Q&A with Dreamscape Covers discussion

Decisions about your cover are extremely important, which is why it's best to know the popular techniques for your genre and what you like.
Digital Art-
The most prominent technique among covers of all genres is called Photo-manipulation. This is a more realistic cover, which brings all of the elements together to create a graphic a camera would be unable to capture.

Three dimensional art is rarely used these days, but when it is... it's usually used for science fiction. This gives the cover a CGI look.

Drawings are common among graphic novels, comic books, and children's books.

Painting is a technique that is rarely used alone. Usually it it used to support another technique, but seems to be a favorite for fantasy, urban fantasy, and children's books.

Mixed Media is a technique that combines multiple techniques. Often this is used in sync with photo-manipulation. If you want a realistic cover with an artistic feel to it, this is probably your best choice. This techniques is common among most genres.

Photography is essentially a cover with a photograph as the cover. This is rarely used. However, if you go with this method it is important to have someone who is experience with airbrushing and painting. Photographs are rarely perfect, which is why airbrushing and painting are needed to correct any flaws there may be.

Typography is basically artistic text. Authors rarely realize that the words on their cover need something extra to make them pop. Graphic artists are trained to make your the words stand equally with the graphic, rather than being swallowed up by it. There are thousands of fonts, blending options, and back layers to make the writing on your cover more pronounced. :) If the font doesn't suit the graphic, the entire cover will seem "off."

Feel free to ask questions! If you need specific examples, I would be happy to provide them. :)

I have some questions. I am currently working with a digital artist. I dont know art terminology, so Im trying to guide him, but I dont know how to fix the issues Im having with the cover art he's designing.

The photo looks more animated, but I would prefer it looks more realistic. Do you have any tips on how to fix this issue?

Guinevere wrote: "I have some questions. I am currently working with a digital artist. I dont know art terminology, so Im trying to guide him, but I dont know how to fix the issues Im having with the cover art he's ..."

If you want it to look more realistic, I suggest recommending that he do a photomanipulation. It's basically a compiling of photos to create an image and even if you need something like a werewolf or vampire, if it's done right... it looks real. I literally will look like the character's photo was taken. Then to add some artistic flair, ask for some painting to enhance certain aspect. If you want to send me what he's doing, I can help you explain what you want to him. Another option is to look up book covers that have the "style" you want and send him the links. That way he can see what you mean. :)