GRA320 Final Project: Book Cover

So after 14 weeks of Photoshop training, this is what it all boiled down to; a book cover showcasing everything taught not only in this (3rd) semester, but the past (2nd) semester as well. That includes: layer masks, blending modes, colour corrections, establishing a visual hierarchy, colour echoing, typography etc etc etc.

The book I ended up choosing was "Tough Guy: My Life on the Edge", written by notorious NHL forward Bob Probert. I really wanted to show the stress/pressure of being one of the toughest fighters in the NHL and eventually leading to Probert's world shattering/collapsing, as he checked into rehab multiple times over his career. The rough texture not represents the playing surface of an ice rink after a bunch of guys have skated on it, but also the ruggedness of Probert's persona and the position he held as a NHL player. The type, I feel, is representative of this also.