Reviewing your most recent/favorite cover!

[halstonsch]

Whenever I'm designing a cover I always try to make sure that 1. It relates heavily to the overall story but also sets the mood for the chapter it belongs to. Also 2. Is it compelling enough to for someone to want to continue reading from that point?

I worked really hard on this one. I know it's simple but I put a lot of thought into it, and I guess what I'm asking (especially since I've yet to post pg1 as of yet) is would you see this on the internet (or maybe even a book shelf >>) and feel interested in what it's all about?
Maybe offer me some feedback and post your favorite/most recent cover and share a little about your own cover making process.

Also if you'd like to check my comic out you can find it at: https://tapas.io/series/Ghosting2

[KennDemon]

I like your decision to cut off the bottom of the planet, I find the image more interesting that way.

The one thing I'd suggest is making the title a little larger. There's so much white space between it and the illustration, and since the eye is drawn to the illustration it is a bit of a chore to look up at the title. It wouldn't take much, even just bolding it and lowering it a little would do the trick.

[halstonsch]

^^ I think maybe you're not viewing the full image because the earth doesn't cut off, but as far as making the font larger I have received that comment before and now's probably the time to accept that smaller text was a bad idea lol. I thought it looked elegant in a way but making it bigger and closer to the subject of the image would probably be more pleasing to the eyes. Thank you for the feedback!

[KennDemon]

Oh, oops. I didn't click on the image and was just looking at the what was showing on the thread (I didn't even see the character with pink hair).

Now that I'm looking at the full thing, I'm wondering about your image dimensions (it looks rather tall). Have you considered bringing the title to the bottom? Having it across their legs would might be something to think about.

[halstonsch]

I'm always weary about putting text over my drawings because after I'm done with the whole thing I'm too nervous to cover it with anything. I just need to come to terms with the cover being a mix of text and art that should come together rather than stand on their own. Need to find that perfect harmony. I'll be using diverse title placement in the future for sure, maybe I'm too traditional about some things.

[SynCypher]

I like this cover. It made me grin, what with the tall ghost and his tiny sheet, with the short ghost and her long one. I dunno, little gags like that make me smile so good on you there. The only thing I would suggest is not to use lens flare. It just doesn't feel right, somehow? In a lot of 2D works a lens flare that isn't also illustrated feels like it's not part of the piece somehow. Granted, I know it's supposed to be a glint of the sun from behind the planet but, I dunno you might try to draw one and see if it suits the style better? Outside of that the art is great, I love how you used colors here and kept it simple but expressive. It's a good cover.

I try to do similarly with my own covers. I try to think of encapsulating the point with color or with the style of that cover to set the expectation for the audience or, hell, surprise them. Of all the covers I've made, I know it might seem cheesy but my main cover is the one I like the most for this:

I dunno, maybe it's because it covers the whole comic but, it's the one I feel I had the most fun with overall.

[halstonsch]

Ohhhh goodness I tried to draw that shine myself it looked like a smudge, I decided using the filter was the lesser of two evils in this case. I'm hoping throughout this comic I will have to rely less and less on effects and filters. I agree that most of the time an added effect on top of 2d art looks off putting. Thank you! I really tried with the art so it's nice to see you say it's great ^^

I spent a lot of time looking at your cover, it's got a lot going on in a good way! I admit it interested me enough to check your comic out (it looks fantastic btw, I'm only a handful of pages in but I can see the effort you put into these pages. Dialogue, style, colors and all.)

[Emma]

I think your cover is cute! Especially the ghost. Also the shine on the planet is pretty cool!

This is the cover for chapter 5 of Friends or Lovers?. When I do chapter covers, I often look at who are important in the chapter (but they don't have to be!), or just make something that's kinda cute.

[SynCypher]

Hahah oh I've had that problem before too. Shines are their own little world of misery, that's quite certain. I'm sure you'll figure out the method you want to use that'd work best for you. At least you gave it a good go first! Besides, I can't wait until your pages post, I love the style you're working in so, I'm intrigued.

Aw thank you! I am glad that you like what you've found there. (I always turn into a head case when mapping out scenes. Can't help it, I guess) It certainly has been a labor of love (as all comics are for all creators, lol).

[Rei19]

For me, I think that your cover is pretty cute, haha. It gives some sort of light feel to the comic that you're about to provide. (Loove the ray of light at the upper corner of the planet) Plus, the vibe that I get from the picture is curiosity. Why a planet? Why the ghost disguise? Things like that. ^^ So I just want to say that you did a great job! You can only improve from here on. <3

My favourite cover (so far, since I've only recently published my comic) is this:

Didn't put a title yet though. I'm not sure where to place it. XD

[Wumbl]

@halstonsch
I love the colours on that moon. They're very chilled out. I think it could be a bit more stylistic in it's look because with a white backdrop and a large graphic like that there's a lot more room to experiment and amp up the vibe. I think that maybe the colouring could be a bit more ambitious? I dunno. I feel that limiting the colour palette makes something more eye catching but you've got both bright and muted shades in this one.
However, what you've got is executed very well. Props to you. I'm just purposely looking for ways it could improve.

@SynCypher

I like the illustration a lot. You've clearly put the time and effort into laying it out well. I do think you could execute the lighting a little better though - at the moment you've just added a black gradient but there are more exciting ways to get a deep light-to-dark contrast. You could try using overlay and multiply layers with colours to experiment with that. I think using the greens and purples you're already using would give interesting looks.
The Design is also a little off. You can generate way more visual intrigue by trimming it down. Right now a lot of space is taken up by blank space in the background, so a little cropping would help. The text colour could also be changed to something more fitting to the scene.
I really like the two characters' look though. It's very intense in its premise. The glowing elements in the darker area are pretty intriguing.

The cover for my current chapter has an "80s comics" graphic design style, since it's set in the 80s. Plenty of old-school cheesiness.

[FatedComics]

I'm not 100% satisfied with this cover and I'll probably redo it again but here's the cover for my comic.

[SynCypher]

Thanks for the feedback! It'll be great help. Yeah lighting is always something that's on my mind. Sadly what I can do with paint I'm not quite up to snuff with digital. I'm still learning how to make layers do what I want them to (I've had a tug of war for color richness that I don't think I'm winning yet). Still, this only cements that I can do more and should to sure up the work. I'm guilty of dark detail eating backgrounds (and not cropping as often as I probably could). It's something I'll really have to work at with my covers. Light and color play with be the fun parts, haha.

Okay I love 80's cheese. Hell, I'm re-watching the first 78 episodes of The Real Ghostbusters just because I enjoy it so much. I love the poses you have going on here, it immediately introduces us to the characters personalities. Your comic looks like a lark, if you ask me.

[HollowEve]

I'm intrigued because the girl isn't wearing shoes, but the ghost it.

I made this cover a few days ago. First time I made my own.

[KSlinger]

I like the simple but stylish font you chose here, and the entirely white background. It really makes it pop. I noticed through the link to your comic there is a second version of the cover, however, (one that is actually in use) and I feel that one is a bit more balanced for having the title larger and lower.

I get the impression from the design that the story takes place in a different world-- one that's all white? If so, that's cool to me because I have a similar concept! My cover is also similar to yours in layout and style, though it's flipped with the characters being at the top. Overall, I'm partial to this style of cover so you've got a thumbs up from me.

[sarrowsmith10]

@halstonsch I really like your cover. I agree with others that the title could be bigger, and the space between the title and image could be condensed. I also really like that the background is white. It's effective. I would also include your name as a creator somewhere as well. I think the dimensions of the cover appear a bit strange, as it feels very long. Overall the art is good and I like that it isn't too busy or cluttered. Well done. I think this Saga cover might serve as a good reference for what you are trying to do:

My most recent cover my webcomic:

[halstonsch]

I love all conversation going on here! This is how constructive criticism is done! ^^

@Emma Thank you! Your definitely achieved the cuteness!

@Rei19 Awe shucks, you're too nice lol. And you have that little unused corner! Although maybe putting the title there would clutter the picture?? Definitely an opportunity to experiment with title placement/font/ and size

@wumblebumarts Feedback is always appreciated! I know I have a lot to learn and the only way I'll get there is if people are honest with things that stick out to them.
I get that old school feel from the cover for sure, your shading is well done which for me personally is one of the more tedious parts of coloring so kudos. I can tell your characters have a lot of personality just looking at it.

@FatedComics COMIIC SANNNS- lol jkjk, it's adorable! What's not to like?

@HollowEve A detail I was hoping would be noticed! I'm glad it intrigues you! Your cover is clever! And I love lady bugs so that's a plus for me

@ScampiCub I did indeed go back and alter the cover! I'm glad you think it looks more balanced, that was the aim. Also what a neat idea to convey a universe vastly different from our own- wish I had thought of it lol.

@sarrowsmith10 I always forget to add my name to my work poor oversight on my end. Thank you! Wow I wish I had seen that before would have been a great reference.! And woo! Your art is fantastic! I aspire to color that well one day hard work has definitely paid off! Very professional.

[revisionstudios]

I really like your cover! It's simple but effective and the characters have me intrigued. I love seeing everyone elses too, it's always really neat to see how the covers convey something about the story or genre and how varied everyone's are.

Here's mine, from issue 6 (chapter 5) of my comic. Trying to let myself take a simpler approach to these!

[halstonsch]

That's so badass! Great use of negative space too. Their gaze has me locked in