A good cover is the first impression that a reader will have with a work. When it is well prepared, even if the author is not known, it will attract attention, and that can cause sales to skyrocket. But how to make creative book covers?
Is there a way to follow a pattern to achieve this? Is the cover so important that the inside doesn't matter? About all this, and much more, is what we talk about next.
Why the design of a cover is so important
The literary market does not stop taking out books. Several dozen come out every week. And that means the competition is tough. Very hard. For this reason, it is common for the covers not only to help differentiate the works, but also to stand out from the rest.
There are several reasons why the cover is very important, some of which are:
Attraction
eight seconds. That's how long a cover has to attract or drive away readers. The goal is to get those readers interested, to pick up the book and skim through it to see if they really like the plot.
Yes, it is true that it can prevent them from taking it in the end, but at least dedicate part of their time to be interested in the book, something that, sometimes, you do not have if the cover does not capture them.
transmit the essence
One of the first characteristics of creative book covers is that they capture the essence of the book. Imagine that the story is a police thriller and that it turns out that you have put a couple kissing on the cover.
The most normal thing is that people interested in this literary genre go through the book thinking that it is romantic, and not a detective story.
The covers have to reflect the whole story, a kind of visual summary of what a reader can find. Therefore, you can use characters, locations, etc. to introduce the reader. Of course, without revealing the end or you will end up not liking it.
Different from the competition
In this point, when it comes to making creative book covers they have to be out of the norm. That is to say, it is necessary that you do not follow the trends because in the end you will end up with the same elements of other competing books.
Ideas for creating creative book covers
Since we do not want to stay only on the surface, below we are going to give you some ideas that you can carry out to give that original touch to the book covers.
We are also going to leave you examples so that you can see what we are talking about, This way it will be easier to inspire you when carrying out one. Shall we start?
Blank spaces that stand out
Or rather, that make the attention of that reader or reader go directly there. In this way, you could place the name of the author, or the title, and being on a white background (on another cover) it will stand out.
An example of this is The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith.
Use color for emphasis
Imagine a cover with a white background. Or in black and white. And all of a sudden, you give it a touch of red. It will undoubtedly stand out from these two colors, because it will emphasize and put focal points that readers will notice.
For example, an image of a woman's face. All in grayscale. But we put in red the name of the author, the title and also the lips of the girl.
You can see another example in Love Notes, by Louise Reed.
Bet on 3D
Haven't you thought about it? Actually, there are many covers that have opted for this, even from years ago, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth, by Jules Verne, or Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson (look for the Carlo Giovani edition and the Bomboland edition to find them in 3D).
The goal is to give them some dimension, so that, placed on a bookstore table, they will stand out and the person who sees it will think that it is almost real.
Typography is the star
Increasingly. Now, although the images are important, and more on the covers, the typography is being more protagonist, in such a way that she herself becomes the image of creative book covers.
So don't be afraid to try different typefaces, to center the entire design on them, because in themselves they can become what you are looking for.
Use images that spark the imagination
Even that they play two bands (because they can mean several things). It is something that does not always work, be careful. Or that it can even cause controversy. But well treated is a way to highlight any cover.
Examples of it can be Tampa, by Alissa Nutting.
Instead of images… graphics or icons
Bet on minimalism and simplicity. And this is achieved through graphics and icons. These can be just as powerful as images, with the exception that they let the cover breathe much better and allow the reader to focus only on the important details, those that can give them clues about the type of book they are holding in their hands.
For example, Robot Thinking, by Robert Frost.
Look for realism and captivate with them
For example, if your novel is set in a town with a forest, why not use an image of that forest? If the image is treated well, it can be used for the cover, and then it would only be necessary to give it some more details (perhaps some people, important elements, or even putting it in black on white with brushstrokes in a different color (green, blue, red... ).
Creating creative book covers is not easy. We are not going to deny it. You have to dedicate time to it, and above all try and be inspired to create something totally different and that also attracts attention. Be that as it may, although we have given you ideas, the best thing you can do is create something totally new, that contrasts and that revolutionizes the genre, or the literary sector itself. Of course, preserving the essence of the book and what it wants to convey through the cover. Do you have more examples that can inspire?