Ok, I have Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro and Roxio Photosuite. The last is the only one I am really familiar with but it doesn't do what I want, so this is a question for anyone familiar with the other two. Is there a function in there which will allow me to do a 3D image for a boxed set type image? If so, please can you advise on how to get to it, which section it might be in. Or, are there any free ones on the net I can download which will do it. I did try Gimp once but couldn't make head nor tail of it, but am willing to try again if it is what I need.
Doglover
I think you just need to look for free photoshop actions. Actions are basically a set of pre-programmed commands within photoshop that allow you to manimpulate an image a particular way. There are tons of free ones, like this: http://creativetechs.com/tipsblog/free-photoshop-action-to-create-ebook-covers/ -- it also tells you how to install and use it. This is for 3d books, but there are box set templates around too.
If this doesnt take your fancy, google around, or perhaps put $5 down on Fiverr. They just do the same thing as these free actions, but it's a time saver. If you want to do all your books, though, it can be expensive.
If this doesnt take your fancy, google around, or perhaps put $5 down on Fiverr. They just do the same thing as these free actions, but it's a time saver. If you want to do all your books, though, it can be expensive.
I use those box set templates all the time! They are pretty simple to use, just follow her directions (I posted some on that thread, but it appears I've moved my pictures, so I need to fix that, I guess). The site still says free, though there is a charge. I was lucky enough to get them when the creator was offering them free. Still a good deal, in my opinion.
It says $5 each, which is not a great loss even if I can't get my brain round them. I am scared to death of Photoshop though, never use it. But these only work with that program so I will have to make do.she-la-ti-da said:
I use GIMP. My first covers were rough, but the learning curve is starting to plateau. I cannot speak for the quality of said covers, but I can make the program do most of the graphical things I want now.
Sincerely,
J. H. Bardwell
Sincerely,
J. H. Bardwell
Gimp is a decent program and is quite capable, but the interface leaves much to be desired.
My program of choice is Pixelmator, an excellent Photoshop alternative. In fact, it is so good, Adobe should be seriously concerned about this program. It can also do vector graphics like Illustrator. It's only available for Apple (both OS X and iOS).
I also use Corel Painter for free hand work, when I want something to look like a painting. Due to a serious lack of artistic training and talent, I don't use Painter to the level that I should.
If I am serious about doing 3D work, I use form•Z-a program I have leftover from a previous career. This is a top-end program and fairly expensive putting it out of the budget of most beginning authors. I mention it only because I use it.
To create a "3D" cover, all you have to do is take the cover image and then use free transform to distort that image. Take an image of a book standing upright, then overlay your cover image on a layer over that. Then move the corner anchors of your cover image until is matches the cover of the book image in the layer below it. On a second layer, draw lines to create a box that would overlay the rest of that book, then hide the book image layer.
My program of choice is Pixelmator, an excellent Photoshop alternative. In fact, it is so good, Adobe should be seriously concerned about this program. It can also do vector graphics like Illustrator. It's only available for Apple (both OS X and iOS).
I also use Corel Painter for free hand work, when I want something to look like a painting. Due to a serious lack of artistic training and talent, I don't use Painter to the level that I should.
If I am serious about doing 3D work, I use form•Z-a program I have leftover from a previous career. This is a top-end program and fairly expensive putting it out of the budget of most beginning authors. I mention it only because I use it.
To create a "3D" cover, all you have to do is take the cover image and then use free transform to distort that image. Take an image of a book standing upright, then overlay your cover image on a layer over that. Then move the corner anchors of your cover image until is matches the cover of the book image in the layer below it. On a second layer, draw lines to create a box that would overlay the rest of that book, then hide the book image layer.
Just chiming in to mention (for those poor souls like myself who are no good with advanced photo-manips) that the two dead-simple programs I use are Ribbet, an online tool (for children I believe) and Phoxo which can be downloaded to your PC. They're perfect for the basics.
Downloading the GIMP (from their own website no less) put malware and adware into every corner of my laptop and it all took forever to remove.
Downloading the GIMP (from their own website no less) put malware and adware into every corner of my laptop and it all took forever to remove.
I wish you'd told me that this morning! Ok, I downloaded Gimp, had a good look at it, which I have done before at some point; still can't make head nor tail of it. Then I thought I'd have a go at Photoshop - so glad I didn't pay £700 or whatever for it. I can't use that, even with the tutorial, but I shall try the templates. I must be able to put my pictures in the damned thing, surely? I will stick to Roxio photosuite as much as possible. I know how that works, I don't have to get migraine reading instructions and it is very good, does nearly everything I want it to without talking about layers and the like.jessie_talbot said:
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