Critique this book cover

[WildRice]

Hello all,
I have been fortunate to get a double book contract with the largest science book publisher in the world (Elsevier/Academic Press) and got to work with my all-time sports hero Greg LeMond, which was a dream come true. The first book is already out and successful, "The Science of Fitness: Power, Performance, and Endurance" which is an affordable paperback for athletes, trainers, and students. I had major input on that cover design and self-illustrated the inside of that book. Now we are working with the publisher to come up with a design for the second book which will be a more expensive textbook for scientists, clinicians, and researchers titled "Mitochondrial Fitness: The Science of Athletic Energy". I drew the background which consists of mitochondria (they make your cell energy) and we can use the photo of Greg being VO2 max tested back in the early 1990's (his VO2 max was one of the highest ever recorded). I like this photo since the athletic testing shows the merging of science and sports. I put it together using Xara PGD9. What do you think about the color, format, proportions, fonts, photo, etc and with Xara I can change any of it. I need to hear from you soon since publishing decisions need to be made. The first book cover "SciFit" is a done deal for now although we could change it for a second edition (we avoided the mitochondrial name and blob image on this fitness book, the rainbow stripes represent LeMond's world championship wins). I mainly need input on the second book, "MitoFit", the blank area at the bottom is reserved for logos of the publisher and an endorser (UMDF.org).



I was recently on local TV about the first book:
http://wtvr.com/2015/02/05/dr-mark-h...nce-endurance/

Thanks for your help.

[gwpriester]

I'm a little confused here but I am assuming the purple book is the second book?

You don't need the bevel on the photo or the drop shadows on the text.

I wonder if the photo would integrate better with the background image if it blended into the image (linear transparency) and/or if it we a contone (two color) image instead of color.

The photo and the background image right now compete for attention.

Simplify the cover and go for impact.

[handrawn]

a book for specialist in the field.. ok

mitochondria are not actually that shape in reality see here, but I appreciate you are using the normal microscopic 'slide-section view' - I would be a lot happier if you did this showing the mitochondria within the cell background, rather than just the thing itself; and I think you need only one, somehow blended with the photgraph [as Gary indicated]

I also agree the photo bevel is distraction; probably the drop shadows too

This is all said from the point of aesthetics [mine]; a cytologist of any sort I am not

[WildRice]

Here it is with faded photo edges. The drop shadows on the text helps keep it sharp and legible when reduced to thumbnail size when listed on online book lists. I tried it without the text shadows and some of the letters are lost on the white background.

[gwpriester]

That's much better. I would like to see the photo larger so it really dominates and to see a bit more of the bike so at a glance I can see what is going on.

[WildRice]

This is about as large as I can go with the photo because the bottom corner is reserved for publisher/endorser logos. I agree that with more of the bike shwoing, Greg is no longer floating in space.

[gwpriester]

Better.

[mwenz]

I would also deal with the font used.

While the tech/sci-fi feel of the typeface is likely OK for the title, and perhaps the subtitle--though I might see what italicizing it is like or slanting it if there is no real italics in that font)--you should try something else for the authors' names.

[pauland]

I wish I had the skill to put up a better offering, but the shadowed text, colour pallet and no clear focus all lead to a confused cover with all of the elements competing for attention.

I'd try and make the cover less busy and make the title most prominent and at least stand clear of the background.

I've had a very poor attempt using your existing cover.

[pauland]

I missed the original comment about the bottom right corner.