David_S85
Nov-18-2005, 09:59 PM
OK, this might be fun.
Mrs. David_S85 needs a cover for her new book, which is due at the publisher in a couple of weeks. I am not a graphics designer, so we'll need some help from all of you in turning this photo (or one of the 100 like this one) into an interesting cover design.
The entire photo does not need to be on the cover. The important part is her walking the labyrinth, and as much of the labyrinth and green grass we can get around her. Unlike many book covers, we don't want a closeup of the author (her there in the photo).
The book...
...is a memoir about recovery from brain injury, so we chose a shot of a labyrinth that looks like a brain (sort of), and her navigating it. You just can't easily find a brain shaped labyrinth. Luckily, we knew where a good one was. She is self-publishing the book.
The Photo:
Problems with the shoot included angles. The labyrinth was situated on a slight incline making the background a bit odd looking. There is perspective distortion (I was shooting down from a ladder) as well as barrel distortion (10mm w/ 20D). Pics shown here have already been through PTLens. The smaller tree to the left actually was tilted off perpendicular, and not only a result of perspective. Perspective might need to be dealt with, but I haven't done so yet.
A very small and compressed copy of original photo:
http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/45059434-L.jpg
(has been through PTLens, has not been sharpened)
What needs to be included:
The title (I can't give that away, as the book is not in production yet). It is a 5 word title. There is an 8 word sub title. The author's name and the 4 word publisher's name also need to be there. The publisher's name needn't be large. None of these text strings need to be in a particular order, but should be logically laid out.
Some ideas so far:
We spent many hours roaming through the aisles of large book stores to get ideas. Photo center placement is not mandatory. Screening back the image to include titles is a possibility, as is removing or blending away regions of the photo that aren't important (such as what's behind the labyrinth). In fact, a painterly or dream effect has also been discussed. She wants it in color. A circular blur perhaps? Titles can be banded across the top or bottom independent from the photo (probably a good idea)? But like I say, I'm no graphics guru.
This has been rotated 6 degrees right, cropped, compressed version of above:
http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/45059433-L.jpg
(has not been sharpened)
57% size of original found here as a working image to play with:
http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/45062306-O.jpg
(has been through PTLens, has not yet been sharpened) I shot for generous cropping in mind, so ignore that comb at the bottom left :lol3
The publisher has stipulated the submittal requirements as: a .TIF file, sRGB (thankfully!), with resolution to cover the 6" x 9" cover (portrait) at 300 ppi. 10% of the cover perimeter will be cropped off from the publisher. All this I can easily handle on my own. I am using Paint Shop Pro.
I am working on some ideas on my own, but while I do, I though I'd get this thread up here to begin getting some ideas from all of you. And really, if you contribute, we are very very grateful for your help! Thanks in advance!
Mrs. David_S85 needs a cover for her new book, which is due at the publisher in a couple of weeks. I am not a graphics designer, so we'll need some help from all of you in turning this photo (or one of the 100 like this one) into an interesting cover design.
The entire photo does not need to be on the cover. The important part is her walking the labyrinth, and as much of the labyrinth and green grass we can get around her. Unlike many book covers, we don't want a closeup of the author (her there in the photo).
The book...
...is a memoir about recovery from brain injury, so we chose a shot of a labyrinth that looks like a brain (sort of), and her navigating it. You just can't easily find a brain shaped labyrinth. Luckily, we knew where a good one was. She is self-publishing the book.
The Photo:
Problems with the shoot included angles. The labyrinth was situated on a slight incline making the background a bit odd looking. There is perspective distortion (I was shooting down from a ladder) as well as barrel distortion (10mm w/ 20D). Pics shown here have already been through PTLens. The smaller tree to the left actually was tilted off perpendicular, and not only a result of perspective. Perspective might need to be dealt with, but I haven't done so yet.
A very small and compressed copy of original photo:
http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/45059434-L.jpg
(has been through PTLens, has not been sharpened)
What needs to be included:
The title (I can't give that away, as the book is not in production yet). It is a 5 word title. There is an 8 word sub title. The author's name and the 4 word publisher's name also need to be there. The publisher's name needn't be large. None of these text strings need to be in a particular order, but should be logically laid out.
Some ideas so far:
We spent many hours roaming through the aisles of large book stores to get ideas. Photo center placement is not mandatory. Screening back the image to include titles is a possibility, as is removing or blending away regions of the photo that aren't important (such as what's behind the labyrinth). In fact, a painterly or dream effect has also been discussed. She wants it in color. A circular blur perhaps? Titles can be banded across the top or bottom independent from the photo (probably a good idea)? But like I say, I'm no graphics guru.
This has been rotated 6 degrees right, cropped, compressed version of above:
http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/45059433-L.jpg
(has not been sharpened)
57% size of original found here as a working image to play with:
http://davidwatts.smugmug.com/photos/45062306-O.jpg
(has been through PTLens, has not yet been sharpened) I shot for generous cropping in mind, so ignore that comb at the bottom left :lol3
The publisher has stipulated the submittal requirements as: a .TIF file, sRGB (thankfully!), with resolution to cover the 6" x 9" cover (portrait) at 300 ppi. 10% of the cover perimeter will be cropped off from the publisher. All this I can easily handle on my own. I am using Paint Shop Pro.
I am working on some ideas on my own, but while I do, I though I'd get this thread up here to begin getting some ideas from all of you. And really, if you contribute, we are very very grateful for your help! Thanks in advance!