Book cover design that matters

Better book cover design.

A book cover that is functional, provides the title, any subtitle, the author of the book, and a great design. A great cover conveys a teaser to the book’s content. This can be done with typography, images, or both. Content is one thing, but a cover has to say, “Buy me. I have something to say.”

The back cover also has a message. A completely blank back cover is simplicity, whether left as the color of the paper, of print in one PMS ink. But, it is additional “real estate.” In addition to the barcode in the lower right hand corner, a savvy author can add reader quotes, a brief description about the book, and perhaps another image. See our book design gallery.

Content is one thing, but a book cover has to say, “Buy me. I have something to say.”

Large titles work better on a book cover.

Self-publishers can make mistakes with a front cover. The cover is the invitation for someone to buy the book. While small type book title might make a beautiful statement, will it show up when a cover is reduced to fit the typical book on Amazon. The book’s title design looks fine in the large size images. But, the small size images don’t work well when viewed on Amazon? Use a type size that viewers can easily read.

Terms. Knowing the difference between a cover, a cover wrap, and a dust jacket.

Cover — The front cover of any book. But, the front, back, and spine of a book are considered the cover for printing purposes.

Cover Wrap — The covering material used on the grey board of a hard case book. It may be cloth, paper, vinyl, bonded leather, or leather. Often the paper is printed with a design similar to the dust jacket.

Dust Jacket — A loose paper wrapping for a hard case or perfect bound book. Also called a jacket, it has inside front cover and inside back cover flaps. The dust jacket and flaps often contain promotional information.

If you have any questions about book design, please contact us.

Call (844) 603-1777 toll-free, or (425) 603-1777 in Bellevue, Washington. You can request a quote today!