Using Construction Paper to Make a Book Cover

[genrxr]

Using Construction Paper to Make a Book Cover

A friend recently finished her first book. It is a book designed for teachers to school children in manners and her first cover was a basic stock cover provided by the publisher, Lulu. Pretty basic and used mainly to get copies to send out for proofing.



She then had the art director of a well known Dallas design firm "give her a favor" by designing a professional cover. Of course the favor was charged in dollars and although it looked more professional than the stock photo, is this something which you would see in a children's classroom?



My thought was it belongs in the office of a fortune 500 company or on Zig Zigler's speaking tour. The book is not meant to be read by children, yet the focus is on children and the teachers instruction of manners.

Do you ever really stick your foot in the mouth? Not literally, yet what I said next qualified figuratively. "Jeannie, that book cover sucks and I could design a much better one." "Really? Oh thank you very much, I am not happy with it either," she replied. Duh.

The following two weeks she asked how the cover was coming along and my reply was "fine, I am creating it in my mind." I was thinking of how best to convey either a rocket ship blasting into air with a "soar" theme or a sailboat and water in a "sailing" theme. Sailing through life seemed so cliche, yet in regards to manners it is true. A young person who knows, understands and acts with manners will make it through life easier than one without. Sailing it is.

How to make something really unique though? My next idea was use 2d paper and make it look 3d, similar to the Southpark look, only use real paper and not create it digitally. Utilizing the depth of field relationship between large aperture, long focal length and short distance to focal point, I could create blurring behind the sail boat and thus enhance the 3 dimensional look. I also decided to purchase high grade construction paper with vibrant colors, to make a sunset. I was thinking of the sailors saying "red skies at night are a sailor’s delight." I searched the web for something on this, yet found nothing. Following are some of the pictures, taken during the creation of the book cover and hopefully, it will help someone in their creation. It was a blast making the diorama, photographing and finally putting the cover with text together.

All the pictures can be viewed here.









The Following picture shows top-down view of spacing between paper objects. The sail boat was placed about 6" in front of the sun.



My truck was recently broken into and the thieves made off with a tripod so I had to improvise.



The following picture shows what the picture looks like straight out of camera at F-8. Notice how there is not very much blurring in the background?



This picture shows the 3d look after opening up the aperture on my Canon 135mm lens to 2.0. It has also had saturation levels increased, unsharp mask applied and brightness and contrast adjusted. I then added some additional space on the top to accommodate the title.



This is the final product. 50 dollars in material and 12 hours of my time versus the 10-20k a design firm would charge for something similar. Although done just for fun, I feel confident this cover can hold it's own against any design firms work.



For larger image, click here.

[tizzy]

As a teacher, I think your cover rocks!
I wouldn't have even looked at the book with the other cover, but yours makes me want to pick it up and see what it is about.
Great Job!

[lucian]

Outstanding.

[LonestarMan]

This is spectacular. Much better than the stock covers. Very creative. Very well executed. You and the author shoud be proud of this cover.

I stick my foot in my mouth all the time. Sometimes my wife sticks her foot in my mouth too.

[acarbo99]

WOW! that is really cool! thanks for showing how you did things step-by-step. I think your cover sincerely ROCKS and even as a parent, I would be compelled to pick it up and check it out.

Best,
GiGi

[SaSha]

awesome!

[genrxr]

Thank you everyone for the kind comments.

[Goaliesgirl]

That is really cool. I like the finished project. I also enjoyed looking at how it was made step-by-step. Very Creative!

[123canon]

totally awesome work! (it is sad that teachers have to teach our children manners!) thanks for the step by step. really cool!

[crystalcarroll]

that looks really amazing, nice work with the photobox and the shop lights, i have wondered how well those would work after seeing them on several lighting made simple websites, thanks for showing how you put it all together