Tag: create an ebook cover

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EBook Cover Graphics

EBook cover graphics can seem like a daunting project. But they are an essential marketing and selling tool for your eBook. With the fast search techniques used online your eBook graphics have to catch attention quickly.

postzegels_fitness
photo credit: Marieke van Santen

Whether you take the task on yourself or hire a professional there are a few inside design tips on how to create eBook covers that sell.

Your eBook graphics need to

Make your eBook cover unique

Your eBook cover graphic needs to be one-of-a-kind. Let it show your personality and what the eBook has to offer. There are many cookie-cutter and free-for-all graphics available on the Web and it’s easy to fall into the freebie trap when creating your eBook cover.

Go ahead use a free graphic but spruce it up or add to the design. Consider it a starting point and make the design your own. And do not use the same pictures as other eBook out on the Web. Use one of your own photographs or go to a stock photography site and select one.

The basic book shape can be similar, or even the same as other eBook covers, but the images and graphics must be original. Show your personality!

Photos and Graphics set the stage

The photos or graphics must represent the subject of your eBook. The cover should be able to convey a general idea of what your eBook is about with a glance.  That glance will hold a persons attention and draw them into looking at the eBooks description.

The eBook cover must look professional.  Many people have worked long hours on the content and just throw a cover on the eBook. This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Have fun with the cover. It represents your ideas and efforts.

The images and graphics need to be in focus, crisp and clear. The title should be easy to read. And all your images should have clean edges and line up

Colourful
photo credit: Ole Houen/yakkerDK

Traditional paper books have eye appealing covers and titles. The author and publisher know the value of a cover.  It is just as important as the content. It is what will help your eBook get noticed and stand out in the group.  If your eBook does not attract attention and look professional, it will not be read.

With planning and thought, an eBook cover will be easy to create – either by yourself or by hiring a professional graphic designer. Just remember to keep the cover true to the content and have fun with it.

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Create an eBook Cover

The writing of your eBook is finished. Now its time for you to add the final touches, designing the eBook cover and matching banners, graphic buttons. You will need a sales pages  if you are planning to sell the eBook.

Pratt Library Wordle 2: books and shapes and more
photo credit: Enoch Pratt Free Library

This last step of creating a professional look to your eBook is one of the essential parts of creating a professional impression. With out this final process your writing will be overlooked.

There are several options available for this last step.

1.  You can hire a professional to design your e-book cover and the graphics needed. This is the faster way to finish your eBook, particularly if you have not worked with graphic design and photo imaging software before.

2. You can  use a package of ‘stock’ covers that you can alter to fit your needs or you can design the graphics you need yourself.

3.  Use software to create you own eCover and graphics.

eBook Cover Design
photo credit: room122

If you really don’t feel up to the task or time involved in eBook cover and graphic creation, hire a professional. There are groups of skilled designers that design eBook covers, headers and graphics for very reasonable fees.

Online, I would recommend eLance.  You sign into eLance and place a job ad for the eBook and graphics needed for your project. Include the  price range you are willing to accept and wait for bids.

You may also be able to find talented local college students that would be able to do the work for you.

The price for the graphics for your eBook project will depend on the amount of work you are requesting. But prices usually fall between $40 and $100.

If you decide to design your eBook cover and graphics yourself you will need imaging software.  Photoshop, Paintshop Pro, or GIMP are a few programs available. Stock images, are also available online. But you need to carefully check the license of any image you select to see if you can user the image for your project.

If you are a photographer and have professional quality photos, or know a good photographer, they might be a person to contact. Otherwise look for sites that deal in royalty free images. Google has many listing for stock photographs.

When  creating you own eBook cover make sure the quality of the image is sharp and attractive. You will also need to check the perspectives of the eBook cover and match up all edges so that your binding, and front and back covers are not crooked or out of proportion.

There are software packages out there that provide Photoshop action scripts and more aid in the design of your eBook.  These action scripts allow you to generate a cover without fiddling with matching up edges and other tasks such as a perspective view that you might want for your e-book or stylized box design. ECover software programs can be found on Google. Some programs must be bought and others are free.

The cover and packaging is the first thing most people will see of your e-book. The quality has to be top notch to attract attention and create interest.  Your eBook may be informative and a great read but if the eCover lacks pizzazz your readers will loose interest quickly.

Regardless of the topic of your eBook, a professional and appealing e-book cover is a must if you expect to people to read your eBook or buy a copy.