Now that over a million books are published
annually, readers have an abundance of options. And there’s no denying
that we often judge a book by its cover because there are so many books
to choose from.
Therefore, a
distinctive, expert, and carefully thought-out book cover design is
essential to capturing your audience’s attention and guaranteeing the
success of the book you’re working with.
Book covers actually
provide vital information to potential readers about the contents of a
book. More people are likely to pick up books from bookstore shelves if
they have attractive covers (or clicked on when browsing online).
And that’s the initial action a reader performs prior to buying a book. How then do you create a book cover that appeals to buyers? Before you begin creating a book cover for yourself or a client, familiarize yourself with these best practices for creating stunning book covers that sell like hotcakes:
Read the book and survey the market
Designers sometimes don’t have the time to
read a book cover to cover, so we rely on the editor’s assessment
instead. Although editors are quite familiar with their works, you will
always have a distinct viewpoint on them.
Reading the book will add so much more to the design than just its summary. Additionally crucial is market research. Check out what else is being published and consider what will set your book apart from the competition. Consider the shelf appeal and the features that will appeal to your target market.
List the book’s key themes
The concepts that the book examines must be supported by the book cover. Additionally, it must support the book’s mood. What is the subject of the book? Is it a rigorous investigation of contemporary society? Is it a light-hearted, daring narrative focused solely on self-discovery?
A pleasant beach read requires a completely different look than a serious book, which should have a relatively serious cover. Outline your book’s primary ideas and keep them in mind as you choose the type of artwork you’ll want to put on the cover.
Keep the genre in mind
The conventions for book covers vary
depending on the genre. A pair hugging on the cover is a common sight
for passionate romance books. The covers of true crime books typically
aren’t light and give away the crime.
Look through competing novels to get an idea of what readers in the category are expecting. You’ll probably want your cover to match that convention if they all adhere to it so that readers of that genre may recognize it right away if they see it.
Use thumbnails as your guide
Your title won’t be readable if it isn’t
prominent enough on the cover, according to this. As a result, any tiny
elements on your cover that are crucial to understanding it will be lost
when reduced to thumbnail size.
That doesn’t necessarily imply that those particulars shouldn’t be mentioned on a cover. You must make sure that your cover still makes a strong impression when reduced to thumbnail size, according to what this signifies. Make sure that your visuals’ focal point can be seen and that your title can be read at small sizes.
Choosing Fonts and Graphics
One of the best things about book covers is
that almost every type of graphic design can be used. The designer’s
task is to produce a cover that captures all the fantastical worlds that
the author’s words conjure because writers have such vivid
imaginations. This has the drawback that it can be difficult to define a
specific style.
On book covers,
there may be a picture, an illustration, or an abstract pattern. They
may include everything from minimalist, contemporary lettering to
whimsical drawings. Think about the subconscious message that the
graphic design provides to a book buyer. A novel that is not set in New
York City shouldn’t use a picture of the city.
Women’s
fiction frequently uses soft typefaces and natural surroundings, while
old photos suggest a historical setting. It’s also important to consider
carefully where you acquire your photographs. While many books on the
shelf use stock photos, there is a chance that a different book may be
released with a cover that is virtually identical.
Fonts are no different. Choose typefaces that fit the time period in which the novel is set. In contrast to a nonfiction book about the Civil War, a book set in space 200 years in the future may function brilliantly with a bold Sans-Serif font.
Remove the clutter
When viewed in small sizes, cluttered
covers don’t look well. Since most book browsing now takes place online,
book covers are frequently reduced to thumbnail size. If your book
cover appears busy when seen as a thumbnail, you run the risk of
alienating potential readers.
For your cover, decide on a single focal point.
The title of the book or a portion of the image used on the cover could both contain this. Knowing your focal point will help you design the rest of the cover to highlight it. A lot of white space should be left surrounding that focus point as well.
Listen to feedback
A “wonderful cover” may not always be the
best cover for a certain book. You’ll be better able to assess whether a
cover is conveying the proper message to a wide audience the more eyes
you get on the design.
Prioritize your own judgment before turning to the author. After that, let visitors to hear the cover alone. Inquire about their presumptions on the book. They can inquire, “Is the narrator of this story a child?” if the book’s cover depicts a youngster. They might mention that a particular design makes them laugh or cry.
Determine what the printer needs
One flat file including all the necessary
graphic and text details for the front and back covers, spine, and flaps
will serve as the project's final output (if your project has them).
This needs to be one wide file that the printer can print and then
either cut or fold to fit the finished book.
While some printers only accept .AI or .EPS files, most prefer high-quality PDFs. For printing, all colors must be CMYK. A second document that serves as a guide for where you want the foil to go will probably need to be created if you require any unusual printing techniques (such foil stamping).
Conclusion
Every author’s desire is to have their creative vision materialize as a
stunning book cover. Following the steps above, you are prepared to
create a book cover. I hope this gives you the courage to take on your
upcoming book design project.
