Black on front ... images sans text from the red one on the back cover ... basic, clean engine parts from a 911 have their own appeal ... or maybe the parts spread pic you posted earlier!

What about "From the author of 101 projects......"

just a thought

The top one is slicker...but I would really look at them both then buy the second. I don't know, I just get that feeling that it fits my car.

Wayne I saw the black one and I had to have it. I saw the red one and I thought just another Chiltons book..

Wayne,

Black one definitely jumps out. It's much cleaner, and modern. The other one looks old and is hard to read.

My $0.02
--MJ

Wayne,
I like the top pic. (A) if you want to put an (A) and (B) with them.

I'm going to get flamed for this one but::

Make sure you keep the black cover with the strange little photo of you poking out from behind. We all need humour when we are working on these pieces of equipment to keep our sanity and help keep us from destroying the ones we love. Umm, our cars!

The top is more striking, but there is too much text, and the alignment is funky. Also, the font sizes are too similar...there is no significant distinction for what is most important.

The other one has some serious issues. The yellow text is hard to read, as it is on a washed out background. In addition, the bottom of the letters of the main title being flush with the bottom of the red band looks really bad. You need some red "white space" below the serif before you hit the picture.

By the way, I designed the black one, as if the "Pelican font" wasn't a dead giveaway...

-Wayne

MBI should think about getting some new cover designers. Their cover violates quite a few basic design rules.

Anyway you can shrink down the motorsports header or use a different less-bold font? I'd also either can the description following the title, or put it in one of the picture boxes. I think you need just a bit more "black space" on the cover. Then again I'm not a designer...but I play one on TV. :)

Hmm, I really like the description on the front...

-Wayne

Black Cover
 

My vote goes to the black cover!

The black one is visually left biased, off-balance. The symmetry of the red book is better, but I echo other peoples comments about readability and it's outdated feel.

I realize it's usually good to be consistent with one's brand identity, but with the thousands of excellent typefaces out there (like this cool Chank font called Sauerkrauto ), I'd keep looking for a better fit.

Almost there though. Good luck!

I like the black one by far.... especially with Wayne's picture poking out from behind. This book will generate so many requests for "this or that", that you'd better be ready for a reprint with additional subjects addressed very quickly (just a guess on my part).

Definitely the black one, but I echo centering the text. Also agree with from the author of 101 Projects. Sign me up for a copy!

Modern looking cover
 

Black wins. Of course it doesn't hurt that Wayne has a much better library of engine shots to choose from than the graphics guy at MBI.

I second the suggestion to get some sense of human presence in the cover. A rebuild book to entice would-be mechanics could have at least a shot of a hand with a tool for the internals or a spread of parts involved in bottom or top end rebuild (conveys notion of organizing and breaking down a complex process into doable steps).

Not to slight the addition of Tom to the cover-- that is a hoot.

Wayne, I like this cover better.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...nes-cover3.jpg

Black Cover
 

The black cover would be my choice. The red one reminds me of the Haynes manual....you would just need a picture of the photographer taking a picture of the mechanic and the text writer to make it a complete dud.

And to Wayne;
The thing I really like about the 101 projects are the quality and quantity of images........ what about putting the book on CD for those who can hide behind the computer screen at work to study?

Wayne: I think having the description is ok...but could it maybe replace one of the pictures in one of the lower boxes? To me the problem is text clutter "above the fold". I don't agree with the calls to center justify the title...that will soften the impact. I think some tweaks to the title spacing, size and colors could help a bit. For instance, the blue "how to" and "your" create a visual grouping of words that together do not form a concept. Your eye is drawn back and forth between these two words, and it doesn't get you anywhere.

Not trying to bust your chops...your initial design is better than 90% of the graphic stuff I see every day. I'll get you some specific tweaks tomorrow if you'd like.

Clearly the black cover is more engaging -- they'll jump off the shelves/web store pages!

What're the odds, though, that your publisher actually gives a rip about this little bit of social research we've participated in, here? I hope they'll let you have significant influence on this cover.

Cheers!

C.