How I Make Book Covers
One topic I haven’t covered yet is how I create my book covers. This part of publishing can be challenging, especially if you’re like me and don’t have the budget to hire a professional designer. Now, I’m not saying my book covers are perfect, but they get the job done. By sharing my process, I hope to help those of you who are figuring things out on your own.
My Book Cover Creation Methods
- AI-Generated Images: This can be a great tool for creating unique backgrounds, characters, or a combination of both. While I know there’s some debate about using AI for art, it works well for me. I make sure to use a free program, like mage.space, that allows commercial use of its images—this step is crucial to stay within legal boundaries.
- Unsplash: This website provides a variety of images that can be used for commercial purposes. Always double-check the license for the specific image you choose to ensure it’s free for commercial use and doesn’t violate copyright laws.
- Canva: Canva is my go-to tool for setting the right dimensions for book covers. It also allows me to layer different images to create a cohesive design.
- Cut-Out Images: I like to cut out certain elements from images and layer them onto backgrounds I’ve chosen. This gives me more control over the final look and helps me create covers that fit my vision.
- Make It Fit the Story: One rule I always follow is ensuring my book cover matches the story. A cover should give potential readers a sense of what the book is about before they even open it.
Conclusion
I hope sharing my methods for creating book covers helps you, whether you’re looking to create your own or just want to experiment with designs. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do it—as long as you’re happy with your creation and you stay within legal boundaries, that’s what matters.
And if you’re artistically inclined, you could even create your covers from scratch! Personally, I’m not that skilled at drawing, so I stick to these methods.
Happy designing!