‘s presets for the colour and the text. I didn’t choose them myself; someone who, presumably, knows modern graphic design chose them.
Richard Abbott, the O’Reilly reference was kind of deliberate, and is the biggest problem with the aardvark, because of the tort of passing off.
In fairness to all the graphic artists out there, everyone has different taste.
In my experience with book covers, stories, etc. … It’s rare when even two people agree on something when I ask for an opinion. Which is frustrating in and of itself.
I have a good artist/designer. If you would like to be put in touch with her, send me a message.
I voted for hiring a designer. Sorry.
I kind of liked number 2 and 3, but they screamed “technical writing” and had me thinking of the O’Reilly books even before I saw the aardvark in number 4.
This may actually have been your intend all along, and if so then go for it. I just found it a bit dull for a book on (presumably?) fiction manuscripts. At least you could spruce it up a bit with some stronger colours?
I am going with the “hire a designer” option.