Key Elements Of Professional Book Cover Design For Self-Published Authors

It takes just a few vital seconds for an editor or reader to decide about whether your self-published book is worth reading or not, so the design of the book cover is incredibly important. If the key opportunity for selling your book exists in one tiny glance, that glance had better be optimized by excellent design elements, wouldn’t you agree?

Publishers want their books to appear unique so that the book is hard to forget. An excellent cover helps to make that happen. An excellent book cover is like the striking pose of a model – stunning and creative.

Finding the Right Graphic Designer

Professionalism and experience as well as expertise are the main qualities you should look for when finding the right graphic designer to do an important task like the one-glimpse-and-it-sells-or-not test cover of your book. You don’t want your self-published book to appear amateurish or homemade. Your graphic designer should have a high level of creativity, skills, the right software, access to stock photography and be knowledgeable about the book printing process to make your book stand out from all the rest.

What Are the Key Elements in Cover Design?

The cover of a book must include all the elements in our list that are applicable. Not all book covers will have flaps.

* Front cover

* Spine

* Back Cover

* Inside Flaps

* ISBN and Bar Code

At a minimum, your front cover should contain the name of the book, its subtitle, and your name. Testimonials and endorsements can also be tastefully used on the front cover. Your front cover should be legible and easily read from a short distance. Use bold, contrasting lettering to make this element work right. On the spine, your name, title and publishing company name or logo should be listed and legible from a distance. On the back cover, you will want the book’s category in the upper left corner to help bookstores shelve it properly. The back cover should have a compelling headline directed to your target book buying audience, a brief description and a few bulleted benefits. Listing a few testimonials from recognized leaders in your field is very helpful. Your picture and bio may appear on the back cover, and these technical points need to appear as well:

* 13 digit ISBN number (buy from R. R. Bowker Co.)

* Price

* Bar code

* Credits for the cover designer and/or illustrator

What Other Important Elements Play a Role in Producing Excellent Book Covers?

Because your self-published book cover is critical for your marketing and branding, it will get you noticed either positively or negatively. Following are more elements that will help you catch the attention of your audience. A knowledgeable graphic designer knows all about these key elements and their proper usage.

* Chose the right font for the book and its audience.

* Don’t use ALL CAPS for headings, subheadings or Table of Contents. They are too difficult to read.

* Eliminate ‘rivers of white’ with proper word spacing.

* Be aware of ‘leading’ – the space between the lines. Font, type size, word spacing and length of line all come into play here.

* Line length should not exceed 65 characters for ease of reading.

* Paper samples for your book cover are available from the printer. 10 point C1S is the standard for soft covers. Ask your book printer for house stock, as it is more affordable.

There is a precise science behind the creation of a successful book cover, as I’m confident You Are now aware. Since the cover is such an important tool, being penny wise and pound foolish should be saved for other elements of your successful book publishing and marketing. Let an experienced, skillful graphic designer help you design your self-published book cover. You can use the key points in this article to check for his or her skill level. To your success!

About the Author

Karen Saunders is the owner of MacGraphics Services, an award-winning graphic design firm (888-796-7300). We help authors navigate the self-publishing process. View our portfolio, download a free Book Media Kit Check List, and sign up for our free eCourse: Learn How to Create a Best-selling Book Design from the Inside Out at
http://www.macgraphics.net/book-cover-design.php
.

lets play Elements Destiny- Origins [Blind] -Part 3 Der Lag

Drinko Game This drinking game includes 6 shot glasses, colored chips, playing board with acrylic cover, and instructions. Looking for a way to have your party guest interact and have fun? This game is for you! A welcome addition to any adult party. NOT INTENDED FOR CHILDREN….

Shot Glass Shooters and Ladders Drinking Game Set A Fun Drinking Game using the Beverage of your Choice – Shot Glass Shooters And Ladders - 8pc set- 11.5 Glass Playing board- 6 Shooter Glass Playing Pieces- One Dice- Photo Gift Boxed-FIFTH AVENUE CRYSTAL…

Tic Tac Toe Shot Glasses by Studio Silversmiths $54.99 Play and be merry with this innovated Tic-Tac-Toe shot glasses set. The set comes with a mirror etched game board, 5 ‘X’ game pieces/shooters and 5 ‘O’ game pieces/shooters. This set will make a great gift. Game should be played with non alcoholic beverages only. Tray – 9.75 inches, Shot Glasses – 2.5 inches h….

Songs & More Songs By Tom Lehrer $5.41 In the wake of the ’80s comedy boom that made casual obscenity and bodily functions safe for TV, a listen to these ’50s classics from a piano-playing Harvard grad student with a thin singing voice sounds tame if not quaint. Yet Lehrer’s first two self-produced albums, among the first generation of comedy LPs, remain beloved gems of musical parody, and noteworthy for their original success in an er…

Victor Wooten: Groove Workshop $22.25 In this nearly 5-hour, 2-disc DVD set, legendary bassist Victor Wooten redefines the essential elements of music and demonstrates how to apply them in fresh, musically relevant ways. Victor’s open approach to playing bass will provide effective improvement to any musician’s skills and as the students on the DVD show, many of the most important lessons can be learned very quickly. Also featured in …

In Search of Sunrise 7 $11.69 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Amelia Grace Artistic Dual Wrought Iron Gate – 16 FT $4,284.00 Amelia Grace is a breathtaking dual styled wrought iron gate that measures 16 feet in length. It is created with a deep golden metallic color which is intertwined with subtle black hues and dark orange jeweled toned touches. This majestic gate is sectioned into four panels each replicating the other with the exception of a gradual increase to the center resulting in a bell arc. There are two diffe…

Rugby Design Element – 24H x 24W – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $32.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Tennis Design Element – 18H x 18W – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $29.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Peter Pan (Widescreen Edition) $2.99 Fine casting, genuinely special effects, and a keen combination of whimsy and danger make this Peter Pan the one to beat among all previous adaptations of J.M. Barrie’s classic children’s fantasy. The technical advances of CGI make the magic of Barrie’s tale come alive, and the spectacular effects combined with luminous live action create an action-packed Neverland that’s both believable and breat…