Updated Book Cover

This is my updated Book Cover

Evaluation

This is my essay which I wrote for this module :)

Evaluation

When I first started this module I first thought about what fairy tale/comic book hero I was going to choose for my book cover.

I wanted to do something out of the ordinary and nothing that no one else would do I was thinking of doing the story of Lizzie Borden, like the rhyme

“Lizzie Borden took an axe, and gave her mother forty whacks. And when she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty one.”

I thought this would be a really cool idea to do and I could be very creative with it especially when taking the photographs.

But when I started thinking about the props and costumes I would need I thought it would be quite difficult getting a hold of them so I changed my idea and decided to go with Cinderella.

I didn’t want to just stick with the original story of Cinderella I wanted to modernize it a little, make it more up to date and real.

Instead of Cinderella wearing a ball gown I thought about putting the model in a modern dress something a girl would wear to a club. As I thought that Cinderella would go to “the ball” this was a special event at a club she really wanted to go to but her nasty stepmother wouldn’t allow and makes her stay home and clean the house while her step sisters can do whatever they want.

For the book cover I decided to have a picture of the shoes that Cinderella wore and for the front a photo of Cinderella looking glamorous in a nice dress.

Now that I have taken my photographs I have to edit them on photo shop to put my book cover together.

I started by opening a new document on Photoshop, I’m quite an amateur when it comes to Photoshop but I managed to find my way round and got used to it, I don’t know all the buttons and what everything is and means but I will get there. The Next stage was to set out the book cover, the inside flaps, the spine and the two covers. When this was done I was all ready to get started.

I started looking through my photographs I took of my model for the cover, I chose two which I thought worked the best, I used the magic wand tool to select the model if there were any rough edges I would use the refine edge tool to smooth them out. I then cut and pasted them onto my open document. I did this for the both of them and then I used the free transform tool to scale them down to size. I played around with this for a bit to get the perfect size that I wanted.

The next thing I did was to choose the colour of the background, I decided on black as it’s a colour which I like to use and it makes everything else stand out. On the text I used an outer glow; to make my black text stand out on the background otherwise you wouldn’t see it. I used a fuchsia pink glow to achieve this look. I was deciding on the font for a while as well because it had to fit the style of the book cover. I went for a font that flows like handwriting, its contemporary like the “story”. Pink was a major colour for my book cover, it’s very girly and modern. 

My next task was for a background image, because I only took studio portrait photographs I only had a plain black background, I found some images on Google which were perfect for me to use, I needed a photograph of a block of high rise flats and a picture of the inside of a club. These were just generic photographs, I decided to stick the two images together as you can see on my book cover worked better this way as my images of my model was in the middle of the front cover , I thought this made it look quite interesting and suited the idea I was going for.

On the back cover I didn’t want too much on it, I didn’t want to make it look too complex so all I put on there was a photograph of “Cinderella’s” shoes I took a photograph of some plain black stilettoes and on Photoshop I made them sparkly pink by using a texture and then making it overlay the photo of the shoes, I went around the edges with the eraser to clean it up I was really happy with the result. All I had to do now was to cut them out using the lasso tool, when I did that I copied and pasted them on to my book cover. I used the free transform tool to change the size and the angle of them. When I got it to the size which was just right I now had to think about where the blurb would go.  I didn’t want a big blurb just a few lines, I still thought though that it looked a little bare soon, so I looked on Google again and thought about having a disco ball at the top, I found the perfect Image and did the same thing by cutting it out and pasting it on the book cover.

Now it was starting to look pretty good.

The last thing I had to do was the inner flaps. I looked at some books I have at home and found that you find reviews from publications and on the other side a photograph of the author and a little bit of info about them. I put a picture of myself on it and just a little bit of information. On the other side I did some pretend reviews.

My book cover was now complete.

Overall I’m very happy with the result of my book cover; if I could change anything I would get some images of background myself instead of using stock images from the internet. I also think that I could work on my Photoshop skills a lot more and then maybe next time I could do something really creative and different. But for my first proper go I’m very pleased and proud of myself.

Website

I created a website for my book cover project here is the link for it :)

enjoy!!!

http://www.wix.com/danielleleeds92/introdigitalenviroment

Idea Changed yet again

I know I said I was going to stick with the orignal cinderella story but I changed my mind yet again! like I always do :) so I went back to my first where I was gonna modernise Cinders.

Finished

I have now completed my book cover!! Yay :D

It took me a while to complete but I finished it.

Here is a my finished book cover.

Moving Gif

This is my moving GIF (zoetrope)

I took a set of photographs and used a website to make the GIF

Here is my GIF

Prop Hire

Since my photoshoot will be coming up very soon I've been looking into some prop hire! I've found this amazing place which is only in york and they do event prop hire I've been looking at some of there stuff and its brilliant! Exactly what I want!

http://www.eventprophire.com/index.php

Fairytale Vogue Fashion Shoot!

While I was researching fairytale style photo-shoots I came across this one which was done by Vogue fashion magazine It gave me some good ideas for my own book cover shoot, the way the set was arranged, the props which were used etc. It was all so minimal but it worked so well! Less is more..... In my head I think I was maybe over thinking it but really you want to be focused on "cinderella" not everything around her. This has really made me have a re-think about my shoot.

Here are some examples of the shoot done by Vogue....

http://www.worldoffemale.com/fairytale-photoshoots/

Update

For my photoshoot for the book cover I've been thinking about locations and where to shoot it, its either going to be on location or in the studio, I haven't quite decided yet. It would be easier to shoot in the studio to be honest as I will have all the lighting set up to exactly how I want it and I could set up the scene to exactly how I want it! I've been looking into other "cinderella inspired photo shoots" here are a few examples of what I have found.....


Here is the website where I found these Images.

http://www.lovemydress.net/blog/2011/02/cinderella-bride-inspiration-alex-beadon-photography-part1.html

Book Cover Sizes

				British book sizes Size Name Octavo Size Quarto Size pott 6¼ by 4 8 by 6¼ foolscap 6¾ by 4¼ 8¼ by 6¾ crown 7½ by 5 1O by 7½ large crown 8 by 5¼ 10½ by 8 large post 8¼ by 5¼ 10¼ by 8¼ demy 8¾ by 5 5/8 11¼ by 8¾ post 8 by 5 10 by 8 small demy 8½ by 5 5/8 11¼ by 8½ medium 9 by 5¾ 11½ by 9 small royal 9¼ by 6 1/8 12¼ by 9¼ royal 10 by 6¼ 12½ by 10 super royal 10¼ by 6¾ 13½ by 10¼ imperial 11 by 7½ 15 by 11
				I found this table on www.trussel.com/books/booksize.htm its about different book cover sizes, this refers to the dimensions of the covers. Most book cover sizes todat are Octavo and Quarto. Many book covers are also produced in smaller and larger sizes.  This is a picture displaying the book cover sizes. I found this image on www.google.com

Update!

Update on book cover

I've been thinking about my book cover photo and Ive decided to change my idea, from what I intended to do which I first wrote in my statement of intent. I was going to do a modern version of cinderella but I'm thinking sticking to the classic ball gown glass slipper concept but with a twist maybe the macarbe style like I've looked at from other artists, I think some people might get confused and not understand what my book cover is all about if I do the modern cinderella idea.

Book Cover research

I started to research into exsisting book covers to get some ideas and to look at the layout of the book covers. They all have a similar layout, the covers arn't over complicated. its all kept simple.

They dont have too many different colours either, its either one or two colours that I've seen from my research.

I found these book cover designs on google images. 

mid-point evaluation.

Mid-point evaluation!


When starting this assignment I had to come up with a fairy tale for my book cover idea, I decided on cinderella. Since then I've been looking into cinderella and the story behind it, prince charming sweeps cinderella up off her feet at the end and they all live happily ever after blah blah blah, I want to mess around with it abit not do something so traditional, Ive been getting inspiration from some pictures that I've seen on deviant art one of the members has been drawing disney and fairy tale characters sort of the "dark side of disney" it isnt always a happliy ever after.


this is the link to his blog.....


http://www.jeftoonportfolio.blogspot.com


This has been giving me a some really good ideas for my book cover.


I still need to get the props etc together but I dont think it will be hard to do, I've got some numbers I can call for some makeup artists and models which I may use for my book cover shoot.


I'm still continuing to do some more research for my book cover


I will continue to update my blog :)

Cinderella the Story!!

Once upon a time there lived an unhappy young girl. Her mother was dead and her father had married a widow with two daughters. Her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All her kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. Nothing was too good for them - dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and every home comfort. But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters’ hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No rest and no comfort. She had to work hard all day. Only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. That’s why everybody called her Cinderella. Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, . Miaow. , which really meant, . Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty.. It was quite true. Cinderella, even dressed in old rags, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be. One day, beautiful new dresses arrived at the house. A ball was to be held at the palace and the stepsisters were getting ready to go. Cinderella didn't even dare ask if she could go too. She knew very well what the answer would be: . You? You're staying at home to wash the dishes, scrub the floors and turn down the beds for your stepsisters. They will come home tired and very sleepy.. Cinderella sighed, . Oh dear, I'm so unhappy!. and the cat murmured . Miaow.. Suddenly something amazing happened. As Cinderella was sitting all alone, there was a burst of light and a fairy appeared. . Don't be alarmed, Cinderella,. said the fairy. . I know you would love to go to the ball. And so you shall!. . How can I, dressed in rags?. Cinderella replied. . The servants will turn me away!. The fairy smiled. With a flick of her magic wand Cinderella found herself wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen. . Now for your coach,. said the fairy; "A real lady would never go to a ball on foot! Quick! Get me a pumpkin!. . Oh of course,. said Cinderella, rushing away. Then the fairy turned to the cat. . You, bring me seven mice, and, remember they must be alive!. Cinderella soon returned with the pumpkin and the cat with seven mice he had caught in the cellar. With a flick of the magic wand the pumpkin turned into a sparkling coach and the mice became six white horses, while the seventh mouse turned into a coachman in a smart uniform and carrying a whip. Cinderella could hardly believe her eyes. Cinderella had a wonderful time at the ball until she heard the first stroke of midnight! She remembered what the fairy had said, and without a word of goodbye she slipped from the Prince. s arms and ran down the steps. As she ran she lost one of her slippers, but not for a moment did she dream of stopping to pick it up! If the last stroke of midnight were to sound... oh... what a disaster that would be! Out she fled and vanished into the night. The Prince, who was now madly in love with her, picked up the slipper and said to his ministers, “Go and search everywhere for the girl whose foot this slipper fits. I will never be content until I find her!” So the ministers tried the slipper on the foot of every girl in the land until only Cinderella was left. That awful untidy girl simply cannot have been at the ball,. snapped the stepmother. . Tell the Prince he ought to marry one of my two daughters! Can't you see how ugly Cinderella is?. But, to everyone. s amazement, the shoe fitted perfectly Suddenly the fairy appeared and waved her magic wand. In a flash, Cinderella appeared in a splendid dress, shining with youth and beauty. Her stepmother and stepsisters gaped at her in amazement, and the ministers said, "Come with us Cinderella! The Prince is waiting for you." So Cinderella married the Prince and lived happily ever. As for the cat, he just said "Miaow!"

The dark side of disney

Ive been doing some research into disney fairytales as I'm going to do cinderella as the idea for my book cover, ive come across some creepy and different ideas for disney, the dark side of disney which I love :D here are a few examples of the "twisted disney princessses" http://www.jeftoonportfolio.blogspot.com this is the link to where I found these Images

This photograph was taken by Annie Leibovitz in her disney series, this one is of Scarlet Johanson as cinderella, I will continue to look at her photographs to get some more inspiration.