Yep, I have an idea what you might be thinking. It could be that zombies don’t fit with Christmas (now there’s an idea). Or it could be that zombies don’t fit with what I usually write. Or something along the lines of wtf?
I’ll go with the last one.
This is me, playing around and experimenting with 3D art, which is really more along the lines of graphic design. I put the “assets” together, change some colours, angles, poses, expressions, angle of eyes, position of lips, cameras, lighting – pretty much everything, and then I render the image.
After that, I open it in Photoshop for post work, play with the contrast, some filters, add smoke, add dust (in this case snow with a low opacity setting), remove the stuff that I missed or couldn’t fix in the render, add some more contrast, remove the contrast, then flatten the image and save it.
Voila!
Kind of.
This is what I do when not writing and editing or running – note to self, I need to run more!
2021 has been about two things for me:
Translations (thanks Françoise and Ewa!)
and Graphic Design (a.k.a. covers)
I’ve always done my own covers (give or take a few paid commissions) and now I’m ready to really do my own covers. I’ve mentioned before that I hope to provide pre-made covers for other indie authors, as well as making my own.
My biggest problem is always going to be “letting go” of each cover, as the story that goes with everything I make is already turning in my head.
Oh well.
We’ll see what happens.
Chris
P.S.
Coming soon (including more artwork) … meaning tomorrow – Advent Sunday!
Your talent with these ‘assets’ is just barreling ahead . . you’re progressing much faster than I did when the studios switched us from pencil and paper to digital drawing boards! But I know that thrill of achievement when you truly get the hang of it. Like me, you’ll probably leave the ‘old ways’ behind, and wonder how you ever survived the struggle! •• Can’t wait to see your first cover with your imagining of Maratse!
Thanks, Dave. Really it’s all about positioning the assets. I never really got the hang of drawing, so using 3D models allows me to work around that. As I’ve mentioned a couple of times though, it’s really just an extended arm of storytelling, and I struggle to imagine ever producing a cover for someone else. I guess that’s why I use pen names! 😉
Say —- seeing those ‘zombie’ images you posted put me in mind of “End of the Line” (I sort of thought that’s where you were headed with the virus’ victims’) but when I went to look at the book again, and admire that pink-handled axe, I couldn’t find it in my KINDLE or iBOOKS libraries!
Was that only available to read for a short while? – I vaguely remember seeing some kind of ‘warning’ saying that.
Ah, I know your pain! I think what has happened is you downloaded the Kickstarter edition that I sent via Bookfunnel. If you happened to have bought End of the Line via Kindle, then, as happens to me, when a newer version comes out, if often downloads with the cover you bought on the original edition, unless the author has enabled an update. Obviously, I need to look into this. However, I can send you the new version again – the one you bought via Kickstarter. Don’t want you going around without a pink axe! 🙂 All joking aside, let me get back to you on that!
Email sent. 😉