By Rachel Guise, PPS Editor
The Write Life reminds us that we only have one chance at a first impression. A book cover is the first thing a reader sees when coming across a book. It’s important to know how to create a great cover design that doesn’t mislead your reader or misrepresent your book.
1. The Software
Having the right design tools is the first step in creating a cover design. But where do you begin? A quick internet search shows that Adobe InDesign is the most popular program to create just about anything in the graphic design field—including covers. The downside? Most software programs need to be purchased. 123RF points out, however, that software like InDesign is worth the subscription. They also note some popular programs that are more affordable, such as Microsoft Publisher and Scribus.
2. Standing Out
Most genres of writing tend to have a certain theme for their cover images. Education? A stack of books or a chalkboard. Law? A judge’s gavel. Sports medicine? An athlete. Besides giving a general idea of your book’s topic, the purpose of a cover is to grab a person’s attention. The cover should make them choose your book when it’s on a shelf with others in the same field. Be unique!
3. Looking Professional
The Write Life notes that a major challenge for authors is creating a cover that doesn’t look self-published. If you want to avoid some of these issues straight off the bat, The Book Designer lists bad font choices and colors that don’t work, among other issues. Another issue they list is photos that appear meaningless. That is, as the author of a book, you probably have integrated symbolism or other ideas in the book that aren’t going to convey easily in photographs. It’s important to remember that thinking inside the box may be the way to go when choosing images for your cover so you don’t confuse your potential reader.
4. Copyrighted Information
Copyright laws were established to protect other writers’ work. This includes writing as well as images. Almost all book covers contain some type of art, whether it be abstract line art or a photograph. It’s important to educate yourself on obtaining permission for certain images before moving too far along with your cover design. For more information on copyright, check out PPS’s blog Copyright Conundrum: What Can and Can’t Be Used When It Comes to Copyright Laws.
5. Outside Feedback
Rocking Book Covers notes the importance of getting feedback on cover designs, but they also encourage authors not to ask a lot of people. Every person will have their own opinion on what they feel should visually represent a book. Keep in mind that while their intention may be good, they will not know the book better than the person who wrote it. Take feedback from others with a grain of salt!