I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

How do I create a book cover for my self-published book for under $500?

Asked by: Daniel White

How do I make a self published book cover?


Cover. So the first one is going to be the artwork. And choosing it getting it ready to go deciding it etc. The second one is going to be using a company called canva to design.

How can I make a book cover for free?

How to make a book cover

  1. Open Canva. Open up Canva and search for “Book Covers” to get started.
  2. Select a template. Explore Canva’s wide range of book cover designs for your self-publishing needs. …
  3. Customize your book cover design. …
  4. Try out different features. …
  5. Publish and share.


How do I find a cover for my book?

Here’s how to find and hire a book cover designer as a self published author:

  1. Research your book’s target audience.
  2. Brainstorm cover designs within your genre.
  3. Research book cover designer’s styles.
  4. Know where to find cover designers.
  5. Use a strategy to select the best cover designer in your budget.

How do you format a book cover?

So when you are calculating your bleed. And trying to work out your cover image you're going to want to make sure that you allow for some extra. Space. So that you don't see any white edges or uneven.

Where do authors get their book covers from?

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.

How much does a book cover cost?

The Middle



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). Now, $600 for a book cover is expensive.

What app can I use to make a book cover?

Book Cover Design Software: The Best Paid and Free DIY Apps

Software Price Templates
Adobe InDesign $20.99/month Yes, included
Adobe Spark $9.99/month Yes, included
Book Brush $99 – $246/year Yes, free
PosterMyWall Free – $319.95/year Yes, paid

What software do book cover designers use?

The best tools that you can use in order to design a book cover is Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Spark.

Can you use Canva to make a book?

You see, even if you have zero design experience, you’ll be able to create a professional looking eBook that hits all the right notes with Canva. Each multi-page layout provides visual default elements, colors and fonts, so that you always start off on the right foot.

How do you create a book cover in Word?

On the Insert tab, in the Pages group, click Cover Page. Click a cover page layout from the gallery of options. After you insert a cover page, you can replace the sample text with your own text by clicking to select an area of the cover page, such as the title, and typing your text.



What makes a book cover stand out?

Focusing on the big picture. Strong composition. An intriguing focal point. Clear title and subtitles.

What size should a book cover be?

Trade Paperbacks: 5.5 x 8.5 to 6 x 9. Hardcover books: 6 x 9 to 8.5 x 11. Fiction books: 4.25 x 6.87, 5.25 x 8, 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9. Nonfiction books: 5.5 x 8.5, 6 x 9, 7 x 10.

How do you make a paperback book cover?

Here’s the steps for how to make a paper bag book cover, with more info on each step below.

  1. Prepare your paper bag.
  2. Cut paper to size.
  3. Fold top and bottom edges.
  4. Wrap jacket around book evenly.
  5. Slide book securely into paper bag book cover.
  6. Let your imagination run wild with decoration ideas!


What is the most popular book size?

Trade Paperbacks



These are the most common book sizes for most fiction and nonfiction books. The two most popular sizes in the U.S. are 5.5” by 8.5” (“digest”) and 6” by 9”.



How do I make a book cover in Photoshop?

How to create your cover design in Adobe Photoshop (Version CS and up)

  1. In Photoshop, choose “File>Open” – then navigate to the PDF you downloaded.
  2. Make sure that when this window pops up, you have the following options selected properly-
  3. CROP TO- Select “Media Box”
  4. RESOLUTION- 300 Pixels/Inch.
  5. MODE: CMYK Color.
  6. Press OK.

Which Adobe program is best for book covers?

Most professional book cover designers use a program from the Adobe Creative Suite:

  • InDesign. InDesign is a multi-page design platform but can also be used for single page design.
  • Photoshop. Photoshop is a great tool to use to manipulate and experiment with photography.
  • Illustrator. …
  • Photoshop and Illustrator.


How do I make a book cover in Photoshop for free?

Open a new document. And set the dimensions to 12 inches in width and 8.5 inches in height. The canvas needs to be divided into the front cover back cover and spine of the book draw.

What is the standard size of a book cover in Photoshop?

2,560 x 1,600 pixels



Ideal dimensions for cover files are 2,560 x 1,600 pixels.

How do you layout a book cover for printing?

Book Printing: 5 Tips for Laying out the Cover of a Perfect Bound…

  1. Ask your Printer to help you Determine the Spine Width – …
  2. Don’t Lay Out the Cover Components Separately – …
  3. Pay Attention to the Position of any Text on the Spine – …
  4. Be Sure to Set-up Bleed and Crop Marks Properly –

How do you make a book cover in Illustrator?

In Illustrator, select File>Open, choose your PDF bookcover designfile. It will open as a new document at the correct size. Lock the template layer to avoid any accidental shifts, then create new layers as needed to work on your book cover design. Save OFTEN (as an Illustrator document).

How do you make a book template in Illustrator?

Creating Your Book Template in Adobe Illustrator



  1. In Illustrator, go to File -> New.
  2. The Number of Artboards will be your interior page count plus your inside front and back cover pages (as well as endsheets if your project requires them). …
  3. Make sure the first button to the right of the Number of Artboards is selected.

What does book design include?

Book design includes not only the graphic design of the front and back cover, but also the layout and typographic design of every page within your book. So, it is the responsibility of your book designer to ensure that the details of your book lead your readers to explore and thoroughly read your book.

What items should be included in the front cover of a book?

The essential elements of a front cover include title and author name. Optional elements include the subtitle (if there is one) and photos, background images or graphics.

What are the 5 parts of a book?

These five components are: the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. These essential elements keep the story running smoothly and allow the action to develop in a logical way that the reader can follow.