Help me make my yearbook cover!

[TheDrummingKING]

As the title says, I would like you guys to help me make the cover for my next year (and grad year) yearbook!

I'm not sure what "theme" it is, but you should be able to see what I want to accomplish after seeing what I have so far.

This is what I've done so far.

First draft.
Second draft.
Third draft.

So far I like the third the most, but I feel there is too much and too little at the same time. In the top right, while I like what I have there, I feel it is too much. And in the bottom left I feel like there isn't enough, though if I were to add anything it wouldn't be much as that is the back of the yearbook.


Also: If this isn't the correct forum for this, mods, please move it to the correct one.

Also #2: My schools colours are blue and white.

 

[AOS-]

Seems like you want us to do your work altogether rather than "help" you do your work...

Personally I dislike using Photoshop-effects like Bevel & Emboss because it's so obvious that it was used.

I also feel the text isn't standing out enough from the black. Perhaps you should ditch the outline and gradient overlay and leave it white.

The gradients you used with the blue swirly lines ain't working for me, I would either take them out or make them blue, the same hue, but slightly less saturated and then turn down its opacity. This way it will look like the lines are much more illuminated and the cool lighting's attention isn't taken away by it.

 

[boiltheocean]

Surely if your schools colours are white and blue you should use white and blue instead of black and blue?

 

[TheDrummingKING]

Seems like you want us to do your work altogether rather than "help" you do your work...

Personally I dislike using Photoshop-effects like Bevel & Emboss because it's so obvious that it was used.

I also feel the text isn't standing out enough from the black. Perhaps you should ditch the outline and gradient overlay and leave it white.

The gradients you used with the blue swirly lines ain't working for me, I would either take them out or make them blue, the same hue, but slightly less saturated and then turn down its opacity. This way it will look like the lines are much more illuminated and the cool lighting's attention isn't taken away by it.

I do just want help I swear! I'm just looking for ideas that I will probably end up incorporating but in my own way. I appreciate your feedback and I'll try what you've suggested (then probably re-work it a bit).

Surely if your schools colours are white and blue you should use white and blue instead of black and blue?

Shhh! I've tried but have yet to like anything like that, especially because of the blue standing out better on black.

 

[F1GTR]

I do just want help I swear! I'm just looking for ideas that I will probably end up incorporating but in my own way. I appreciate your feedback and I'll try what you've suggested (then probably re-work it a bit).



Shhh! I've tried but have yet to like anything like that, especially because of the blue standing out better on black.

White stands out better on blue though...

Anyway, I'd go for something simple and timeless: your use of bevel and emboss is too outdated and tacky. Stick to the school colours, add your school's emblem and you're set. Yearbooks are meant to last decades, so a simple (or coherent) design will work best.

 

[TheDrummingKING]

White stands out better on blue though...

Anyway, I'd go for something simple and timeless: your use of bevel and emboss is too outdated and tacky. Stick to the school colours, add your school's emblem and you're set. Yearbooks are meant to last decades, so a simple (or coherent) design will work best.

I've gotten rid of the bevel and emboss'ed things. I realized last night that they were sort of off. I've made the cover more simple now (or at least I think I have ). Though stuck between two styles (for the graphics in the corner which you will see), and I'm not sure which is better.

Tell me what you think.
#1
#2

I feel #1 is more following the theme of a cut out kind of look (bad way to describe it but you should know what I mean), so I'm leaning towards that, but I also just like how #2 looks too.



Edit: Thanks to the guys that helped with their input! 👍 I have my final version now (slight tweak on #1).