[Project Complete] Book cover: Change Without Stress - $175 - Deadline 3 Aug 05

[ber123]

(Admin code added by Michael - 14K308135V812403S)

This project is for designing a book cover.

The deliverable product is a Photoshop (psd) file in CYMK at 225 DPI.

The total size of the book cover is 20.5"x9.25".

The deadline for submissions is 3 Aug.


I attach two files:

cover-dimensions.gif
- Shows the dimensions of each part of the book cover.

cover.doc
- This Word file is my preliminary sketch for the cover.

Notes from me:
- Please include all my text in your design.
- Please include the photograph of the author on the back flap.
- If for some reason you need a different photograph of the author, let me know.
- Please put a bull's eye target with a bullethole on the front cover. (The picture I drew is very poor - I know.)
- The author is partial to red, black and white.
- The colors of the photograph may need adjustment. (Maybe make it black and white?)
- I will make a point of answering all posts promptly.

Notes from the printer:
- Having colorbreaks on the front and back cover where it butts up the the spine is not recommended.
- All spine type and non-bleeding images should maintain at least 1/16" on each side of the spine dimensions.
- However, all rule lines should extend the the full spine dimension
- Keep all type and non-bleeding images at least a 1/4 from all trim edges.
- Front of back coverbleeds should extend through the 3/8 board wrap.

Thank you.

Ben

[ber123]

I'd like to add a correction to the text.
Henry C. Ekstein Ph.D. should have a comma added.

It should read: Henry C. Ekstein, Ph.D.

[Carl]

Ben,

Can you please post a high resolution image of Dr. Ekstein outside of Microsoft Word.

Thanks!
Carl
Design Outpost Moderator

[ber123]

Dear Carl,

Thank you.
I attach an image of Dr Ekstein. Please, let me know if there are any problems.

Best regards.

Ben

[Carl]

Ben,

Also, I have created a PDF file of the Word Document you posted for those who may not have Microsoft Word or are using a Mac based system.

Carl...

[Rongie]

Hi Ben,

Since the book cover has a lot of texts/wording on it, does your printer not requiring to have the file as .eps? Thankyou.

Ron

[ber123]

Ron,

The printer asked for Photoshop format or QuarkXPress. I understand that they want an editable format so that they can make corrections.

Thank you.

Ben

[Carl]

Ben,

Photoshop PSD files are not editable files. You will be able to edit the content of the book cover after you pick a winner and you will get the files correct, once all revisions are done.

If you are requiring QuarkXpress, it may limit participation. You may want to see if your printer can also receive InDesign files, Illustrator or CorelDraw files.

Thanks!
Carl...

[Carl]

Ben,

Also, I took Dr. Ekstein's photo and cleaned it up. It had scanning residuals and was really dull. I made it into a TIF file which doesn't lose its resolution like a JPG can.

Here is the file for everyone:

[Carl]

Here is what it looks like, compared to the old version:

[ber123]

Dear Carl,

I would like to receive the cover in Photoshop format.

I expect the printer will want to make corrections like moving sections, to make up for the exact thickness of the book, and perhaps to compensate for color issues.

BY the way, you did amazing work on the photo of Dr Ekstein!

Thank you.

Ben

[brainstorm]

Hi Ben!

If your printer wants to edit files by moving sections, he can still do it if you give him EPS from Illustrator.
Additionally, all text will be converted to outlines allowing the maximum resolution output from the EPS file.
However, output from Photoshop (PSD, TIFF...) is usually limited to 300dpi resolution.That's good for pictures but text (rasterized in this case) can look jagged. It's not dramatic but vector-based file is far more superior in terms of final product quality. At least for me.... :)
And, as Carl already pointed out, PSD files are not editable unless they are in layers and "open" - fonts and images included, making the whole process much more complicated.

Anyway, you will get the files any way you want them, this is just a suggestion so you can get the best quality possible at the end.

By the way, I'm in for this one. :D

Best regards.

[brainstorm]

Hello Ben!

Here's my proposal. Hope you'll like it. :)

Eagerly waiting for your feedback.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards.

[Grafissimo]

... one from me ...

[Grafissimo]

and a closup of the cover ... comments welcome ! :yes:

[ber123]

I'm really pleased with the designs you guys have sent. I spoke witht he author, and here are his comments

- The "Foreward by James Waston ..." should be larger, because this is one of the selling points of the book.

Comments on Brainstorm's design

- The author likes your medallion

- The author likes your boxes on the back cover

- Your title text on the cover and on the spine look a bit crowded.

Comments on Grafissimo's design:

- Looking at the tiny version, the author thought your bullet-holes were too spider-like.

- The author likes the way you set up the title, with "Stress" and "Success", which rhyme at the end of the line

- Your Bull's Eye extends into the text on the inside front flap. Will the text be readable over the red?


Thank you!

Ben

[Grafissimo]

Hi !
Thanks for the comments !
Here some closeups of the part where the text hits the target. As you can see there are plenty of possibilities to handle this. At the moment I used possibility "c" which will be absolutely readable - I just a question of " I like it" or "I don't like it" ...
At the bottom I put a closeup of the bulletshot.

I'm more interested in your opinion about the general concept ( design elements - background with clouds etc )
:rolleyes:

[Rongie]

Minimalist Concept. Simple and precise :)

click here for LARGE VIEW (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v503/graphixparanoid/HENRY-BOOK.gif)

[brainstorm]

Hello Ben!

Thanks for nice comments. :)

Here are the revisions you've asked for - the foreword text is enlarged and title on cover and spine is now more spaced, making them way more visible.

Waiting for your feedback.

Best regards.

[Grafissimo]

... more from me ...

[ber123]

I would like to thank everyone for entering.

The author has decided to work with Grafissimo.

Again, thank you!

Ben

[ber123]

Grafissimo,

Here are initial requests from the author.

2. Put the name of the book and of the author on top of back cover of the dust jacket prominently. most business books have it.
3. Right-align the names on back cover
4. Change last paragraph on back flap to black.
5. Add on bottom of back cover:
"To order books or request a management briefing call (201) 833-8041"
(To make space, maybe eliminate the bottom bull's eye and/or make the
other bull eyes smaller.)
6. Can you make the the fins of the dart smaller?
(Now they are more prominent than the title.)
6. If possible, please make the title bolder (bigger and/or thicker) but the font is nice.
7. Make title on spine bigger if possible.

Thank you.

P.S. I think the work of ALL the designers here is much better than Bull's Eye Investing (http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0471716928/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-5382848-8773719#reader-link)

[ber123]

I attach corrections made to the cover text.

[brainstorm]

Thanks for the project, Ben.

Congratulations Grafissimo! :)

[Grafissimo]

Thanks for choosing my design !
I'm already working on the changes ...
Will there be no code bar or ISBN Number on the jacket ?!
Greetings

[ber123]

I don't think we will manage to get an ISBN number soon enough.

Thank you.

Ben

[ber123]

Grafissimo,

Below is the response from the printer's pre-press technician.
Please let me know if based on this, you know what to do.

Thank you.

Ben


The designer is correct that Photoshop is not a good application for text. Even increasing resolution to 2400 PPI so the typeface looks good just creates massive files, so it really is not a functional option. They are expressing an opinion held by the design and printing industry.

The shear nature of type is that it is outline, by definition of postscript. So an application that uses type in it's native outline format is preferable.

I would also add that the limitations of Illustrator interject additional issues and that it is not the best application for the assembly of a cover but as long as the customer does not try anything technically complex (transparency, linking, high numbers of layers) in their cover, the limitations of Illustrator should not impact the reproducibility of the cover.

[Grafissimo]

"The designer is correct that Photoshop is not a good application for text."
"...the limitations of Illustrator should not impact the reproducibility of the cover"

... I totally agree - I will prepare you the final files in Illustrator !

;)

[ber123]

The author asks to add bullets to the list on the inside flap of the front cover.

Thank you.

Ben

[Grafissimo]

Hello Ben !

You want "real" bullets or do we speak about the bullet hole I used before.
A suggestion : What do you think about using the dart instead of a bullet. It's just that the whole concept ( the cover with his main illustration of the dart ) is based on the dart entering in the bull's eye ?!
Greetings :yes:

[ber123]

I am sorry ... the author just wants round, filled-in circles.

[ber123]

Project complete.

Thanks Grafissimo, to the other designers who participated and to the site administrators who assisted me whenever I needed anything.

Thank you.

Ben