Here is an enlarged version of Debora Geary‘s cover for A Modern Witch. Debora designed this cover herself. Let’s take a look at the elements within her image and examine what they are doing to make this a successful cover.
The most striking aspect of her cover image is the silhouette of the young dancer. It immediately catches your eye. That’s the goal of every cover. Once a book cover has captured your attention, it invites you to consider the message contained in the image. Ideally, the viewer will find the message captivating and will want to learn more.
What is a silhouette?
The dictionary defines a silhouette as: “The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background, esp. in dim light.” The key thing is the separation between light and dark. You need to have two contrasting values to create a silhouette.
The silhouette, in Debora’s cover, is created by the dark value (the unbroken form of the dancing young lady) against a light value (the full moon). The resulting contrast is what attracts your eye to that portion of the image.
Why is the silhouette so important?
The silhouette is the best way to ensure that your image is readable. A strongly defined form allows the viewer to quickly evaluate the image and determine where they should be looking. It allows the viewer to look at an image and quickly determine what the subject matter and to understand the underlying message. The most effective way to achieve that level of readability is through the use of a strong silhouette.
Another thing that Debora did correctly when creating her cover is that she kept things simple. When you look at the image on her cover, there is no doubt what the focal point should be.
IMPORTANT: Every item you add to your cover image should re-enforce your focal point.
If the extraneous items are not leading the viewers eye to that focal point, then they should be removed. When Debora chose to limit the amount of material on her cover, she limited the number of possible focal points for the viewer.
Understanding the concept of silhouettes isn’t difficult, but it is vitally important. Our brains are wired in such a way that the instant we look at an image, we start to try to figure out what is the most important aspect of this picture. Where should I be looking? A strong silhouette is one of the most effective ways to establish the priority of that specific element and its place among the surrounding background elements.
Things to know:
- Silhouette is created by a light form over a dark form (or reverse).
- Limit the number of silhouettes in your image to ensure that you have only one focal point.
In case you missed the introduction, it’s located here: Introduction