talkmagic.co.uk

You know the only thing I don't like about my RRTCM revised edition, is the cover. So about 10 mins ago I fired up photoshop secure in the knowledge that I couldn't do any worse than the publisher already has. I decided to go for a snake oil salesman theme, what do you reckon?

Excellent work there Mr Eldritch.

I see Man-at-Arms must be struggling to find work these days.

I decided to go for a snake oil salesman theme, what do you reckon?

I think it's horrible!

Sorry!

http://www.kimrichter.com/Blog/uploaded ... 794216.jpg

I can't see much wrong with the originals. A man with a hat/wand/card is everything which the book is NOT about... and a snakeoil theme? Yuk!

The whole idea behind the book is that the teachings inside make you a skilled cardician, not a fraudster.

Back to the drawing board! No offense (although I am sure you'll take some)... but even a 'plain vanilla' cover would be nicer. Nice try, though. You've shown a modicum of technical knowledge of a just-under £1000 computer application—but nothing in terms of knowledge of the book.

(Is this not a case of 'give someone professional software and all of a sudden they're a designer'? Textbook example )

If you want to explore the phrase "Snakeoil Salesman", look at "IT specialist" or "PC Doctor"

Well Seige I think viewed in it's context it's fine.

He's not exactly approaching the publisher with this. If he were, then your response is very appropriate. But he's not. He's just having a play around.
It's a nice effort; he's stuck to two appropriate colours, there is a card back theme with the border and the image of the salesman is really only innapropriate to those learned in the art.

If only some of my students could show a modicum of technical knowledge of any computer application, I'd be very happy.

I'm still standing by my Man-at-Arms observation however.

Agreed.

Like I said, no offense meant. We were asked for an opinion, and that was mine!

No offence taken, it was just a rough draft of an idea with the 'aged paper' layer taken out because it looked weird when I scaled it down for the forum. As for the snake oil theme - I guess it sends out the wrong signals but I might go with it anyway, I like the aesthetic.
I've seen various editions of RRTCM with perfectly fine covers but mine has a horrible blue one with a nasty font, it reminds me of those "NLP your way to the top of the business food chain" books.
Anyway, this is nothing serious - I'm just toying with some ideas for a custom cover. Maybe I should base it on a bicycle card back instead.

Oh I also sccept that I'm not particularly skilled with PS, I'm used to working with an extra dimension in maya.

Mine is FOUL
bright orange cover YUK

Palmer Eldritch wrote:Oh I also sccept that I'm not particularly skilled with PS, I'm used to working with an extra dimension in maya.

Hey, I was praising your Photoshop work!

What I meant was, you've shown talent in an expensive software programme—but even that doesn't help the book out.

I'm still all-for a nice plain cover... classy!

steve-h wrote:Mine is FOUL
bright orange cover YUK

Mine to... I thought I got a defective copy.

I like the design (even if it does not fit perfectly with the book) I think you should keep it and use it for something else. Possibly for personal publicity you oily snake you...

I think you should keep it and use it for something else. Possibly for personal publicity you oily snake you...

I'd love to, but I really don't think I could cultivate the necessary handlebar moustache. I'm sure it would be an arduous journey, not to mention considerably itchy; and imagine the cost in wax!

It makes me think though, I'm really not sure what kind of persona I will use for performance, I guess this is something that will develop over time but it's niggling at me already. Anything that makes people think twice about nagging me about how a trick is done would be nice - I had a girl pester me for what felt like an hour the other day, her final offer was £100 for the secret

I guess I could hire a bodyguard for crowd dispersal purposes... Or perhaps a Man at Arms (although I flat out refuse to dress as He-Man).

Oh and Seige, I think you are right - less is more.

I tend to agree with Seige - your cover doesn't really look like an aspirational figure to me!

Also, I would add Management Consultant to the list of snake-oil sales force - and I should know...

As I final picky point, I take it that you really mean an alternative cover? I know that alternate is used as a synonym in the US but it does have a distinct and different meaning. It seems to be creeping into UK usage too, but it drives me mad!