Book covers: I don’t know why I’m thinking about this right now. My book isn’t finished and I haven’t even TRIED to find an agent or a publisher yet, so I don’t need a book cover yet. And yet...
There are several sources online for how to design a cover. Font advice. Image types. Treatments. Color. It’s great. So of course, that’s not really what I’m looking for. I need software.
“Use Photoshop.” Even if I used my daughter’s identity it would cost about 450.00. How many book covers is that? At least two or three. I’ve used this program in school myself, and it’s a complex thing with a learning curve. Hours of my writing time.
At the rate I write, it would be a maximum of three covers a year. Um, no.
“Use Gimp. It’s just like Photoshop, but free.” Yes, it’s free. It seems to work pretty well. If you already know how to use Photoshop. Same learning curve, less money. Better…
An online search gives me these choices:
- http://www.trueboxshot.com/ 80.00
- https://www.createspace.com/ I’m waiting for them to let me in so I can see what their software is like.
- http://www.ecovercreator3d.com/ I’m not sure what the 3D is all about, but it’s only 47.00. No idea how hard it is to use.
- http://onlineecovercreator.com/ 10.00 bucks a month or 49.00 per year. That doesn’t sound too bad.
The more I look, the more software I find. Many of them are online-only. A few have reviews that are more like adverts. Each and every one would take some kind of learning curve, an unknown which is a little daunting.
So, friends. What do you think? What do you use? How do you go about making your covers?
3 comments:
Hi, Meggan! I very much understand your desire to have a cover for your book. For me, having a cover is a motivator. It makes the book seem more real, so I want to finish the writing so there's some substance behind the cover.
Of course, since I'm a graphic designer, sometimes I make up covers just to have something beautiful that pleases me. :)
And because I'm a graphic designer, I have Photoshop. Love it! But you're so right about the steep learning curve. Most software I can pick up the basics and learn the rest as I go along. I went to a class for Photoshop because it used concepts I wasn't familiar with. (This was years and years ago.)
However, the simplest--and often best--way to design a cover is find a striking, knock-out photo that illustrates your book (I use the online photo sites like 123rf and canstock for the best prices), add a nice font for your name and the book title and voila! Some of my favorite covers have been the simplest.
If you want to look on my design Web site **http://www.designsbymsg.com/MoreSamples3.html** and scroll down the page a bit, the covers for PROPHECY FORETOLD, 18, and REVEALED follow this concept. Simple but very striking. Of course, it can take hours to find exactly the right photo. LOL!
And then there are the covers with several photos, blended edges, elements of one photo combined with another, special effects, etc., etc. Fun but time consuming!
Enjoy!
Thank you Genie! That's very helpful. I will check that out.
Yes, designing is FUN!
I think every one uses their initial first impression of a book cover to decide whether they look deeper or pass. A good cover is always a good motivator.
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