<DAZ_mattw> Okay, everyone, about time to go moderated!
<DAZ_mattw> We'll be getting started in a minute
<DAZ_mattw> To ask Skyewolf a question, you can send your message to QuestionBot by click QuestionBot on the right hand side. Questions sent to questionbot will be queued up for moderators.
<DAZ_Biggie>DAZ_Biggie straps in for moderation
<DAZ_mattw> Feel free to start asking questions now, even though we have a bit to go before we start.
<DAZ_SSS> To ask a question for Niki, please send a private message to the QuestionBot - click on QuestionBot on the right hand side of your chat window to send the private message, and that will queue it up for a moderator
<DAZ_SSS> http://artzone.daz3d.com/chatlogs/images/skyewolf/cover_design_tutorial.pdf
<DAZ_Biggie> There's a link to Skye's tutorial... Feel free to download and peruse at your leisure
<DAZ_Biggie> While we wait to get started (shortly)
<DAZ_Biggie> http://artzone.daz3d.com/chatlogs/images/skyewolf/cover_design_tutorial.pdf
<DAZ_mattw> Ladies and Gentlemen
<DAZ_mattw> it's time
<DAZ_mattw> It is definitely my great pleasure to introduce our featured chat guest this week
<DAZ_mattw> Partially because I enjoyed making her acquaintance in our normal chat rooms, where she gave us updates about some of her work that is making publication, like her Heavy Metal gig
<DAZ_mattw> her profile is here: http://artzone.daz3d.com/index.php?mode=people_card&p_id=524
<DAZ_mattw> and her work is definitely worth looking at (and gaping at)
<skyewolf_images> skyewolf_images blushes
<skyewolf_images> thank you matt
<DAZ_mattw> Without further ado, I'll turn this over to Jarrod, and we'll see what sort of secrets we can drag out of our guest :D
<DAZ_mattw> and thanks for coming, skyewolf!
<DAZ_Biggie> Hi everyone, and welcome Skye
<DAZ_SSS> To ask a question for Niki, please send a private message to the QuestionBot - click on QuestionBot on the right hand side of your chat window to send the private message, and that will queue it up for a moderator
<skyewolf_images> thanks :)
<d-farrell2> Skye - how did you come into the 3D art world, or art world in general?
<maartenvs> Hello, Skye, can you please let us know how you got started in 3D computer graphics?
<BlackSpartan> So, how did it all get started? What was your motivation?
<DAZ_mattw> To ask Skyewolf a Question, click on QuestionBot on the right hand side, and send your question as a private message, and it will be logged for moderators
<skyewolf_images> Well...I actually started in Web Design
<skyewolf_images> I started out teaching myself HTML
<skyewolf_images> and I had joined an HTML group for help and while there made the acquaintance of another artist who goes by the name of Ashlyn
<skyewolf_images> She happned to work in Poser and Bryce and I asked her how she made her artwork she pointed me to those two programs
<skyewolf_images> see how addictions are born? :)
<skyewolf_images> It was mostly just a hobby for a long time
<skyewolf_images> but I got pushed and prodded and sometimes pulled along by my family
<skyewolf_images> and then in the summer of 2005 I got laid off from my day job and started taking jobs doing book covers for a small press romance company
<MysticBlueRaven> Your covers are fantasic, how does one get started in making book covers? Who is the best one to work for? Is it easy to get started making them?
<skyewolf_images> thank you raven :)
<skyewolf_images> Getting started can be daunting sometimes
<skyewolf_images> especially if you come from a background of office work and data entry like I did.
<mors_d> how did you get started in the cover illustration business?
<Valandar> How did you get into the field of cover art? And have you ever deliberately made a character on a cover resemble someone you know?
<skyewolf_images> I answered a job ad at Renderosity that's how I got my first job
<skyewolf_images> it was for Ellora's Cave publishing .
<skyewolf_images> I think the thing you need to remember when starting out is there's nothing wrong with starting small
<skyewolf_images> the small electronic publishers don't pay a lot but they're good for getting thekind of experience you need to move up
<skyewolf_images> Once I realized that there were companies like that all over the internet I started sending out query emails to publishers asking if they were looking for cover artists
<skyewolf_images> I was sending 10 or 12 queries a week
<skyewolf_images> and getting maybe 2 responses back
<skyewolf_images> some companies didn't respond to my queries for months
<skyewolf_images> And no, I
<skyewolf_images> ve never done a cover to resemble someone I know
<skyewolf_images> not on purpose anyway ;)
<Risika75> Do you find it hard to create cover images based on someone else's vision/idea?
<Risika75> When you are working on a cover, and run into artistic block what do you do to get over it?
<Risika75> How much of the final cover image is from your imagination and how much is based on what the author wants?
<DAZ_mattw> To ask Skyewolf a Question, click on QuestionBot on the right hand side, and send your question as a private message, and it will be logged for moderators
<skyewolf_images> It can be difficult sometimes depending on how strict the author is in their vision
<DAZ_Biggie> Please try not to private message Skye... :) She loves you all, just can't get back to your Private messages right now... lol
<skyewolf_images> If I've been given enough creative leeway then I don't usually find it difficult. When the author wants everything down to the smallest detail done in a certain manner it tends to become difficult
<DAZ_Biggie> DAZ_Biggie hands Skye a cool libation
<skyewolf_images> As far as artistic block goes sometimes if I go off and work on a different cover in a different genre it'll help
<skyewolf_images> other times I need to remember that I can't work *all* the time and need to go remind myself what the sun looks like :)
<skyewolf_images> When the author submits a clear vision of what they want with enough creative wiggle room for me to move in, I'd say it's a good 50 / 50 blending of the author's vision and my imagination
<skyewolf_images> And I think that more often than not that's what makes the best covers
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> that would be one of those good 50/50 blendings
<rhidragon> Hi Skye, what programs do you use to create your artwork?
<idiot_sphinx> I see that you work with Poser , do you work with DAZ Studio as well?
<rubbermonk> Niki, just looked over your tutuorial. Do you create the covers entirely in Photoshop?
<skyewolf_images> I use primarily Poser, Vue and Photoshop to create my covers
<skyewolf_images> I have D|S and have used it once in a while but I tend to go with what I am most familiar with
<wolfstarcreations> do you do alot of postwork on your images
<skyewolf_images> it's hard to get things out on deadline while learning a new program :)
<skyewolf_images> As far as postwork goes it depends
<skyewolf_images> there are covers I've done with almost no postwork at all
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> and there are others that have extensive postwork
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> that last one is a small piece of a larger cover that I don't seem to have in my gallery (oops)
<ghostangel> how many hours of work go into the average book cover?
<DAZ_SSS> To ask a question for Niki, please send a private message to the QuestionBot - click on QuestionBot on the right hand side of your chat window to send the private message, and that will queue it up for a moderator
<skyewolf_images> There's two types of covers there are the small 9x 6 "front" covers that I do for the smaller electronic releas companies...those average about 3 or 4 hours total
<skyewolf_images> The other covers are the ones I do for Mundania and those are full wrap covers, paperback or dust jacket, for print on average those run me about 12 hours of work...a little more if they require postwork
<skyewolf_images> I wanted to talk about one of the more important parts of designing a good cover. The text you use for the titling.
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> The font choices you make for your title will convey the entire mood and theme of the book at a glance so it's important to choose wisely. Font can make the difference between telling potential readers that the book is a horror
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> or a romance
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> or science fiction
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> Remember, the cover is the first thing people see and they really do judge a book by it's cover.
<skyewolf_images> Now you have your font choice made and you add in your title. Uh oh. The artwork is full of contrast. You can only read half the title.
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> OK, perhaps the above image is a little extreme. :) However, the perfect font won't do you any good if no one can read it. So how do we fix it? There's a lot of simple ways to fix readability. Photoshop has a number of layer styles available that will usually do the trick quite nicely. (Just double click your text layer in the layers pallet to get the dialog in the next screenshot)
<skyewolf_images> http://www.skyewolfimages.com/chat/layer_styles.jpg
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> Play with them all, see what they do, see what different combinations do. Layer styles are easy to get rid of if you don't like them (Right click the layer and select “clear layer style”). I'll show you some of the different styles and style combinations I use on covers to make titles more readable.
<skyewolf_images> One of the easiest to use is Outer Glow...need a dark glow on light background? Set the blend mode to multiply:
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> Light glow on dark background? Set the blend mode to screen:
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> Inner glow works much the same way except the glow comes from inside the text instead of from around it
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> Inner glow works best on thick, blocky ragged fonts
<skyewolf_images> Drop shadow will also allow your text to stand out from the background. This one works especially well if the main colors of your cover or font are rather neutral and there is no good contrasting colo
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> I've found that combinations of layer styles can be used to good effect as well. In this next one I've duplicated the font layer and applied an outer glow to the bottom layer and drop shadow to the top one
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> And the last example is Stroke which tends to work well if you want your font to be the same color (or close to it) as your background.
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> as you can see from the small sample on Stroke, sometimes the width of the stroke will need to be wider for smaller text
<skyewolf_images> This is a small piece of the full tutorial on cover design that was linked to at the beginning of the chat
<Steviet65> Do you ever read "some" of the book for inspiration, or do you rely only on what is written in a request?
<TheAlex> Do you read the book before designing the cover ?
<DAZ_SSS> To ask a question for Niki, please send a private message to the QuestionBot - click on QuestionBot on the right hand side of your chat window to send the private message, and that will queue it up for a moderator
<Glasswren> Hi, Niki. Do you read all the books you make covers for? And do you get a free copy of each?
<mors_d> are you a fontaholic?
<skyewolf_images> I don't usually have the book before I do the cover. Most of the information I get, I get form the author in the form of a (hopefully) highly detailed cover request
<skyewolf_images> There are exceptions though
<skyewolf_images> Mundania tends to do reprints of out of print books and recently I needed to do a cover for Piers Anthony's book OX. For that I did skim the book for a particular scene to use on the cover since I wanted to do something different thatn the first two printings depicted
<skyewolf_images> It's in my contract that I get one free copy of each edition I do a cover for...so if a book is released in both paperback and hardcover I get one of each...my bookshelves need to be expanded LOL
<skyewolf_images> and yes I confess to being a fontaholic :)
<skyewolf_images> the more the better to convey the correct theme and mood :D
<TheAlex> How do you personaly know when a project is done ?
<Naunet> do you have a favorite project?
<skyewolf_images> That's a hard question :)
<skyewolf_images> both of them
<brady228> Which of your pics do you consider your favorite and why?
<skyewolf_images> Because I do this for a living there has to be a happy medium between artwork i'm happy with and cost effectiveness
<skyewolf_images> Essentially though, if I can look at a cover and think "The author is going to love this" then that's where I need to stop
<DAZ_SSS> To ask a question for Niki, please send a private message to the QuestionBot - click on QuestionBot on the right hand side of your chat window to send the private message, and that will queue it up for a moderator
<skyewolf_images> I've had covers where the author's vision just *didn't * work
<skyewolf_images> I tried and tried and tried for days until I finally just took the plunge and did what *I* thought would look good
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> and it turns out the author liked it more than his original vision
<skyewolf_images> sometimes you need to go with your gut :)
<DAZ_mattw> To ask Skyewolf a Question, click on QuestionBot on the right hand side, and send your question as a private message, and it will be logged for moderators
<skyewolf_images> Favorite pieces is a hard question for me...it's like asking me which of my kids I like better LOL
<skyewolf_images> I think, if I had to choose it would have to be Aquamancer
<DAZ_Biggie> Which of your kids do you like the best? ;)
<skyewolf_images> 
<skyewolf_images> LOL whichever one is asking me at the time ;)
<skyewolf_images> Aquamancer just happened to come together really well
<skyewolf_images> I had to do it 3 times though
<skyewolf_images> the original, once because vue corrupted the file and again because my external hard drive died on me and I lost it
<skyewolf_images> makes it memorable LOL
<BMW330> How did you manage to get published by Heavy Metal?
<BMW330> just wanted to say anyone that does Heavy Metal covers is great - I've been collecting them since the 70's.
<skyewolf_images> I had gotten accepted to do a show at a brick & mortar gallery in Chicago called Echo Gallery as part of the ASFA (Association of Sci Fi & Fantasy Artists) Sci Fi Fantasy and Fetish show
<skyewolf_images> One of the gallery owners was friends with Kevin Eastman and we became friendly through email and she told me to keep up with the goings on on the Heavy Metal website
<skyewolf_images> I found the submission guidelines and thought that maybe Awaken would fit well
<skyewolf_images> I tend to pick up a copy of heavy metal whenver I see it on the shelf so I'm aware of the kind of artwork that fits with their style
<brady228> I just want to say Aguamancer looks outstanding there!
<skyewolf_images> I followed the guidelines and sent them a hard copy submission
<skyewolf_images> they state in the guidelines that it takes up to 6 months to hear back
<skyewolf_images> (thank you brady)
<skyewolf_images> after 8 months went by I had pretty much written it off
<skyewolf_images> I know that unsolicited submissions tend to wind up in the trash more often than not
<skyewolf_images> Imagine my surprise to get an email from Debby Yanover the managing editor almost a year and a half later
<skyewolf_images> saying "if I was interested" they'd like to use it in their featured artist spot
<skyewolf_images> "if I was interested"
<skyewolf_images> I almost fell out of my chair
<DAZ_Biggie> Speaking of Heavy Metal, Niki has been kind enough to provide us with 2 signed copies of the November issue of Heavy Metal, where she is the featured artist. Matt will now randomly select 2 of you who will win one copy of the mag!
<DAZ_mattw> our winners are...
<DAZ_mattw> joblack250 and virtualtiger!
<DAZ_mattw> congratulations!
<skyewolf_images> congratulations!
<DAZ_Biggie> ...and last but not least, Niki also arranged for us to have two $25 gift certificates to Mundania.com. Matt, who are the lucky winners of those?
<DAZ_mattw> rhidragon and... uh... me! (no, not really, but I want one!)
<DAZ_mattw> rhidragon and Btara Ktahn!
<DAZ_Biggie> Congratulations!
<Noltar> What would you say has been most influential with regard to the type of art you create?
<Valandar> How can you be so amazingly productive and still find time to hang out with us in the Artzone Chat every day? :D
<skyewolf_images> well the secret is I don't really pay as much attention to you as you think ;)
<skyewolf_images> influential....
<skyewolf_images> I grew up reading Sci Fi and Fantasy
<skyewolf_images> authors like Piers Anthony and Anne McCaffrey...Raymond Fiest and David Eddings
<skyewolf_images> Then I met my husband and he introduced me to comic books LOL
<skyewolf_images> I've been surrounded by art most of my life, my father was a sketch artist
<skyewolf_images> I tried when I was younger to be a writer
<skyewolf_images> I spent a long time searching for my creative outlet
<skyewolf_images> I've always admired artists such as Royo and Brom, the Brothers Hildebrandt and Boris, Dorian Cleavenger...
<skyewolf_images> I think that when you take al of these things into consideration, it's not really any wonder that I like to do fantasy art
<skyewolf_images> It's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember
<DAZ_mattw> That sad time fo the featured chat has come.
<DAZ_mattw> The time when we must say goodbye.
<DAZ_Biggie> Excellent job, Skye, thanks for coming today!
<skyewolf_images> why do I hear the end ot the mickey mouse club theme in my head?
<DAZ_mattw> The good news is that Skyewolf isn't an outsider who came in to chat, she's an insider with a friends list so long it could crash the server.
<DAZ_mattw> So we can still see her around. :)
<skyewolf_images> yeah I'm not really going anywhere :)
<DAZ_Biggie> sky...
<DAZ_mattw> Everyone, thanks for being here.
<DAZ_Biggie> ewo...
<skyewolf_images> LOL
<DAZ_mattw> moderation is off.
<FrederickRM> Thanks Skye!
<brady228> Thanks skyewolf for a most enjoyable chat here!
<rubbermonk> *E*
* rubbermonk runs through chat bare but nekkid
<JBonnette> Thanks for the chat, Niki!
<gotchan> You give good chat, Skye.
<katibabi> thanks Skye
<BlackSpartan> Thanks, Skye :D
<LeChatDesigns> Great chat, thanks so much, Skye and DAZ!
<manikus> Thanks, NIki. This was a great chat session.
<virtualtiger> Thank you thank you thank you
<DAZ_Biggie> MONK!
<skyewolf_images> Thanks monk LOL
<bernards> Very nice chat, thanks.
<Risika75> Thanks for a great chat Skye :) *hugs*
<fullquiver> Thanks for your time. this was great.
<d-farrell2> *E* * d-farrell2 smacks monk with a towel
<Kuanbyr> Thanks Skyewolf
<ImmortalImaging> Thank You Skye :) ~hugs~
<johnreilly> thanks Nikki :)
<Gflady> Yeah skye!!! *huggles*
<skyewolf_images> hey Risi was supposed to do that!
<TheAlex> S-K-Yyyyyy........W-O-L-Fffffffff..........
<Spookeriffic> *E* * Spookeriffic applauds Skye :D
<Skip Dahlgren> excellent chat
<Tookie> Thanks Nikki
<rubbermonk> Great Chat Skye
<Risika75> lmao @ monk
<d-farrell2> thanks skye! I look forward to being ignored by you in the chat :P
<ghostangel> are ya nervous yet Skye?
<maars_girl> Thanks for the very informal chat nikki
<Revelation_23> Thanks for the chat. Given me a few ideas for my own projects. Maybe one day, I'll get to do this stuff too. I hope.
<Sarsa> Great chat Skye! Glad I could make this one!
<Vilian> Thank you ! It was great chat :)
<Faerie Fanatic> Thanks Skye, enjoyed the chat!
<MysticBlueRaven> thank you so much Skye
<westonmi> thanks skye!! wonderful chat!
<ghostangel> And whaddya mean you ignore us ?!?
<DAZ_Biggie> *E* * DAZ_Biggie hands MONK! his clothes (put those back on...)
<skyewolf_images> no ghost but thank for thinking of me ;)
<FrederickRM> Skye - Who's your favorite POSER model vendor? ;-)
<BlackSpartan> Note to self: Send Skye a book or two
<Btara Ktahn> say Aiko Toon!
<skyewolf_images> I don't play favorites ;)
<d-farrell2> thanks skye for taking time out and chatting with us all :D
<FrederickRM> Good for you
<maartenvs> thanks Sky it was a good one
<Dranem> Now there's a loaded question... ;)
<ghostangel> Your cover shot of the knight for Crusader reminds me - I finally got that print hung on my wall!
<Valandar> *E* * Valandar DIVE-BOUNCEPOUNCETICKLETACKLECENSOREDHUGGLESNUGGLECUDDLENUZZLES Skye!!!!
<JZArtist3D> Cool chat! C-ya
<shadowfire87> bye
<ringbearer> Thank you Skyewolf.
<FrederickRM> Have you tried AprilYSH new hair yet? It's OUTSTANDING!!
<blas_02> You all right, I like you, what's your name?
<johnreilly> Thanks Nikki
<Cimerone> One must wonder how long Vals been holding that in since he couldnt talk in here before lol
<blas_02> thanx for the info, well worth reading
<ladydawg> lol Cimerone
<wyrdwing> that censored part puzzled and scared me XD
<mors_d> I think the [CENSORED] gives us a clue o_O
<tepisquintla> Skye, I missed the tutorial link, 'cuz I was in the wrong room until Risi posted the right link, will it be on the transcript? Enjoyed your work!!!
<DAZ_Biggie> *E* * DAZ_Biggie waves, bows, falls off-stage
<xavierpayne> thanks skye
<skyewolf_images> hey xav, thought you were on vacation :)
<rhidragon> thanks for an interesting chat skye
<Byrdie> Thanks, skye. :runs off to read tutorial and play w/Photoshop:
<azoohouse> Thanks for the tut link, bye for now
<johnreilly> Thank you Sky, the best chat I've ever attended
<DAZ_mattw> By the way, remember that the chat is logged and the logs will be available on the featured chat page soon, if you missed any of it
<johnreilly> Night all
<TheAlex> http://artzone.daz3d.com/chatlogs/images/skyewolf/cover_design_tutorial.pdf
<BMW330> Sky, I had sent you a message awhile back about using SkinVue in Vue to get more realistic skin tones did you ever get it?
<Btara Ktahn> Eliza-Beth's here! yay!
<Valandar> Is THIS part logged, too? Or just the official part?
<Eliza-Beth> Too late I see, teach me to fall asleep at 1 am ;)
<Btara Ktahn> whichever part is most embarrassing to you is the part that's logged :o)
<skyewolf_images> BMW I think I did actually :)
<grimmshaw> This is the offical after PARTy
<ladydawg> Okay Cim Just accepted you on it.
<skyewolf_images> Val embarassed? Never
<skyewolf_images> ;)
<ladydawg> Oops my pen erased the private message code. dangit
<skyewolf_images> hiya grimmy :D
<AutumnFantasy> Sky do you use a tablet in your post work?
<Cimerone> lol
<skyewolf_images> AF, yes I do
<AutumnFantasy> What size?
<skyewolf_images> Intuos3 9 x12
<BMW330> Sky, Just wanted to make sure it got to you I've had some pretty good success with it. one example is in my gallery.
<blas_02> Awesome work. Do you also paint, er...2d stuff? You must have had some experience or training b4 going digital?
<AutumnFantasy> I'm finally getting one for Christmas.
<ladydawg> If she doesn't, I'll be the first person at her door askeing her how she does it.
<skyewolf_images> I'll have to take a look at it bmw
<AutumnFantasy> I think I am getting a 4x somethin....
<skyewolf_images> blas, nope
<skyewolf_images> I do some pencil sketching but that's about it
<blas_02> ah, yes from your father
<BMW330> ok thanks sky and later to all
<blas_02> thanks for your time Skye
<tepisquintla> TheAlex, thanks!
<Elsina> Thank you, also for the tutorial
<skyewolf_images> welcome :)
<AutumnFantasy> Thanks Skye. I got some house cleaning and game play to do.
<blas_02> I'm gonna go check the stands for the new Heavy Metal just because your in it
<bedlamsbard> hi skye
<skyewolf_images> blas, look quick, it's the november issue and they're almost ready to take them off the stands
<blas_02> adios, chula
<Splurt> thanks skye
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