These paper coverings are designed to protect a book’s cloth cover as the book travels from the publisher to your bookshelf. Some readers remove their dust jackets—or even use them as bookmarks!

What does a book cover designer do? What Does a Book Cover Designer Do? Book cover designers play an important role in the production of both fiction and non-fiction books. A professional book cover designer will frequently do the following: Oversee all elements of the design process: This includes graphic design and typesetting.

Also, Do book covers matter? The book cover needs to represent enough content about the genre and story that the reader knows exactly what they’re buying without being explicitly told. Author Pip Newling agrees, that the cover must always look like the story the book tells: … Book covers seem to matter less when browsing and purchasing online.

What is the inside flap of a book cover called?

Book flaps, also called jacket copy, are either written in house by staff writers or by the author himself. According a Codex Group study, jacket copy can have a definite impact on book sales, especially for fiction, and the importance of jacket copy can’t be underestimated.

20 Related Questions and Answers

What are the different types of book covers?


Choosing a cover type

  • Paperback.
  • Hardcover Case Wrap.
  • Hardcover Dust Jacket.

How much do artists make for book covers?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $99,000 and as low as $16,500, the majority of Book Cover Artist salaries currently range between $27,000 (25th percentile) to $53,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $78,500 annually across the United States.

Do book cover artists get royalties?

Book cover art

Typically, there are no royalties on book cover work—it’s a flat fee. It may be exciting to illustrate the cover of what will be the next Harry Potter, but, sadly, you won’t see a dime in royalties.

What color book covers sell best?

In addition to black and white, which work great for copy, most book covers look best with two or three colors.



Best Colors for Book Covers.

Red Energy, enthusiasm, emotion, power
Blue Dependability, trust, thoughtfulness, calm
Dark Blue Deep sincerity, intuition, truth

Why are book covers so bad?

Most book covers during the late 20th century or 21st century have the author’s name unnecessarily bigger than the book’s title using very ugly fonts. Some covers also include photos, which usually looks poorly positioned.

Do authors choose their book covers?

But speaking in general terms, authors can usually trust their publisher to give them a cover that will result in book sales—which, many people forget, is pretty much the sole purpose of a book cover.

What makes a bad book cover?

Too many fonts. Boring and bland design. Completely unreadable in small thumbnail size. Too much text and too many elements crammed into it.

How are book covers embossed?

How is embossing done? The process of embossing involves the use of a special custom die. The die is carved to align seamlessly with the image (or text) to be embossed. Then, the sheet of paper or cover is inserted into the die machine with the die facing the back of the sheet.

What are hard book covers made of?

A hardback is a book bound with rigid protective covers, usually heavy cardboard, which is covered in cloth, heavy paper or leather. Often the book comes with a separate dust jacket.

What material are book covers made of?

A hardcover, hard cover, or hardback (also known as hardbound, and sometimes as case-bound) book is one bound with rigid protective covers (typically of binder’s board or heavy paperboard covered with buckram or other cloth, heavy paper, or occasionally leather).

How much does a book cover design cost?

The most common range seems to be $250-500. Print cover versions can be additional $50-150 (so if ebook cover costs $299, print+ebook would be $349 or $449).

Who invented book cover?

Cover design

Some of the first radically modern cover designs were produced in the Soviet Union during the 1920s by avant-gardists such as Alexander Rodchenko and El Lissitzky.

What material is used for book covers?

Felt is a good choice as it is very durable and strong. It should not tear that easily or get holes in it very quickly. A fabric known as book cloth would also be one of the better options to use as would leather.

How long does it take to design a book cover?

How long does it take to design a book cover? It usually takes 10-12 working days, but for more complex projects (e.g. illustrations) it may take up to 20 working days.

How do I become a book cover designer?


How to become a book designer

  1. Enter design competitions to expand your portfolio.
  2. Get yourself a work placement, it’s worth all those email asks.
  3. Internship not your dream job? Make transferrable skills.
  4. Practice your interview technique, it’s all about research and enthusiasm.

Should I copyright my book cover?

Book covers, album covers, and movie covers are copyrightable. However, fair use, a provision of U.S. copyright law, gives users the right to use copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances. If a use is fair, the user need not notify or seek permission from the copyright holder.

How much do you charge for a book cover design?

The most common range seems to be $250-500. Print cover versions can be additional $50-150 (so if ebook cover costs $299, print+ebook would be $349 or $449).

Do I need to copyright my book cover?

Unless your contract with the publisher states otherwise, you do not own the copyright in the book cover. Sometimes, however, an independent artist outside the publishing house creates the cover art, especially with small publishers or when someone more notable or with different skills is needed.

Should I put my face on my book cover?

Many authors think that putting their picture on the front cover will make them famous. This is not necessarily so. Unless you are well known in the media, bookstore buyers will not accept your book which pictures you on the front cover. … Otherwise, your picture and bio belong in the back matter of the book.

What attracts readers to a book cover?


Let’s dive into book cover design tips that attract a greater audience.

  • Make your title the focal point. …
  • Select fonts and colors to make reading easier. …
  • Declutter the cover. …
  • Play the genre game. …
  • Feature a key thematic element from your book.

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