Let's give each other fancy tips about our covers!

[cherrystark]

The title and cover make me see that the most important thing in the novel is the ivy. When I think of ivy I think of something poisonous. And the woman on the cover could be someone who is like ivy.

You wouldn't know it, but the title is a reference to the woman's name.

The immortal ivy makes me think of a spanish saying that is: "mala hierva nunca muere" which translates as "weeds never die".

That's an interesting thought.

I didn't give you any constructive criticism but I hope my interpretation of the cover helps you see how at least one other person sees it.

I appreciate your thoughts. The original image is nice and I do like it. Immortality is a hard concept to show in visual form with my limit digital art skills.

[LunarScyphozoa]

I will keep that in mind, I did compose the entire thing around a center bottom title however.

[Katzalcoatl]

Yup, you would probably have to extend the trees and remove some snow with my idea. It is extra work.
But you should cross that bridge once you decide on your fonts and the permanent place of your tittle.

Thankfully, the simple details of your cover should allow you some degree of freedom to move parts of your cover while editing.

[Katzalcoatl]

Immortality is a hard concept to show in visual form

Now I see why you chose ivy.

Not sure if it applies to ivy on a wall.

P.S. I like hidden meanings.

[lizardlullabye]

@faisalhussein394

TITLE:

• It might look better as a border so you have more room to fit the book title, chapter title, artist and writer without clutter to read.

• Adjust color of dark green and gold to look good with whatever drawing it is company to. Otherwise, it looks like a copy-and-paste that does not quite fit. See "Series of Unfortunate Events" books for reference -- the border with thorny vines change color per book b/c different color look better together.

COLORS:

• Darker dark and brighter lights like laundry. Colors need contrast to pop or else they are muddy and more difficult to see. Adjust and change colors if they don't mix well too.

• For example, the background characters are "blocking" the main trio (I assume) in the 2nd cover. There is not a lot of dark/light contrast among the main trio, but they are farther hidden in the big guy's hair. The background demon is the darkest contrast in the picture which accidentally give them the strongest focus of the cover. Changing where dark/light are can help guide focus.

It looks like nice adventure story.

[lizardlullabye]

The first cover is good and pretty, but here's some rearrangements to try:

• Move the characters down and move the title into the newly empty dark space. It is easier to read the title since it is not running through a very visible arm.

• Make blood with a hidden bit crown-shaped for a prince.

• The left character looks to be staring deeply into the other's hair. Adjust sight downwards to other's face or towards reader for less vacant staring (unless that exactly what you wanted, then it is perfect!)

[XiuLyn_12]

Ah, thank you so much for your tip/suggestion. There's something I can improve after all, haha!

[lizardlullabye]

I think the pizza-panel is cool idea, especially since all the characters are looking at the same thing (lovely detail by the way). However, my eye were accidentally guided to the center of a color wheel made up of black, brown, gray, etc . . . which is not the most exciting part of the cover. That's the first thing I see. .

Take a quick peek and check what it is the first thing you see in a drawing.

So this will sound like a very boring suggestion, but just draw your main character at the center of the pizza panel. The composition naturally draws my focus there, so I would like to focus on something about the story.

[bulgariansumo]

I don't have any advice nor a cover I want critique on right now. I just wanted to say I really like seeing your thumbnails.

[Katzalcoatl]

I would read the Prince of chips. 🤣🤣🤣

[lizardlullabye]

The coloring is nice and the monster coming from the dark is great hint of horror.
I agree with Katzalcoatl that the title is difficult to read, but you can rearrange the composition to help with that. For horror story, big blank dark spaces for any abominable monster works very well.

• Move the character down and throw the Title into the newly big blank dark space. Possibly change the title to all white instead of outlined for greater contrast.

• I think the blood splatter should be more elegant and uniform than scattered about. This monster seem like a possible experienced murder b/c those hands are so clean.

• It's not a composition note, but the girl looks more concerned or confused to me. This seems like an odd fit . . . but I'm not sure if that is you are aiming for?

[doomed4art]

These are really simple but good suggestions @lizardlullabye !

This is more of a theory than practice tip but how do you guys decide for covers, do you do an exciting poster looking composition that applies to any point in time in this arc/the entire series? Is it contextual to the chapter/volume it's used for? Or maybe something more peaceful and mysterious with more negative space. I'm trying to figure out if I should use my main promo art as a volume cover when I compile my comic to sell or should I make another one that's more exciting and specific to the events.

[Katzalcoatl]

@doomed4art I take my time thinking what I want to project to anyone who sees my series.

1.- I look for poses to portray certain emotions through body language.
2.- I think of the angle of the drawing: Do I want the point of view of the reader to be from the ground? Do I want the point of view from the sky? The front? Each point of view portrays a different thing.
3.- I direct the view of the reader to the places I want them to notice first. (You learn how to direct their attention using other elements in the paintings such as lighting/shadows and objects.)
3.5.- select the origin of the light in your painting/drawing. Just like mentioned before the lighting directs the viewer.
4.- I decide which tatoos, piercings, moles, etc. Are attractive and eye catching to the viewer. Once I do that it influences in the pose of the character.
5.- You have to decide a background that represents your story.
6.- Decide how the background will interact with your characters (if it does).
7.- Choose the facial expresions that best represent the feeling your character is going through in the cover NOT the story.
8.- Add symbolism to represent things. In a romance novel you usually use certain flowers. The flower you portray depends on the meaning of said flower and what your story is like. For example, lillies for GL.
9.- Select the font/fonts for your tittle. Once you do that you have to select the size of each word in your tittle depending on the words you want to emphasize.
10.- Select the position and color of your tittle. Make sure your tittle is visible but it doesn't move the focus of your painting. Example, if you wanted the focus on your characters don't make your font take the spotlight.
11.- Decide if you apply light over your tittle or not.
12.- Optional: add hidden spoilers. I like adding stuff my readers will find each time they go back to see my cover.
13.- Perform a quality check for your cover (recommend using an experienced quality checker). This is also optional but I personally check if anything looks amiss before giving it the green light.

The first cover I designed was hard but with practice I got much better. Some details came by accident while the cover was in the proccess of being made but most were thought of. I recently finished designing 4 more covers and I am still missing 3 more.

[abigaillmartin]

Here are my covers!

For my Cracking Eggs one I had feedback from @darthmongoose when they did a banner critique. Originally this was my banner submission but I thought it looked so good it could be the cover for the whole series!

My advice is just to keep an open mind when asking for critique or advice. You never know it could be for the better!

My cover for Elsie hasn’t been improved yet for I’m still in the sketching phase of this series. This comic is a unique case because it takes place in an alternate 1890s where technology is a little more advanced. It’s steampunk but it’s also a superheroine story but I didn’t want to go for a typical superhero comic cover. I don’t know lol. Work in progress.

[Katzalcoatl]

Can't really say much for the first cover. I don't know the meaning behind the colors and what each thing represents lol. It looks like a comedy show wall plus the colors remind me of the police near 2 criminals about to egg someone. So it can be either that or a comedy show. But it does portray comedy.

As for the second cover.
Uff no idea where to start. It is missing so much stuff it looks more like a screenshot of the comic and not the cover. I would suggest using my list to remake it.
Choose a background that makes her look more superheroish. Maybe add a bad guy looking at Elsie who is about to fight.
You don't have to make the cover like a typical superhero cover but you do have to help your reader see it is about a superhero.

You might want to add her over a steampunk flying ship. Make your reader know it is steampunk. I would also make her clothes more steampunkish.

The tittle needs to be another color. You need to be able to distinguish it from the background. I would also add gear clogs to the tittle.

If I may use some examples for the fonts I would suggest to use the following for inspiration:

[abigaillmartin]

Thank you so much for the feedback. I’ll look into these fonts they look really cool! Where did you find these?

[Katzalcoatl]

I just googled Victorian fonts and steampunk fonts.

The best way to find fonts you like is by googling them and using them for inspiration or downloading them if you want.
I usually look for fonts that fit what I want to represent with my cover in your case steampunk fits really well with victorian fonts but steampunk fonts do exist didn't think I would find any lol.

[abigaillmartin]

What are your thoughts on the Elsie cover @darthmongoose ?

[abigaillmartin]

I found this neat one

[doomed4art]

Thank you! This might help others but I was asking more so about how people decide the purpose-or message-of covers. How they decide what to make it appealing.
I'm trying to decide between a more neutral but inviting cover for my first volume/book compiled or something more thrilling and high action or something mysterious with a lot of negative space. And I wanted to know how others decide