Okay, this is pretty close to being the final version. That does not mean I still can’t do some tweaking should you generous feedback-givers think it really needs it. After blippity-frellin’ Paint Shop Pro crashed and ATE THE WHOLE THING this afternoon, I started hitting CTRL-S every time I so much as gestured at the keyboard, and I have a working file with all the layers still separate saved, as well as the merged version and this one. That means I can easily tweak different elements of the graphic.
The effect I was aiming for was to create a subtle sense of illumination, as if there was a candle flame (or several) down low and just in front of the plane of the picture. This occurs in three places: the flush of light in the palm of the hand, the light on the shelf behind the hand, and also on the main title letters. It’s very subtle there but I also used a drop shadow to further suggest the angle of the light.
As you will see, I added a lot more detail. In fact, you’d be amazed at how many different photographs, or parts thereof, went into this graphic. Not only have they all been worked together, layered, shadowed and adjusted, but I then applied an art effect to everything so if you look at it closely in high resolution, it all looks like it’s been done with oil paint. It makes for a very interesting texture. Only the lettering is smooth.
The actual cover graphic is higher resolution than this: it is 300 dpi (dots per inch), which is the maximum that Lightning Source (the printer) allows, whereas this picture here was saved for the web and is a jpeg at 72 dpi. So you’re not seeing the best version of it.
Anyway–comments, suggestions? I know the hand is lighter and brighter now–I did tone it down but then adding the “candlelight” brightened it up–but I’m hoping the additional detail and lightness behind and below it now keeps it from “jumping out” so much and being jarring. Oh, I put a thumbnail version up, too.
annef thought that the shelf right behind the hand was too light, so I tried darkening it a little without losing the illumination effect. Now the two versions are side-by-side, the darkened one on the right. Does that look better?
10 Responses to Asking again for cover design feedback!