Starblazer Cover

[drivingblind]

Working on the Starblazer cover today. So very little time left before the deadline, waugh!

Comments

[amanofhats]

Woah, nice! The only comment I have is that I think it'd be cooler if the third box and back image were different, but I don't know what resources you've been given for the job.

Great layout though.

[drivingblind]

Yeah, I think I'm just going to be ditching the three boxes on the front. They were useful when doing a promotional banner, but they clutter it too much as a book cover.

[angusabranson]

I like the three boxes along the bottom - but am happy to see how the cover looks without them to compare.

[drivingblind]

Hanrahan's concerned that they draw the eye away from the title of the book too much, and I'm inclined to agree. I'm retaining both layers in the photoshop file so folks can dither over this tonight when I send out the finished version for contemplation. :)

[drivingblind]

[amanofhats]

They're both really nice, and I was dubious about pulling the three boxes, but the second draft just looks really clean. Man, I'd go with this one. Possibly stack the three boxes on the back where there is one image now? Or place the first two boxes atop the tall image: one near the upper left of the tall image (near the Blast Off! paragraph) and one near the bottom right of the image (near the spine)?

[timgray]

The no. 1 problem with the small images on the front is that the middle one is in the same colour scheme as the ship it's on top of. They may perhaps serve a purpose in showing that you can do a range of different stuff with the product - so containing different kinds of action going on. But both versions are very spiffy, and I can see it gaining the title "the Big Red Book".

[chrishanrahan]

Like Reign?

[drivingblind]

Big Red Brick?

It's likely this one outmasses Reign. :)

[evilmagnus]

Subjective Art Crit 4TW! I have nothing constructive to add in that regard; it looks beautiful to me.

That guy on the back cover reminds me of Avon from Blake's Seven. And the front cover art reminds me strongly of Chris Foss' work, which I think is the perfect retro-70s vibe.

[drivingblind]

You're not the first to mention Chris Foss to me today. Cool!

[cwricheson]

Looks kick butt to me!

I like the strip of art on the back. It's a little unusual, but I like it more than the empty space seen on so many back covers.

[drivingblind]

I like both of the component pieces because they're SO retro 70's it hurts. But that's the feel of the game!

What I'd do.

[actualsean]

I think you got the back and spine just right, and I think the earlier front was closer than the later ones. I really liked it at first, and then less as it changed. The image below is what I would do. Hope you don't mind me uploading it, and of course I'll take it down if you ask.

I would make the logo white. And keep the boxes but bring the colour of the middle one in so it fits between the other 2 and doesn't mix itself up with the ship. But that's just me. Oh, and I messed up the text at the bottom, ignore that.

I'm Sean by the way, I work with Angus.

Re: What I'd do.

[drivingblind]

I get it. We're not going to satisfy everyone here, regardless of what direction I take the cover in. But I think what I've ended up with will work great for the GenCon printing, and maybe we'll have a little extra time to try for some alternatives for the hardcover...