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Old 01-24-2011, 10:19 AM   #1
genepool
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How To Create Cover Pages
Lulu.com has an excelent Cover Pages Designer.

Anything else?
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Old 01-25-2011, 09:08 AM   #2
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Old 01-25-2011, 07:21 PM   #3
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Well, for the print versions, I've used createspace's cover creator, all though the front covers, (which are also the covers for the e-book editions) I usually just make in Photoshop.
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Old 02-20-2011, 09:00 AM   #4
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How important are eBook covers?
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Old 02-20-2011, 11:45 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sportourer1 View Post
How important are eBook covers?
I don't recall coming across an ebook vendor that doesn't display cover thumbnails when they list search results, newest additions, whatever, so having a cover that in that context works as an eye-catcher is a big plus.

In addition to that, having a cover that looks... ineptly cobbled together in five minutes, or otherwise unprofessional, may lead people to assume the creator is sloppy and careless, and dismiss it.

I'm not entirely sure where "No cover at all" falls...

All in all, I think a cover that's at least *decent* quality is pretty important.
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Old 02-20-2011, 01:28 PM   #6
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The issue of covers and designing them highlights the multiplicity of skill sets you need to be a self-publisher, something I have been learning the hard way these last few months. First you have to write and re-write and edit and polish. Then if you want to publish as an e-book you have to meticulously format it in ways that bear little resemblance to the requirements for submission to a conventional publishing house. Then you need to come up with a decent cover. Next is the marketing plan

All of this is doable, and it is doable at zero cost (not counting your own time). That's amazing when you think about it. But it is a lot of hard work, and if it means getting good at a lot of things you might not have thought when you started out.

As for the cover question, I think a good cover adds a sense of polish to your work.
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Old 02-20-2011, 03:21 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by G J Lau View Post
As for the cover question, I think a good cover adds a sense of polish to your work.
I like your image and choice of colours, but I think your text is too small. You can't really read it at postage stamp size, which is the size most people will judge it at when deciding whether to look at your description.
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Old 02-20-2011, 03:37 PM   #8
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Thanks for the input. Actually the version on Amazon and Barnes and Noble does have a slightly bigger font for the title. My son did the design. You can learn all the tools but nothing replaces an artistic sensibility, which he has and I don't.
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Old 02-20-2011, 07:22 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sportourer1 View Post
How important are eBook covers?
Pretty important. The cover art still stands next to the book listing, catching eyes and giving a sense of the book's content and quality.
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Old 03-03-2011, 01:41 PM   #10
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What is the best web source for copyright free images?
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Old 03-04-2011, 03:37 PM   #11
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You can get a lot of free content from Flickr Creative Commons using images that merely require attribution: http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/by-2.0/
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Old 03-05-2011, 01:17 AM   #12
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I just got information on how to submit my upcoming book to Ellibris.com database and they need cover page for their catalog listings.

In addition, first page of the book needs to be cover art as this is what is shown in ADE and other cataloging applications.
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Old 03-05-2011, 07:42 PM   #13
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I have a background in graphic arts so I make my own covers using stock photos - I either pay for it or get royalty free. I tend to do 3 thumbnail sketches of what I want it to look like then narrow it down so by the time I get images I already know what I'm looking for. At least the theme and mood of it anyway. I use Photoshop.

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