When it comes time to give your ebook the best
possible cover treatment, you have many options. There are a variety of software
tools you can buy as well as any number of designers you can contract to design
your cover for you. Your decision whether to do-it-yourself or hire someone to
do it for you is dependent upon both your graphic talent and your budget.
Over
the past two years a third option has appeared on the market and this option incorporates PhotoShop Actions. These actions are like Excel or Word Macros --
they are a preprogrammed set of instructions for PhotoShop, and when executed
they create your final graphic -- be it a software box or ebook cover or CD
cover. To use these tools, you require a copy of PhotoShop and some graphic
skills to create the initial 2D design. Then you run one of these actions to
generate the final high-resolution 3D design complete with shadows and
reflections.
I
recently came across 1ClickCovers, and approached the site with some skepticism
because, frankly, the 3D graphic samples he displays on his site look too damn
good!
What
Max has done is nothing short of amazing. Not only has he created -- what is in
my opinion -- the BEST collection of PhotoShop actions around -- he has also
created videos to show you exactly how he uses them. So you not only get the
tools you need to create the same quality final images, but you also get the
design knowledge directly from the creator himself.
One
of the most intriguing actions -- and unique to Max -- is the gift-wrapped book
or software box. Using a 2D cover I recently designed for a client, I was able
to render this 3D version with the gift wrapping -- in get this -- 1 Click! It
was that easy. Once I had loaded the actions into PhotoShop, I merely selected
the gift wrap version and dragged my 2D image into the template provided. Then
with one click, it produced the above image. I love it.
1ClickCovers is the greatest collection of PhotoShop actions I
have come across yet, and his video instruction is excellent. I learned A LOT
about designing covers as well as a ton about PhotoShop features I have never
used. In no time at all I was creating dynamite looking covers. Here's some
other ebook covers I designed with 1 Click:
With a Drop Shadow
With Reflection
All
in all, I am amazed by the quality of these 3D graphics. I feel like I have
gotten so much value out of this product and the included videos that I am
tempted to shelve the other products I have used over the years and only use 1ClickCovers. To learn more, please click here.
