Design a Book Cover ( with a Flying Shark Airship)

  • Status: Closed
  • Prize: $79
  • Entries Received: 21
  • Winner: Genkat

Contest Brief

EDIT: PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION FULLY; required image is something unique.

Hello, I'm about to publish a book set in a post-apocalyptic future, where the protagonists are the crew of an armed transport airship who fly around the world doing jobs.

I need a good cover; doesn't necessarily have to be 3D but needs to represent the ship in my vision pretty well. Here is an excerpt from my book, describing the ship:

"Sol looked at the ship as he descended. One of the few remaining hybrids in existence, it was surprisingly fast and agile for its size. A hundred and seventy-seven meters long, shaped almost exactly like a shark, with the "teeth" being the windows of the bridge and a small corridor that led to the middle of the shark's underbelly - where was attached a long, rounded-rectangle box-like structure: crew quarters, living quarters, cargo bay and every other thing except for the engine room, which was further back. The two engines were housed inside the fins on either side, powerful beasts that could achieve lift by themselves through speed if they had to. The back ended in a shark-like tail and a proportionally gargantuan-sized dorsal fin protruded above the structure.

On a normal day she would have stood out against the sky like the giant flying shark that she was, but today, his beautiful ship was blending in perfectly with the night sky thanks to its grey color; the Unbound was unseen."

For a reference, watch this video of the shark blimp toy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSkvW2uO0DI

It should be similar to that, but as mentioned above, the teeth should be an area that houses the bridge/cockpit of the airship, from which runs a corridor to the underbelly, where is the main space (similar to normal airships) and the corridor continues to another smaller area which leads off to either side to the engines for the mechanics to work in. There should be some guns sticking out of the fins or the gondola: One cannon (similar to the BOFORS or something) and two machineguns like the M2 Browning (https://goo.gl/EdLZJi). The color should be grey to blend in with both the day and night skies, and there should be the name, "UNBOUND", written in whatever stylized way you can come up with on the ship.

NOTE: The engines are housed INSIDE the FINS, which should start out thick, and then TAPER towards the end.

This is only the FIRST of two different book series that I am working on so the winner can expect lot of work in the future.

If you have questions ask away and I will be happy to clarify. If you want to post rough sketches first to ask for my opinion before going into detail that is fine as well, but the finished product must be delivered before the deadline.

Book Title: Black Horizons
Author's Name: Sahith S. Tiger

Add this logo somewhere without obstructing the artwork:
http://image.ibb.co/c4Q6h6/ficfun.png

EDIT 1:
Forgot to add, winner will be given FULL CREDIT as the cover artist in the book (same for any subsequent covers that I commission from you).

EDIT 2:
Standard aspect ratio for Ebook covers is 1.6:1 (Height:Width); standard resolution is 2,560 x 1,600 (also Height:Width). I thought everybody knew this but it seems that isn't the case and I'm seeing entries that don't follow this convention; I won't be able to use those, so kindly remember that I need the cover in this format.

To see the anatomy of a rigid airship (the Unbound is technically a hybrid, but it follows a Rigid's shape pattern) see this image:
http://image.ibb.co/fsLFum/hpm_0000_0003_0_img0007.jpg

EDIT 3:
It would seem a lot of people also missed the update about the guns, so once again: The ship has three guns: One cannon (similar to the BOFORS or something) and two machineguns like the M2 Browning (https://goo.gl/EdLZJi)

Also check the first 3 messages by me on the Entries' clarification board.

Looking forward to seeing your ideas!

Recommended Skills

Winner
Featured Contest
Post a Contest Like This

Employer Feedback

“Easy to work with and delivered exactly the kind of design I'd envisioned. Will hire again.”

Profile image GwiseTiger, India.

Top entries from this contest

View More Entries

Public Clarification Board

  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    CONTEST RESULTS:

    1ST PLACE - #42 by Genonalkat M.
    2ND PLACE - #25 by Mohammed S. ($30)

    RUNNERS UP -
    #37 by Neetikasha ($15)
    #20 by Gerald H. ($15)

    DESIGN PURCHASE:
    #43 by Mkuu Wa U. ($15)

    I am rewarding the runners-up because their efforts in the earlier entries and the discussion surrounding them helped bring the vision to life. I am also buying #43 because that design can perhaps be used for one of the airships that the UNBOUND encounters during the story, maybe for one of the sequels.

    All winners please adjust your entry prices accordingly to accept. Since you guys have multiple entries be sure to change the price of the correct one that I have mentioned above; I will need your files (PS/AI/Whatever) during handover (WITHOUT any of the Titles and lettering) in case any element from your design can be used later on.

    Thank you all for your stellar efforts; I will have more contests coming up in the future and all are welcome to participate.

    • 6 years ago
  • MkuuWaUendeshaji
    MkuuWaUendeshaji
    • 6 years ago

    PLEASE RATE ENTRY #40 . OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND ANY POSSIBLE CHANGES.

    • 6 years ago
  • YKNB
    YKNB
    • 6 years ago

    I am making an entry, please wait for it :)
    Don't choose before deadline thx

    • 6 years ago
  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    #extended #prizeincreased

    • 6 years ago
  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    #25 by Mohammed is the design you should be going for. Especially the bridge in the jaw and the corridor running along the underbelly. Since I am buying his entry as runner-up all of you are welcome to use elements from that design in your work and Mohammed has agreed to this.

    Here are the final list of modifications I need from that:
    http://image.ibb.co/mydAem/Ebook_01_Copy.jpg

    We're almost there and all of you have three and a half days left, so everyone take your time to get it right. If you have questions of course ask away and I can clarify.

    • 6 years ago
  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    - ATTENTION!!!! -

    #22 by Mohammed S has brought the concept closer yet to the way I envisioned it. He's also the first one to put the engines on the fins so far. Getting rid of the cartoonish appearance is proving troublesome though, so I will be giving him RUNNER-UP (2nd) place in the contest. In return, he has agreed to make his design available to ALL OF YOU; so you can borrow any elements from that appearance if you need - if you do so and win the contest, you will both be given credit as cover artist.

    Mohammed is making some modifications that I suggested, so WAIT FOR HIS NEXT ENTRY; then incorporate the design (or whatever elements you wish to borrow from it) into your cover before submitting your next entry.

    • 6 years ago
  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    What I like in entries so far (use this info to understand what I'm looking for)

    #9 by neetikasha has gotten a good predatorish appearance of a shark
    #11 by Genonalkat M. was the first to submit an entry where the bridge was housed inside the jaw.
    #14 by Mohamed S. also housed the bridge behind the TEETH with the jaw closed - this is the kind of thing I was thinking of - AND he nailed the corridor that has to run along the underbelly to the gondola from the bridge.
    #20 by Gerald H. is the closest resemblance to the image in my mind so far.

    Will post updates here about any other entries that I like.

    • 6 years ago
  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    READ THIS MESSAGE BEFORE MAKING REVISIONS!!!!!
    (Also see updated project description)

    Standard aspect ratio for Ebook covers is 1.6:1 (Height:Width); standard resolution is 2,560 x 1,600 (also Height:Width). I thought everybody knew this but it seems that isn't the case and I'm seeing entries that don't follow this convention; I won't be able to use those, so kindly remember that I need the cover in this format.

    To see the anatomy of a rigid airship (the Unbound is technically a hybrid, but it follows a Rigid's shape pattern) see this image:
    http://image.ibb.co/fsLFum/hpm_0000_0003_0_img0007.jpg

    It would seem a lot of people also missed the update about the guns: "There should be some guns sticking out of the fins or the gondola: One cannon (similar to the BOFORS or something) and two machineguns like the M2 Browning (https://goo.gl/EdLZJi)"

    CONT'D....

    • 6 years ago
    1. GwiseTiger
      Contest Holder
      • 6 years ago

      People seem to be having trouble housing the bridge inside the jaw; is it really that hard? (I don't know anything about art so I'm not sure) For an example, see entry #11 by Genonalkat M. You don't have to do it the same way, use your imaginations.

      Seriously, watch this video; a shark-shaped airship is theoretically possible:
      http://image.ibb.co/fsLFum/hpm_0000_0003_0_img0007.jpg

      Since I can only pick ONE winner, I do not want to keep all of you working and reworking, so I'm LIMITING participation to THREE ENTRIES PER PERSON. If you have one entry up and I made suggestions, ASK me ANY questions you have before you put more effort into it. I am here and I will answer as soon as I can.

      • 6 years ago
    2. GwiseTiger
      Contest Holder
      • 6 years ago

      Also, if I have rejected an entry it is because the overall style of your design ISN'T going to work for the cover; do not make some minor tweaks and submit the same design again.

      • 6 years ago
  • robertduica
    robertduica
    • 6 years ago

    Just submitted my attempt. Hope you'll like it

    • 6 years ago
  • DiandraPatricia
    DiandraPatricia
    • 6 years ago

    Hi I am submitting my entry in 4 days please wait for it, many thanks :)

    • 6 years ago
    1. GwiseTiger
      Contest Holder
      • 6 years ago

      Contest will stay open till the deadline and will be awarded the next day

      • 6 years ago
  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    Google "Shark blimp" (see below video) to see a toy version of the kind of thing The Unbound is:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSkvW2uO0DI

    • 6 years ago
  • airapolin
    airapolin
    • 6 years ago

    Aside from the Flying Shark Airship, what other elements do you want to include in the cover?

    • 6 years ago
    1. GwiseTiger
      Contest Holder
      • 6 years ago

      The focus should be the UNBOUND itself; I don't specifically want anything other than the ship flying through the sky. The rest of the details - day or night, sun or moon in the BG, etc. is up to you to get creative with.

      As I mentioned though if you want to post rough work for feedback before submitting the final version I'll be happy to give any suggestions I can think of .

      • 6 years ago
  • GwiseTiger
    Contest Holder
    • 6 years ago

    EDIT: Forgot the cover details in the original description (It's been updated; this is for anyone who missed it)

    Book Title: Black Horizons
    Author's Name: Sahith S. Tiger

    Add this logo somewhere without obstructing the artwork:
    http://image.ibb.co/c4Q6h6/ficfun.png

    • 6 years ago

Show more comments

How to get started with contests

  • Post your contest

    Post Your Contest Quick and easy

  • Get tons of entries

    Get Tons of Entries From around the world

  • Award the best entry

    Award the best entry Download the files - Easy!

Post a Contest Now or Join us Today!