tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post7224659226307935345..comments2023-11-18T03:15:19.102-06:00Comments on Straight From Hel: Cover Designer Craig WolfeHelen Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-37781074477074157982011-02-11T23:22:51.484-06:002011-02-11T23:22:51.484-06:00Enllightening info and fun to make some connection...Enllightening info and fun to make some connections with which I was not familiar prior to reading this.<br /><br />Lee<br /><a href="http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting-announcement.html" rel="nofollow">Tossing It Out and the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge 2011</a>Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-4858219892179957912011-02-11T20:42:50.483-06:002011-02-11T20:42:50.483-06:00Good job on Diane and Alex's covers.Good job on Diane and Alex's covers.Bob Sanchezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08350825385315155962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-58594980959057190932011-02-10T11:34:45.809-06:002011-02-10T11:34:45.809-06:00Interesting interview!Interesting interview!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-36499438220655544822011-02-10T04:24:19.143-06:002011-02-10T04:24:19.143-06:00Really gorgeous covers you've shown here. Each...Really gorgeous covers you've shown here. Each one is do different, but they all carry a lot of impact. Great interview!India Drummondhttp://www.indiadrummond.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-72881227963724008042011-02-09T21:05:55.329-06:002011-02-09T21:05:55.329-06:00Janet - Thanks!
Mark - I create for the full-size...Janet - Thanks!<br /><br />Mark - I create for the full-size E-book cover with an eye towards enhancing colors and tweaking text for thumbnail legibility. My thought has always been that if you create a cool illustration, people will want to click on that tiny thumbnail to see what it looks like.<br /><br />I'm not familiar with Robert McGuire, but if his covers are as cool as you say, I bet they would work as thumbnails.<br /><br />To ALL - Thanks for taking the time to comment!Craig Wolfehttp://craigwolfe.squarespace.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-14107501612383640992011-02-09T19:35:33.243-06:002011-02-09T19:35:33.243-06:00So very cool - the internet is a very small place ...So very cool - the internet is a very small place with lots of connections!<br /><br />Love these covers - it's something I would love to do ... sadly, I lack the talent! :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-845270393150279842011-02-09T17:21:13.358-06:002011-02-09T17:21:13.358-06:00Covers are so important for books. I think all rea...Covers are so important for books. I think all readers will pick up a book because of a great cover. I've been pleased with most of mine and am very impressed by Craig's work.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-78720782408388338262011-02-09T15:09:56.509-06:002011-02-09T15:09:56.509-06:00Enjoyed the behind the scenes info on how a cover ...Enjoyed the behind the scenes info on how a cover artist works. And I've long admired Diane's series covers as well as the Cassastar cover which is a real eye-catcher. Good covers really help the impulse sales and you're doing a fine job helping authors in that way - keep it up!The Old Sillyhttp://theoldsilly.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-51961475650090008882011-02-09T13:57:53.800-06:002011-02-09T13:57:53.800-06:00Craig,
Very informative article. My concern with e...Craig,<br />Very informative article. My concern with ebook covers is that they have to stand out as a thumbnail embedded in a mosaic of dozens of other thumbnails. Look at the Apple iBook store for example. Are there things you do for ebook covers to make them stand out?<br /><br />I always liked the covers by artists such as Robert McGuire back in the 60s because each cover told a story in itself.Mark Troyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10746027017657987261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-25930885223996268082011-02-09T13:38:10.362-06:002011-02-09T13:38:10.362-06:00Thanks for the interview, I really enjoyed it. I a...Thanks for the interview, I really enjoyed it. I am anxious to get one of my books published and see it come alive with the book cover. You are very talented.Janethttp://www.janetsmart.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-82514146400130199492011-02-09T13:32:01.781-06:002011-02-09T13:32:01.781-06:00Bodie - We could do an entire post on graphic guid...Bodie - We could do an entire post on graphic guidelines and then find that they've all been successfully broken many times. The eyeball test rarely fails, however. As a test, go into a bookstore and find a table loaded with books and see which grab your attention. And then the more important question...why? <br /><br />I try to choose a typeface that is easily readable and speaks to the subject matter (I wouldn't recommend a flowery script for hard-core Science Fiction). I try to make the author text size on par with the title. When I get to a certain point, I'll take a mock-up into a bookstore and place it on a shelf just to see if it stands out. Then I go back and adjust what worked and what didn't.<br /><br />You can do the same thing with E-books. Screen cap a page of books and place your mock-up in the mix. Does it stand out or disappear? And...does it stand out in a good way (not a gaudy, neon Vegas sign way)?<br /><br />Jennifer - Thanks for the kind words. <br /><br />The publisher has the final word in my experience. However, if I do my job and design a strong cover then I'm confident it will clear all the hurdles.<br /><br />Sia - Thanks! The bulk of the illustrations on my site are not book covers.<br /><br />Holly - I approach E-book covers just like regular book covers. I've seen my covers on a Nook, Kindle, I-Pad and I-Touch. The only reservation I had was the B/W screens on the Nook and Kindle made my covers less dynamic. However, now that the Nook has a color version and I hope the Kindle follows suit, my job is simply to create the best cover possible.<br /><br />Sharon - See the comment above.<br /><br />Jane - Thanks!<br /><br />Alex - It was a fun project!Craig Wolfehttp://craigwolfe.squarespace.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-85547480536675757042011-02-09T12:51:25.946-06:002011-02-09T12:51:25.946-06:00Hey, there's my cover!
First time I saw it, I ...Hey, there's my cover!<br />First time I saw it, I was blown away. Way better than anything I could've imagined.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-21202286939648583362011-02-09T12:16:46.931-06:002011-02-09T12:16:46.931-06:00What a wonderful talent to be able to come up with...What a wonderful talent to be able to come up with book covers that meet or even exceed a writer’s expectations. As a writer, I know that is no easy task.Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-76179549445112398382011-02-09T12:06:31.696-06:002011-02-09T12:06:31.696-06:00I'm also curious about e-book covers. My gut f...I'm also curious about e-book covers. My gut feeling is that the cover should be the same whether it is in print or an e-book but am I wrong? How much different can or should it be?Sharon - Grandma is a Writerhttp://grandmaisawriter.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-13613661890376003002011-02-09T11:38:28.213-06:002011-02-09T11:38:28.213-06:00The CassaStar trailer was awesome! My question is ...The CassaStar trailer was awesome! My question is now that ebooks are becoming more popular has that changed how you design. Ebook covers are so small details are lost.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-83103000795606917202011-02-09T11:35:17.506-06:002011-02-09T11:35:17.506-06:00Thanks for sharing. This is a great post.
AnnThanks for sharing. This is a great post.<br />AnnAnn Summervillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13300190648788509096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-87150319097644659112011-02-09T11:07:38.405-06:002011-02-09T11:07:38.405-06:00I loved the Cassa trailer! Fascinating to hear you...I <b>loved</b> the Cassa trailer! Fascinating to hear your process in pulling together the design. I would imagine fantasy and Scifi would be the most fun in creative artwork. But I do like what you did with Diane's covers too.<br /><br />I enjoyed looking at your illustrations. I love dragons and although he's a bit blocky he at least looks real. So many look like they used a toy as a model. Love the blonde with the sword. :-) Are all those book covers?~Sia McKye~https://www.blogger.com/profile/08470562659597351033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-58004168436211788632011-02-09T10:24:19.393-06:002011-02-09T10:24:19.393-06:00This is a fascinating view into how book covers ar...This is a fascinating view into how book covers are negotiated and designed, and the examples on show are fantastic, particularly for "Circle Friends" - love the understated emotion in the figures' pose.<br /><br />I was wondering whether the publisher of the book has any say in the design of the cover? If so, how do you find the balance between you the designer, the author, and the publisher?<br /><br />Thanks very much, Craig, and thank you Helen for hosting!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-75262572529596159652011-02-09T10:08:04.130-06:002011-02-09T10:08:04.130-06:00Hey Craig--
I enjoyed your comments on book cover...Hey Craig--<br /><br />I enjoyed your comments on book cover design. Someone up above asked about how you balance type elements and graphic elements. I'm curious about that, as well, as well as what criteria you used in choosing typefaces. I've always gone by the "easily readable at six feet" guideline for print books, and something comparable for e-books. What's your standard?Bodie Phttp://www.magicdogpress.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-58106318478139559072011-02-09T10:04:13.287-06:002011-02-09T10:04:13.287-06:00Great idea to honor and promote your cover artist....Great idea to honor and promote your cover artist. Very thoughtful. Its interesting to see how artists conceptualize the concepts you want them to convey to the potential buyers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-14830936187809718292011-02-09T09:46:12.213-06:002011-02-09T09:46:12.213-06:00Judy - With my background in 3D design and short-f...Judy - With my background in 3D design and short-films, it was an easy transition into book trailers.<br /><br />Rachael - It can be a smooth process or akin to a trip to the dentist.<br /><br />Maryann - I agree. Giving the artist the creative freedom to express your ideas can result in some amazing stuff.<br /><br />Joanne - It varies, but with fiction I like to focus on capturing a moment. I also feel that the cover should convey a sense of the story pacing and tone (action packed or romantic). I try to avoid placing a defined, detailed character on the cover. I feel that (unless it's an existing character like Batman or Han solo) it robs the reader of filling in the little details that help the reader relate.Craig Wolfehttp://craigwolfe.squarespace.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-83087210736837023832011-02-09T08:47:04.467-06:002011-02-09T08:47:04.467-06:00Hi everyone! I think covers are critical. So many ...Hi everyone! I think covers are critical. So many times I've pulled a book off the shelf then put it back based on the cover. I admit to being influenced by them. <br /><br />Thank you so much for the post, Craig, and for stopping by to answer questions.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-78805209781298688002011-02-09T08:42:44.720-06:002011-02-09T08:42:44.720-06:00This is great info. I know nothing about the scien...This is great info. I know nothing about the science behind book covers, so everything was new to me. Thanks.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-58343006141064254402011-02-09T08:17:32.629-06:002011-02-09T08:17:32.629-06:00I'm wondering what the most important element ...I'm wondering what the most important element is in considering cover design. Is it an essence of the story? Or a sense of place? Characters? In your experience, what is the top factor to consider?Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03972054718663959694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-59973003927963292922011-02-09T08:17:13.314-06:002011-02-09T08:17:13.314-06:00Thanks for the insightful interview. It was great ...Thanks for the insightful interview. It was great to meet Craig and find out how he works. The cover for CassaStar is stunning. Kudos to the artist. LOL<br />You can really tell the difference between what some authors are doing themselves and what a professional artist can do with a book cover. I have been lucky in having my daughter do some of my covers. I start out with a basic idea and then turn it over to her, and I think it is crucial to give the artist that freedom.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com