Choosing covers

PandathePanda · 10-16-2015, 03:32 AM

With Gutenberg's new uploads most have a cover associated with them, so I normally don't do much to them to get them to my likening. This morning I got a few from Gutenburg.ca, and they don't come with covers.

So me question is, how do you (if you customize it) choose covers for books this old:
1) do you just choose one you like
2) or do you try and get the cover the book came out with
3) use a custom one

Katsunami · 10-16-2015, 07:49 AM

Mostly, I pick the cover I like best, assuming a book has multiple editions. If the book is part of a series, I'll pick all the covers from the same edition so they're similar.

Often I actually replace covers in books I've bought, either with some I like more, or some that are of better quality.

icallaci · 10-16-2015, 11:10 AM

I too mostly choose the cover I like best, unless it has the publisher's name on it (or other info like "With a forward by So-and-So"). If a cover I like has the wrong publisher or other info, I don't use it. (Also, I prefer covers without blurbs by other authors or "New York Times #1 Bestseller" ads splashed all over, although I rarely see this kind of thing for out-of-copyright books.)

Catlady · 10-16-2015, 11:25 AM

If it's a book I've read/owned in paper, I usually look for the cover I remember. Otherwise, just one I like best.

HarryT · 10-16-2015, 11:26 AM

Personally I have my Kindle set to display books in its library using the text-only "List" view, so I'm not bothered about covers.

Katsunami · 10-16-2015, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Personally I have my Kindle set to display books in its library using the text-only "List" view, so I'm not bothered about covers.

Me too, but Calibre does show covers in several places. I have too much OCD to not have a cover

Apache · 10-16-2015, 03:38 PM

I have the covers that I think look best.
Apache

Froide · 10-19-2015, 06:28 AM

For older books, like those found on Gutenberg, the cover is sometimes posted in Wikipedia, so I look there. I also search for covers by Googling the book and filtering the results to images. Among the results, I look for the original cover; if that's unavailable, then I'll pick a cover that doesn't specify a publisher.

AlexBell · 10-22-2015, 05:32 AM

If I can I find a cover or illustration in the Internet Archive and the book is out of copyright I use that. If I can't find a cover there (given that I'm fascinated by faces) I use an out of copyright image of the author (sometimes from the National Portrait Gallery with their permission). I use that for each book by an author, just changing the title.

At the risk of going off topic I wonder how many of the book cover images in Google Images are still under copyright. I've used some in the past, but stopped using them some time ago.

pdurrant · 10-22-2015, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

At the risk of going off topic I wonder how many of the book cover images in Google Images are still under copyright.

Like any other painting or drawing, book cover illustrations are protected (in UK and EU) for the life of the artist + 70 years.

Since book covers have only really been used for the last 100 years or so, most book covers are likely to still be covered by copyright.

But it seems highly unlikely that any copyright holder would sue you for using them in your own calibre database.

Katsunami · 10-22-2015, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexBell

At the risk of going off topic I wonder how many of the book cover images in Google Images are still under copyright. I've used some in the past, but stopped using them some time ago.

What does it matter? These covers are obviously created to be distributed and shown. Nobody is going to care if you use such a cover for your own purposes (inside a book to replace a low-res one, on a blog where you talk about the book, etc), as long as you're not going to use it for one of your own books.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

But it seems highly unlikely that any copyright holder would sue you for using them in your own calibre database.

It seems highly impossible, as no one can know what is in my Calibre library, short of breaking into the computer to take a look.

GrannyGrump · 10-22-2015, 07:20 AM

Ah, but when you upload public domain books (to MobileRead library or other library), you might have to be more careful about copyright.

I've started mostly creating simple decorated covers in my graphics editor for uploads, unless a first edition cover is clearly derived from an interior illustration that has gone into public domain. (I can count on the fingers of one hand the times that a cover was actually credited to the artist(s) who created that cover, and those were always with an illustration, not simply lettering and designs.)

Katsunami · 10-22-2015, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrannyGrump

Ah, but when you upload public domain books (to MobileRead library or other library), you might have to be more careful about copyright.

Indeed, as it's not use for your own purpose anymore. Then, you're actively distributing the covers attached to a product, and that's not allowed.

10-16-2015, 11:10 AM	#3
icallaci Guru Posts: 815 Karma: 6528026 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kobo Elipsa	I too mostly choose the cover I like best, unless it has the publisher's name on it (or other info like "With a forward by So-and-So"). If a cover I like has the wrong publisher or other info, I don't use it. (Also, I prefer covers without blurbs by other authors or "New York Times #1 Bestseller" ads splashed all over, although I rarely see this kind of thing for out-of-copyright books.) Last edited by icallaci; 10-16-2015 at 11:21 AM.

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10-16-2015, 03:32 AM	#1
PandathePanda a toy panda Posts: 2,568 Karma: 26020474 Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Onboard the Queen Anne's Revenge Device: Various Android dvices	Choosing covers With Gutenberg's new uploads most have a cover associated with them, so I normally don't do much to them to get them to my likening. This morning I got a few from Gutenburg.ca, and they don't come with covers. So me question is, how do you (if you customize it) choose covers for books this old: 1) do you just choose one you like 2) or do you try and get the cover the book came out with 3) use a custom one

10-16-2015, 07:49 AM	#2
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Mostly, I pick the cover I like best, assuming a book has multiple editions. If the book is part of a series, I'll pick all the covers from the same edition so they're similar. Often I actually replace covers in books I've bought, either with some I like more, or some that are of better quality.

10-16-2015, 11:25 AM	#4
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,407 Karma: 52613881 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	If it's a book I've read/owned in paper, I usually look for the cover I remember. Otherwise, just one I like best.

10-16-2015, 11:26 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Personally I have my Kindle set to display books in its library using the text-only "List" view, so I'm not bothered about covers.

10-16-2015, 03:38 PM	#7
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,253 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I have the covers that I think look best. Apache

10-19-2015, 06:28 AM	#8
Froide Wizard Posts: 1,898 Karma: 9851695 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Noo Yawk Device: Samsung Galaxy and Windows devices. RIP: Palm & Nook devices.	For older books, like those found on Gutenberg, the cover is sometimes posted in Wikipedia, so I look there. I also search for covers by Googling the book and filtering the results to images. Among the results, I look for the original cover; if that's unavailable, then I'll pick a cover that doesn't specify a publisher.

10-22-2015, 05:32 AM	#9
AlexBell Wizard Posts: 3,413 Karma: 13369310 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Launceston, Tasmania Device: Sony PRS T3, Kobo Glo, Kindle Touch, iPad, Samsung SB 2 tablet	If I can I find a cover or illustration in the Internet Archive and the book is out of copyright I use that. If I can't find a cover there (given that I'm fascinated by faces) I use an out of copyright image of the author (sometimes from the National Portrait Gallery with their permission). I use that for each book by an author, just changing the title. At the risk of going off topic I wonder how many of the book cover images in Google Images are still under copyright. I've used some in the past, but stopped using them some time ago.

10-22-2015, 07:20 AM	#12
GrannyGrump Obsessively Dedicated... Posts: 3,202 Karma: 34984330 Join Date: May 2011 Location: JAPAN (US expatriate) Device: Sony PRS-T2, ADE on PC	Ah, but when you upload public domain books (to MobileRead library or other library), you might have to be more careful about copyright. I've started mostly creating simple decorated covers in my graphics editor for uploads, unless a first edition cover is clearly derived from an interior illustration that has gone into public domain. (I can count on the fingers of one hand the times that a cover was actually credited to the artist(s) who created that cover, and those were always with an illustration, not simply lettering and designs.)