Feedback on Cover Design? (Adult Coloring Book)

EPerceptions · Aug 21, 2015

I cringe a little at posting WIP to public sites but I need objective, honest feedback please. If this were a book cover, what would your reaction to it be? Hate? Love? Meh? Details are immensely appreciated

Thanks,
Kathy

MJ DeMarco · Aug 21, 2015

On a scale of 1 to 10.... 3. Just IMO.

I think it's purpose needs to be clearer, don't think its the best font selection. Is there are market for this kinda stuff?

EPerceptions · Aug 21, 2015

Exactly what I'm looking for, thank you. Yes, large hungry primarily female market, hence the color selections. I think I'll mock up 4 or 5 designs and see if any one strikes a chord.

Vigilante · Aug 21, 2015

Doesn't look professional

EPerceptions · Aug 21, 2015

You're right Vig. There's a reason I'm forcing myself to outsource more. Just handed it off to one of the artists so we'll see what she comes up with

Thanks again guys!

DeletedUser394 · Aug 21, 2015

MJ DeMarco said:
Is there are market for this kinda stuff?

It's serious business actually

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/05/colouring-books-for-adults-top-amazon-bestseller-list

aaron bowe · Aug 21, 2015

Huge market. Every girl I know in high school and college is obsessed with these things.

Concerning the cover - Most of the girls favor these things in bright pink and teal so you got that aspect correct. Maybe make the colors pop a little more though if possible. The designs you chose are very simple while some of the more complex mandalas will definitely catch a persons eye.

A girl I know has nonstop showed me this picture for weeks.

LifeTransformer · Aug 21, 2015

It's the epitome of "Money Chasing" Surely?

I've been seeing a lot about this recently. The premise goes that the secret garden sold over 1,000,000 copies, therefore it's a massive niche that could make you rich.

Forgetting that someone put effort into that book, which you can see from the previews of it, as opposed to the shit the money chasers are putting out. Which is a crap outline of stuff they've found on line for free and changed to "coloring" books.

D11FYY · Aug 21, 2015

The graphics are a bit too jagged and doesnt look flowing.
Also the coloured in bits are'nt touching the outlines which makes it look cheap.

Needs more vibrant colours to stand out imo also. Some oranges, lime greens, purples etc ones that make it eye catching. Try giving it a background colour.
Fonts are terrible visit FontSquirrel and Dafont for a range of more suiting ones, sometimes just changing a font can make a graphic!

Best of luck with the venture it is a new 'craze' but if you can capitalise on it and make a few $'s good on you!

EPerceptions · Aug 21, 2015

LifeTransformer said:
It's the epitome of "Money Chasing" Surely?

I've been seeing a lot about this recently. The premise goes that the secret garden sold over 1,000,000 copies, therefore it's a massive niche that could make you rich.

Forgetting that someone put effort into that book, which you can see from the previews of it, as opposed to the shit the money chasers are putting out. Which is a crap outline of stuff they've found on line for free and changed to "coloring" books.

Some are attempting the money chasing game yes. Done properly, this is an evergreen market

EPerceptions · Aug 21, 2015

aaron bowe said:
Huge market. Every girl I know in high school and college is obsessed with these things.

Concerning the cover - Most of the girls favor these things in bright pink and teal so you got that aspect correct. Maybe make the colors pop a little more though if possible. The designs you chose are very simple while some of the more complex mandalas will definitely catch a persons eye.

A girl I know has nonstop showed me this picture for weeks.

Putting some of the more complex designs on the cover is an excellent idea. Those draw the biggest crowds and help the product stand out from lower quality stuff.

LifeTransformer · Aug 21, 2015

EPerceptions said:
Some are attempting the money chasing game yes. Done properly, this is an evergreen market

Re-reading what I posted, I was being very harsh and negative there. Something I'm working on.....

Yes, but the true artists will be the one's who make it worth anything, it's funny how this is circulating as a new "niche" from multiple angles. Makes me think it's not worth doing unless I can add something unique to the method is all.

Looking at it the other day, I saw a tattoo one (seems like a good idea) but the person who reviewed it said they expected such and such, and not so many skulls or something along them lines.

There's problems galore with this niche, solving them is probably where the money is.

P.S. I'm very tempted to jump into this myself, don't want to put anybody down either. Go for it!

Digamma · Aug 22, 2015

LifeTransformer said:
It's the epitome of "Money Chasing" Surely?

One wonders why people on this forum misunderstand "I think it's useless bullshit" with "money chasing".

Mr. L · Aug 22, 2015

I think you should improve your Typography first.

The second thing that I didn't like is that the space feels too crowded and the art looks a little jagged/pixelated to me.

Overall it has an old and unprofessional feeling, but I believe that a modern and clean look could be achieved with a little bit of editing.

At least change your Typography and improve the image quality.

I do Graphics Design, if you need help feel free to hit me up. (Click on my name then "Start a conversation")

Good luck.

Imgal · Aug 22, 2015

I agree on changing the typography. I'd also remove the drop shadow from the text. With this being a coloring book then the most important element is going to be the illustration on the cover. The addition of the drop shadow makes the typography take dominance. The attached is nowhere near right, but gives an idea of how you can make sure the coloring element becomes the attention grabber, but still has enough interesting detail to the rest of the elements that people won't just overlook them.

Mr. L · Aug 22, 2015

Imgal said:
I agree on changing the typography. I'd also remove the drop shadow from the text. With this being a coloring book then the most element element is going to be the illustration on the cover. The addition of the drop shadow makes the typography take dominance. The attached is nowhere near right, but gives an idea of how you can make sure the coloring element becomes the attention grabber, but still has enough interesting detail to the rest of the elements that people won't just overlook them.View attachment 10373

I think it's a lot nicer this way, but the pixelated image still bugs me.
It's easily fixable in Photoshop.

Vigilante · Aug 22, 2015

Imgal said:
View attachment 10375 I agree on changing the typography. I'd also remove the drop shadow from the text. With this being a coloring book then the most element element is going to be the illustration on the cover. The addition of the drop shadow makes the typography take dominance. The attached is nowhere near right, but gives an idea of how you can make sure the coloring element becomes the attention grabber, but still has enough interesting detail to the rest of the elements that people won't just overlook them.

This type of specific feedback is invaluable

EPerceptions · Aug 22, 2015

Mr. L said:
I think you should improve your Typography first.

The second thing that I didn't like is that the space feels too crowded and the art looks a little jagged/pixelated to me.

Overall it has an old and unprofessional feeling, but I believe that a modern and clean look could be achieved with a little bit of editing.

At least change your Typography and improve the image quality.

I do Graphics Design, if you need help feel free to hit me up. (Click on my name then "Start a conversation")

Good luck.

Yes, I realized this morning it's been almost 15 years since I've produced print books and there were several things I was overlooking. I've sent the specs and design suggestions to my designer and will share her concepts when I get them in the next few days. Meanwhile I'm finishing the interior

Thank you so much everyone, your feedback has been extremely helpful!

Imgal · Aug 22, 2015

Wonder @EPerceptions and huge kudos for you to be so open to feedback. Whether it ends up being right or wrong for what you need hopefully we've given you some things to think about that spark other ideas!

Keep us updated on it all - I just discovered my sister is into the adult coloring book thing big time so I know where to come when it's time to buy her a present!

Thank you also to both you and @Vigilante for the rep transfer, so appreciated

Deleted20833 · Aug 22, 2015

Get in contact with Mickey Kreeps...he will charge about $100 for the cover but it will be done from
scratch and it will look 1000X more professional

go to: http://www.thewildstyles.com to check out his work

he has hand drawn and graphic designed sugar skulls and calligraphic fonts for me
and they come out nice..he has worked with big tattoo clothing brands

LynnD5000 · Aug 23, 2015

I think that if you compressed the "design" some so that the Titles stand out it might work better - It seems to "busy" and the floral design takes away from the impact of the titles you created.

Just my opinion - hope it helps...

L

Chitown · Aug 23, 2015

GrumpyCat said:
It's serious business actually

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/05/colouring-books-for-adults-top-amazon-bestseller-list

Wow! Guess that link answers the demand question.

Chitown · Aug 23, 2015

Vigilante said:
This type of specific feedback is invaluable

I'll co-sign this. Kudos, @Imgal.

MJ DeMarco · Aug 23, 2015

Chitown said:
Wow! Guess that link answers the demand question.

Yup, proof that our individual opinions aren't to be held in the highest regard versus a market opinion. I had no clue. Kinda reminds me how many of the Star Wars actors thought the movie sucked before it was released. The market felt otherwise.

ddzc · Aug 23, 2015

Too busy, gave me a migraine looking at it.

EPerceptions · Aug 28, 2015

Two finalists. Downsizing changed the colors slightly, so I'll have to figure out how not to mess that up in the final upload. Thoughts?

EPerceptions · Aug 28, 2015

Different color variation

LifeTransformer · Aug 28, 2015

This one looks the most professional (and best designed) to me:

https://www.thefastlaneforum.com/community/attachments/cover-page-12-sm-jpg.10429/

Mr. L · Aug 28, 2015

I wouldn't use either, the second is better though.

16thCylinder · Aug 28, 2015

To me "An Adult Coloring Book" carries the wrong connotations.

IMHO "A Coloring Book For Grown-Ups" or something along those lines would be better.

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Feedback on Cover Design? (Adult Coloring Book)

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