What You Should Know About Book Design
You have written a captivating story, and now you’re ready to complete the package. Book design is an essential element of the book success equation, and it usually includes the creation of the cover and the layout. A book is meant to be cradled in a reader’s hands, so you want yours to feel comfortable and the layout to be simple and pleasurable.
Book design is not an area where it’s advisable to think too much outside the box. Readers like books that feel familiar to those they’ve read before, and they may be turned off by one that doesn’t follow the conventions of its genre. Thus, it is important to do your research on industry standards before you finalize your book design.
If all of this sounds overwhelming to you, don’t worry! You don’t have to design your book cover yourself. In fact, hiring a professional is a wise investment, so why not go ahead and check out our book cover design services?
Elements of the book cover
People often ignore the adage “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The cover is the first thing to make an impression on a reader. Sometimes, it is the impetus for someone to buy a book. No reader has the time to pick up every title and check the back cover. Consequently, they will quickly decide whether they like the look of the book, and only then will they give it a chance.
For this reason, you want your cover to be put together in a way that makes a person want to pick up your book and then buy and read it. It can be utilized to market and draw attention to your work.
What exactly should a good book cover achieve?
- 1. Convey your content/tone/genre in a professional way. Give the readers a glimpse into your story. You want your cover to relate to the plot and reflect the setting and time period. A book set in the 1700s, for example, should not have a cover that appears too modern.
- Display the title and author. If you’ve had another successful book, you can also include “Author of [best-selling book title].”
- Grab the attention of any potential readers. This can be done through a simple but catchy design and focal point, appropriate illustrations or photos, and fitting typography and layout.
- Stay true to the intended audience. If you wrote a romance novel, you want the cover art to appeal to the fans of this genre.
Does book cover design sound confusing and hard to do? It is! Hiring a professional can be one of the most significant investments you make and can increase the sales of your book. An experienced cover designer can help you discover what’s trending and what sells and assist you in expressing your theme and genre through your cover. They have knowledge and skills that you likely don’t, which means they will design a cover that will appeal to your target audience.
Don’t entrust this important component to an amateur. Find a professional cover designer who will work with you to build your book and brand.
Components of the book layout
So, you have great packaging because you hired a professional cover designer. Now, you need your layout to be fitting as well. Have you ever been aware of the layout of a book? Unless you have come across a messy or inconsistent layout (or you’re a professional book designer), you probably haven’t paid attention to it.
The layout of a book should fit seamlessly with it, and this is no easy task. Some consider it both a science and an art. Here are some important parts of book design.
- Typography—The font and size should fit the style of your book and make it easy to read. All headings, subheadings, and page numbers should have a consistent font and size throughout. Most books opt for a serif font as it looks the most professional and polished. A sans-serif font for a nonfiction work, for instance, would be off-putting, and readers would regard your book as amateurish. It’s acceptable to change the font to imply something was handwritten or sent via text or email. You can also get creative with font and font size on the chapter heading pages.
- Size of the book—Books generally come in one of several predetermined sizes. The size will probably be mandated or suggested by your publisher. It should make the book comfortable to hold and conform to industry standards. When it comes to the size of your book, you don’t want to stray from conventions. After all, they exist for a reason, and readers will buy books that are visually appealing. A romance novel, for example, shouldn’t be as large as a science textbook. You don’t want to confuse readers by having a book that is too large or too small for its genre.
- Color or black and white—Can color be used in your book? This is most appropriate for children’s books and adult nonfiction works such as cookbooks, where the use of images is typical. If colors are used, the combinations should work well together and be pleasing to the eye.
- Overall layout—The layout has to be appealing and balanced. This can include margins, justification, alignment, line spacing, correct use of hyphens, avoidance of widows and orphans, and headers and footers. The layout should work with your book and not interfere with your story or message.
Why do I need a professional?
You may think that you can design your book yourself, and some writers attempt to do it, but it requires a great deal of skill. How can a professional help you?
- Publishers may want a specific format, and a professional designer has the skills to deliver what is needed.
- A professional also understands the trends and methods in book design. They know what works and how to incorporate it into your book. Take advantage of their knowledge and experience!
- When you use a professional, you can concentrate on what you do best—writing your story.
Superior design is essential for the success of your book. Don’t waste time and effort on something you may know very little about. Leave it to those who are qualified to help your book stand out.
We proudly help authors create stunning covers for their lovingly crafted manuscripts. We can help you, too. Get started with our cover design services today!
