Creating covers for books is a very complex and resource-intensive process. Unless, of course, we are talking about electronic books. In this case, everything is much simpler. How to create a cover for a book? There are many options. For example, there are special online services that allow you to do this quickly and with maximum comfort. You can also use various image editors. But in this case, you need to have some skills. We will consider all options.
Some cover art tips
To create high-quality content, you need to have not only design skills, but also a marketing flair. It is important to understand what can attract a potential reader and how to do it all better. It is worth mentioning right away that covers with an abundance of information do not attract, but repel, the reader. A lot of information is bad. You need to create a cover for the book so that it clings and is not overloaded with unnecessary elements.
Well-proven covers with a minimalist design. They are perceived at the subconscious level and do not strain. But you need to clearly know what is worth placing on the cover, and what is better not to put there. Therefore, if you plan to sell the book in the future, it is better to turn to the designer for help. And if the book is planned to be used exclusively in the home collection, then your humble knowledge is enough. So, let's figure out how to create a cover for an e-book, if you do not have the skills of a professional designer.
We use online services
So, the easiest way is to use book cover services. They work online and there are quite a lot of them. The principle of operation of such services is very simple. They provide pre-made layouts of the most popular cover types. The user is only required to select the desired color, insert their own images and enter the necessary information. Very simple. At the same time, you can get a modern and rather original cover that will satisfy even the most demanding readers.
Very good tools for creating covers offers the English-language service Online.Boxshot. However, the problem is that it is not very suitable for domestic users due to the lack of the Russian language in the interface. Nevertheless, many use it, since everything is quite intuitive there. In addition, a school English course is quite enough. For those who are not at all friendly with English, you can offer a domestic 3dcoverdesing service. It will help create a 3D book cover.
The coolest service. MyEcoverMaker
This is really a very cool service with many settings and templates. If all the services listed above allowed you to create only simple covers, then this excellent and powerful tool is capable of anything. However, to use it, you will have to register on the site. To access the extended list of templates and tools, you even have to pay. However, in most cases, a free starter pack is enough. Creating a cover for a book using this service is very simple. But first you will need to prepare the source.
To begin with, in some kind of graphic editor, you need to crop the size of the desired pictures, inserts and other graphic material. Then you should consider the general concept of the cover. You should also deal with the text content of the front and back. And then you can open the service in a browser and start creating a masterpiece. All tools are provided with extensive help, and for beginners there is a whole introductory course. So, problems in the process of work should not arise. After completion, the cover can be downloaded to a computer and then used for your book.
Positive service reviews
In principle, an answer is given to the question of how to make a cover for a book. Reviews about the “coolest service” are needed only to decide whether it is possible to use this service, or whether it is better to look for another one. It is worth noting that the vast majority of those who used MyEcoverMaker are very pleased with the project. People say that the service works very quickly and efficiently. Also, users note the presence of a large number of ready-made templates and the ability to create their own. And some say that using this service you can create a real masterpiece.
Negative service reviews
What about those who categorically did not like this service? Most of the negative reviews are due to the fact that it is customary to pay for the full content on the site. Apparently, these comrades do not have enough free content. Indeed, how to create a cover for a book bordering on a masterpiece if you do not have access to unique content? Also, many were upset that you need to register to work on the service. But this is all the little things. The main thing is that you can make a wonderful cover.
Using image editors
You can create a cover for a book in a graphic editor. The type of editor depends on how the user is going to make the cover: draw from scratch or rivet from materials at hand. In the first case, you will have to use a powerful drawing tool (for example, Corel Draw), and in the second - a powerful image editor (like Adobe Photoshop). In any case, you will have to deal with the functions of these complex products. And it will take some time.
Photoshop Cover
If we create a book cover in Photoshop, then it’s worth considering several features of this program. Firstly, it is always necessary to work with duplicate image layers, and not with the original. This is due to the fact that during the work you can make mistakes that are easier to remove from the duplicate. If you work with the original, then it can be hopelessly ruined. Secondly, you need to clearly understand the dimensions of future cover components in order to create the files you need in size. To edit the size of a picture after its creation in Photoshop is a whole story.
It is also worth considering that the best results when working in Photoshop are achieved only if the user has a fairly powerful computer and a high-quality monitor. If the PC is weak, then the cover will be created for a very long time. And if the monitor is bad, then the selected color scheme may noticeably differ on another device. If you intend to create a cover for a book in Photoshop, you need to understand that this is a very complex and very powerful tool. And creating a cover can take quite a while.
Cover in Power Point
Many people mistakenly believe that the MS Power Point product is only suitable for creating any presentations, diagrams, bulleted lists, and more. But this is far from the case. How to create book cover in PowerPoint? Very simple. Much easier than in the same "Photoshop". True, this product does not have such an extensive list of tools, but the covers are nothing. Especially good are things in a minimalist and austere style. You can create covers at Power Point using the same tool that you use to create presentations. You just have to save it in some kind of graphic format.
So how do you create a cover for an e-book in Power Point? We launch the program itself and the tool for creating a presentation slide. On the virtual sheet we put the desired image and other cover elements. Next, we begin to work with text content. After writing it, place it as we need. That's basically it. Now you can save the resulting masterpiece in one of the popular graphic formats (JPG, PNG, BMP and so on).
Conclusion
So, we examined the options for creating covers. It is worth noting that you can create a cover for a book in several ways that are difficult. The easiest is to use an online service or product from Microsoft called Power Point. The most difficult part is the completely manual work with graphic editors of various types (such as Adobe Photosop or Corel Draw). And these are very complex software products. But in any case, you first need to think over the general concept of the cover and only then get to work. And you will succeed.