[Mia De Rossi]

Someone suggested I play around in Photoshop and come up with a cover for my erotic short. I liked that idea, since I like design. I'm not a professional, though, by any means. Anyone know if this is somewhat good or somewhat crap? I'm not easy to offend, so let me have it! I'd obviously buy the stock art if I decided to use this image, so the watermark wouldn't be on the final.

My specific questions:

1. This is for a short story, but it's part of a series of shorts I'm doing. Is it okay that it says "series" in the tagline, or will that confuse people into thinking it's a full-size story?

2. Are the colors okay?

Thank you!

 

[Just Browsing]

Note: I'm not a designer!

To me it seems like too many colors in the title. I'd just pick one, like black. You already have two fonts in the title, after all. Your "pop" color is that pink, which I like, so why fight it with the red?

I like the series thing at the top. I assume there are or will be others in the series, and they'll all have that?

 

[Mia De Rossi]

Thank you! Yes, they'll all have that tagline at the top to brand them.

Hmm, didn't think about the red warring with the pink! Great point.

 

[Claudia King]

I like it! As mentioned you might want to go with one colour for the "naughty professor" part. The blue stands out, but if you want to fiddle with adding a border/shadow to the text to make it pop more I think the hot pink sells the tone better.

It looks good for a first attempt though! I've certainly seen a lot of erotica ebooks with worse covers that sell well. It conveys the right message and the font works, just maybe look into tweaking colours or adding some kind of border/shadow to the text.

 

[Mia De Rossi]

Thanks, Claudia! You're right--the shadow thing, I bet, will add more to it. I was wondering why the letters seemed to disappear in places and that might be why (along with the choice of colors, of course). Yay! I'm glad it's not awful for a first try.

 

[Greer]

I seem to remember there being something in the Canstock licensing terms about using their pics on things that they deem 'morally objectionable' (their issue, not mine), and I can't remember if erotica was one of those things. You might want to check their terms before you buy. Or see if you can find the pic somewhere else - DepositPhoto.com has good prices, and their terms don't cause me problems for the m/m covers I've done, either.

 

[Mia De Rossi]

Ooh, that would be bad. Thanks for the heads up, Shayne. I'll go check that out. I think I've seen this photograph on other sites, so I'm sure I can find it elsewhere if that's the case. And thank you for the recommendation!

 

[dalya]

I seem to remember there being something in the Canstock licensing terms about using their pics on things that they deem 'morally objectionable' (their issue, not mine), and I can't remember if erotica was one of those things. You might want to check their terms before you buy. Or see if you can find the pic somewhere else - DepositPhoto.com has good prices, and their terms don't cause me problems for the m/m covers I've done, either.

So ... they take sexualized photos of naughty schoolgirls, but you're *not* supposed to put those photos on erotic books? Are these photos to be used only for career training brochures?

 

[Claudia King]

I think the bit in question was:

"Licensee may not:
Use any Content in any way that is in Licensor’s reasonable opinion pornographic, defamatory, obscene, offensive, libelous, or in any way illegal, whether directly or in context or juxtaposition with specific subject matter and/or other materials"

Don't take my opinion as gospel, but I think in legal speak that's more or less "if the owner of the photo doesn't like what you've done with it, they can kick up a fuss".
Given the type of photos we tend to use for covers though, I doubt the owners are going to be too bothered about them being used for erotica.

I use canstockphoto myself, and that was on the recommendation of other erotica authors, so I don't think it's anything worth losing sleep over.

 

[Mathew Reuther]

So ... they take sexualized photos of naughty schoolgirls, but you're *not* supposed to put those photos on erotic books? Are these photos to be used only for career training brochures?

I thought it, but then didn't post it.

The thing with all these stock places is all they care about is getting stock. All the photographers care about is putting the stock up.

Then after the fact they say stuff like "oh, my mom would be disappointed in me if anyone were to ever get excited by anything I am involved with . . . better put a clause in the user agreement" . . .

 

[Burrito Fart]

So ... they take sexualized photos of naughty schoolgirls, but you're *not* supposed to put those photos on erotic books? Are these photos to be used only for career training brochures?

HA HA HA

 

[Burrito Fart]

I like the cover! But yeah, I'd probably just go with black for the font color.

 

[Greer]

I think the bit in question was:

"Licensee may not:
Use any Content in any way that is in Licensor's reasonable opinion pornographic, defamatory, obscene, offensive, libelous, or in any way illegal, whether directly or in context or juxtaposition with specific subject matter and/or other materials"

Don't take my opinion as gospel, but I think in legal speak that's more or less "if the owner of the photo doesn't like what you've done with it, they can kick up a fuss".
Given the type of photos we tend to use for covers though, I doubt the owners are going to be too bothered about them being used for erotica.

I use canstockphoto myself, and that was on the recommendation of other erotica authors, so I don't think it's anything worth losing sleep over.

There was an additional bit that included a list, and one of the things in that list was homosexuality. Since I was looking for stock for m/m covers, I thought it best to use another site, just to be on the safe side.

 

[Greer]

So ... they take sexualized photos of naughty schoolgirls, but you're *not* supposed to put those photos on erotic books? Are these photos to be used only for career training brochures?

I don't think it's the naughty schoolgirls that would cause the problem - I don't think the photographers or models have any illusions about what they're signing up for in that kind of situation. But if some dude finds himself on the cover of some m/m smut without realizing where the pic was going to be used, he might get touchy, and I don't want to be on the wrong side of the license agreement, for my own sake as well as the author who ends up with my cover in their book.

 

[Burrito Fart]

OOOH. That looks good. That's why I stalk your site! 

 

[dalya]

That model's pose is offensive to chiropractors. 

Oh, that reminds me. I have to go yoga today and try to do that. Better put on my naughty schoolgirl outfit!!!

 

[Mathew Reuther]

That model's pose is offensive to chiropractors.

I mostly found it offensive to good acting.

 

[Mia De Rossi]

Haha, this thread got funny while I was gone.

Humblenations--thank you for the awesome work you did! Absolutely fabulous. I'm so jealous of your talent. Bookmarked your website.

 

[D.L. Shutter]

but you're *not* supposed to put those photos on erotic books? Are these photos to be used only for career training brochures?

Um, yeah, helloooo! The closeup of the two girls lips, candy red and covered in sugar, tongue sucking and/or sharing the lollipop...I mean, what else would you use for your neighborhood yard sale flyers?

C'mon now.

 

[merryxmas]

Good feedback from Humblenations.  Also, Humblenations would you kindly put up more booty shots on your site please? 

I have bought from you in the past and want to buy more and I like the more minimal approach ala closeup of a fine booty or a pleasantly shaped booty in the air or lace panties showing the fine outline of a fine booty etc.  I feel like the less I can see their face the better it sells.  Just imo from someone who wants to buy more of your stuff. 


I like background gradients instead of just black too.  More booty gradients!