The cliché, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’, has been baptized by time. However, many publishers would fully agree that this saying is rarely true in the real world, where readers tend to judge a book by its cover and then decide whether to flip through its pages. This is true not only for print books, but also for e-books. A format change doesn’t take away from the fact that a book cover is the first point of interaction your book has with its potential reader. So clever book cover design can give your book an edge that it might not otherwise have on a crowded bookshelf.
These days, the trend of authors and publishers forgoing print books entirely for e-books is gaining momentum. Naturally, this means that the demand for eBook cover design services is growing. If you are faced with such a need, it is advisable to choose a company that already has a reputation for converting hard books to eBooks.
At first, the success of your eBook conversion project depends on the capabilities demonstrated by your chosen service provider. Look for a company that has been recognized and applauded for its work; While this will only marginally increase your budget, you can be sure that the end results will be better than expected.
What are the key elements that come into play when designing your eBook cover?
Visualization – This is the stage where life is infused into your eBook cover creative brief. Based on the summary provided by the author or publisher, the eBook service company’s design team brainstorms the right book cover concept.
Graphics and Illustration: This stage is where ideas are put on paper (or screen, as the case may be). This is a critical stage in the digital book conversion process, as it typically involves a hand-drawn sketch that is then processed and refined using image-editing software like Photoshop.
Conversion and Deployment – This is the stage where your chosen eBook conversion service company converts your hand-drawn sketch or illustration into a high-quality digital image. The digital image is then enhanced using best-in-class design software packages and applications. At this stage, the service provider can also use stock photos to give the desired effect to your eBook cover.
Typography – While this isn’t the most eye-catching aspect of a book cover, choosing the right typeface is an inextricable part of the entire eBook conversion process. Digital book conversion companies will usually recommend the appropriate typeface based on the genre of your book. That’s because the typography for a children’s novel should be attractive to that age group, and the same for other genres aimed at different age groups.
Design – This stage is the masterstroke, where all the various elements are woven together in the eBook cover design process. The design team at your eBook conversion company brings together all of the above elements aesthetically to give your eBook cover a touch of perfection.
