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Posted on 03/05/11 7:00:02 PM |
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Sheilsy
* Posts: 16 Reply  |
Creative Ideas Appreciated
Hi there, I am not sure if 'forum etiquette' allows such requests, but if I don't ask I will never know.......... For several years now I have been writing my own personal memoirs (which are still incomplete I hasten to add) and am now giving consideration to the front and back cover of the pending book which will hopefully be available in both hard copy and Kindle editions. This whole project is purely a hobby undertaken by myself with no commercial interest sought as yet, however feedback from individuals has been very positive, which has invariably, given me the encouragement to continue. I am not in a financial position to seek the services of a Graphic Designer (Sorry Steve) but would really appreciate the thoughts and ideas of forum members as to design ideas. The book is centred on growing up in inner city Liverpool in the sixties and seventies and is obviously an autobiographical account....... my initial thought is to create a photomontage of kids from that era, interspersed with typical Liverpool landmarks...... any thoughts or creative ideas would be really appreciated, I do apologise in advance if it seems I am seeking free advice or doing 'Graphic Designers' out of paid commissions (this certainly isn't my intention). I continue to look at various other books to seek inspiration and obviously I have purchased Steve's fine book (How To Cheat in Photoshop CS5) to hone my basic Photoshop skills. Any advice would be much appreciated on both the subject matter and the etiquette of requesting such advice. Thanks in advance |
Posted on 15/09/11 9:04:07 PM |
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chris berry
Overhead Overlord Posts: 724 Reply  |
Re: Creative Ideas Appreciated
All creative concepts start with a question. The first question I would ask is, what is this book about: you or Liverpool? It's primarily about you, so show something about you. Tell me about you: what are you interested in? What are your hobbies? Are you married? Children? What's the most exciting thing you've ever done? What object in your life means the most to you? The function of a book cover is to give a tantalising clue to its contents, some thing that intrigues a potential reader, a mystery to be solved. If you use images of Liverpool, your book will fail to stand out: there are loads of books about Liverpool. There will only be one book about you. So tell me about you. It's a personal opinion, but I hope it helps you to develop an idea. |
Posted on 16/09/11 07:56:42 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6846 Reply  |
Re: Creative Ideas Appreciated
I tend to agree with Chris here. When you talk of "a photomontage of kids from that era, interspersed with typical Liverpool landmarks" it makes it sound like an awfully busy montage. Go for a single strong image - just one person or one atmospheric landmark. And as Chris says, give your audience something that will intrigue and entice them. |