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Post by creativesynergy on Mar 31, 2005 6:38:45 GMT -7
I posted this question at the Digital Webbing site and have got quite a few good responses. Now it's your turn.
As a purchaser, what draws your attention to a comic based on its cover? Is it the image used? If so, does it need to be simple or detailed? What about color covers vs. B/W? If you prefer a color cover, do the colors need to be bright or do you prefer darker colors (I realize that this also depends on genre, art style, etc.)? Does the cover need to serve the story by showing an image relating to that issue, or will "pin-up" art work?
As an artist, what importance do you put from the above factors in your cover design? Do you draw numerous cover designs first and then choose the most representative of the story, or do you go for "eye candy"?
Let me know what you think.
Just to let you know, at the ACCA show in May, I'll be passing around a questionnaire to attendees on this topic, as well as on the effectiveness of logo design. If you'd like to have a 30 minute seminar/workshop on this topic, let me know and I'll arrange to have it included in the programming.
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Post by Temperance on Mar 31, 2005 11:26:43 GMT -7
I would have to say "good" cover art comes down to bold images and colors with strong focal points to draw the eye. I know my desciption is a little vague, but that's only because several very effective covers fall into the category. When comic companies design covers, they do so to get someone to pick it up and look through it. Having a cover that is better or more eye catching means a better chance of selling it.
Juxtoposition plays a big role in how well a cover draws the eye. Having a single main focal point to draw the eye is the best way to achieve this. This is usually done by having a specific character or action or color which pulls the eye in, then pushes it around the page to the rest of the image.
A really great example of this are the Daredevil covers for the Decalogue 5 part storyarc (The first part of this arc, DD #71) has a plain red background, with a silouette of DD and big type letters saying "I AM YOUR GOD". Red is a bold cover, so it draws your eye to it on a shelf full of comics, then the DD siloette in stark contrast to the red, draws your eye to the center of the page. This image then forces your eye to move in a clockwise motion reading the "I AM YOUR GOD" script. Very simple but very effective. The Decalogue storyarc will have silimar covers like this one for the entire run: single colors, a siloette and bold words.
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Mr. Vince
MIC AGENT
Friendly Giant
Posts: 249
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Post by Mr. Vince on Mar 31, 2005 12:53:10 GMT -7
I'd agree with Devon on the single colors, sihouette and large words. The cover will stand out like a concert poster when it has those. I also think that color is a big factor too. Use the appropriate colors for your cover, if its a zombie book, don't use bright pink. Try to use primary colors, and avoid colors that blend into the background, like brown. Once you have a color picked out, make sure the logo and illustrations on the cover either completely contrast it, or accentuate it. This'll help to make the cover stand out even more.
As for the illustration on the cover, I like having something that's stoic. It creates an iconography of the characters involved. I also prefer something that doesn't give away too much of the book or mislead the readers. I mean, how many issues of spider-man have covers where he's getting killed, yet in the book he's only got minor bruises. I also hate books that have very muddled covers, or try to attempt some kind of collage effect that looks gaudy. Again, this will make the book blend into the background like camoflage for a jungle of unsold comics.
Best way to find out if you're covers effective, place it across the room and see if you can read the title. Is the picture eye-catching? If you were a consumer, would you notice it? Would you at least flip though it?
Perfect example, yesterday Secret War #4 came out, but I didn't pick it up. Why? Previous issues had black covers with shiny colored lettering and bright figures on the cover. They had red, gold etc. This cover had dark purple on black with black widow on the cover. Her costume is mostly black. The entire book just seemed to fade into the background. So despite the fact there was 2 stacks of them on the shelf, I still missed it.
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Post by damian on Apr 1, 2005 18:19:11 GMT -7
I find when I tape a $20 to the cover people ALWAYS pick it up ;D
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Post by creativesynergy on Apr 3, 2005 9:08:38 GMT -7
Hey Damian, is that American or Canadian dollars? Have you ever tried using a holographic cover where your character has a $20 bill in his hands and when you turn the cover, it moves from the background to the foreground, like someone trying to entice the reader with a (literal) money shot? Kind of hypnotize the audience. I guess, though, that $20 won't do THAT much good, given that you'd pay big bucks for that effect, eh (standard Canadian salutation at end of every sentence)?
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Post by damian on Apr 4, 2005 19:27:12 GMT -7
haha! I was so tempted to mention the holographic covers, but I fought the urge... that's great!!  There is some truth in the old saying you catch more flies with holograms than bees with die cut bullet holes..or something like that.... |
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Post by Mr. Nick on May 4, 2005 19:00:08 GMT -7
Busty women.
And barring that. Bold. Simple. Few colors. Busty Women. Wait, I said that already. Busty Nick.
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fiona
MIC AGENT
Posts: 240
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Post by fiona on May 4, 2005 21:26:57 GMT -7
haha, the shelves are a sea of busty women... i'd probably pick up a cover with an obese woman first. i suppose that could be considered busty, though. who knows where i'm going with this.
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Chris
Full Member
Posts: 211
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Post by Chris on May 4, 2005 23:07:00 GMT -7
I'll tell you what I don't like
LIES!
Having an awesome cover and CRAPTASTIC interior art, it turns me off right away. Especially "guest" cover artists or whatever ... Sure it gets me to pick it up, but it disappoints me to no end if the interiors don't match up. I just drop the book in disgust. I'm not saying 'guest' or "alternate" artists for covers are bad, but if you have an awesome artist do your cover, you better have interiors to back it up ... like I recently saw some DC comic with a Kevin Nowlen cover and I was like COOL, NOWLEN IS DOING A COMIC ... open it up and OMG THE ART IS ASS!
why do they tease me?
covers are so hard for me to figure out I can't even figure them out for my own comics. Do I do a character shot? which character? obligitory main character? Should there be action? Should I take a part from the story? or just some random event? do I do a close up? wide angle? what ?? agh!
I think the hardest is an "Issue One" , because issue ones are always "main character/team" pics ... Do I just do that? or leave it mysterious? the following issues are always simpler ....
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Mr. Vince
MIC AGENT
Friendly Giant
Posts: 249
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Post by Mr. Vince on May 4, 2005 23:31:46 GMT -7
Easy Snowman.
All designers must find the zen, the tao, the balance of art. Only put what you think you need on the cover. Only show what you want to show if there are surprises inside. Balance the characters and the background. Compliment all the objects on the cover. Balance the positive and negative space. You'll know when the cover is working and when it is not working. Let the picture draw itself.
*Bows*
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Post by CogNoman on May 5, 2005 22:08:21 GMT -7
I don't really have any deep insights in to what makes a great cover, but I do remember one cover that I completely fell in lust with when I first saw it. It was drawn by Dale Keown, a home-grown Albertan.  I don't know why I loved it so much, I just know I did. |
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Chris
Full Member
Posts: 211
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Post by Chris on May 6, 2005 9:19:49 GMT -7
Dale and I have the same birthday ... but he draws waaaay better than I do
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Post by dutton on May 17, 2005 13:25:36 GMT -7
Strong paper that doesn't scuff easily and resists staple wear.
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Post by Temperance on May 17, 2005 19:55:31 GMT -7
Oh yeah! Great paper! Like Marvel's Ultimate comic covers before they switched to that new shiny and weak cover paper.
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