Covermakers Chat Thread

Lion24 · Post by **Lion24** » January 8th, 2020, 3:51 pm

oh ok! Will keep that in mind. Thank you

LikeManyWaters · Post by **LikeManyWaters** » January 9th, 2020, 9:02 pm

I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but...
Does anyone know if the plastic jewel case CD cover is used that often by people who listen to LibriVox?
I suppose that's why we offer it, but I'm a little curious. Personally, I haven't used CDs much at all in the last 10 years, and when I did the plastic cases were tossed in the trash the second I got the wrapper off.

When I first started doing covers I downloaded the LV template guides for CD cases and used that and the cool Origami

format for my cover pdf (making a two page file). I was considering just doing an Origami case only from now on & cut down on a little design time. Of course I love doing this anyways...

On the positive side, it might save some server space somewhere.

msfry · Post by **msfry** » January 9th, 2020, 9:26 pm

LikeManyWaters wrote: ↑January 9th, 2020, 9:02 pm I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but...
Does anyone know if the plastic jewel case CD cover is used that often by people who listen to LibriVox?
I suppose that's why we offer it, but I'm a little curious. Personally, I haven't used CDs much at all in the last 10 years, and when I did the plastic cases were tossed in the trash the second I got the wrapper off.

When I first started doing covers I downloaded the LV template guides for CD cases and used that and the cool Origami format for my cover pdf (making a two page file). I was considering just doing an Origami case only from now on & cut down on a little design time. Of course I love doing this anyways... On the positive side, it might save some server space somewhere.

I know people who give CD's to their friends without internet, including myself. I also like to make the CD case artwork because the little thumbnail and the CD art page displays are too small to exhibit the 5" x 5" format we actually design for. Rather than cut down on server space, at the rate we are producing it's about time we purchased considerably more space. I have urged this before, ask for donations and YE SHALL RECEIVE THEM. People love to give. They just need to be asked directly and told how much you need.

Post by **annise** » January 9th, 2020, 11:14 pm

Realistically, as the "covers" are mainly seen on the internet and mp3 players, we do need to bear that in mind when we are designing - a beautiful CD cover can look like a muddy blob as a thumbnail sometimes and it is nice to be able to read the title

I'm sure the actual cd covers have a smaller uptake, but I do know many members who give them to people with failing eyesight so they can use a cd player and some people still don't have mp3 players in their cars - I don't.
But anything that can be used as a CD cover is fine - you only need to choose 1. And it's not all necessary to list the chapters and team members - it's OK if you do and OK if you don't but it is necessary to say who made the cover and it's components and that you are donating any rights you may have to the public domain.

schrm · Post by **schrm** » January 25th, 2020, 4:36 am

msfry wrote: ↑January 24th, 2020, 6:31 pm
annise wrote: ↑January 24th, 2020, 4:17 pm caught .. and linked. Neat idea using the portraits and busts

Anne
Ha ha, I've been to Monticello, 3 times. Jefferson surrounded himself with busts of his heros. It was the first thing that popped into my mind, and when I found his portrait with what could have been fashioned into a shelf and a blank wall behind him, I pounced. Making the busts work was work, but that's what art is. right!

oh michele, it was so worth the effort!
tremendous idea with background knowledge and work...

really a good one!

in general:
there were many covers i liked the last weeks - but i didn't have time to look them up and post here...
i'm feeling sorry for that...

but: please keep up the good work, everyone!
wonderful covers and a good mix of styles were happening the last weeks!

Post by **Availle** » January 25th, 2020, 4:52 am

I agree, a really great cover Michele!

LikeManyWaters · Post by **LikeManyWaters** » January 28th, 2020, 8:56 pm

If a claim is overdue, how long would it be before being available again?

Post by **annise** » January 28th, 2020, 11:10 pm

Being pedantic - they are never overdue because a time has never been set, nothing has ever been clearly stated.
Being practical it would probably be a good idea to have a discussion here to try and collect opinions, bearing in mind that anything automated would probably need to be "wishlist" not "change now.
So what happens now is
The project do not show on the list until the project has been catalogued
If it is preclaimed the name shows and the claims list shows the date catalogued
When the unclaimed ones are claimed the date of the claim shows

so how long should I wait before opening it up?

Anne

schrm · Post by **schrm** » January 29th, 2020, 3:32 am

the color change is for mc's only

i think, it is comparable to bcing a book and some claims are long overdue.
there are several styles, but most bc do ask back and set another timeframe-extension.
but here, mcs are adminstrating the covers..

i honestly don't know, if there should be an automated procedure.

Post by **annise** » January 29th, 2020, 3:56 am

Ok - I never thought about the colours being MC only - I'll edit my post.
What I'm really trying to sound people out about is what they thing is a fair time to wait before opening them up for someone else.

Anne

schrm · Post by **schrm** » January 29th, 2020, 4:00 am

annise wrote: ↑January 29th, 2020, 3:56 am Ok - I never thought about the colours being MC only - I'll edit my post.
What I'm really trying to sound people out about is what they thing is a fair time to wait before opening them up for someone else.

Anne

difficult..
spontaneous a month, second thought 6 weeks, third thought 3 weeks..
that's not of any help, is it?

i will try to find some pro and contry as a more relevant feedback.. in the next days...

msfry · Post by **msfry** » January 29th, 2020, 7:14 am

A time frame is good. It used to be 3 weeks, now it is 2 weeks. Being as I try to listen to a book before I do a cover (or enough of it to get a clear idea of its theme and flavor), a short book is easy within the 2 weeks, or often just a few days, but a long book with 45 or 100 chapters, especially one that jumps around from theme to theme, and no illustrations in the book, it could easily take a month. Then again we don't want LV projects to go around naked any longer than necessary. Thus, my recommendation would be 2 weeks, with the option to ask for an extension of 2 more weeks, or it goes back into the pool. Maybe a PM first asking if an extension is needed.

LikeManyWaters · Post by **LikeManyWaters** » January 29th, 2020, 10:00 am

Thanks. I wasn't sure whether the two week was a deadline, and whether any ever had to be opened up again for reclaiming. Maybe after a month the volunteer could let you know if they are working on it and ask for an extension? 2-3 months would seem like sufficient time for me if I was unfamiliar with a book.

schrm · Post by **schrm** » January 29th, 2020, 2:50 pm

there are several groups and interests here, which need to be balanced.
while two weeks are rather fast for one, for the other it is a rather long time.
1. the readers/bc want a cover, a good one maybe, a cover which meets the book and texts maybe, which advertises - and they want it fast (or don't have any interest into these topics at all)
2. the cover makers and artists, which want to learn about the book and texts, the reading styles, have to do research, look for pictures or even make a cover from scratch. we want to satisfy everyone - a little bit... and we want to be good and make good covers... but we need time for that, soe more some less.
3. the admins who want a system which is easy to maintain and administrate, want good covers, want happy cover artists

(i denied being an artist for some months... but as for now, i do know we make arts projects)
4. the circumstances are aspects, too: there are more cover artists than covers to make. so, this fastens the whole thing up through something like competitive pressure or stress? but we are not in a competition or deadline like in school process...or are we?

are there more interests-groups?
maybe..
also, maybe some interests may differ within the groups..

as a reader, we have two months and i think, most of us do know, that this time can be short, or really long, too.

regarding the covers...at the moment, 14 days were sufficient for me. even more: most times, a weekend is enough for me.
but others make other cover arts..
and i do see the results..

while i honestly think, that "six weeks are too long!" i didn't find any reasons against it, as long as activity is assured, and the artist doesn't vanish in the realms of inactivity... and the mc's found a way of keeping book about the missing covers..

i thought, that 14 days and another 14 days extension time were the normal process until now?
maybe time to ask back: what are your experiences, anne, availle and bart?

Post by **TriciaG** » January 29th, 2020, 4:04 pm

Other uses of the covers:

I use the cover art in the Twitter messages I make announcing each new project. I usually announce a project 2 days after it's cataloged. (If its catalog date is Jan 25, it's tweeted about on Jan 27). If there's no cover art, the Tweet goes out without it.

I think Anne makes the M4B files, and she uses the artwork for those. If there's no cover art, she has to wait to make the M4B.

I am not giving any suggested deadline, however. I'm just stating a couple more ways the covers are used.