Self-Help Articles
How to create a book cover
After spending weeks, months or maybe even years perfecting the words in your book, you're probably ready to toss it online and cross your fingers you'll receive rave reviews.
But before you jump on the self-publishing bandwagon, take some time to make sure your book cover is amazing.
When people browse books, whether physical or electronic, the cover is often the first piece of information they see. If your cover looks amateur or out of line with your book's genre, readers will likely move onto the next option without a second thought.
How does a wordsmith cultivate the images and graphic design skills needed to turn a blank cover into a captivating collage especially while trying to keep your self-publishing costs as low as possible. When it comes to how to make a book cover, what's the best approach?
Whether you're ready to call in an expert or DIY your cover, here are some inexpensive options for creating a book cover.
Option 1:
The DIY option: How to make a book cover yourself
1. Use Adobe Photoshop
This is the professional way to design your cover, however, it requires not just access to the software, but a great deal of experience to get good reults. However, there are many tutorials available on Youtube and similar sites. Also, you can do short courses on sites like LearnHow2 and Udemy.
2. Use Microsoft Word
Believe it or not, you can actually design an entire book cover using only Microsoft Word.
The Creative Penn offers an incredible DIY book cover design tutorial by Derek Murphy. His tutorial notes how important it is to select the right picture ("Simple is better", he says) as well as the importance of balancing colors.
The tutorial also discusses where to find images, whether you're taking photos yourself, sourcing stock images or using other online sources such as Etsy and DeviantArt. Then, it walks readers through the step-by-step details of designing a captivating cover.
3. DIYBookCovers.com
Derek Murphy's own site offers customizable templates so self-published writers can easily design their own book covers.
You don't need to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for special design software to create a cover that will make people snap up copies of your book. Murphy offers a training video that teaches how to design a great book cover in 30 minutes or less.
He also offers a free, online cover creator tool, along with video tutorials to help you make the most of it.
4. Pixlr
Pixlr offers a variety of photo editing apps. Pixlr Editor offers opportunities to use layers, replace colors and transform objects. Another popular option is Pixlr Express, which offers quick fixes and personal touches with a simpler interface.
The site helps you create and touch up gorgeous images, as the Made with Pixlr gallery shows. While some of Pixlr's tools are free, if you want to use the desktop version of Pixlr, you may have to pay a fee.
5. GIMP
GIMP, a free program you can use for photo retouching, creating and composing images, stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program.
While many tools allow you to create and edit within your web browser, you'll have to download this software before you get started. GIMP can be used with GNU/Linux and UNIX, as well as Windows, Mac and other systems.
6. Canva
This design software is super popular with non-designers because it makes it easy to create professional-looking designs. While some design elements will cost you, many of Canva's templates and features are free.
Canva's drag-and-drop setup makes it easy to create your simple book cover. It features millions of images (including stock photos, vectors and illustrations) as well as photo filters, free icons and shapes, and hundreds of fonts.
If you're not sure where to start, visit Canva's free Design School, where you can learn even more about design, as well as a book cover-specific tutorial.
7. The KDP book cover designer
Hire a professional designer
Not thrilled about the idea of creating your own cover? These options may cost more, but can help ensure a polished final product, which could mean more book sales.
1. Fiverr
Fiverr offers the chance to get a professional book cover for just $5. The site lets you review designers? portfolios and see ratings left by other clients before committing to a designer.
Some people swear by Fiverr, while others have ended up frustrated. However, using Fiverr as a basic cover designer and a way to test out cover design options is not a bad call. For as little as $5, you can roll the dice.
2. Ask for referrals
Referrals from other self-published writers, writing groups (online or in-person) and writer friends are a great way to find good designers at reasonable prices. If you're not sure where to start, Facebook groups for writers can be a great resource.
If you already work with designers in a professional capacity, consider asking if they're interested in working on your book cover; those trusted sources can also provide you with referrals for other designers.
3. BookDesignTemplates.com
Book designer Joel Friedman offers professional-looking, customizable templates for as low as $199. Friedman is well-known and respected in the self-publishing world because he offers so much helpful advice on his site, TheBookDesigner.com, and he's been doing it for years.
He explains why self-published books often look self-published, and suggests five great fonts for book covers. We've added him to the hire a professional section because he offers made-for-you book cover templates, but this site is also a fabulous resource if you decide to make your book cover yourself.
4. 99designs
This site can design not only your book cover, but also your author logo, character merchandise and anything else you can dream up.
Start by creating a design contest for your project. Write a design brief explaining what you're looking for, and 99 Designs will present your specifications and budget to its marketplace.
Designers then respond to your brief with their ideas. After a time period where you get to review designs, you select a winner, request any edits, and that designer earns the money you've budgeted for the project. You retain full copyright ownership of the final design you select.
Book covers on 99designs start at $299, and ebook covers start at $199.
One potential bonus for using a site like 99designs: If you discover a designer whose work you love, you can continue working with that designer on future products.
All in all, you should make sure that you either invest time or a luttle money to ensure your cover is eye catching.
Books
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Halfway to a Vineyard
written by
Anthony MaysPTO...
Sam Champion is a military man through and through. A pilot in the United States Coast Guard, his dedication and skills serve to save lives. However, his wife is not thrilled about the perils of his chosen career. With another child on the way, she convinces him to hang up his uniform in exchange for a safer occupation. They move to the northwest coast – to her namesake family vineyard situated in the hills of California’...
Sam Champion is a military man through and through. A pilot in the United States Coast Guard, his dedication and skills serve to save lives. However, his wife is not thrilled about the perils of his chosen career. With another child on the way, she convinces him to hang up his uniform in exchange for a safer occupation. They move to the northwest coast – to her nam...
Anthony Mays Halfway to a Vineyard...
Anthony Mays - from $3.99 Halfway to a Vineyard
Sam Champion is a military man through and through. A pilot in the United States Coast Guard, his dedication and skills serve to save lives. However, his wife is not thrilled about the perils of his chosen career. With another child on the way, she convinces him to hang up his uniform in exchange for a safer occupation. They move to the northwest coast – to her namesake family vineyard situated in the hills of California’...
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