[Custom Covers] Blanks, Templates - get them, share them, help to modify and create

[MiniMouse]

Originally Posted by hleo12

Anyway, I'm really interested to the templates that you mention...

Okay, I will upload a bunch of templates over the next days. The first round is some mixed-material templates (but I will also upload linen and leather templates).

These templates however are combinations from stuff like tissue, paper, crinkeld paper, wood, asphalt, slate etc. I use this templates sometimes to overlay them (or try other modes) on linen or leather templates to get a new effect.

If you want to change the colors, you can do that very easy with PIXLR which you can find here.
Two ways to do that is:
1. You can adjust the color-settings (Change Color01 and 01a),
2. Or you can adjust the color balance (Change Color02 and 02a).

Try if you want to change the colors

Mini

[MiniMouse]

... AND some more

[MikeKReader]

(I hope this isn't a double post. I guess I got logged out before I hit send)

Is there a way to replace the default Calibre "Bookshelf" template for the "Generate Cover" function? I'd like to generate the title and author overlay onto, say, a 50's style "True Crime" pulp magazine template, or a pulp Science Fiction template, or something more SteamPunkish, etc.

What would be even nicer would have "Generate Cover" offer a pick-list of templates that I've placed in some specific directory.

[BetterRed]

@MikeKReader - To replace the 'bookshelf' image put the image you want in <configuration>\resources\images\library.png, where <configuration> is the location under the Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open calibre configuration directory button

BR

[MikeKReader]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@MikeKReader - To replace the 'bookshelf' image put the image you want in <configuration>\resources\images\library.png, where <configuration> is the location under the Preferences->Miscellaneous->Open calibre configuration directory button

BR

Thanks, but no luck.
At <configuration> I have 5 directories; conversion, fonts, metadata_sources, plugins and store. (plus 8 files, none of them .png files, and no.png files in the 5 directories)

The only files I can read are the .json files and there "Library" refers to the location of the epub files

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by MikeKReader

Thanks, but no luck.
At <configuration> I have 5 directories; conversion, fonts, metadata_sources, plugins and store. (plus 8 files, none of them .png files, and no.png files in the 5 directories)

The only files I can read are the .json files and there "Library" refers to the location of the epub files

@MikeKReader - sorry, I should have provide this link ==>> Customizing calibre

You'll need to create the resources\images\ folders.

If you look in the install directory you'll see a 'resources' folder, essentially you can override anything in that folder and its subfolders by mirroring it in the configuration 'resources' folder. Don't change what's in the <install>/resources folder (it'll get overwritten when an upgrade is installed), copy it to the <config>/resources folder and change it there.

BR

[MikeKReader]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@MikeKReader - sorry, I should have provide this link ==>> Customizing calibre

You'll need to create the resources\images\ folders.

If you look in the install directory you'll see a 'resources' folder, essentially you can override anything in that folder and its subfolders by mirroring it in the configuration 'resources' folder. Don't change what's in the <install>/resources folder (it'll get overwritten when an upgrade is installed), copy it to the <config>/resources folder and change it there.

BR

Thank You!
That did it. I still have some work to do to fine tune it, like find the right size for the .png (the image is centred between the title & author on top and the "Calibre 1.47.9" on the bottom) and then get down to cases to design some suitable cover templates (I just grabbed a Pulp-O-Mizer cover of mine to test it)(Google Pulp-O-Mizer. It's fun. Well it is if you like pulp magazine covers and science fiction)

I can still use Pulp-O-Mizer (or even Photoshop, for that matter) to generate covers for specific books I want to keep, but most of the time, once I finish a book I delete it. This will just make it look a little nicer when I display all my books. Much as the default "Bookshelf" template looks so much better than the "generic e-reader device" image, without title and author displayed.

[MikeKReader]

Found the Cover Generator Plugin and that does what I want.
Now I still have to find and tune several images to use and put them all in that ..../resources/images directory. (The plugin lets me use images from anywhere, but having my "generic" ones in that directory makes sense to me.)

OOPS! Forgot where I was. There are several good templates in backpages of this thread!

Anyone wants, go ahead and use this image of my urn. You'll need to fine tune it as it doesn't scale properly. Probably just adjust the Height and Width and resave

[MiniMouse]

Originally Posted by MikeKReader

Google Pulp-O-Mizer. It's fun. Well it is if you like pulp magazine covers and science fiction.

I googled Pulp-O-Mizer because I really wanted to know what that is. Never, ever heard of it before. Interesting magazines, like the pictures! Though I'm not a sifi reader - besides of Stargate fanfiction that is

Mini

[MiniMouse]

Next round of templates!

These are all leather covers with something extra like asphalt, concrete etc.

Hope you like them and can use them

Mini

P.S. And for all who are new to this thread or loosing the overview, look for links to all covers, textures, tutorials, zips for the Generate Cover Plugin etc. in the first post!

[MiniMouse]

Hello again,

here is my last round of templates. They are all linen covers with a bit extra

What do you think?

Mini


P.S. And for all who are new to this thread or loosing the overview, look for links to all covers, textures, tutorials, zips for the Generate Cover Plugin etc. in the first post!

[Vortex]

I'm searching for the source of these Calibre 0.8.31 generated covers. There seems to be a whole series of them made up of what looks like old black & white book illustrations. If I cant find the source I'll try and extract them all and clean them up but thought I'd see if they're available anywhere first.

[MiniMouse]

I came along an old leather briefcase and thought I make a cover out of it

Covers 14 to 15 are made from a photo of my leather boot.

Since I had no time I recycled one of my ornaments for Cover 15a and put it on (yes, I already posted that ornament but I thought it looked great on that leather so I used it again).

@Vortex: Sadly I have no idea. I hope that some of the others can give you an answer.

I wish you all a merry christmas
and a happy new year

Mini

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by MiniMouse

I came along an old leather briefcase and thought I make a cover out of it

Covers 14 to 15 are made from a photo of my leather boot

:lol: I shall treasure those ones especially - 'Mini's foot was here'

Originally Posted by MiniMouse

I wish you all a merry christmas
and a happy new year

Mini

to you on the xmas greetz

BR

[sam007]

Hello!

I have recently started keeping fanfic library and wanted to generate some nice covers, so I made myself some textures with ordinary GIMP tools and retouched promo (and similar ) content and am mixing them.

Would it be okay to post some of those here? What I mean would someone want them?
Textures are usually without borders/book_edge and I like more 'vivid' colours/contrast- y pictures?

I'm adding some type of textures I made.
Please comment & criticize.

If somebody is interested in the non-generic fanfic covers I made here is few examples.