In the late eighties there was a small press RPG named Abenteuer in Magira (actually a spin-off from the very first German RPGs, Adventures in Magira and Midgard, set in the world of The Eternal Game) that used a photo on the cover - and I mean literally!
In order to save printing costs they printed the cover stock in two colors and glued a photo print to it.



Even as color print became cheaper they stuck to the basic layout. The fourth book has a regular 4c print cover.
Then they changed their cover design to a full bleed photo.

(The interior was a pedestrian b/w layout using a typewriter-like font and a mix of old-school-style and period illustrations.)

I am not feeling the inspiration from those covers. Rather the opposite in fact.

blech...

For games based off a TV or movie franchise, I'm OK with it.

For other games, so far the only one I've seen that actually manages to effectively make use of photo art, IMHO, is Corporia.

Quote from: Simlasa;828061Unhallowed Metropolis had a mix of well-done illustrations and less-well-done photography that reminded me of Goth Night at the coffeehouse.

Not even all the illustrations were that well done, either.

Quote from: rway218;828030Love the color art thread, so I wanted to seed this one...
 
In modern RPG settings, how would you feel about photography not traditional art?

I actually did this for my Corporia RPG.

Although I know there are quite a few gamers that don't like photos, I decided to do this specifically to evoke a modern feel of 'suits and swords', aka 'knights in shining Armani.' The art (along with the overall graphic design) gives the product more of a 'corporate' feel than traditional illustration would, and although there are a few pieces I wish I'd done differently, overall I'm pleased with the final result.

However, I wouldn't recommend photographic art for most games. You've got to have a good reason, and the right product, to use them.

Quote from: 3rik;830280For other games, so far the only one I've seen that actually manages to effectively make use of photo art, IMHO, is Corporia.

Thanks!

Quote from: Mark Plemmons;830288I actually did this for my Corporia RPG.

Although I know there are quite a few gamers that don't like photos, I decided to do this specifically to evoke a modern feel of 'suits and swords', aka 'knights in shining Armani.' The art (along with the overall graphic design) gives the product more of a 'corporate' feel than traditional illustration would, and although there are a few pieces I wish I'd done differently, overall I'm pleased with the final result.

However, I wouldn't recommend photographic art for most games. You've got to have a good reason, and the right product, to use them.

That actually looks pretty cool. I've been a sucker for fake ads since WEG's Star Wars. Is there a deadtree version or is it only available in pdf?

Quote from: rway218;828189Art always comes at a cost, I don't understand why some people think photos are cheap.

Because a lot of folks think photos are less work... don't see the art involved in a good photo. Most everyone has a camera and while they might not be able to draw it's apparently tempting to think 'Easy! I'll just have Bob wear his trenchcoat and hold my katana while sneering menacingly'... giving little thought to lighting, composition or the fact that their friend Bob isn't really capable of looking menacing.

Quote from: TristramEvans;830309That actually looks pretty cool. I've been a sucker for fake ads since WEG's Star Wars. Is there a deadtree version or is it only available in pdf?

For the Kickstarter last year, I did a limited edition hardcover. I'm going to do a POD, but I have to tweak the layout just a tiny bit for POD. The original was graphic novel size (6.625" x 10.125") and I need to change it to 7" x 10".

Quote from: Mark Plemmons;830316For the Kickstarter last year, I did a limited edition hardcover. I'm going to do a POD, but I have to tweak the layout just a tiny bit for POD. The original was graphic novel size (6.625" x 10.125") and I need to change it to 7" x 10".

It'll really shine when you go for Premium Quality on DriveThru, but alas that can get rather pricy. I'm told lulu.com produces better quality POD overall.

Quote from: Mark Plemmons;830288I actually did this for my Corporia RPG.

The knight on the left looked like realistic art not a photo. The magazine style piece on the right looks like a magazine cover. These are good design choices.

Quote from: Mark Plemmons;830316For the Kickstarter last year, I did a limited edition hardcover. I'm going to do a POD, but I have to tweak the layout just a tiny bit for POD. The original was graphic novel size (6.625" x 10.125") and I need to change it to 7" x 10".

cool. Look forward to that.

Quote from: Bren;830260I am not feeling the inspiration from those covers. Rather the opposite in fact.

Are you suggesting that fantasy doesn't withstand the harsh light of day? What's next, aspersions cast upon beer goggles?

Quote from: Opaopajr;830367Are you suggesting that fantasy doesn't withstand the harsh light of day? What's next, aspersions cast upon beer goggles?

Well mostly I was suggesting I didn't like those pictures much.

We use a mixture of photos, drawings, anime art, period paintings, and even a few statues for characters in Honor+Intrigue. But the photos from films and high production TV shows like the Richard Lester Three Musketeers (1973), Alatriste (2008), or the BBC Musketeers TV show look a lot better than almost any of the pictures you find of people who are 17th Century period re-enactors or dressed to sell Renaissance garb or Halloween costumes. There is a huge difference in expensive costumes designed and executed by professionals and other kinds of outfits. And there is a huge difference in the ability of professional actors and actresses to look good in a photo. Which is added to further by the use of professional lighting, photographers, and cinematographers.

And it's been a long, long time since beer goggles was something I needed to account for.

Heh, I know. There's a lot of "magic and lies" that goes behind the camera and its image. It is very much not the neutral arbiter of reality everyone assumes. Something I was made keenly aware by my teachers in my few photography and art history of photography classes.

Same person: a Driver's License photo, a Glamour Shots® photo, and a Selfie... then keep in mind, 'the camera never lies'.

And yes, I've rubbed elbows with those who were seriously into professional costuming, and no, not mere CosPlay. Details matter.