Category Archives: Self Publishing

Custom Book Covers Vs Premade Book Cover Designs

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It is an unfortunate fact that readers do judge a book by its cover. Having the right cover will catch the eye of potential buyers and make them check out what your book is about. Equally, having the wrong cover on a book can lose potential sales. There are a variety of choices in book covers for self-published authors and making the right choice can be the difference between success or failure.

A custom book cover design created for a self-publishing author.

What is a Premade Book Cover?

A premade book cover is a generic book cover sold by graphic designers to which the title and author name will be added. Typically, a designer will have a gallery of covers to select from. There will be tabs on the gallery page with pricing, customization offers, rights, and delivery information.

Pros:

  • The author can see the cover before they buy it.
  • The cover can be purchased immediately and is usually received within 48 hours.
  • Cheaper than a custom book cover.
  • Good at displaying the genre of the book.

Cons: 

  • Not personalized for a specific book.
  • The cover may not be a perfect fit for the book contents.
  • Alterations to the cover can be costly.
  • Premade covers may or may not be sold exclusively to one author. This means there is a risk of another book having an almost identical cover on the market depending on the terms of sale.

What is a Custom Book Cover?

A custom book cover is a cover that is ordered from a graphic designer personalized to the book. Typically, an author seeks out a graphic designer and explains what they are looking for. Designers can be found on freelance sites as well as online art platforms.

The designer gives the author a quote and draws up a contract that explains the fees, rights, revisions, and timeframe for delivery.

Pros:

  • They are customized to individual book.
  • Alterations are usually part of the purchase package.
  • Authors are able to provide input about the cover at every step of the process.

Cons:

  • Custom book covers often cost more.
  • The author’s vision for the cover may not represent the genre of the book as well as a generic premade cover.
  • Authors have to manage a relationship with the designer over the course of the project.
  • Finding the right graphic designer can be tricky.
  • It can take a long time for the cover to be made.
  • The cover may not turn out how the author envisioned and, depending on the contract, the author may still owe the designer for their time.

Image Rights

The creator of an image owns the rights to its use so authors must be sure to get clarification on whether the cover can be used for promotional material and who holds the rights to the images. If the designer created the cover from scratch, such as an illustration, they typically own the rights to the image and may or may not be willing to sell the author those rights. If they do not sell the rights, they can use the image for other covers and the author’s usage of the image may have a limited scope.

Some designers buy the rights to use an image from a stock image company. The rights they buy may affect the author’s use of the image and may specify the number of physical copies of a book that can be printed or otherwise limit the way those images can be used.

Need a Cover?

InstantPublisher offers a variety of inexpensive premade book covers for self-publishing authors who use their print service. InstantPublisher can also work with the author to make a custom book cover to suit the needs of any book genre.

If you would like more information on InstantPublisher’s personalized book printing services call 1-800-259-2592, fill out our online contact form,  or email questions@instantpublisher.com.

5 Services That Every Self-Publishing Book Company Should Offer

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If you need to use a self-publishing book company whether, for a personal or corporate project, you may not be sure what to expect. You may wonder what services such companies offer. While every company is different there are five services that should be on offer no matter what book printing company you use.

1. Ghostwriting or Editing

All self-publishing book companies should offer a service that helps you put your words on the page in the best and most readable way possible. This can be through a ghostwriter who is hired to put your ideas into words or an editing team to polish your prose. While both of these services are available at a number of freelance sites, it can be difficult to be sure you are working with a professional. Going through the self-publishing company’s staff assures quality and experience.

2. Art

Book printing services should offer book covers for self-published authors as well as book illustrations when applicable. Like editing and ghostwriting, there are many freelancers that offer these services but their quality may vary. Working with a book printing company’s illustrator guarantees quality as well as assuring that the images will be formatted properly for printing. Ordering covers and art elsewhere risks paying for a product that is improperly sized or formatted for your printing needs.

An artist sketching a custom book cover for a self-published author.

3. Digital Printing Services

The world has moved into the digital age and many readers prefer to hold thousands of books on their e-readers as opposed to having shelves of paper books cluttering their home. Self-publishing book printing companies should offer options to convert your physical book into an ebook as well. This adds additional options for consumption and distribution.

4. Print Run Options

Every self-publishing book company should offer a variety of print run options. You should be able to order as many or as few copies of your book as you need at a time. They should be able to accommodate large or short-run book printing orders.

5. Binding Options

A self-publishing book company should offer you a variety of bookbinding options. You should be able to print hardcover and paperback books. If you want leather-bound bookbinding it should be on offer.  Self-publishers may have evolving needs as their careers change. Most self-publishers will have a wide consumer base and may need different bindings to meet different needs. The more binding options the book printing company has, the more options the author will be able to offer their reader base.

Ready to Connect with a Book Printing Company?

InstantPublisher offers a wide variety of options and services to meet the printing needs of individuals and companies. For more information on how you can get your book printed, contact InstantPublisher today by calling 1800 259 2592 or filling out this online contact form.