Cover making for dummies

[kingjohn3]

We need some patient, understanding cover gurus to make an extremely dumbed down tutorial for those of us that would like to contribute. Ive scanned the site and know there are tons of links for making them but im talking bare basics. I will be downloading photoshop cs2 and whatever comes with it sometime soon. Photoshop for someone that doesnt know terminology or symbols can be a tad frustrating.
I want to thank Hoggs17 for offering to help me with this.

[Azarkhel]

The cover admins are already stretched for time, wasting their energy on this would only be detrimental. The basics for cover making are no different to the basics for Photoshop in general. I would recommend people "acquire" the beginner tutorial videos from Lynda.com and then go through them at their own pace.

[Blumpkin]

Thanks for volunteering!

[kingjohn3]

Thanks for volunteering!

Yes  thanks Hoggs.  But im sure im not the only one that needs it

[wiggy]

YouTube is your friend. You can find tutorials for most anything from changing your oil, to building rockets, to baking cookies, to using Adobe software, and on and on

[videogametrader]

I too am a beginner at Photoshop. Your best bet is to watch some YouTube videos and just experiment with the tools. Experience will be your best teacher. I can already tell that my work is better now then it was just a month ago. And that is simply by experimenting with the tools and getting to know them.

[irvgotti452]

I posted some links before on some older posts to youtube videos. Here is the check list you need to get to making some quality covers.

1. Get to know your software whether it be Photoshop or GIMP.
2. Find a good source for fonts for either retail or custom covers. I sometimes use www.abstractfonts.com. They usually have what you're looking for...usually.
3. Get familiar with Clone Stamp, Healing Brush and their settings.
4. Get familiar with Color Correcting (Hue, saturation, brightness/contrast, levels, temperature and vibrance to name a few)
5. Filters. Blur filters and sharpening filters (always use unsharp mask in photoshop is what i was taught) and play around with settings.
6. When resizing keep the aspect ratio as close as original as possible to not warp the source image.
7. Cutting and slice tools. Use them and take your time. Don't rush the process it takes some time.
8. Patience.
9. Look for feedback and tips. Try asking specific questions as to where you are having challenges. The harsher the critic the better.
10. Youtube photo retouching and fixing videos because essentially its the same thing.

That should be a good starting point.

[kingjohn3]

Hey thanks so much for the help!  Here's what I would like to do and how I THINK  I could do it. I would like to start with making a custom background and then simply cut n paste. I want to use retail front and back art so that shouldnt be that difficult and then use my own custom spine. It might take a little getting used to as far as the right dimensions go but eventually I'll get it. Thought?

[Marcus_CA]

Thanks for volunteering!

Yes  thanks Hoggs.  But im sure im not the only one that needs it

You're right 

[Nacho3]

Hey thanks so much for the help!  Here's what I would like to do and how I THINK  I could do it. I would like to start with making a custom background and then simply cut n paste. I want to use retail front and back art so that shouldnt be that difficult and then use my own custom spine. It might take a little getting used to as far as the right dimensions go but eventually I'll get it. Thought?

I did something similar but I just printed the retail covers then printed this on a sheet of cardstock (regular paper should work as well)

I cut each one out and stuck it over the spine, when I got tired of it I took out the spines and didn't have to print new covers.

[amarthar]

YouTube is your friend. You can find tutorials for most anything from changing your oil, to building rockets, to baking cookies, to using Adobe software, and on and on

But can you find tutorials on using Adobe software to change your oil while baking cookies on a rocket?

[Arseen]

YouTube is your friend. You can find tutorials for most anything from changing your oil, to building rockets, to baking cookies, to using Adobe software, and on and on

But can you find tutorials on using Adobe software to change your oil while baking cookies on a rocket?

There was but it was taken down as too many stupid people sued because they did not understand it was a joke.
And NASA got bored of people running to the launchpad evereytime there was rocket launch or test.