I strongly prefer A — the photo depicts the “character” of Gelfand as a kind of wily professor using telepathy to control floating chess pieces. The eye shot is borderline creepy especially to non-chessplayers. I certainly would not be caught with “B” in a public place. It is not even clear who the subject is, what he is looking at, why his alert eyes and raised eyebrows convey a feeling of concern or alarm, and what he does that is significant enough to merit a book.
My first post here – really looking forward to the Gelfand book! Cover A should i.m.o. be reserved for Vol. 2 “Dynamic Piece Coordination” or something similar;-) Thanks for so many fantastic chess books, QC!
I prefer cover B – although I would flip the image so that he looks from left to right. Try it out, it makes a difference. This may very well be the reason why most people seem to prefer cover A. I like cover A a lot and would prefer it for a chess novel but I wouldn´t use it for a serious workbook.
@Vince Nitting patterns are the paths taken by nits among heads of unwashed school children. Recorded by little sensors on all of the headlice, put in place at great time but only minimal cost by lowly paid Glaswegian street children, the routes then mapped, the patterns are beautifully fractal.
@Shurlock Ventriloquist I dare to disagree – as far as chess books go, QC’s cover designs i.m.o. stand out vs. the competition. I’m not saying it can’t be improved further, but just compare the cover design of a typical QC book with the design of e.g. Chess Stars or Everyman books… need I say more? I rather have QC spend their money on really good authors than on really good grpahic artists by the way 🙂
The product speaking for itself is always beneficial on the long run. I respect this strategy immensely. And the world would be a better place if most companies would adopt this attitude.
But regarding the Gelfand book, it’s just a matter of asking Boris for a look at his photo albums and choosing a good picture.
Making decisions takes place in the mind and the eyes are only a small part of the process. In Cover A we see the whole expression of Gelfand and the figures are a symbol for what takes place in his mind.
I prefer Cover A- the picture with him and the floating pieces. The cover photo interests me because I would assume that he has a “connection” (perhaps a magical one) with the pieces and he is going to divulge his secrets!
No flying pieces and I would choose A. B is nice because you recognize a typical Gelfand look and he obviously is thinking deeply without using the chessboard.
My vote goes for the eye shot
Aye for eyes.
I strongly prefer A — the photo depicts the “character” of Gelfand as a kind of wily professor using telepathy to control floating chess pieces. The eye shot is borderline creepy especially to non-chessplayers. I certainly would not be caught with “B” in a public place. It is not even clear who the subject is, what he is looking at, why his alert eyes and raised eyebrows convey a feeling of concern or alarm, and what he does that is significant enough to merit a book.
Well, I strongly prefer Cover B – at least there is a “flying” knight to be seen… 😉
B – but both are a bit bland for my liking.
B clearly
B
A
Cover B is pretty exceptional in my opinion.
My first post here – really looking forward to the Gelfand book!
Cover A should i.m.o. be reserved for Vol. 2 “Dynamic Piece Coordination” or something similar;-)
Thanks for so many fantastic chess books, QC!
I vote for cover B as well.
at first sight B appeals more to me, just saying that it reminds me of Raul Castro…
If the examples are mostly from Boris’s own games, go with A; otherwise, B.
A
A
B
Both are pretty, B for cover and A for back cover!
King’s Gambit and knitting patterns…all the way.
B for sure
I agree B and A for back cover
B
I prefer B. Too much “Harry Potter” in A.
yes. B
Cover B is great.
Cover A is slightly silly.
B, and save A for volume 2
Lowest budget for a book cover ever. Both are terrible.
A
But I will buy this anyway.
A
B ! But I will buy it anyway.
I agree with Katar, A looks better, B looks “borderline creepy” to non-aficionados of chess.
Cover B.
In cover A, it looks like he is a bit baffled as to what to do, and is scratching his head in bewilderment.
In cover B, it looks like his eyes have zeroed in on the correct plan.
@Pac
Both are terrible.
B looks creepy to be honest, in a leery Stalker’s Handbook kind of way.
A a bit odd too. Other choices…?
Both NOT okay,sorry
B
B looks deep – the gaze says a lot : I prefer it.
A
B
What are nitting patterns? A sequence of Monty Python skits perhaps?
I prefer cover B – although I would flip the image so that he looks from left to right. Try it out, it makes a difference. This may very well be the reason why most people seem to prefer cover A. I like cover A a lot and would prefer it for a chess novel but I wouldn´t use it for a serious workbook.
B.
B
@Vince
Nitting patterns are the paths taken by nits among heads of unwashed school children. Recorded by little sensors on all of the headlice, put in place at great time but only minimal cost by lowly paid Glaswegian street children, the routes then mapped, the patterns are beautifully fractal.
The cover of QC books is not their strongest characteristic.
Perhaps its time to hire a really good and creative graphic artist.
My answer would also be “C”.
@Shurlock Ventriloquist
I dare to disagree – as far as chess books go, QC’s cover designs i.m.o. stand out vs. the competition. I’m not saying it can’t be improved further, but just compare the cover design of a typical QC book with the design of e.g. Chess Stars or Everyman books… need I say more? I rather have QC spend their money on really good authors than on really good grpahic artists by the way 🙂
B is cool!
We do not spend a lot of money on covers. We simply don’t have a lot of money…
@Jacob Aagaard
The product speaking for itself is always beneficial on the long run.
I respect this strategy immensely. And the world would be a better place if most companies would adopt this attitude.
But regarding the Gelfand book, it’s just a matter of asking Boris for a look at his photo albums and choosing a good picture.
Alternative B for sure. Excellent picture.
Agree on the Harry Potter comment above for “A”.
A bit funny that the picture of alternative A is called “CoverB” though…
@J.
Letting the product speak for itself is not as much a strategy, as a necessity.
I will bite my tongue and not be impolite about the second part. Obviously we have talked to Boris and Maya about the covers.
A Best! and B sucks
2nd one
A
Making decisions takes place in the mind and the eyes are only a small part of the process.
In Cover A we see the whole expression of Gelfand and the figures are a symbol for what takes place in his mind.
I prefer Cover A- the picture with him and the floating pieces. The cover photo interests me because I would assume that he has a “connection” (perhaps a magical one) with the pieces and he is going to divulge his secrets!
Cover A….
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HHSCT9tBVeY/UccK0l37fqI/AAAAAAAC-NU/F048rfijcT0/s1600/Boris_Gelfand.jpg – Go with this picture!
B for sure, it just looks so Gelfandish!
B is risky to my taste. But I would suggest making something more catchy than A.
Maybe a version of A with Boris levitating all the pieces matrix fashion would fit in well with the positional theme…
Something like this http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20060831032053/matrix/images/8/88/Neo_stops_bullets_2.JPG
I also think that Boris would look good in shades…
I’d prefer a Gelfand-in-action picture like http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2012/05/Russia-World-Chess-Ch_Horo.jpg
I don’t like the dreaminess of photo A, and the floating pieces are imho ridiculous.
B is OK, but the way his eyes reflect in the glasses is maybe not ideal?
a for front cover,
b for back cover
There’s a difference: This isn’t a biography or a best game collection, it’s an instructional book.
B looks perfect!
B! A is too boring
No flying pieces and I would choose A.
B is nice because you recognize a typical Gelfand look and he obviously is thinking deeply without using the chessboard.
I like A without the flying pieces.
Is it possible to buy it preorder?
Really looking forward buying his book.
Go for neither – try and find a better picture of the guy ! 😀
B better 🙂