How to create a book cover: The cover artist
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
How to create a book cover? The cover of the book is the first thing the reader will see and can be decisive in deciding whether or not to read your story. That is why the importance of a professional cover artist.
That's why it's so important to take care of planning when creating a book cover.
The cover is a collective work, involving not only the designer, but also the author, the editorial team and even the marketing department, depending on the size of the publisher.
Before starting the cover creation process, we held a meeting called a briefing, where we discussed details of the book, the contractor's expectations and the target audience for which the book is intended.
This information is essential to achieve the best possible result.
One of the problems that can arise in this process is when people give opinions about the cover without understanding design.
This can lead to ideas without proper design awareness and result in a cover that does not meet expectations.
Pay attention to the style of the cover artist to be hired
O Cover artist style is another important factor. It is essential to choose a designer whose work you like, as this increases the chances of the cover coming out as desired.
Furthermore, it is important to take into account the literary segment of the book.
Each genre has a specific language and it is important to stay within it.
The designer needs to know the literary genre well to be able to subvert the order and create something different. But still maintaining gender identity.
This way, the reader who glimpses the cover will be able to immediately identify which literary genre the book belongs to.
The cover art approval process
Choosing a book cover It can be a complex and challenging process.
The book cover that the cover writer likes most does not always pass approval and this happens quite frequently.
Generally, we cover artists present three cover options, but these options end up being changed by the contractor to create a unique cover. This can result in an aesthetic disaster if the writer does not have a basic understanding of graphic composition.
This happens because each cover option, we cover artists, think about using them in isolation. When you put them together, the typology and visual language can become confusing and meaningless.
It's important to remember that a bad cover doesn't necessarily mean the designer is bad.
The designer may be genius, but that may not be the case for every cover he creates.
Furthermore, there are many factors external to the cover artist that influence the choice of a cover, such as editorial choices.
It is also important to highlight that, sometimes, the editorial choice can be poorly made and the chosen cover may be beautiful, but may not work in the literary genre for which it is intended.
Remember that choosing a book cover is a complex process that involves many factors. We shouldn't judge just by the aesthetic aspect, ok?
At this moment, the opinion of the cover artist should have greater weight over the opinion of people unfamiliar with the design.
5 Things to Consider When Creating a Book Cover
Creating a book cover is one of the most important steps in publishing a book. The cover is the first contact the reader has with your work and can be decisive in their purchase choice. According to designer Holly Dunn, here are five essential things to consider when creating or evaluating a book cover, whether it's done by you or a professional designer:
Gender and Brand Appropriate
The first thing to consider is whether the cover is appropriate for the book's genre and the author's brand. Each literary genre has its own visual conventions that help readers identify the type of book they are looking at.
For example, fantasy books often have magical and mysterious elements, while thrillers can feature shadowy silhouettes and aggressive typography. Self-help books often have clear, minimalist covers, focused on typography (no prominent graphic elements, as the texts are the stars here). Following these conventions can increase the chances of your book being picked up by readers looking for that type of narrative.
In addition to the genre, the cover must reflect the author's brand. This is important for creating a consistent visual identity, especially if the author plans to publish more books in the same genre in the future.
Typography
Typography is another crucial element of a book cover. It not only communicates the title and author's name, but can also convey the tone and style of the book.
There are many typography options and font styles, each with its own connotations. For example, a handwritten font might be perfect for historical fiction, but it wouldn't work as well for a business book.
The most important thing is to ensure that the typography is legible, even in small sizes, such as thumbnails of covers on websites and online stores. Book cover designers adjust the spacing between letters (kerning) and lines (leading) to optimize readability and visual impact.
Images
The choice of images is also fundamental when creating a book cover. Images can be photographs, illustrations or no images at all, letting the typography be the main focus.
Each option has its advantages and may be more appropriate depending on the genre of the book. Photographs can work well for realistic books, while illustrations can be ideal for YA (young adult) or fantasy novels. The choice of image should complement the tone of the book and attract the target audience.
Colors
Colors have a great emotional impact and can convey a lot about the content of the book. Different colors evoke different emotions and associations.
For example, red can represent passion, love or violence, depending on the context. It's important to choose colors that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also reinforce the book's message.
A book cover designer will consider color psychology and genre trends when choosing the color palette for the cover.
Contrast
Contrast is vital to ensure your book cover is readable and attractive across various sizes and formats. A good contrast between the text and the background makes the title and author's name stand out.
This is especially important for covers that will be seen online, where they often appear in very small sizes. Testing your cover in different sizes and views can help ensure it works well across all platforms.
Book Cover Design Secrets: What Information to Provide to the Cover Designer
Designer Michael Laurent also shared some valuable secrets about book cover design, which, as a cover artist, I completely agree with and complement with extra tips:
Clarity is Fundamental
The main lesson is the importance of clarity. A book cover should immediately communicate what the book is about, what the genre is, and appeal to the target audience. This is vital to ensure the reader is drawn to the book.
To convey this clarity to the designer, you should create a brief paragraph that summarizes what the book is about, who the main characters are, and who the target audience is. Additionally, providing examples of other books in the same subgenre can help the designer better understand the author's vision. Hence the importance of a briefing meeting.
Know Your Subgenre
It's not enough to just tell the designer that your book is fantasy; you need to be specific. For example, whether it's urban fantasy or historical fantasy, each subgenre has its own visual characteristics. The more specific the author is when describing the subgenre, the easier it will be for the designer to create a cover that resonates with the target audience.
Essential Elements of a Cover
Every book cover consists of five essential elements:
- Book's title
- Subtitle or series statement (if the title alone is not clear)
- Author's name
- Foreground (main character or central object)
- Background
Understanding these elements and how they interact can help the author provide clearer feedback to the designer, ensuring the final cover is cohesive and effective.
Simplify Communication
Avoid overwhelming the designer with excessive details about the character or story. Focus on the key elements that really define the book. This makes it easier to create a clear, attractive cover without confusing the designer or the reader.
Conclusion on the importance of the process of creating a good book cover
As creating a book cover is a complex and delicate process, this step can involve several professionals and aspects that we need to pay attention to.
It is important to take into account the contractor's expectations, the target audience and the literary genre so that we can achieve the best possible result.
The designer's style is also essential, as you need to choose someone whose work you like and trust to develop your book cover. Discover my portfolio and we will produce your book!
