Need Feedback

[R. Richard]

I just posted my latest story in Literotica Authors and Their Books. Since I received so much negative feedback from my last cover, I would like to get some feedback from my latest cover.

I ordered a stock photo from BIGSTOCK (http://bigstock.refr.cc/FXZ6G43). That began two days of hell. The photo that they sent me wouldn't fit into my cover template. I tried any number of things and finally got a small image to fit. (If anyone has some useful suggestion(s) please let me know.) I use the Windows image editor. BIGSTOCK suggested that I try Gimp. I did, but I couldn't get the Medium sized image to fit into my cover template. I also couldn't reconstruct my cover template around the Medium sized image. It wasn't fun.

 

[Darkniciad]

If you're not willing to spring for something like Photoshop ( the "Elements" version is far cheaper than the full package, and does more than enough IMO ) then I would suggest Irfanview.

That will at least provide you with a reasonable scaling ability that won't cause such pixellated edges.

The central image, the first thing you see, is just bad. It's so pixellated that it almost seems blurred. The black background doesn't help that. Something softer would have made it look a lot less harsh. The way it is, the imperfections in the image just scream at the viewer.

Another thing is the white sliver in the bottom left near the author tag. It's sloppy work, and may very well cause people to believe the contents are equally flawed.

The author tag is okay, though the text has no dimension, and seems very bland.

The title in red is equally bland, and doesn't really stand out against black. In my opinion, it's also far too small.

There's way too much empty space. It's a black hole with a few things stuck onto it.

Again, I'd suggest Photoshop or some other program ( I think Gimp might offer this functionality, though I only tried it briefly before deciding I didn't like it ) that will allow you to apply effects to the text. A bevel or drop shadow does wonders to make the text less bland, and to catch the viewer's eye.

If the original image is large enough, I would have went with the image on the right, going all the way to the top ( with a little space to keep it off the edge ) and the title on the left.

Not only does that eliminate a lot of empty space, but the image you've chosen would have the woman looking back at the title, which gives it a little implied action. The bend in her back is perfect to accomodate the longer word "Adventures" fitting in there.

And I would absolutely use something other than black for the background. What I don't know, but something else. A texture, a softer color...

 

[sr71plt]

I thought the cover was "good enough" for erotica distributor listing. I would have made the title in a slightly bigger, more commanding font (I couldn't read the title on the Smashwords thumbnail image). But in a thumbnail, I think it's a big step above a blank, white cover.

I'd give advice on the technicals, but I know nothing about them. It's why I don't mind giving a publisher a cut to do this sort of work.

 

[lovecraft68]

I just posted my latest story in Literotica Authors and Their Books. Since I received so much negative feedback from my last cover, I would like to get some feedback from my latest cover.

I ordered a stock photo from BIGSTOCK (http://bigstock.refr.cc/FXZ6G43). That began two days of hell. The photo that they sent me wouldn't fit into my cover template. I tried any number of things and finally got a small image to fit. (If anyone has some useful suggestion(s) please let me know.) I use the Windows image editor. BIGSTOCK suggested that I try Gimp. I did, but I couldn't get the Medium sized image to fit into my cover template. I also couldn't reconstruct my cover template around the Medium sized image. It wasn't fun.

It is certainly better than a blank cover with text. Now in case you have not already figured it out standard e-book cover size is 600x900

I use this site for photos

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-girl-panties.-image15948192

They give you options as to what size to buy. I get the medium and size it down. Also if the photo runs horizontally it is a bitch to get it to work because 6x9 is for vertical covers.

After you get your photo here is a great free site to add text.

http://www*******-image-editor.com/

it has a ton of font options and you can add borders. So my covers pretty much cost $4 and come out half way decent.

Here is my SW page. all were done by me except for the first Broken cover.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LauraLovecraft

 

[Darkniciad]

Very quick and dirty mock-up, using more or less what you had ( unfortunately, I had to scale up the less than perfect image from yours, but working with what I've got )

Have my own sloppy sliver in there near the title bar where I had to cut, upscale, and paste your female image, but I can't be assed to fix it since I'm just doing an example mock-up anyway *laugh*

http://www.darkniciad.com/hotlink_pics/topless_mock_up.jpg

Still way too much empty space. Still hate the black background. Still don't like red on black.

But, the text pops a little more, and the cover is more dynamic.

 

[lovecraft68]

Very quick and dirty mock-up, using more or less what you had ( unfortunately, I had to scale up the less than perfect image from yours, but working with what I've got )

Have my own sloppy sliver in there near the title bar where I had to cut, upscale, and paste your female image, but I can't be assed to fix it since I'm just doing an example mock-up anyway *laugh*

http://www.darkniciad.com/hotlink_pics/topless_mock_up.jpg

Still way too much empty space. Still hate the black background. Still don't like red on black.

But, the text pops a little more, and the cover is more dynamic.

I agree about the space. What I would do is add a tag line in smaller text to fill it in and give the reader an idea on the story line

 

[sr71plt]

Oh, no, not more text on the cover.

I say let's just congratulate RR for doing something so much better than text on blank white. He asked about the photo image technicals, not about the design. (Like Dark's treatment of the titling, though.)

 

[Darkniciad]

Another quick mock-up

http://www.darkniciad.com/hotlink_pics/topless_mock_two.jpg

It should be a black bra to match her outfit, but we still have that annoying black background. Bolded the text, and changed the title text color -- primarily to keep it from blending in to the pink bra.

Still don't like the text color, but it scales down to thumbnail size with a much higher degree of readability. The bra takes up more of that empty black space, and gives you another dynamic element, connecting it to both the image and title by having it dangling from the title.

If I was actually working on a cover, I'd show the bra hooked onto the bottom of that P somehow, rather than have it just behind the letter, and I'd take the time to clean up the edges more ( though having a different background would keep it from standing out as much as it does on black )

Another advantage of Photoshop is the ability to use layers. I kept everything on its own layer, so when I want to make changes like this, I can just move things around and change them as I please.

I can change my mind about the title, and if I still have the original layered image, it's a snap. I can add or remove peripheral images, change the background, or about anything.

Photoshop is worth the investment for the power and flexibility it provides.

 

[R. Richard]

Thanks for the comments!

I have no choice with the black background, that's the way it comes and I have no way to change it.

I agree that the title was difficult to read. I maybe improved it a bit. I can't go to a larger font size, maybe try a different, narrower font in the future.

I made the girl image as large as I could, by cutting down on the author name.

I also cleaned up the edge.

Waddaya think?

https://dwtr67e3ikfml.cloudfront.net/bookCovers/a4cfe6b683540f13b9e42b7fce80940bc92e274a

 

[Darkniciad]

You still have all those scaling artifacts from resizing the image. Look at the "border" she has around her face, and the checkerboard pattern on her skin -- most noticeable on her arm where the shadows hit it. Then there are the "notches" she has in her back. Those are all scaling artifacts.

Or at least, I hope they are. I would hope an image for sale isn't that badly pixellated.

What size is the original image? ( in pixels ) If it's too small compared to the final, even a good image scaling alogrithm may not be sufficient to prevent those artifacts.

Not sure why you can't change the font size I would think that would be a standard feature on damn near anything. The title absolutely needs to be bigger. It's too small in the full size image, and will likely be invisible when reduced to a thumbnail.

A narrower font would be even harder to read -- especially in thumbnail.

 

[R. Richard]

You still have all those scaling artifacts from resizing the image. Look at the "border" she has around her face, and the checkerboard pattern on her skin -- most noticeable on her arm where the shadows hit it. Then there are the "notches" she has in her back. Those are all scaling artifacts.

Or at least, I hope they are. I would hope an image for sale isn't that badly pixellated.

What size is the original image? ( in pixels ) If it's too small compared to the final, even a good image scaling alogrithm may not be sufficient to prevent those artifacts.

Not sure why you can't change the font size I would think that would be a standard feature on damn near anything. The title absolutely needs to be bigger. It's too small in the full size image, and will likely be invisible when reduced to a thumbnail.

A narrower font would be even harder to read -- especially in thumbnail.

The original images are:
Small: 8.3X12.5 @72DPI
Medium: 3.6X5.3 @300DPI

The problem is, when I try to scale the Medium image to the size of a standard e-book cover, the image develops a very bad case of the 'jaggies.' I suspect that it's a 'feature' of the Windows image processing program. The small image scales better, not good, but better.
The font for the Windows image processing software is 'the font.' I can change the size, but not the font.
I do want to produce good looking e-book covers, but I don't really want to be a cover artist. I need something that lets me scale stock photos, add text and maintain a reasonable photo image. I still haven't foud it.

 

[lovecraft68]

The original images are:
Small: 8.3X12.5 @72DPI
Medium: 3.6X5.3 @300DPI

The problem is, when I try to scale the Medium image to the size of a standard e-book cover, the image develops a very bad case of the 'jaggies.' I suspect that it's a 'feature' of the Windows image processing program. The small image scales better, not good, but better.
The font for the Windows image processing software is 'the font.' I can change the size, but not the font.
I do want to produce good looking e-book covers, but I don't really want to be a cover artist. I need something that lets me scale stock photos, add text and maintain a reasonable photo image. I still haven't foud it.

I'm not tech savvy at all and I don't have this problem. I buy the size that is usually 1200x1500 on dreamstime. I download it and using microsoft picture manager shrink it to 600x900. I then go to the text site, pick a font and add the text.

Maybe you bought the small size and the quality is being ruined as you enlarge it? I get the bigger ones and shrink them.

 

[Darkniciad]

Can you PM me for an email to send copies of the original images?

I could try scaling them in both Irfanview ( free, small download ) and Photoshop to see whether the images can be reasonably scaled to where you need them.

If you have both the small and medium, and you see differences in the final effect, send them both and I'll try them both.

If Ifranview will work, that will provide a free and easy scaling ( though not as easy as Photoshop ) option.

It may be that you have to spring for a higher resolution image, though. Only way to find out is to try.

As far as the font goes, there are a few options ( Again, with Photoshop being the best ) but there are numerous free options as well. Let's solve the issue of whether the image can even be scaled first, though.

 

[Darkniciad]

Okay, it's absolutely your program that's causing those horrible scaling artifacts. Why it's doing it when you're downscaling, I have no idea. Upscaling, I can understand, but your original image is the same size as what you want the final image to be. You're only shrinking it enough to fit your author title on there...

I was able to use Irfranview and get a nice resized image. The problem is, I doubt the program you're using has the ability to paste, let alone other features that would be incredibly useful like a paint bucket.

I'm playing with a few things, trying to find something that will be easy for you to use and free.

In the meantime, I cheated and did a quick mock-up in Photoshop so you can see how it looks with a properly resized image.

http://www.darkniciad.com/hotlink_pics/topless_mock_three.jpg

What I did here was scale the image down to make room, then move the image to the right. I then painted in the blank space with black. Paint in the gold box, add the text, and done.

 

[Darkniciad]

No idea how your license works on the image, but if for some reason it requires the original image to be complete, and only added to ( When I moved it to the right in the previous one, it actually crops off part of the right side of the original image ) then there's this:

http://www.darkniciad.com/hotlink_pics/topless_mock_four.jpg

Resized the image, moved it into the upper left, painted everything else black. Add the gold box and add the text ( which I didn't mess around with much )

Messed up the gold box, but oh well, I'm just playing with mock-ups here.

For anyone else checking out this thread for some possibilities, get Photoshop Elements or the full Photoshop if you want to spring for that much. It really does make everything easier. The time you save if you choose to make your own covers will probably make it worth your while to spend the money. I think it's like $80 for Photoshop Elements retail, and you may very well be able to find it cheaper.

Lots of people say the freeware program Gimp is just as capable, but I frankly couldn't stand it