How do I make my book cover?

To create your book cover, it’s important to consider the elements it’s composed of. Your cover should include the title of the work, the author’s name (i.e., yours), the publishing house’s logo, and, most importantly, a striking and original illustration. It will also require other elements such as the back cover and spine. Of course, colors and typography are key to a great cover. Today, we’ll discuss each of the elements involved in creating your book’s cover.

Index

First and foremost, forget about free software and “put your photo here” templates. You’ve worked hard on your work and deserve something truly worthwhile. Secondly, avoid the “Word” design, the classic single-color background with the book’s name, a photo in a box in the center, and the author’s name below. No professional work you see on bookstore shelves has that design, and your book cover should be just as impressive.

The best thing in this case is to enlist the help of a professional designer. You should choose one who has experience in editorial design, who masters the subject of book cover design specifically, but also the layout of books and documents in general, as well as the preparation of artwork for printing.

When you’re hiring someone, ask about their experience in this field and ask for samples of previous work so you can verify it. Now let’s look at some tips to help you get the best results and know what to ask your designer when creating a book cover.

1. Central theme of the book

The first step to a great cover is for the designer to know what your book is about. Therefore, you should speak to your designer and briefly explain the content of your work and the theme it revolves around.

If you are publishing a textbook or academic book, it may be something related to the subject of your studies. If it’s an entertainment or memoir, some of the photographs you’ll include in the content may be helpful. In the case of novels or other literary works, retouched photomontages can be a good option.

Alternatively, you can ask the designer to create a special illustration for your cover. In this case, you should first ask if they have experience in character design or cartoon design and ask them to show you some.

There are many books—not just children’s books—that have striking cover illustrations. You might prefer this option to an artistic photograph . In any case, ask for two initial proposals. Choose the one you like best and make any changes you deem necessary.

Attention:

If your book is going to be printed, make sure that the important elements of the cover are not too close to the edges. This is because it’s printed on sheets, and when it’s cut, it’s cut within the image to avoid leaving white borders. The designer must place overlays on the cover: An extension of color or artwork that isn’t likely to be lost in the cut. The allowance must be at least 1/8″ on each side. Don’t hesitate to ask the designer if they have installed them.

2. Cover typography

As the saying goes, there’s no accounting for taste. The font you use in your book is one of the elements where you can choose what you want. However, keep in mind that typography says a lot about the nature of the book.

For example, if it’s a horror book, no one would expect italics like in a romance novel.

Since you already know the book’s theme, ask the designer to suggest two different fonts that are consistent with the theme. Make sure it’s easy to read. Make sure the name of your work is clearly distinguishable and visible on the cover. In addition to the name of the book, you should include the author’s name in a similar font, but a little smaller.

It doesn’t matter if the text is overlaid on the illustration. The important thing is that it’s easy to read and that the color matches the image without being lost.

If you’re a fan of capital letters, prefer small caps for the title of your book, as well as for the author’s name (whether you or the institution publishing the document).

3. Back cover

This is the back of the book. It’s usually a solid color, with no illustrations. It may also have a box with information about the work. You don’t need to include any images on the back of the book, not even your own photograph. The idea is for the cover image to take center stage.

The back cover of a book is an element that isn’t usually given much thought at first. However, you need to have the information you’ll need ready. When the designer completes the work, you’ll need to submit the text to be included.

Keep your text short: 3 paragraphs of 4 lines are sufficient. Or you can do it in 2 paragraphs of 6 lines. In any case, try not to exceed 12 lines. Remember that This is a summary , not a prologue.

The font used can be slightly larger than the text in the book, but it should be the same. Don’t use all capital letters to write this information. It’s in poor taste and makes it difficult to read.

4. Spine of the book

This is an element that is used only if your book is printed physically.. In digital books it is not necessary. It should be designed with the same font you used on the cover or inside the book. It’s not recommended to include any drawings so the text is clearly legible.

Since the spine width depends on the number of pages and the paper weight, in some cases it is not possible to include this element (for example, if your book is very thin and is stapled only in the center like a brochure), so it is not mandatory in all printing either.

However, if your book allows it, you shouldn’t omit it, as it will give it a more professional and elegant presentation. For the spine measurement, the printer will create a dummy. or a blank paper sample. This will contain the total number of pages the book will have and will be printed on the same paper it will be printed on. Therefore, your cover should be editable, as well. the spine will be adjusted to the final measurement .

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5. ISBN and barcode

The ISBN ( International Serial Book Number) is a unique number that identifies a book in any library in the world. It’s also used to create the catalog entry (library entry).

It can also be used to create a barcode for inventorying the book in stores. It is best placed on the back cover. You can request an ISBN from ISBN agencies in your country. Libraries can provide more information. To obtain an ISBN, you must complete an author registration form (if you are not registered) and a work registration form.

The process doesn’t usually take long. You’ll receive your number in a week or less, depending on demand.

With that number, you can ask the designer to create the barcode for you using a specialized program, although this is only for printed documents. Ask the designer if they can do this before ordering the work. If not, you can use Tec-It’s Barcode Creator service. Just make sure you type the number correctly and then download the code image before closing the page.

Note: For ebooks, a barcode is not required. However, an ISBN is required for both versions. For digital versions, the ISBN is different. You must order both separately.

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6. Flaps

In some cases, covers may have flaps: small folds on the cover, with additional information about the author. You can include your photograph, a brief biography about your career as a writer or professional, as well as contact information, social media, or other published works. This is not a mandatory element. Only use it if you consider it necessary and it doesn’t increase the printing cost (if your book is digital, it’s not required).

If you’re considering adding flaps to your book cover, have a summary of this information. Remember that space is limited; you shouldn’t use more than 3 or 4 lines in Word. You shouldn’t use all capital letters here either. The font should be the same as the body of the book and should only use initial capitals where appropriate.

The tab should be a solid color. Avoid background images so the information is clearly legible.

7. Prepare the editable file for printing

If your book is going to be printed, your cover file must be delivered in an editable format. This means that it can be edited by the printer. It can be a high-resolution PDF, but it’s best if it comes in the same program it was edited in. Generally, an editorial designer will work in InDesign, an Adobe program specifically designed for book and magazine layout.

This is so the printer can make the necessary adjustments, especially to the spine, since its width will depend not only on the number of pages, but also on the paper weight, as we have already mentioned.

Conclusions

A book’s cover is a fundamental element when it comes to advertising or promoting it. A good cover can make the reader want to know more and can increase sales or readership. They say a book shouldn’t be judged by its cover, but that’s just a romantic phrase about the value of people. When speaking objectively about literary works, the cover is an important element.

No matter what your book is about, the perceived value of the book and its content increases with a good cover. Unfortunately, because it’s an element that’s considered almost last, people often make hasty decisions or resort to the typical “free cover creator.” But if you want to create a truly impactful book cover, it requires attention to detail. After all, anything impersonal can backfire on your goal.

As a final tip: before sending it to the printer, do a test print on paper. This way, you can make sure your cover really turns out the way you want it.

Remember that you can find help from the best professionals in book cover design at Soyfreelancer.com. Sign up for free and post your project now.

 

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