How to Make a Book Cover for Self Publishing: Step-by-Step

In self-publishing, creating a captivating book cover is as important as writing the book itself. It gives the first impression and is a visual entry to the story you’ve written in the copies of your book. 

However, finding the most effective approach to creating a professional-looking book cover can be challenging, especially while trying to keep the self publishing costs low and meet the right readers. This blog will explore important parts of book design tips and help you learn how to make a beautiful book cover that attracts readers.

What is the Importance of a Book Cover?

'First impressions last a long time' is a true statement in the competitive book world. Whether it's ebook covers or a physical copy, impressions shape your book. A professional book cover can affect a reader's choice to pick up your book, whether in ebook format or print copies. It quickly shows the quality of the writing, the tone of your book, and what kind of reading experience to expect.

A good book cover tells you what kind of genre the book is. Whether it's a touching romance, an exciting thriller, a smart non-fiction piece, or even a collection of humorous essays, the cover art says a lot before the first word is read.

First Impressions Matter: The Role of a Cover in a Book’s Success

Imagine you are looking at many books, both online and in a store like Amazon. What makes you take a closer look? It’s usually the cover art that catches your eye. A great book cover is not just about how it looks. It also gives you a peek into the story, making you curious to know more.

A good cover design can really help your book sales and bring in positive book reviews. Readers are more likely to talk about a book that looks nice and is well-designed. This can help you reach more people.

When you design your own cover, think about how each part makes a difference. The main parts of your front cover, which includes imagery and typography, need to grab attention. The back cover gives you a chance to share more about the story. This includes a short and exciting book description, some meaningful book reviews, a nice author bio, and a barcode. Similarly, this information should be reflected on your ebook's description page.

People should be able to see what genre your book is right away. This can be done using specific imagery, typography, or colours, ensuring a distinct style. 

How to Make a Book Cover for Self Publishing: Step-by-Step Guide 

Now that you have the tools and ideas, let’s make the design process easier. Go through the steps below and incorporate them in your book cover design process to create exceptional book covers.  

Step 1: Define Your Book’s Core Message

Before you think about fonts or colours, make sure to outline the main message of your book. What is the key feeling or thought you want your readers to remember? This clarity will help you with every design choice you make.

Think about how your book’s title and subtitle help share your main message. Your title should be clear and short to catch the reader's attention. The subtitle can add more information or spark curiosity.

Step 2: Choose the Design Elements Wisely for Your Self Publishing Book Cover

This is where the real fun starts! Think about each design element. Make sure it fits well with your book's genre and audience. Do you want a bold and eye-catching image or a soft and classy one?

Consider how you will treat the images. Would a vintage look work for your story, or does it need something modern and clean? Pay attention to text hierarchy. The title text of your book should be the most noticeable part. Then comes the author's name, and you might add a tagline, too.

You can also gather some inspiration by browsing sites like Pinterest for ideas. In addition to Pinterest, websites like Behance and Dribbble can also provide inspiration for your book cover.

Step 3: Experiment with Layouts and Typography

Try different layouts to see which looks best for your design. Look at various grid systems to keep everything balanced and in harmony.

Fonts are important for setting the mood of your cover. Think about the type of book you have when choosing fonts. For example, a classic serif font is good for a historical fiction novel. On the other hand, a bold sans-serif font is great for a contemporary thriller.

Step 4: Select Your Book Cover Dimensions

Selecting the right book cover dimensions is crucial. It is also important to ensure that your book cover dimensions meet the marketing requirements of the publishing platform where you choose to publish your book. 

On perfect bound books you always need to allow for the spine which runs through the centre of your cover artwork PDF. The spine size is dictated by the number of inside pages - more pages means a bigger spine. The bigger the spine, the larger then text you can have on it. Generally less than 4mm, it is best to keep the spine text free.

Similarly, on the spine side of the page, any content within 2-3mm will be slightly obscured unless the reader presses the pages completely flat (and risks breaking the spine). To get around this, best practice is to keep any important content like faces, eyes and crucial text out of that area. 

Step 5: Choose Your Book Trim Size

Selecting the right trim size is an essential step in the design process, as it impacts the overall look and feel of the finished product. Trim size refers to the physical dimensions of the pages, and it influences everything from readability to printing costs. Common trim sizes for self-published books include 6” x 9” for standard novels, 5.5” x 8.5” for a slightly smaller, more compact format, and 8.5” x 11” for larger works like textbooks or art books. If you are wondering what size 8.5x11" is in metric or for printing in the UK, it is 216x279mm.

Also, keep in mind that some self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP have specific trim size options. Ultimately, the trim size should complement your book's content, presentation, and budget.

Step 6: Selecting the Right Colours and Imagery

Colours can stir feelings. Choose a colour palette that matches the mood of your story. Look into colour psychology to learn what feelings different colours can bring out. For example, blue is often seen as trustworthy and calming, while red can mean passion or danger.

Imagery should grab attention and fit well with your plot. You can use photos, illustrations, or even an interesting play on abstract art. Keep in mind that good-quality images are key for a polished cover.

Also read: https://exwhyzed.com/printing-cmyk-for-zine-covers-guide/

Step 7: Design Your Book Cover: Hire or DIY

If designing a book cover gets stressful, remember you can always consider hiring a professional book cover designer. A professional designer can bring valuable skills and expertise to the table, ensuring that your book cover not only looks visually appealing but also effectively conveys the essence of your book. 

Some of the best places to hire a professional cover designer include 99 Designs, Reedsy, Ebook Launch and Damonza.

Alternatively, you can also make a DIY book cover. Making a DIY book cover can be very satisfying. It lets you take part in how your work looks. Before you start with your DIY book cover design, you should find some inspiration. It's also important to learn about the tools that will help you create a great book cover design.

Essential Tools and Software Like GIMP for Beginners

You don’t need to be a tech expert to be a book cover creator. There are many tools and software available that are perfect for beginners. Here are some popular options:

• Canva: This easy-to-use platform has many templates, free images, and design tools.
• GIMP: If you want a free alternative to Photoshop, GIMP is a strong option for editing images.
• Adobe Spark: This platform makes it simple to create with many templates and free images.

Don’t hesitate to look for ready-made book cover templates. Many websites sell these templates at low prices. Pick one that matches your book’s genre and change it so it tells your own unique story.

Gathering Inspiration: Resources to Spark Creativity

Gathering ideas for design is an important part of making your book cover. Dive into book covers by looking at different resources.

• Browse Bestseller Lists: Look at the covers of the top-selling books in your type of writing. See what catches your eye.
• Follow Book Cover Artists: Social media sites like Instagram and Behance are great for discovering skilled book cover artists. You can get ideas from their projects.
• Explore Online Marketplaces: Websites like Creative Market and Etsy have many premade book covers created by independent artists.

Step 8: Finalising Your Book Cover Design for Self publishing and Getting Feedback

Once you have a design you like, take a moment to look at it again. It can be useful to print a mock-up of your cover. This way, you can see how it looks for real.

Ask for feedback from good designers and people you trust. These can be other authors, beta readers, or members of online writing groups. Be open to suggestions. Feedbacks can help you understand where to make improvements. 

Looking for Book Cover Inspiration? Explore Ex Why Zed! 

If you plan to design your own book cover, check out Ex Why Zed’s Pinterest Boards, where you can find thousands of book designs, printed by Ex Why Zed to draw inspiration and ideas. You can also go through our Video Showcase Snippets to find some great examples of colours, layouts, typography and imagery necessary to create a stunning book cover.Looking for a high-quality printer in the UK? Ex Why Zed can be the perfect partner in turning your self-publishing vision into a reality. Get a quote!

Conclusion

A great book cover is essential for self-publishing success, as it’s the first thing readers notice.  It can greatly affect how they feel about your book. To make a good cover, start by defining your message. Choose design elements carefully and try out different layouts. Once you have a layout you like, finalise your design.

Colours, images, image treatment, and typography are important in your cover. Getting feedback on every detail of your cover is also crucial to improve your design even more. Use your creativity and make sure your cover matches the feel of your book. A good cover can help sell your book and attract more readers. Start working on your eye-catching book cover today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How important is the spine design in paperback book covers for self publishing?

The design of the spine is very important for printed books, especially hardcover books and paperbacks, as most bookstores have bookshelves that feature vertical displays. It is the first thing readers notice when they look at bookshelves. To make sure your title and author name fit nicely, use a spine-width calculator.

What are common mistakes to avoid in book cover design?

Avoid putting too much information on the cover. Ensure that you follow the rules of design and use high-quality images. Also, keep the book description short and interesting.

There is a 7mm hinge which joins the cover to the inside pages. This is glued from the inside front cover to the first inside page. Then at the back of the book from the last inside page to the inside back cover. It is best practise to avoid running an image over either of these double-page spreads because it can be confusing, frustrating and time-consuming to get the two halves to match up on the join.

Can I get professional book cover designers on Fiverr?

Yes, Fiverr is a good platform for professional book cover designs for as little as $5! You can review different designers’ portfolios and see the ratings and reviews left by other clients before deciding on a profile that seems best for you.