Authors beware of Pre-made covers.

[Tamian]

Hello Goodreads Authors/Readers. I'm Tamian Wood, a professional cover designer, and I hope to bring some info about the topic of cover design that will be useful to the indie authors and readers here.

Sorry to start out with such a negative topic. (I'm generally a very positive person. ;-)

I'm sure you've all heard about/been tempted by Pre-made covers. Yes? It's hard not to be. They are cheap, and there are thousands of "designers" selling them. Did you know they are generally sold more than once? And there's nothing wrong with that, if you are aware of it. So long as the designer does things legally, and so long as you don't mind potentially running across another author, with a different story, using the same cover design as you, it's perfectly legit.

The up side to a pre-made cover is that you get them at a pretty low price, as compared to a custom design. The down side is, because they are sold at such a low price, they generally have to be sold numerous times to make up for the cheap price.

It's true, you must be wary of what you are buying. Are the images legally acquired? Have the rights to use them been purchased or have they just been downloaded from Google? At the very least, you should know the integrity of your designer.

I am considering selling pre-made covers on my own site, so I've been checking with my lawyer as to the legality of it. I'm reasonably certain that the designer legally has to purchase the rights to use the images each time the cover design is sold. I'm also reasonably certain that the unscrupulous "designers" don't. Otherwise, there's no way they could sell them for $10.00 and up. The images themselves, even in the cheapest stock house, cost at least that much.

I had a fortune cookie just the other day that read "If you think you are getting something for nothing, you just haven't been billed for it yet." So be aware. One way or another cover design costs. Either in money spent, sales lost, or, YIKES, even possibly legal fees.

It is best, though, to shell out the money and have something unique designed by a reputable designer. My greatest advice to authors is to start saving your Starbucks money/pocket change from day one when you begin to write. By the time you are finished with the writing and the editing process, you would likely have quite a tidy little nest egg to put toward the services of a professional designer who can create a one of a kind, "gotta have that book" cover.

Hope that was helpful.

Kind regards,
Tamian

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Tamian Wood
Graphic Designer
Beyond Design International
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[John]

Tamian,

Hi, good topic. I actually design my own covers. I have them registered at http://www.copyright.gov/eco/ Its only $35 to register them on the electronic copyright office site. I used my computer, mouse, MS Paint, and Photoshop to make them. I will spend the time to make top notch artistic covers to replace them when I get the chance. Right now my every free moment is spent on promoting my books.

Here is a link to my website where you can look at the cover art I did. www.arievlex.com.

John Theibert

[R.]

Tamian wrote: "Hello Goodreads Authors/Readers. I'm Tamian Wood, a professional cover designer, and I hope to bring some info about the topic of cover design that will be useful to the indie authors and readers h..."

Great Topic! Thanks for the info.

[Tamian]

Thanks for responding John and Rolanda.

If you've done the art yourself, at least you know the credibility of the artist! No worries about legal fees, or seeing your cover on someone else's book. ;-)

Still, I think you might find a professional touch could help your sales. If you are familiar with photoshop, you can test that theory pretty easily. Take a professionally designed cover in the same genre, distort the name and author so you don't get in trouble for copyright infringement, do the same with your cover (distorting the info, so it is a truly blind test) and run a short poll to see which your fans would be more compelled to buy.

I'd love to hear how the experiment works out.

Kindly,
Tamian

[John]

I know what you are saying. Don't worry about my allusions of grandeur. I just don't have funds available. I have other projects that are taking up my funding, such as a board game that I invented and am attempting to get to a publisher in a retail form per their request. But, eventually I will have funds to spend on my book's promotion and such.

Thanks, John Theibert

[Karen]

(re message 2) John, are you aware that you don't need to register your cover's copyrights for the copyrights to be valid? Registration makes it easier and more lucrative to sue for infringement, but I believe (you should check with an attorney to be sure) that you can register even after you become aware of an infringement, though there's some time limit.

John wrote: "Tamian,

Hi, good topic. I actually design my own covers. I have them registered at http://www.copyright.gov/eco/ Its only $35 to register them on the electronic copyright office site. I used my co..."

[John]

Thanks for the info, Karen. :D

[Christa]

So I recently launched a business selling pre-made (and custom) covers, and reading this post has left me with a question. I clearly state in the footer of my website (http://paperandsage.com) and on my Info page for Pre-made covers that I will only sell a pre-made cover to one author & then never again.
To my question: Should I make this more prominent on my site? Or can anyone think of a specific way for me to highlight this? I can definitely understand others being concerned about this & just thought I'd get a little feedback.

Thanks!
Christa

[Tamian]

Thanks for adding that Karen, I was thinking the same thing when I read that bit, but I don't know that for sure.

Christa, I think if you have it clearly stated that you only sell them once, then you're good. I think it only becomes problematic if you are reselling and don't let people know, and/or don't pay for the use of the images multiple times. (My lawyer is supposed to be getting back with me on that by tomorrow.)

On my site, even though the pre-made gallery isn't yet working, it clearly states that they will be non-exclusive images. Which is nothing sinister. It just allows me to offer a lower price point option to clients who aren't concerned about it.

Kindly,
Tamian

[Christa]

Tamian,
Thanks for the response!
I can definitely see the benefit of doing non-exclusive covers, too, both for a prospective customer & the designer. I've just been thinking about how to present all kinds of information as clearly as possible so people don't have to hunt for it. :)
Thanks!

[Tom]

So glad I didn't get in on the pre-made cover trend. It always seemed sketchy to me and I never knew why. So thanks for validating my worries, Tamian. Copyright is enough of a minefield even when you commission a custom cover like I did.

[John]

I know that a great cover will really enhance my chances of getting readers, but for right now I will have to stick with my "mock cover" (as my scout says)

here is her website: http://www.fredachaneyliteraryscout.com/

She did a cover for me based on a map I made. I redid the map and used her cover to guide me to do a new one. I copyrighted the second version that I did, so I guess I don't need to copyright the first one she did.

Well, if that is the case, then I will be fine.

[Tamian]

@Thomas - it can be worrisome. Especially if you don't know your designers integrity. It pays to ask.

@ John - sounds like you've got it covered (no pun intended). ;-)

[Ally]

I'm a graphic designer in the printing industry and I know that stock catalogs like shutterstock have limits on their terms of use (as far as in maximum print runs, etc.) I can only assume that the digital use would be similar.

Also, you own anything you create regardless of if you have it officially registered.

I have downloaded two books from bn.com that had the exact same cover and I've seen others that had the same one. Looked like standard stock art, no other modifications.

[Tamian]

Pretty sure the Print On Demand houses resell their "template" covers as well. Same thing. Nothing wrong with it, so long as you don't mind sharing.

[Florence]

Ally, are you saying there's a limit to the number of downloads for pictures purchased from shutterstock and other stock picture places? I've used a couple of their photos for covers and never noticed anything like that so I'm curious. I had one cover done by a graphic artist and it was great though the sales seem about the same either way.

[Ally]

This is from Shutterstock's TOU Page (at http://www.shutterstock.com/licensing...)

l) As part of editorial or advertising copy in magazines, newspapers, books, book covers, textbooks, editorials and directories provided that the print or manufacturing run(s) of such magazines, newspapers, books , book covers, textbooks, editorials and directories does not exceed two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) copies in the aggregate;

m) In eBooks, including multi seat license electronic textbooks, provided that the number of potential seat licenses or end users is fewer than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) in the aggregate; and


3. In the event that you create a derivative work based on or incorporating one or more Images, all rights in and to such Images shall continue to be owned by Shutterstock or its Submitter(s), subject to your rights to use such Image(s) pursuant to the terms and limitations set forth herein.


It appears that 250,000 is their happy number for everything. Also it appears that modifying images doesn't make a difference. They still "own" it.

I do know that it is up to Shutterstock to pursue each and every possible infringement so the chances are pretty slim that they'd find out. I think it would be up to the original artist, but they might have given up their rights when shutterstock sells it. Definitely a gray area! (I've seen MANY free shutterstock images given away... and they didn't even change the file name before hand!)

I do know of a digital artist that uses digital watermarks to track her images across the web. (For just general curiosity and to see if people are giving it away.) Also I don't know if watermarked images used in those covers could be tracked through ebook distributors sites. I don't know if submissions to Shutterstock have to be stripped of any watermarks. I suppose if an artist sees his/her photo/illustration on a cover of a book that boasts a million downloads, they could make an issue of it, but I doubt it.

As an artist, I think reusing covers or anything that you sell to a consumer is shady. If I was paying an artist to design a cover, I'd want to be paying for an original design. Seeing an identical or even similar design would tick me off :) Unless it was stated they were re-used... then I'd just avoid them!

[A.L.]

Interesting. Someone on the KDP forum said he had his book blocked as he had bought a cover from fiverr and then discovered after the event the seller didn't have the rights to use it. After much wrangling with the Zon he got his book reinstated with a new cover.

I got some images from Fotolia.com and although I haven't used them yet I may well do so. Even if they are modified you have to credit the original photographer/designer of course and I think the license only lasts a year before you have to rebuy it. They have pretty strict rules on the different types of license as well.

A lot of those premade covers do not appeal, they look a bit to generic for me.

[Ally]

With shutterstock you have to purchase extended licenses which don't count against normal subscription rates. That's interesting how a book was blocked! Wow. I'm thinking I'm not going to use any photos on my covers unless I take them myself. I don't want any issues.

[A.L.]

There was only one side of the story but he claimed he bought it from fiverr and then the image was not his to use. I am not sure whether he had made the error and not attributed it or whether it was a dodgy cover.

[[deleted user]]

I bought a photo for my cover from freedigitalphotos.com
Despite the name, all of their photos are not free. The one I bought was only about 20 dollars, but was free to use on book covers. I understand the photo can be sold to other customers. And why not, at that cheap price? Read the fine print for each photo you plan to use. What I would like to do is buy photos from other authors or readers who have no need for the photos for their own use. Most of my writing is travel-related. Most photos I see do not have enough space at the top for a title. Most of my own travel photos are not good enough to use.

[A.L.]

I am not sure mine are good enough quality for covers, some of them are from old style film camera I sould have to scan and the others not a great digital camera.

I have mountains, sunsets and lochs mainly.

[Ally]

Mona, you wouldn't be able to buy photos that others got off stock art websites. Or did you mean buy some personal photos that fit your specifications for covers?

For digital covers only you'd be able to get by with lower resolution pix, but for print on demand, you'd need pix from at least an 8 mp camera. Print requires around 300 dpi at the correct size.

I've used "lesser quality" digital pix screened back (lightened a lot, almost transparent) to minimize pixelation from the low resolutions.

[Florence]

It's interesting that shutterstock, etc, pictures might not be okay to use indefinitely because many if not most graphic artists use stock photos for at least part of the covers they create for specific books.

[[deleted user]]

Yes! If you are looking for free, LEGAL pictures, you can check out this website: http://rainbowrosecovers.blogspot.co.uk/

They use public domain images so there is no copyright, and you pay nothing, no strings attached.

You can also check out the cover they did for my book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...

[Florence]

Love your Puppets cover.

[Ally]

Yikes Josiah! That cover is definitely not legal for them to use. It has the Sony logo on it... I would take it down immediately if I were you. The bottom of the graphic could be edited easily to remove Sony's logo.

I just noticed on her website that she even says she's not liable for copyright infringements.

[Tamian]

Wow, turn your back and the thread goes crazy. Sorry for my delayed response.

@Dianne - it's great having an ongoing relationship with a designer for those very reasons.

@Florence - Most of the stock houses have limits within their licenses as to the number of copies that can be printed in your print run. So say you sold 249,999 copies of your book, you'd need to get an extended license to sell more copies. Usually the number is so high (100 thousand - 500 thousand) that once you'd sold that many copies, you'd surely be able to afford the extended license.

@Ally - thanks for jumping in with the Terms of Use. Very helpful. Shutterstock is 250,000, others are a bit higher and some a bit lower, so it pays to read the fine print.

@Alexandra - this is exactly the type of thing I was warning about. You have to be careful about where you get your cover images from, and who is selling them to you. Not everyone is out to do damage, of course, but it's best to be safe and work with reputable people.

@Mona - the "Free" in freedigitalphotos.com probably refers to them being royalty free, which just means that you don't have to pay royalties to the photographer each time a book is sold. (Just guessing here, as I'm not familiar with that particular site)

@ Josiah - It is a nice cover, but I totally agree with Ally - YIKES! Sony could sue you to cease and desist using their logo without their permission. If you do take it down, as you really should, and have it edited, I'd ask your designer to make your name a bit more prominent too. It's getting a little lost at thumbnail size, in all the stripy bits.

Thank you all for giving real world examples of exactly what we should all be wary of when it comes to copyright issues, and why it's a good idea to use a professional with a good reputation.

Kindly,
Tamian

[Florence]

Wow! Who'd have thought covers could be so complicated!

[Ally]

No kidding Florence! I'm chicken to use my commercial use illustrations!

[[deleted user]]

Thanks everyone for the concern: just went to message her when I got a message from her saying she had edited it so the Sony logo wasn't on there :)

[[deleted user]]

As I said above,she had already noticed before I messaged her. Here is the newly edited edition: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...

[Storm]

Christa wrote: "So I recently launched a business selling pre-made (and custom) covers, and reading this post has left me with a question. I clearly state in the footer of my website (http://paperandsage.com) and..."

I write for syndication companies and I make a point of selling pieces only once in a market; I find it's a selling point to mention it. I suggest you have a bit somewhere on your site but that you mention it at the time of sale - just to make the buyer feel extra happy to have chosen you :-)

[Karen]

Josiah, that's one beautiful cover!

Josiah wrote: "As I said above,she had already noticed before I messaged her. Here is the newly edited edition: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17..."

[Tamian]

@Florence and Ally - cover design ain't for wimps! ;-)
@Josiah and Karen, - WHEW! and Nice Job. It really is a beautiful cover.

[Christa]

Storm wrote: "Christa wrote: "So I recently launched a business selling pre-made (and custom) covers, and reading this post has left me with a question. I clearly state in the footer of my website (http://paper..."

@Storm, Thanks! You're right, that's a great way to ensure customers feel special & extra taken care of. :)

[Justin]

Im curious, has anyone ever come across a cover of a book that they then saw as the cover of another book? I know thats the whole be aware issue of this topic so I was just wondering if anyones ever come across such an issue. I can't imagine how I would react or what I would think if I came across a book cover that I already seen in use from another.

[Tamian]

If you purchased a cover on the cheap, and knew that it was available for resale, then you likely wouldn't be phased Justin. The title and author name do change the look of it quite a bit.

On the other hand, if you thought you were paying for an exclusive cover, and you saw someone else using it, I'd imagine you be quite angry.

It is perfectly legal to sell a cover more than once, so long as the licensing for the images is also purchased for each author, and ethically, so long as the person selling is up front about it and the buyer knows that it will be resold.

Since starting this thread, it seems that the general perception is that there is something underhanded about it. Legally, there really isn't. Even ethically there's nothing wrong with it.

But, because of the perception expressed here, I'm still tossing around the idea as to whether to offer them exclusively (at a higher cost) or for resale (at a much lower, more affordable cost to the newbie indie authors)

Anyone care to comment?

Kindly,
Tamian

[A.L.]

This sounds like a case of the seller being up front and the author needing to read the small print.

Take Createspace - they have generic covers you can use, yes you can insert your own picture in some but many you simple change the title/author name. In fact I saw a very similar template to the one I chose for my book just the other day, only hers is green and mine is red:)

I think unless you buy the exclusive rights it is an occupational hazard. Although, of course if you buy a an exclusive cover and the seller then goes on to sell it that is another matter.

Any image taken, unless you design it yourself probably carries some risk.

[Kate]

Josiah wrote: "Yes! If you are looking for free, LEGAL pictures, you can check out this website: http://rainbowrosecovers.blogspot.co.uk/

They use public domain images so there is no copyright, and you pay nothi..."

I love your cover, I've checked the site you recommended and yup they did amazing cover image

[Richard]

I write and I am a graphic designer (30+ years in the trenches), which works really well for me and my titles as you can imagine. I use a really good, royalty free stock outfit for many of my covers: Dreamstime.com . Also use a Google search, adding the terms, "Creative Commons" after the search terms, to get free online images that carry no royalties, but check the useage rights with each one, just to be sure.