books and book cover2

Type and pictures

Type over pictures presents particular problems. Here the black type is obviously too darkTo be readable over this image.

While this is a little better, it still doesn’t read easily. This image, as with many you mayChoose to use has a range of dark and light. Simply using white or black won’t resolveThe problem.

One solution might be to change the opacity of the image, making it lighter. But theImage can loose it’s impact that way.

We could also add a gradient screen to the image, which retainssome of the impact of the original, while creating an area to includethe type.

Another good solution is to add a semi transparent color overlay, which keeps the image strong and allows for readability.

Sometimes the available image has an area already that would be good for adding type. This, of course, is not where you want to put the type on this image.

Obviously, the sky, that has very little value contrast is a better place to add the type.

We can also manipulate the photo, making it monochromatic or black and white with a color overlay and add contasting type. We get the idea of the image, but focus on the text.

We can also overlay a semi transparent color over just an area of the photo, leaving enough of the image to tell the story.

We can use multiple overlays for different blocks of text.

The following books covers either use helvetica or another sans serif font. The power of the cover comes, for the most part, from the strength of the image.

The design in the type is kept simple. The variety comes from the size, color, weight and letter spacing of the type. Also from it’s placement.

Here, an image is fully combined with the title type, replacing one of the letters.

A similar approach is taken here, where an image replaces some of the letters.

Here, the simple letterforms overlay different images.

The title type overlays the image, but is letter spaced to allow the image to be seen.

The image has been adjusted to tone down any white areas to allow the white of the title type to contrast and pop out.

Using a bright color allows the type to stand out even though there’s a lot of contrasting tone in the image. Although the type covers the image, it leaves important parts of the image, the faces, dancing feet and building ledge, clearly visible.

Letter spacing and using thin type echoes the words of the title. The letters look light and airy.

The following 3 covers are all for Orwell’s 1984. They all use some variation of the eye. But all use minimal type treatment.

In most cases, the title of the book is larger than the author’s name. In this case, the author, who writes many nordic mysteries is well known. Her fans wait for her next book, so it’s as important to see her name as it is to see the title of the book.

In this case, the author is so famous that his name is much more important than the title of the book, at least in terms of selling the book.

Further examples

Book Structure

Types of binding for books