Opinions needed for book cover!

[Vietnam1965]

Hi Guys,

I'm wrapping up my book on Vietnam bring back weapons and have been trying to come up with a cool cover. I would greatly appreciate everyone's opinions on what I have so far. They still need some tweaking. A bring back Luger from an advisor is also in the book so I was thinking of placing it on a Vietnam red beret as another option. Thanks!

 

[aray]

The busy one with all of the rifles. Makes it more interesting than just a thing or two.

 

[somd_mustangs]

the 2nd to last would be my first vote, or last pic of the field-made pistol in 2nd place.
You don't want it too "busy".

 

[somd_mustangs]

LOL two 180 degree-out opinions (I didn't see aray's before posting mine)

 

[somd_mustangs]

I think you can turn this into a poll...

 

[Vietnam1965]

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Ammo Jon]

The first one but the title on the wooden placard. It’s too hard to see the title on all of them.

 

[Mule]

Like the pics, and congrats on the pending book!!

Here's some quick input:

For the front cover, I'd suggest slightly modified versions of what you have, to improve readability and give more visual impact.

#1 (with shield)
Move title to green space in upper left corner
Move photo below title, in left upper middle
Move shield to bottom right corner

or

#3 (stacked rifles)
Reformat pic so that there's some empty space in the middle, for the title to sit alone, against the green.* (Something like three rifles, then enough green space so that the title can be superimposed, then the remaining five rifles)

Also, #4 (pistol and photo) would be a great back cover image

 

[somd_mustangs]

Look at Ed Tinker's "Veteran Bring Backs" series for ideas, he uses a lot of accessories to accent the cover.

 

[welder516]

I like the one with the rifles

 

[Vietnam1965]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! All the covers need some tweaking!

 

[Vietnam1965]

Like the pics, and congrats on the pending book!!

Here's some quick input:

For the front cover, I'd suggest slightly modified versions of what you have, to improve readability and give more visual impact.

#1 (with shield)
Move title to green space in upper left corner
Move photo below title, in left upper middle
Move shield to bottom right corner

or

#3 (stacked rifles)
Reformat pic so that there's some empty space in the middle, for the title to sit alone, against the green.* (Something like three rifles, then enough green space so that the title can be superimposed, then the remaining five rifles)

Also, #4 (pistol and photo) would be a great back cover image

Really like your second suggestion with the title in the middle. I could put some bring back pistols on either side of the top of the title WAR TROPHIES. That will look interesting. I didn't really think about the back cover so something needs to go there!

 

[Vodnik4]

I like the third one. The title meshes with the rifles — they are cool banged-up trophies. The only suggestion, if you can, increase the white border around the letters by a pixel or two.
I’m sorry, I really hate the first two — the pics are really good, but the title is irritatingly hard to read. That usually turns me away from books when browsing in a store.

Could you try the same font you used in the third pic, on the first background?

 

[Glaron]

the 2nd to last would be my first vote, or last pic of the field-made pistol in 2nd place.
You don't want it too "busy".

Second to last.

back off a bit and put rifles on the each side. need to humanize it.

 

[AlBeight]

Hi Guys,

I'm wrapping up my book on Vietnam bring back weapons and have been trying to come up with a cool cover. I would greatly appreciate everyone's opinions on what I have so far. They still need some tweaking. A bring back Luger from an advisor is also in the book so I was thinking of placing it on a Vietnam red beret as another option. Thanks!

I’d nix the one with the soldier’s picture, as a reader I’d expect the entire book or at least a significant portion of it to be about him specifically. Also, as others have said, I like the one with all the rifles stacked horizontally, but I’d go with a clean white background to make the rifle images standout. That off-color wrinkled thing is too distracting and takes away from the cool rifle images.

Also, the main title “War Trophies” should be a larger or different font than the subtitle “Bringback Weapons from Vietnam”. IMHO that’s how main titles and subtitles are typically represented, especially if this will be a continuing series, variants of the main theme “War Trophies”.

 

[Vietnam1965]

I’d nix the one with the soldier’s picture, as a reader I’d expect the entire book or at least a significant portion of it to be about him specifically. Also, as others have said, I like the one with all the rifles stacked horizontally, but I’d go with a clean white background to make the rifle images standout. That off-color wrinkled thing is too distracting and takes away from the cool rifle images.

Also, the main title “War Trophies” should be a larger or different font than the subtitle “Bringback Weapons from Vietnam”. IMHO that’s how main titles and subtitles are typically represented, especially if this will be a continuing series, variants of the main theme “War Trophies”.

Very good suggestions. I placed the rifles on a green salvage cover and I agree the wrinkles are distracting. I think white may be too plain but will try it and other colors. Thanks!

 

[Vietnam1965]

Thanks guys all great suggestions and I appreciate it! I think I'm going to take the first two out of the mix. I'm leaning towards the rifles pic with some additional tweaks!

 

[Threeband]

I also like the one with all the rifles, but no reason you can't include the "field expedient" pistol AND the Luger.

 

[SmokeEaterPilot]

I honestly like the one with the multiple rifles. Shows a span of different firearms that will be in it. Just maybe find a way to open it up so the rifles down drown out the title.

Really cool idea for a book. Outstanding!

 

[md_rick_o]

Like the pics, and congrats on the pending book!!

Here's some quick input:

For the front cover, I'd suggest slightly modified versions of what you have, to improve readability and give more visual impact.

#1 (with shield)
Move title to green space in upper left corner
Move photo below title, in left upper middle
Move shield to bottom right corner

or

#3 (stacked rifles)
Reformat pic so that there's some empty space in the middle, for the title to sit alone, against the green.* (Something like three rifles, then enough green space so that the title can be superimposed, then the remaining five rifles)

Also, #4 (pistol and photo) would be a great back cover image

My thoughts exactly,