Need Help Deciding on a Cover +poll

[IndigoShirtProd]

So, I'm majorly stuck. As opposed to some people who just have an issue of deciding between two covers, or maybe trying to settle on a color pallette. I just can't land on a composition at all. Nothing really is sticking out to me as a winner, so I've come here looking for input.

Context:

My series cover for my first volume:

The logo of my series:

And the general plot of this volume: Our heroes have completed several trials and now the real work begins in their goal of finding a goddess. However, one of them is wholly against the dangerous task, a position that may cause more harm than the good they think it will bring.

Name of the volume: The Black Belt Society: The Training Arc

Genre: Action-adventure fantasy

Thumbnails:

Which letter do you think is best?

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H

Vote now!Show results

Please and Thank you!

[An_Alias]

Action usually benefits from more angular and dynamic designs. Maybe try creating a focal diagonal lead line to imply more motion/action.

A good reference for this concept (excuse the water mark lol)

As for color composition, contrasting colors are typically used to represent opposition (red/green, blue/orange, etc.).

[IndigoShirtProd]

Action usually benefits from more angular and dynamic designs. Maybe try creating a focal diagonal lead line to imply more motion/action.

That's a great idea! Thanks. Of the thumbnails I have here, which on looks the most dynamic?

[An_Alias]

B has the most oppositional contrast with the dark angled foreground figure. I Understand the globe and straight across band are like a logo, but the strong sturdy horizontal lines kind of kill a lot of the dynamic energy. maybe set the bands, or the whole thing, on an angle. You can definitely get away with pushing the angles a lot more overall.

It's very late for me, sorry for typos haha

[BarBarKetrab]

Both E and G win me over compared to the rest, mostly because of the nice contrast in both.

I think I'll go with G though because it leaves a more somber impression of the lone character who opposes the mission, while E reminds me more of a typical fight scene with cool poses and all.

[2DLenzy]

I picked B, but I also liked G. B for the diagonal composition. And it's more obvious in G that there's a 3-to-1 conflict. Lighting and silhouette are good in G too.
Honestly, I should voted G...

[IndigoShirtProd]

Thanks for the input! I went back to the drawing board and expanded on the general idea of the volume and tried to include more dynamism like @An_Alias suggested.

Which cover do you prefer?

• A
• B

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[An_Alias]

B! A is nice, but it's very flat because everything is so neatly separated. B has that layering depth and the angular motion! Very good!

[IndigoShirtProd]

@An_Alias Thanks! Though, I'm kinda at a loss since the poll is at a 50/50 split.

[Kelheor]

Ugh, it's hard. I chose B, because more action, but I wonder if A would be more readable?...

[Katzalcoatl]

In those cases, choose the one that will make you stand out more. If you were seeing the cover which design would grab your attention more.

Remember that your cover is the first thing your audience sees and judges. So which cover will make you stand out from the rest of your competition but in a good way.

[IndigoShirtProd]

@Kelheor it's a tough choice. Thinking about the final result makes me think B could real busy, real fast and wind up being too much.

@Katzalcoatl Thank you. I have a lot I need to consider. I may need to refine the sketches a bit more and show off a final pass.

[Katzalcoatl]

I don't think it's too much if your main genre is action. If your story is more slow paced with action here and there then that's a different story.

[IndigoShirtProd]

Action would be the main genre, though this next volume will have less. It'll be more focused on character development.

[IndigoShirtProd]

Okay, this should be the last time. I like the perspective on the sword, but it's generally not important to the overall plot, it just looks cool. And I'm still open to switching around sections and poses.

• C
• D
• E

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Thanks again for all the input!

[bulgariansumo]

Having the blue figure face the front seems like a good idea, and between D and E, I feel that E is both more dynamic and takes more advantage of the space. It's really cool-looking!

[An_Alias]

E! Great work!
C is awkward because of the pose and the fact that the character is harder to read without facing forward. In the context of it being a cover you really want the composition to be easy to read so that it can grab people's attention. D is good but don't have the UMPH that E does.

[llobucervallince]

E is definetly the option I would choose.
btw did you know you can put the images in the poll?

[IndigoShirtProd]

@An_Alias Thanks! I think this is what I'm going with!

@llobucervallince I think I've seen that before, but I don't know how to do it. These sketches were apart of the same file any way so this was was easier.

[llobucervallince]

but I don't know how to do it.

It's easy!

• you just have
• to put the image inside the options
• like () this

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