Cover art for new book

Artwork Works in Progress
1

Hi, everyone!

Please offer suggestions and criticisms. I’m still learning Blender so please be detailed. A link to a tutorial would be great!

I am using Blender 2.55, MakeHuman 1.5.1, and Gimp 2.6.10

The scene is rendered in the standard Blender renderer. All models but character models are made in Blender. The character models are from MakeHuman and I added the text in Gimp.

In general, I am looking for critiques of the composition, balance, and impact. Also general impressions.

Specifically, any techniques to improve the presenatation, the battleship model, and the simulation of the projectiles.

Full size image: http://www.rhynedahll.com/magiciancoverc1.jpg

Attachments

magiciancoverc1.jpg768×1024 118 KB

2

Hi! Nice looking cover. Here’s something that has helped me quite a bit with everything from interface design to personal wardrobe choices. Maybe it can help you as much as it’s helped me!

Secret of success

3

Excellent suggestion, thanks!

I think I do like more orange better.

magiciancoverc2.jpg768×1024 118 KB

4

well if you want deeper color better material you could try to render it in yafaray!

looking nice
happy 2.5

5

I have Luxrender installed, I’m running it through to see what it looks like.

I’m also going to check out Yafaray.

Thanks!

6

Well, according to the Yafaray web site, it does not yet work with 2.5x. :frowning:

7

Yafaray built 2.5
http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=203510&p=1746519#post1746519
built

salutations

8

Thanks! :smiley:

9

Haven’t made much headway with an external render yet, but am still working on it.

I’ve made some tweaks and changes and worked on the lighting a bit.

Here’s my latest version.

Testi.jpg768×1024 103 KB

10

That’s excellent work! I know that’s not very advicey, but dang, that’s a nice boat.

11

great modelling
i think the boat should be making a v-shaped trail in the water
(ive forgotten what it’s called)
i would add a very small bevel to the sharp objects, like planks and the boat (may not work out that great).
i would also try some motion blur - i think it could make this scene
derek

12

Great ideas!

Any suggestions how they might be accomplished? (I’m a blender newb.)

13

My ideas are a little more basic. I think it would be wise to break this things down to the composition/message level. It seems to be lacking in focus. It is confusing and the message is not clear. There are some design elements that are rather dispersing to the eyes and therefore confusing to the viewer.

For instance you have lines of action and motion that are confusing and conflict. You have the motion of the main character, he is causing something to his right.

Just above that you have a line of motion coming out of the ship and wizzing by him, just to the left. Then along the right another line of motion.

Then the explosion near the ship and finally some particles coming off of the back of the cart or whatever it is in a very dispersed way.

There is nothing wrong with Chaos. But for advertising it should be used to your advantage. You need to have a clear focus point to the image, it needs to have direction and should convey a clear visual message.

My suggestion would be to google movie 1 sheets and book covers. See if you can find some common elements. And be critical because they don’t all work. So try and see if you can pick out the common elements that make the good ones work and the bad ones not so. And use those to your advantage.

Here are a couple of examples and my analysis:

In this one, see the chaos of the masses at the bottom. And the fire. Then above that you have the main focus on the characters in front of the flag.

And this one notice how the lines of motion are all aligned with perspective of the buildings and the main focus again on the characters: The lines of motion all support a focus in one direction and your attention is then drawn to the main characters.


And this one notice how you could draw a few simple lines though it.


Take a look at these:

http://www.openflame.com/harrypotter/book_covers_all.html

This one for instance.

How would yo draw the lines of focus through this one?

http://www.openflame.com/harrypotter/harry_images/covers/book4/cover4_b_french.jpg

14

Thanks for the excellent and thoughtful reply!

I’ve read your post through a couple of times, trying to assimilate it. I’ll work on it, but I’m not sure I have the design sophistication at this point to acheive it.

15

It looks like that ship is willing to spend a LOT of nasty-looking ammo fighting 2 guys. It’s a good thing they can’t aim.

If you want to emphasize the magical power of your Hero you could have the shells aimed better, only to curve safely off at the last moment due to some Magical Field Of Protection.

16

Yes, that pretty much describes the situation. Isn’t it like an unwritten law of the universe that evil minions can’t shoot? :slight_smile:

If you want to emphasize the magical power of your Hero you could have the shells aimed better, only to curve safely off at the last moment due to some Magical Field Of Protection.

I’ve moved that particular line of fire up, down, and side to side but havn’t yet tried to make them follow a curve. I’ll work on it and see how it looks. Thanks!

17

i agree that the composition is a bit confusing, maybe like other people have mentioned you could direct the ammo into one position.
i think the key to this is to sketch a few ideas and decide on the best one.
for the boat trail you might want to try using the sculpting tools to create the ripple.
for the motion blur you will need to animate the objects that will be moving (even if its only a few frames, nothing too complex).
then either use the full sample motion blur or the vector blur in the compositor (try them both as it depends on which is best for the scene.)
also, you might want to add some reflection in the water.
nice explosion in the background btw.

18

Thanks everyone!

You have all made excellent suggestions and I appreciate your help.

Now, as I am working under a time restraint, I’m going to pause and work on implementing the suggestions as well as I am able. Some things I probably don’t yet have the skill to improve but its still a learning experience for me.

In a couple of days I have to call it as good as it’s going to get and accept the flaws, as my ebook is scheduled to be out Jan 1. Though it still might need work, I think the final version will be better in many ways because of the kind and thoughful advice that I have received here.

Thank you again!

19

If you want some help in how to compose it, simply look at examples as I said. And what you can do is simply sketch out the lines of action and motion on a piece of paper. It is nothing really technical or advanced. Just use simple lines to compose your scene. Much like they do for posing animation.

Take a look at this pic and study this concept. It is for animation but the basic idea applies.

Here is the link:

http://theblogofquentinchaille.blogspot.com/2010/11/3d-character-animation-poses-1-of-2.html

Completing the line of action, flow lines (also imaginary lines) accompany the viewer’s attention to a center of interest of the scene or/and establish a link between the main characters of the scene. In a way, they are the paths guiding your eyes.

pbanimation07-big.jpg759×1024 175 KB

Just take a note pad and start drawing out examples of line of action until you get the hang of it, then apply it to the composition of your cover. Start with a simple sketch and then make it in the computer.

20

Thanks, Richard!

I think I get the general concept now. I’ll give it a shot!