So, the first challenge I gave myself was to come up with the cover. In a lot of ways, designing a cover for a book that isn’t written is putting the cart before the horse, but it’s not like the contents of this book aren’t known. It’s not like it’s a fiction novel and it’d be nice to have a particular scene referenced in the cover art. It’s Ghostbusters!
And frankly, I’m the kind of person that likes stuff like this, as a touchstone while I work on the book. It’s a visual reminder of what I was thinking when I start a project, and later on, even if the final cover changes (and this one will, as there are a few people who’s feedback I will be seeking, and a few elements I will be adding), along the way I can always take a peek when I’m banging my head against the wall.
Since these will come up, I will address them now;
1) Why aren’t I using the logo, either no-ghost or text?
This is an unofficial book. Unofficial reference books can be written, but they are, by definition, unofficial. The fair use of materials inside are one thing, but using a registered trademark on the cover are another. Basically, the book is valid. The use of the logo on the cover is not. So, no logo.
2) Why do you hate Winston?
I don’t. I love Winston. And I tried a lot of different images that included Winston, but none worked as well, visually or thematically, as the one of the three founders huddled in a library. Consider it more like this – that shot represents their first encounter with a real ghost. Not a sponge migrating or something they read about in a book. This is their first tangible case. If I had to pick one scene that illustrates the Ghostbusters perfectly, that’s the shot. The studious Egon scanning, the excited Ray recording and wound up, and Peter, not buying any of it for a second. Perfect.
So, I would have loved to put Winston on the cover, but in the end I’m opting to include him on the back. Don’t worry – he’ll get his fair shake inside.
And now, the WIP cover;
Next task; working out the interior type design, and trying it out on the first article (The Real Ghostbusters Magazine reference.)
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Man, I love what you’re doing here! Thanks for this!
I’d say you’re off to a VERY good start – I love it!
As this is unofficial, you’re quite right, you’re not allowed to use the logo – BUT I don’t believe you’ll be able to use the guys on the cover either!
Copyright laws are a strange thing – cereal:geek gets away with certain things because it’s an analytical magazine that covers many shows – As this is a Ghostbusters-specific book you won’t be able to use stills from the movie…:(
It may be best to contact someone from Sony/Columbia and see what they say!
…and if you ever need me to pimp this, I’m your man!
Didnt Murray have to OK even using his likeness for those new figures? if i remember right it was something of that nature thats why NECA only produced Stay Puft,Slimer,Gozer,and the Terror Dogs those couple years ago…so you may have an issue using stills from the movie like James said…but hopefully not or if there is an issue it gets OK’d by Sony/Columbia…either way lookin good so far
i love the cover and i completely understand with the winston thing, like in the game it didnt feel right that he was on the library level, probably why he doesnt go with you after the first 2 minutes, anyway the cover is cool, but i agree with the others that using pictures of them might be a no no aswell as the logo. Also, i know its only the first draught but i think you should take more time with the lay out, its not quite right with them looking 7 ft tall lol. By the way i have a ghostbusters 2 graphic novel, but its starring the real ghostbusters, if its any use to you let me know
I agree with Joe.
It looks great, but having the bottom part of the picture at the bottom of the cover does make them look really tall.
Maybe put the picture in the middle with a yellow stripe at top and bottom. The top is the title, and the botom is the tagline with the pyramid.
Also, why did you put an asterisk on “biggest”? I don’t thing you have a legal obligation there. Maybe the footnote is on the first page, and gives stat on budget and box office take?
Anyway, cool idea, looking forward to seeing this progress!!
The trick is to get an image created that isn’t explicitly the Ghostbusters, but that everyone would instantly recognize as the Ghostbusters…:)
For instance (and this is just an example) you could incorporate the proton streams in the space above and below – They are SO instantly associated with Ghostbusters – Or have a box illustrated with smoke coming out of the yellow and black striped top (like an Ecto Trap)…
Or maybe even a familiar green hand placed over part of the cover, drooling slime everywhere…
Keep the main body of the cover you already have, because that is working well!
If you can not use the logo/likenesses on the front cover then you cannot use them inside the book?
I love it… but I agree with the stills from the movie… why not design the entire cover like an old ancient book, like yellow center frame… I love what you did there… and in the inside… you can use some kind of old illustrations based on some GB stills, I don´t think you could have problems with that.
Hey great start, I’m really looking forward to this, keep up the great work!
Their upper torso’s aren’t that long!!!
I think the shot of Winston covered in marshmallow goo from the end of GB1 would be a perfect shot for the back where he has his arms outstretched and screams “I love this town! hahaha”. Just my opinion. lol
I’d buy it even if I’d get arrested
i didnt think of this until now because i think print is dead is a brilliant title, but what about making the cover like tobins spirt guide? nobody knows for sure what it looks like so your not breeching anything. You could call the book tobins spirit guide and then have the first chapter as print is dead. Im sure everyone will have their own ideas, but at the end of the day its up to you, we are just here to help lol
I think I very much like this concept so far (regardless of any legal repercussions it might have). Also, I don’t mind the fact that they ‘look tall’; I don’t think they do; the effect is incredibly funny, though. The pyramid thing makes it look really mysterious – kinda like with freemason symbols and all that. What I find especially tantalizing is the tension between the title of the book and the fact that they’re in a library; most notably near the symmetrical book stacking of course. If this doesn’t cause any copyright infringement or whatever, I’d say, keep it exactly as it is. The font is perfect, too! Looks a bit old-ish, but at the same time modern in an old-fashioned kind of way (I’m always this vague…)
Thanks all – don’t worry about the cans and can’ts of the book. That’s for me to consider, weigh, and decide on. There’s lots of time to work out particulars.
Joe, I started with that idea, but there are a number of reasons I didn’t go with it. Tobin’s Spirit Guide is probably the best remembered fake book in the movie, but it’s also been used already for one of the RPG manuals. And there’s another Tobin’s Spirit Guide in the works – and I’m not interested in getting in that was of that piece of awesome.
That just left stuff like Spates Catalog or Leon Zundinger’s Magicians, Martyrs, and Madmen. Both were pretty cool and very in-joke, but there’s in-joke and then there’s waaaaaay too in-joke. And those were way too in-joke. Plus the third edition D&D manuals kind of ruined the tome look forever.
I did look into old book covers that weren’t so much tomes, but definitely more antique, but in the end I went with something that looked more like it was 25 years old, like a well thumbed paperback.
The * will be referenced on the back – it is, as suspected, there to outline what makes Ghostbusters so big, even though these days, a lot of lists don’t consider it the biggest anymore. In a lot of ways, it still is, and not just in popularity.
And it’s hard to tell at this size, but there’s way more of an effect on the pictures that look better at full size. You’ll just have to wait to see it.
Even if the picture has to be changed. I like the centerpiece (schnazzy). It’s more the content of the book that I’m interested in anyway!
It’s always disappointing when fans start on a great idea, and have a polished cover, but the inside is riddled with editing errors. I’d like to see this done well for both the sake of the author (awesome site, spectacular resource) and the material. If you need a proofreader before going to a publisher, I’d volunteer for that. I suggest many proofreaders before going to a publisher. You’d want people you can trust not to spoil the contents for others or scoop you, but people you can trust to critique constructively without fear of hurting your feelings as well. Keep it up! Don’t stop! Even if it’s only a little bit at a time, keep at it! I’ll type that every time you post if it means helping you see this through!
Well, the plan is that you guys will get to see the material, chapter by chapter, so there will be ample opportunity for proofreading.
While you can’t use the “Ghost Design” logo, I doubt there’s anything stopping you from using the circle-and-slash prohibition symbol upon which it’s based. Perhaps have the title laying across the “prohib”, implying without *really* saying. Maybe some smears of green goo, suggesting ectoplasm. I also suggest changing the subtitle to “unofficial guide” (keeps the suits happy) and using a vaguely-similar-looking-but-not-the-actual font on the word Ghostbusters–I use Alliance (the font used on “Law & Order”); similar but the U is definitely different. All on a black background (further invocation of the poster).
The description of the characters and what the scene represents does make it seem perfect to me.
Love it. It truly does encapsulate the Ghostbusters in one image. I’m really digging the stripe in the middle and count me as one who thinks the splitting of the image (giving them long torsos) looks great in an arty way. You’re off to a great start, mate.
And I think this image would work brilliantly for the back cover as it demonstrates Winston’s constant in-over-his-head-ness.
I like the idea of adding “Unofficial” to the title but with a wee catch: throw the prohibition symbol over the “un” prefix. Just a thought.
Great start! I don’t have anything more to say than what has been said but wanted to chime in with my encouragement!
I love it man, every bit, except one. The bottom half. It just feels weird to me since it’s the rest of the movie capture / screen shot, but it’s WAY down there cut off from the top half of the photo. Maybe a different screen capture down below, extend the middle slip with the title to include the authors or editors of the book, or shorten the book height. Just some constructive criticism, but obviously this piece is a work in progress.
Oh, and I’m sure someone else has commented on this, but I’m not certain you can use actual screen captures or actor likenesses on the cover or back cover, can you?