Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Hi Everyone:

I'm going to try again so here goes,

We need a cover designed for our upcoming book Getting Started in Hold 'em by Ed Miller. The dimensions of the book are 5 1/2" by 8 1/2". If you want to use cover blurbs (and we like this) use:

Nuts and Bolts

Limit Hold 'em
. Sample Hands
. Preflop Standards

No Limit Hold 'em
. Overview
. Understanding Stack Size

Tournament Hold 'em
. Satellite Strategy
. Sit 'n Go Strategy
. Multitable Strategy

Evaluating Your Play

(See Harrington on Hold 'em for what I mean by cover blurbs.)

Note: "Nuts and Bolts" is not the title of the book. The title is Getting Started in Hold 'em and the author is Ed Miller.

The winner will get a complete set of our books, a $300 cash payment, and a Two Plus Two Publishing Logo Shirt. The cover will be chosen at the end of this month.

Best wishes,
Mason

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

I liked wakko's cover, but if you want to use my likeness I need royalties.

-Michael

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Oh well.... I actually thought the erroneous title was quite catchy!

"Nuts & Bolts: Getting Started in Hold 'em"

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

The previous thread has to be the funniest on 2+2.

Dont know if one person thought nuts and bolts was the title and the sheep followed or what but I havent laughed so much at postings on a forum, as well as the designs.

Just make it like the harrington one Ed pictured with the hat, if I had any photoshop skills I would do it.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

How many covers can we do? And should they be posted here, or sent privately?

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

here would be more fun, why not a poll?

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

I think it should be a picture of Evelyn Ng grabbing Ed Miller's nuts & bolts.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Hi JKD:

You can do as many as you like and post them here for all to see.

Best wishes,
Mason

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
I think it should be a picture of Evelyn Ng grabbing Ed Miller's nuts & bolts.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ed does too.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

http://www.arsonal.com/~orbflux/bookcover.jpg

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

http://www.playpokergetpaid.com/stuf...edinHoldem.jpg

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

I think this is the best one so far.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

http://www.jpfllc.com/images/test/cover4.jpg

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

2nd that - very classy. (referring to RobMonge's).

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

I really like Glitch's here, but there needs to be more white highlighting Ed Miller's name to make it pop off the page more, and the word "Hold 'em" ought to be bigger and more pronounced. Also, the last line of "a winning player" just is hanging there -- you should justify those three lines better to have them more even.

The rest of it ... I really like the lay out a lot, and while the others are good, for my money, this is the design I like the most, although it IS close.

Great job.

Barron Vangor Toth
www.BarronVangorToth.com

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Damn I wish I knew Photoshop..

If anyone could put together a cover that had the matador, a big stack of chips, a roll of toilet paper and a kiddie pool outside the window of the poker room, I'd bust a gut...

-f-

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
2nd that - very classy. (referring to RobMonge's).

[/ QUOTE ]


Rob's is good, no doubt, but there is something about the font that's getting me ... it's SO close to looking amazing but it's just off somehow. I don't know if it needs a little different size or what, but especially on the top half of the book, the font isn't doing it. The coloring and over all layout are phenomenal, though.

Barron Vangor Toth
www.BarronVangorToth.com

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

http://www.arsonal.com/~orbflux/bookcover9.jpg http://www.arsonal.com/~orbflux/bookcover8.jpg

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

http://www3.telus.net/public/dszmata/COVER%206.gif

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

You win.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Just for fun I figured I'd take a shot at this. Came up with a basic design but couldn't decide on a good picture.

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/cover 1.jpg

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/cover 2.jpg

http://www.2and2.net/Uploads/Images/cover 3.jpg

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
Rob's is good, no doubt, but there is something about the font that's getting me ... it's SO close to looking amazing but it's just off somehow. I don't know if it needs a little different size or what, but especially on the top half of the book, the font isn't doing it. The coloring and over all layout are phenomenal, though.

[/ QUOTE ]
Really? I quite like the font. Funny how folks respond differently. But regarding some of these other submissions... I might have to put a brown paper bag on my copy if they win (technique I learned in my dating years).

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

is this a book cover design competition or a cheeziest photoshop effects competition.

seriously this competition is a terrible idea.

my advide to you, being a graphic designer. go hire yourself a real designer. if not even a newish designer that will cost less to save yourself money, as you are mostly obviously doing. you can also find designers who play poker in las vegas, that may be willing to do a work for trade. even going to a local college or university and fing a design class to work on this project with you. with their professor's help they should be able to produce a better quality design.

using artwork from non designers will most likely end up in disaster. a stolen image that you can and will most likely be sued over. an image that is of too low quality to print well (this in my mind includes images from digital cameras set to high resolution). the man hours wasted trying to figure out wrong file formats, files set up in the wrong appications, using wrong color models, files without bleeds. files without the include fonts. etc. etc. etc.

if you are at all serious about trying to produce quality products you will hire yourself a real designer. no offense to the many people who have photoshop and have submitted designs.

products that look like they're low quality will be considered low quality.

i beg of you mason, hire a practicing graphic designer that knows the publication industry, or at the very least, look into the other options i have suggested.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
is this a book cover design competition or a cheeziest photoshop effects competition.

seriously this competition is a terrible idea.

my advide to you, being a graphic designer. go hire yourself a real designer. if not even a newish designer that will cost less to save yourself money, as you are mostly obviously doing. you can also find designers who play poker in las vegas, that may be willing to do a work for trade. even going to a local college or university and fing a design class to work on this project with you. with their professor's help they should be able to produce a better quality design.

using artwork from non designers will most likely end up in disaster. a stolen image that you can and will most likely be sued over. an image that is of too low quality to print well (this in my mind includes images from digital cameras set to high resolution). the man hours wasted trying to figure out wrong file formats, files set up in the wrong appications, using wrong color models, files without bleeds. files without the include fonts. etc. etc. etc.

if you are at all serious about trying to produce quality products you will hire yourself a real designer. no offense to the many people who have photoshop and have submitted designs.

products that look like they're low quality will be considered low quality.

i beg of you mason, hire a practicing graphic designer that knows the publication industry, or at the very least, look into the other options i have suggested.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have you seen their other book covers? No offense - they're endearing, but I don't think how the cover looks is their upmost of concerns.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
Have you seen their other book covers? No offense - they're endearing, but I don't think how the cover looks is their upmost of concerns.

[/ QUOTE ]

so this should prevent them from ever having something that looks good and professional?

they are asking for a redesign. and although their covers in the past have not been the best, most people can identify them as 2+2 books. i'd rather see them do this cover in the same style, then have an entirely different look, that is not done well.

i seriously don't want to offend the people who have submitted designs, and i don't blame you for doing so, cause this was a competition that mason presented with you. i think mason is at fault here, and should hire a graphic designer.

i would never attempt to design someone's house or fix someone's car, cause that is not what i do. sure i may have a kick ass toolset, and have dabbled with my own car and motorcycle, or have built a few things.

and just because i play poker and can easily criticize something about a dealer or floorman, i wouldn't be able to do it right now. cause i'm not a dealer or floorman, and have not had the proper training or education.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

I am no good at designing, but I think the cover must also contain the phrase, "Noted Poker Authority"

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

In amongst the dodgy submissions will be a few that will have been created by 2+2'ers who are graphic designers or sufficiently accomplished amateurs.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
In amongst the dodgy submissions will be a few that will have been greated by 2+2'ers who are graphic designers or sufficiently accomplished amateurs.

[/ QUOTE ]

perhaps, but speaking for myself, and knowing many many other graphic designers. most will not enter a design competition like this. we design for clients who have seeked us out, or have spoken to us in a more detailed meeting. this is not something i believe can be done by just sitting down for an hour and whipping something out with every photoshop trick you have learned.

thought does actually go into design. and a designer's time is as precious as most everyone else's.

i know when i go into a design project i like to know the scope of the project, the client's complete thoughts, the direction, and take these and other things into consideration.

i want my work to be a success, not only designwise, but for the client. it's sad but it's true, most books are judged by their cover. if there's nothing that sets off this book from any other books, i'm guessing most people will pick up Poker for Dummies. The design is crap, but they have brand recognition, huge distribution, and an author that is attached to a published magazine.

No offense to Ed, because i would most definitly read his work over most, but why should a new player pick up his book? they have no idea who he is. i'm not saying that a great cover design will change this, but it can help. a professional looking book will certainly attract people to pick up the book and check it out, before just grabbing whatever poker book they've found on the shelf somewhere.

well, i'm babbling.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

What about a cover with a revolver and some "urban" characters at a table in the middle of a possibly intense situation saying "Beginner rule # 7, NO STRING BETS BIOTCH!!!" -- if I saw it in the store, id at least flip through it.

By the way anyone know what the possible page count will be, about the same as SSH or is it going to be a slim little thing, like the Fundamental books?

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

I need to edit the pic so the background is blank but you get the idea:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v640/jdl22/cover2.jpg

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
well, i'm babbling.

[/ QUOTE ]

But, it's good babbling. And I don't really disagree with anything you are saying. But given the weakness of 2+2 covers in general and the debacle that was the original HoH cover, going the contest route might just open Mason's eyes to the possibilities that are available when using talent people who know their stuff (although after viewing some of the submissions... uh... well...).

Ultimately, yes you are right on point. Do it right with talented, experienced professionals.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Here's my second attempt after hearing some constructive criticism. Let me know if this is better or not.

http://www.playpokergetpaid.com/stuf...dinHoldem2.jpg

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Liked your previous effort much better, in just about every way. The tag at the bottom is done better here though. Stick with the original, and refine it.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

http://www3.telus.net/public/dszmata/COVER%208.gif

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

No, but for a lot of people, the cover sells the book. If someone walked into a store and saw the cover for "Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players", they'd probably laugh and pick up Ken Warren's book. That's the reality. People are ignorant. Especially the newer books like SSH and HOH, people look at them and think a couple of 15 year olds put them together.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

You forgot Nuts and Bolts!!

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

[ QUOTE ]
You forgot Nuts and Bolts!!

[/ QUOTE ]

I suspect he didn't forget...

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Glitch's is the best by far.

2+2 covers generally suck very badly. So hope this works out.

Re: Cover Contest: Getting Started in Hold \'em -- Second Try
 

Time for me to step into this foray. The pic in the middle will probably change as I get my camera back in a bit.

http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pn25/gettingstarted.jpg

(yes, that is a watermark.)