Great book cover design: How does it work?
As a writer, you’re using words to tell a story. For the cover of your book, our award-winning designers create distinctive visuals and striking images that tell that same story, captivating readers from the moment they see your book.
Simple Book Cover Design Samples
Complex Book Cover Design Samples
Two levels of service give your book exactly what it needs.
We offer both a simple book cover design service and a complex book cover design service to suit your vision and your book’s genre. Sometimes a single focal image best captures the heart of the story, but sometimes multiple focal images are needed to convey the many narrative layers awaiting readers. Either way, you’ll work with seasoned professionals who live to craft beautiful books. And both services provide paperback and e-book versions of your cover.
Complex doesn’t mean complicated. Simple isn’t simplistic.
A book cover is the epitome of a picture being worth a thousand words—the right images and graphic design grab your potential readers’ attention and leaves them wanting to know more. If you’re not sure which cover design service is right for your book, get in touch with one of our publishing experts and discuss your vision. We’ve got you covered.
Cover Design Services from $429
E-book included
All services include direct access to a dedicated author success manager to ensure your project’s success. Fill out the contact form below, and an expert publishing consultant will be in touch to discuss your needs.
Looking for more? Consider a comprehensive publishing package that is tailored for you. Our team will work with you to ensure you get the most out of your budget.
Leverage bespoke graphic design with your name on it.
You’ve done the research. As an indie author, you know how critical it is that your book looks professional and beautiful. Our award-winning graphic designers create one-of-a-kind book cover designs that will make your book stand out from the crowd.
Bonus: Use your cover images to promote your book.
The cover of your book is part of your image as an author, and we want to help you build your unique brand. We provide JPEGs of your front cover and the entire cover, both of which you can use to market your book in a variety of media.
Beautiful covers sell books.
Maybe we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, as the saying goes, but truthfully, we can’t help it. So it’s really important that your book cover design is appealing, attractive, and compelling. Our covers engage readers before they even open your book. And with both the simple and the complex cover design options, you’ll get a magnetically attractive book readers will be itching to pick up.
I am a first time author and Elite Authors came highly recommended. They nailed my cover design on the first try and I absolutely LOVE what they came up with. More importantly when I had issues and concerns they were very responsive and made communication between team members very smooth and easy.
Adrienne Youdim
Get a book cover that makes a statement from the shelf.
Let’s Cover the Basics
What is a book cover?
A book cover, in the most general terms, has three parts: the front, the back, and the spine. The front cover melds graphics, images, and appealing fonts to let readers know not just the title and the author’s name but the book’s genre and mood. The back cover usually has a short blurb to give readers a bit more insight into what the book is about. The spine includes the author’s name and the title of the book.
What is a book cover design?
A book cover design is the overall term for the combination of title, author’s name, and image that decorates the cover of a book. A good book cover design is like beautiful wrapping paper. The book itself is the gift, and the cover dresses it up, makes it look inviting and exciting.
What is the cover of a book called?
The detachable cover of a hardback book is called a book jacket or a dust jacket. It is a thick paper wrapper that bears the cover image, title, author name, and any additional cover copy.
How do you make a paper book cover?
Like a dust jacket, the cover of a paperback book includes a cover image, the book’s title, and the author’s name, but because it’s smaller, it typically has less text and sometimes uses a smaller font.
Is an e-book cover identical to the cover of a paperback or hardback book?
An e-book cover is usually very similar, if not precisely identical, to the front cover of the paperback version of the book. Unlike paperbacks and hardbacks, an e-book cover design doesn’t need to include back-cover copy or a spine.
What is the size of a book cover?
The size of a book’s cover depends (obviously) on the size of the book—and that depends on word count and genre. Very long books tend to be sized up a bit to avoid an overly chunky book, while low word counts tend to get a smaller trim size to help the book look more substantial. Children’s books are often square or oblong, while textbooks are typically larger. Most books are approximately five inches wide by eight inches tall.
Should I use book cover design software?
Not all authors are also visual artists—a few are, of course, and if that’s you, book cover design software might be the way to go. But a really great cover requires years of design experience, a sharp eye, and some insider knowledge. Every book genre has a signature look, and expert cover designers can use those elements to create a unique cover that appeals to the readers most likely to love your book.
Where can I find book cover designer tips and ideas?
You can look online for inspiration—but you might find even more food for thought at your local library. We also have a detailed blog post here with all the tips, tricks, ideas, and insight you need about how designers create beautiful covers.
How do you create a book cover?
We start with your words. We spend time getting to know your book, your style, and your voice so we can create exactly the right cover, one that is specific to you and your work. We match you with a professional designer experienced in your field, industry, or genre who will design to your specifications.
If I plan to publish my book as both an e-book and a paperback, will I need two separate book cover designs?
No! Our cover designers create images and designs that work as beautifully on the screen of an e-reader as they do on a bookshelf.
Get ready to publish everywhere.
Get a no-obligation quote for your book cover design.
Talk to one of our publishing experts and get a free, no-obligation quote.