Book cover design: A step-by-step guide
What your book cover design includes. Each stage of book cover design explained.
This step-by-step guide explains what your book cover design includes, how we'll be working together and what you can expect in each stage of your book cover design and production.
WHAT YOUR BOOK COVER DESIGN INCLUDES
Your book cover design includes prompt personal attention, together with the following:
- full-color book cover, for whatever size book you choose
- front cover, spine and back cover, created to your complete satisfaction
- a color proof, trimmed and folded, for your final approval (or, if combined with interior page design, a trimmed, bound mockup of your book)
- full rights to your final book cover design
- all files in high-resolution digital format
- any low-resolution or specially sized images of your cover you request for your print or email marketing materials
- DVD shipped to your printer with a color proof and instructions (and any follow-up required to ensure your printing is completely trouble-free for you)
- DVD shipped to you for your records and safekeeping
- a page on my website for your book—in my Published Books> Newly Published section—before it's printed, so readers can find your book on the Internet while you're still waiting for it to arrive from your printer.
Book cover design
What can you expect? Is your cover design on track?
The steps outlined below explain every stage of your book cover design in the order you can expect them to occur. Authors often ask me, "How long will it take?" The quick answer is six to eight weeks.
Your book cover will receive as much careful attention as it needs to become the best it can be. I'll make sure you're completely happy with your book cover before it goes to press. That's a promise.
Step 1: Free initial consultation
Call or email me to discuss your book cover ideas and to get to know each other a bit before deciding whether to work together. There is no obligation.
Step 2: I'll give you a firm quote
We'll discuss the "look" you want for your cover and how it can be achieved cost-effectively. Then I'll provide you with a firm quote.
Step 3: Getting started
When you're ready, just fax me your signed quote. You can mail a check for your 50% deposit or, if you prefer, pay by any major credit/debit card via PayPal on the Internet. We'll also sign a simple contract stating that I agree to do the work, you agree to pay for the work, and we both agree that you'll own the copyright to your book cover design. Send me any photos, artwork or rough sketches you may already have for your book cover.
Step 4: Your first rough cover designs
Within a week you'll receive your first rough designs by email. Initially we'll be concentrating on the front cover only, and looking for an interesting direction to follow. We'll play with ideas, test out different images, and experiment with typefaces and colors. Once we get excited about an idea, we'll start to focus in that direction.
Step 5: Choosing your images
If you haven't provided a photo or artwork for your book cover, you'll still see photos and artwork in your rough designs. These are comps (free tryouts we can use to develop ideas). Sometimes I find lots of choices on the Internet, and can email you a light box (imagine looking at slides on a light table), so we can weigh the pros and cons of different images. Or an illustrator or photographer can create the images used on your final book cover specifically for you. We'll also experiment with images you may already have for the interior of your book.
Step 6: Fine-tuning your cover design
As you focus on what you like and don't like about your cover designs, your book cover will evolve and become more polished. I'll create a back cover and spine as an extension of your front cover, then add your back cover text and bar code.
Step 7: Communicating with your printer
I'll contact your printer early in the design process for technical specifications. Your book cover will be designed in Photoshop and/or InDesign, and you can leave all the details to me.
Step 8: Finishing your book cover
I'll go over each element in your final book cover design carefully to double-check everything is perfect. Then I'll send you a color proof, trimmed and folded. You'll see exactly what your book will look like when it's published, and be completely confident that it's perfect before going to press.
Step 9: Going to press
I'll package your digital files, ship them to your printer with a color proof and instructions, and make sure your printing is trouble-free. I'll also send you a DVD containing your digital files for safekeeping.
Step 10: Marketing your book
While your book is being printed, you'll be busy marketing it. I'll create a page for your book on my website in my Published Books> Newly Published section, so readers will be able to find your book on the Internet.
Step 11: You're a published author
Congratulations, you're a published author. You'll soon receive the first copies of your published book. When you do, please send me a copy for my records—preferably a signed copy!
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tel 604-731-1502