Book Covers – Read First Chapter.com

Category: Book Covers

How to Create a 3D Book Series Book Cover

This blog post is done to accompany the video that is posted below.  This will give you the instructions that may be helpful to keep open as you create your own 3D Book Series Bundle Cover like the one on the left.

These instructions will allow you to make any size bundle cover, going in any direction.

At the end of the video, I will also give you instructions to make the thumb cut or the finger pull that is popular on book series as well.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

  • A high resolution front cover copy of your book, or whatever other copy you want to represent the book series
  • Gimp photo editing program which is free, or photoshop.  If you use Canva, I will assume you can translate all the steps in that program.
  • A high resolution picture of whatever you want to be the background behind your books spines.
  • Any emblem or other branding graphics that you may want to put on the covers.  In the cover that I make in the video, I use a police badge graphic to brand the series as a police procedural.
  • You will need a large rectangle image with a transparent background in order to work.  Make sure you are also working in 300dpi or 300ppi, whatever the resolution is referred to in your program.

LET'S MAKE THE 3D BORDER DIAGRAM:

In gimp, the first thing we will do is open a document that is 2500 pixels wide and 1,000 pixels high.  This will make sure you have lots of room to work.

The next step is to bring in a 3D bundle model cover that you found on Amazon, like the picture on the above left.

Next, draw lines around the cover so that you create this shape.  Our final cover will be transformed into this final shape by using the perspective tool.  The example of this is above right.

LET'S CREATE THE COVER AND THE BOOK SPINES:

Open a new document that is 2082 x 1000 pixels and 300 dpi. This will turn out to be too large, but better too large than to run out of room.    This will give me a good platform to make the book series mockup.

Bring in your ebook cover and place on the right side of the space.  Leave a space between all the books spines and the cover.  Add the titles and the author name.

My best tip is to start with the book title that is the longest.  This way, you will choose the right size font to use.  You will also need a picture to put on the background of the book spines.  You can either add a color wash layer or fiddle with the opacity to make sure you can read the book titles.

Created with GIMP

Once this is done, you will then want to add a 5 pixel line between the books and then on that same layer, add a filter, gaussian blur and blur it out until it looks like a slight bend between books.

The final step is to choose a light color and dark color from your front cover.  The create a gradient in the space between the front and back.  Anyone with digital graphics skills will be able to put this together with just these few instructions and pictures.  However, if you are new to graphic design, just watch the video below where I demonstrate how to make it using gimp, which is a free program.

The video below will be available when it is posted:

https://youtu.be/uU0xM48Cou4

 

 

 

 



How to Create a Hi-res Paperback Cover from a low-res eBook Cover

HOW TO CREATE A PAPERBACK COVER FROM AN EBOOK COVER

I just finished a how-to create a paperback book manuscript from an eBook manuscript so I thought I would make a sister video showing how to make a full high resolution paperback book cover from a low-resolution eBook cover.

The focus of the video is on the creation of the book cover, so I won't be going into too much detail on how Gimp works.  However, I pepper the tutorial with some of the keyboard shortcuts or the names of the tools I am using.  This should make it easy for Gimp beginners or others who like to work in Canva.

However, I do have a playlist on my YouTube channel teaching new writers ow to use Gimp, which is a free photo manipulation tool and you can use it to create book covers and other book marketing graphics.

WHAT IF I ONLY HAVE A LOW-RESOLUTION?

If you only have a low resolution, you can upscale it for free at the this website:   Upscale.media

This will make sure you have a high resolution image before you begin. 

YOU WILL ALSO NEED A PROPERLY-SIZED TEMPLATE:

Each paperback cover will need it's own customized book cover template.  The reason for this is because the number of pages of the book determines the spine width and that controls how wide the paperback cover needs to be.

KDP has a paperback calculator on it's website, and if you've never used it before, I do demonstrate it in the video on this subject below.

NEXT – YOU WILL NEED A PROPER PAGE COUNT:

Here is a picture of the last page of my Betrayal Paperback from my last video.  It shows two different page counts.  The top one is what will be printed on the last page of the book.  However, this leaves out the front-pages that use roman numerals and it also includes all of the skipped pages in the document.  This is not the correct page number for a book cover.

Below on the left hand side, you can see another page count that is shown at the bottom of the actual Microsoft Word manuscript.  This is how many actual pages are in this document.  This is the page count you will need to run the Paperback calculator and get a proper sized paperback template.

Write down the proper page number before you go to the KDP calculator and run the template.  You will need to click through the questions and choose your answers, including the size of paperback you will use.  I use a 5.06 x 7.81 and demonstrate this choice in the video below if you want to see it done.  Otherwise, you can go straight to the KDP calculator here.

NEWBIE TIP ON BRANDING BOOKS IN GENERAL:

Above is a graphic panel showing you four back-cover examples that I pulled form Amazon this morning by searching for paperbacks in the vampire genre.  I also pulled two other back covers just for comparison.  You may want to think about what type and style of back cover you  want to create before starting.  You will follow the same procedure I've demonstrated in the video below, but you may choose another style for your book.

The book featured in my video is Betrayal and this is my 14th published book and it's the 6th book in my Newport Vampire Stories Series.  So the branding for this series is already established.  While I create my Paperback cover from the eBook cover, I will show you how to follow a style template as I work.

Once you choose a style for the back cover of your own, you can bring in that photograph and use it in the same way I use my series book template.

Because my style is already established, I have a list of everything that I will need from the cover, including the layout, all the color numbers, the font names and sizes, and even the size of the font I will use in the spine of the book.

QUICK SUJMMARY OF THE VIDEO:

If you are not a newbie and have no need to see it done, I will just summarize what I do in the video:

I bring in the series paperback template as a 'style template' and add guidelines to the downloaded KDP calculator paperback template.

I pull in and align the ebook cover between the guidelines.

I then pull in the back cover picture and align it accordingly.

Then one by one, I start at the top and create each text layer after another, using the series style template along with the customized margins from the paperback template.

Then using the text tool along with the rotate tool, I create the spine text and align in the center of the guidelines.

I save the finished paperback as an .xcf file so that it saves it as a gimp file with all of the layers in tact.

Then I export the same image as a .jpg file.

I then pull in that .jpg from the recent list and save the .jpg as a pdf.  Gimp had a glitch at one time going from an .xcf file straight to a .pdf.  So I just save the jpg first, which I will need anyway, and then I save the .pdf file.

That's everything in a nutshell.  I'll post the video below for anyone who wants to watch the cover being created in real time.



Book Branding – Inside & Out

LEARN HOW TO COBBLE TOGETHER YOUR OWN STYLE TO BRAND YOUR BOOKS.

Below are two videos about branding the inside of your books, as well as creating an ebook template that contains this styling -- which is part 1.

The second video talks about how to research and cobble together your own custom branding for your book covers.  Whether your write stand-alone books or book series, your books will look more professional with consistent branding.

Even if you self-publish, you will be working towards your own recognition as a professional and serious author.  I hope you enjoy the videos.  If you have any questions or other tips, be sure to post them under the videos.  I do read the comments.





How to Research & Prepare to Order a Book Cover from Fiverr

eBOOK BOOK COVERS - HOW TO RESEARCH AND PREPARE TO WORK WITH A FIVERR ARTIST

IT'S EASY BUT REQUIRES PREPARATION:

In this blog post and video, which I will post below, I'm going to go over all the steps you should take in preparing to contact an artist at Fiverr to purchase an eBook cover.  These tips will be helpful to both those who have money to publish but no time and also those on a shoestring budget.

It's all about organizing your thoughts, your examples, and asking for exactly what you want.  That's what this blog and video will be all about.

FIRST STEP IS TO FIND A SIMILAR BOOK TO YOURS AND/OR ONE AMAZON CATEGORY.

Bullseye-on-transI'll use my own book entitled Darius - A Vampire Story as a reference.  Although the story in Darius is a modern-day contemporary story and differs greatly from the classic Dracula story, the 'low fantasy elements' like the vampire powers and magic rules are about the same.  My book also has references to sex but nothing happens on the page.  That is true of Dracula as well.  So that's why I have chosen Dracula as my 'guiding light' book.

I go over more in the video what a 'guiding light' book is, but it almost speaks for itself.  It's at least one book you are sure would fit with your book.  In other words, the same readership that likes your guiding light book, those readers would most likely like your book too.

The first goal is to find the three best categories at Amazon.com.  It sounds easier than it is because there are now dozens and dozens of subcategories and new genres everyday.  So a little research is needed to make sure you choose the best three categories for your book and this choice will also dictate what your book cover should look like.

GENRES AND SUBGENRES:

Subgenre-colorful-checklist-picAll Fantasy books contain make believe and magical powers but the subgenres differ from one another in many ways.  I have an infographic that notes what the subgenres have in common and what the names of the most popular subgenres are and how they are different from each other.  If you want a copy of this, you can download it here.

If you can pick out your fantasy genre from this list, you can start there.  If your book is other than a fantasy book, continue reading as I will show you how to use AI to find your categories.

 

 



HOW TO USE AI TO FIND CATEGORIES:

ONE TECHNIQUE:

You can start with a guiding light book, or a solid category.  I use gemini.google.com as my go-to ai tool.  I've used it several times regarding best sellers and also book categories and it's surprisingly quick and knowledgeable.  Go to gemini.google.com and type right into the prompt box and then enter.  I'll post three example prompts below:

  • Can you create a list of the top ten low fantasy vampire books like Dracula?
  • Can you create a list of the top ten cozy fantasy books?  Please include all classics in the list.
  • Amazon has a book category called Occult Fiction. How is this different from Low Fantasy and Cozy Fantasy?

SECOND TECHNIQUE:

It's possible to also write up a short but concise outline description of your book and ask Gemini to suggest the top 3 categories at Amazon for your book.  This may be easier for you.

Either technique will work.

Another tip I can pass on is that if you choose a classic as a guiding light book, or a popular book that has been professionally published, by analyzing those books and seeing where they are positioned, in a way you are getting the advantage of the marketing department that is behind this bestseller.  The publishing companies have a marketing department and they work all day positioning books.  By watching those bestsellers, you can profit, so to speak, from all of their education and know-how.

 



THE PROCEDURE:

step1

STEP ONE:  Start researching the books you find using AI or using the keywords for your category.  Open each book and scroll down to see what categories the book is listed in.  You will see categories you have never heard of and didn't know existed.  If you think the category would be a good fit for you book, click on the link and it will open an Amazon Best Seller's List in that sub-category.

This Bestseller list will give you a scrolling view of what kinds of books are positioned in this category.  It will also give you a lot of information about what kind of book covers are popular in that subcategory.  Pay particular attention to the colors used, are there more popular colors than others?  For example, in Gothic Fiction, black and red are dominant colors as are gothic fonts.  Make note of these.

As a new writer, it is tempting to want to have a "scene" on the front of the book that will represent the story, but this can be a newbie trap.  It's better to have a book cover that fits the category than one that is in your favorite colors with too much action going on.  You will see what I mean when you do this research.

step2

STEP TWO:  Keep notes on the names of books you find that are similar to yours.  Keep notes on any categories you feel are a good fit for your book.  Remember, in this process you are looking for best categories and you are also finding 3 or 4 book cover designs that you want to use as examples for the Fiverr artist.

Just a word of caution about not taking notes.  You will not be able to use your memory only.  By the time you open several books and categories, you will not be able to keep them all straight, so take notes!

GATHER EVERYTHING TOGETHER:

book cover inspirational modelsTry to put all the pictures of the books on one page.  You can do this in Word.  If this seems like too much work, you can save the inspirational covers and keep them all in a folder so you can upload them to your fiverr Request.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FONTS:

I go into details in the video below about why it's important to know which font you want to use.  If you hire a Fiverr person today to make a book cover for you for $50, when you go back for a change in two months, or you have another book in the series, his or her prices could have skyrocketed.  They only start out at $5.00.  This happened to me and I always make it a rule to choose my own font.

Here are three websites that have free fonts:

  • fonts.google.com - they are all free.
  • dafont.com - These are more advanced fonts, at least in the gothic style, but only some are 100% free.  You need to check the small print.
  • elements.envato.com - This website is one that I subscribe to, but I believe you can make one-time purchases from them.  They have very fancy fonts.

THE FIVER APPROACH:

Here's what you should have:

  1.  One sheet of pictures of books you like and what you like about them.  For example:  The top 3 I like the format, the layout.  Numbers 4 and 5, I like the atmosphere, the mood of the artwork.  Number 6 and 7, I like the shadows in this book cover.  And the last one has a font that I love.
  2. Then give them a short synopsis of the book so they are on the same page as you.
  3. Give them the exact three categories the books will be in and tell them it's important that your book fit within these three categories.
  4.  Give them the name of the font you want to use and where to get it.  If it costs money, then you can purchase it and upload the zip file that you will get upon purchase.
  5. Give the artist plenty of time so you don't get a rushed order.
  6. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE:  I want an eBook image that is 1600 pixels by 2560 pixels in 300 dpi delivered in a svg file with 3 revisions.  I want it to be similar to the pictures submitted and according to my written specifications.

Be aware that an artist can create any artwork in 300 dpi with as much ease as in 72 dpi.  It's only the change of the settings when they start.  So don't allow them to intimidate you or tell you that will cost more money.  I've never had this happen, mind you, but I just throw it out there as a protection.  I have had nothing but good results working with artists and technicians at Fiverr.

HERE'S A VIDEO THAT COVERS A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION THAN THE BLOG POST: