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Posted on 06/10/20 3:41:18 PM |
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JJ
* Posts: 2 Reply |
How are Lee Child's book covers photo-edited?
Hi all. I'd like to do a book cover in the style of one of Lee Child's, as a learning exercise. But I can't tell what has been done to them! Here is an example of one of his covers on Amazon UK (you can see it full-size if you click on it and scroll up): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Make-Me-Jack-Reacher-20/dp/0857502697 Straight photos aren't usually used on mystery covers because that tends to make them look like nonfiction. So something has been done to these covers to take the photographic 'edge' off. And clearly they're composites - usually a background photo plus a figure photo plus a sky/cloud photo. But what else has happened to them? I'd be grateful for any insights! Just reading 'Art & Design in Photoshop' and am blown away by how interesting and useful it is. And was delighted to read about this forum in it! |
Posted on 06/10/20 7:38:50 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 7023 Reply  |
Re: How are Lee Child's book covers photo-edited?
Hi JJ, and welcome to the Forum. There's a couple of ways of producing this sort of effect. The simplest is to make a Gradient Map Adjustment Layer, with the gradient set to black to white. This will give a stark, hard-edged look to the montage. For more control, when you've finished your montage, make a composite copy of the finished document that produces the whole image in a single layer. Then set Desaturate that layer, and change the layer mode to Hard Light. You can use the Shadows/Highlights adjustment on that new layer to reduce the strength of the effect. Hope this works for you. |
Posted on 07/10/20 3:35:28 PM |
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DavidMac
Director of Photoshop Posts: 5663 Reply  |
Re: How are Lee Child's book covers photo-edited?
I never knew that one. Thanks Steve. So much always left to learn ....... _________________ The subtlety and conviction of any Photoshop effect is invariably inversely proportional to the number of knobs on it ....... |
Posted on 08/10/20 9:09:23 PM |
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JJ
* Posts: 2 Reply |
Re: How are Lee Child's book covers photo-edited?
Thanks, Steve. First time I've used 'hard light'! |