Making Connections discussion
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Groovy Lee
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Help--How do you make your own E-covers?
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Hey girl!I use GIMP. It takes a little while to get used to it, but start by going to Youtube and check out GIMP tutorials. It gets to be a breeze after a while. It basically does everything Photoshop does, but it is free and there are tons of brushes and fonts you can download to make it more interesting. :)
Hey, Zee!!I hope everything is going well with you. Thank-you. I'm heading right over to YouTube. I got so much good advice from other forums, I'm going down my list. But GIMP came up a lot.
I looked at your covers, and they are quite good:)
Here's hoping I can do as well. Take care, Zee:)
Thanks, honey! Yes, I've used GIMP for all my indie covers :)
GIMP is a good option, as others have said.If you are only looking to do something basic for an eBook, without loads of layers and fancy stuff, you could also try Canva, which is free and has pre-sized Kindle and eBook cover templates.
I used PhotoShop for the three I made, but I needed to layer, and I had to produce eBook and print covers to very precise specs for IngramSpark.
I used Microsoft Word for my ebook covers, then used GIMP for my wrap around cover.
Thank-you, Nicki and K.R. Right now, I'm using Canva and love it!
Well, I did my own cover and LOVE IT! I just want to say thank-you to everyone who helped me. I looked at all of the sites suggested, and found that Canva was the easiest for me. And it only cost me a $1, not the $200 I would have had to pay. I can make my own covers, people--YES!THANK-YOU, EVERYONE!
Awesome cover!!! Canva is fantastic, I'm in love with it. Gimp is good when you need to upload in createspace or on demand printing websites I've found to get the right dpi and stuff!!Awesome cover again!! Hehe loved it!
Groovy wrote: "Well, I did my own cover and LOVE IT! I just want to say thank-you to everyone who helped me. I looked at all of the sites suggested, and found that Canva was the easiest for me. And it only cost m..."Yep, good cover. I've been using Photoshop for years and use it extensively for all my covers.
Tom
Thanks. I like what I see with your covers, too.
Canva is the best! Especially being free. You can't beat that.
I know, right, Tonya? I had a good cover designer before that started at $150, but then she went up to $200. First of all, that floored me, and second it kinda hurt because she didn't even bother to tell me until I after I'd already got the cover started.
One more tidbit, back in the day when you wanted to self-publish, it would cost $250-$900 to get a cover. I hope Canva doesn't catch on and start charging:)
Me too Groovy! I use them for everything: Posters, bookmarks, flyers and tons of other things.That sucks your cover designer did that. If you want your business to succeed you need to show respect to the customers you already have, because without them, you are nothing.
Have fun designing your own!
Groovy wrote: "Well, I did my own cover and LOVE IT! I just want to say thank-you to everyone who helped me. I looked at all of the sites suggested, and found that Canva was the easiest for me. And it only cost m..."WTG, you!!
Nice cover Groovy! Yes the best is to design your own, I did myself as well !
here below the covers i did
Zee wrote: "Groovy wrote: "Well, I did my own cover and LOVE IT! I just want to say thank-you to everyone who helped me. I looked at all of the sites suggested, and found that Canva was the easiest for me. And..."Thank-you, Zee, my friend:)
Marco wrote: "Nice cover Groovy! Yes the best is to design your own, I did myself as well !
here below the covers i did
"Impressive covers, Marco. Thank-you for sharing them:)
Groovy wrote: "Marco wrote: "Nice cover Groovy! Yes the best is to design your own, I did myself as well !
here below the covers i did
[bookcover:Amstel Girl: Playing With Dest..."
You welcome, glad you likethem ;)
As I'm an indie author who has little time and money to spend, yet still wants to make a book look professional, I used Canva for my debut novel The Alliance. I saved up and found a digital artist specialising in sci-fi, who sent me a 19MB-worth of image in return. Then I got the specs right on Canva and voila! 
What do you think?
While it's a little unconventional I use Pablo for Buffer. Its a quick and easy way to make a image cover for a blog post and book cover.
I'm impressed, Chris. It speaks Sci-Fi, and a bit scary. Good one:)
Groovy wrote: "I'm impressed, Chris. It speaks Sci-Fi, and a bit scary. Good one:)"Thanks Groovy. The first cover, which I built with Microsoft Word (believe it or not) was quite sci-fi, but then I went on reddit and posted it to get opinions. The majority wanted something that had an icon of some sort, like a spaceship, and that it could represent the story. So, I went on DeviantArt and a few other places and started browsing portfolios. Amazing what you can find. Artists came back to me with quotes ranging from $100 - 6000. So, I went for someone whose portfolio was in par with all the big names and didn't require selling my organs to pay him off. His name is Leon Tukker, an amazing digital artist, who I highly recommend to anyone looking for a custom sci-fi cover. Leon took my story, grasped its essence and came up with this.
The pyramid is an ark carrying the last colony of an alien species, which approaches a war-ravaged Earth with the proposition of an alliance, so that they could defeat their common foe. And I think Leon captured that
I was quoted horrendous amounts of money to get a cover designed - I'm not taking away from the skill required, but this is my first book and my budget was tight. Fortunately I decided to look at what other options were available first. I stumbled upon Canva - FABULOUS! It's easy to use and a lot of the covers are free. I love the final result!
Chris wrote: "As I'm an indie author who has little time and money to spend, yet still wants to make a book look professional, I used Canva for my debut novel The Alliance. I saved up and found a..."
That's a pretty epic cover!
That's a pretty epic cover!
Ruth wrote: "Chris wrote: "As I'm an indie author who has little time and money to spend, yet still wants to make a book look professional, I used Canva for my debut novel The Alliance. I saved ..."Thanks Ruth. "Epic" is what both myself and Leon Tukker were aiming for. There will be another 5 books in the series, so, I'm aiming to keep that consistency.
As for Canva, it has a diverse collection of templates to suit every genre. Plus, it allows you to create banners for social media, all of which have that premium feel. I like how you've put your cover together. Great use of font and space.
Chris wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Chris wrote: "As I'm an indie author who has little time and money to spend, yet still wants to make a book look professional, I used Canva for my debut novel [book:The Alliance|332903..."
Thanks for the feedback Chris! The nice thing about a site like Canva is that you can physically see what you like and go from there. Sometimes trying to explain your imaginings to a designer can be difficult. I didn't know about the banners (see what a newbie I am to this?) so thanks for mentioning that.
Thanks for the feedback Chris! The nice thing about a site like Canva is that you can physically see what you like and go from there. Sometimes trying to explain your imaginings to a designer can be difficult. I didn't know about the banners (see what a newbie I am to this?) so thanks for mentioning that.
I think I went through 20+ combinations before I finally settled on the one above. And I'm currently creating a facebook ad cover on Canva, which has a lot of choices and I've created 12 different ones. Problem is, I can't choose. This has been going on for 3 days lol
Chris wrote: "I think I went through 20+ combinations before I finally settled on the one above. And I'm currently creating a facebook ad cover on Canva, which has a lot of choices and I've created 12 different ..."
Lol - I hear you! You'll have to write a whole lotta books so you can use each design! Not that one needs an excuse to write! :-)
Lol - I hear you! You'll have to write a whole lotta books so you can use each design! Not that one needs an excuse to write! :-)
Ruth wrote: "Chris wrote: "I think I went through 20+ combinations before I finally settled on the one above. And I'm currently creating a facebook ad cover on Canva, which has a lot of choices and I've created..."No, but any excuse like that can fool others who don't know any better e.g. family, friends, girlfriend, dog who needs a walk etc.
Chris wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Chris wrote: "I think I went through 20+ combinations before I finally settled on the one above. And I'm currently creating a facebook ad cover on Canva, which has a lot of choices and..."
:-D
:-D
Chris, $6000??? I'm all for skill artists too, but I don't think a book cover is worth that!!And Canva has so many images you can choose from. I thought I would have to pay big time, but low and behold, I kept scrolling down its list and found the perfect one that only cost a $1. I love Canva. I hope they don't realize their popularity and start charging more--LOL!
I like your cover, too, Ruth. I could tell it was a self-help book just by looking at it, which is the idea you wanted to get across to readers.
I have a question: Is a color printer required to use Canva's banner templates?
Groovy wrote: "Chris, $6000??? I'm all for skill artists too, but I don't think a book cover is worth that!!And Canva has so many images you can choose from. I thought I would have to pay big time, but low and ..."
No, definitely not worth 6K. I laughed when I got the quotes from some artists.
As for your question, I guess you'll benefit from having a colour printer. Haven't used a printer. Sorry
Thanks, Chris. I'm thinking brochures and business cards, sorry!
Thanks Groovy! I wanted something girly and simple. Theres so much psychology that goes into book covers, isnt there?I might be more adventurous for my next book. We'll see how this one does first though.
All the best, Ruth. Like I tell all of my Goodreads' friends, I hope your book soars:)Do you just write non-fiction?
Groovy wrote: "Thanks, Chris. I'm thinking brochures and business cards, sorry!"I was told by a friend that business cards on Canva look great. Haven't got round to trying out any templates on that.
Groovy, so far yes. Ive just finished my first book, and have two more non fiction books I want to start writing very soon. Hopefully I'll have learnt the tricks of the publishing/marketing trade well enough by then to be brave enough for fiction. I scribble plots and short stories all the time so perhaps one day....☺
Ruth wrote: "Groovy, so far yes. Ive just finished my first book, and have two more non fiction books I want to start writing very soon. Hopefully I'll have learnt the tricks of the publishing/marketing trade w..."Hey Ruth. I started with short stories in fantasy when I was 15, and did it as a hobby. The book I just published, I started writing it at the age of 24, then it got dusty on my laptop's hard drive for 3 years. Family and friends convinced me to go into publishing, and I'm glad I did. You've come this far. If you've got an imagination, then share it with the world.
Hear! Hear! And Ruth, brace yourself for that long publishing/marketing road, it's a lot of hard work. Make sure you drink plenty of water; or wine when you need stronger determination:)
I tried Canva...gave up after 15 minutes. I didn't get it and I think you have to pay? I don't remember but there was something that turned me off about it.
Justinnnnnn! Nooooooo! For one, Canva is free. You sign up for free. And if you use any of their pictures, they are free to $1. It's so easy. If I can do it, anybody can.If you want, just tell me what you couldn't get, and I'll help you. The template for a Kindle size cover is already there, all you have to do is click it and pick out what you want on it, what color, and what fonts. That's it!!
But if you've decided you really don't like Canva, then that's okay. Youuuu!
Justin wrote: "I tried Canva...gave up after 15 minutes. I didn't get it and I think you have to pay? I don't remember but there was something that turned me off about it."I'm actually with Justin! I loathe Canva - couldn't figure out how to make it work to my tastes :) Guess GIMP has totally 'corrupted' me! I prefer to go in there and work from scratch, LOL!
Et tu, Zee?I feel the same way about GIMP that you two do about Canva. But it's all about what we feel most comfortable with, and you have to respect that. I ain't mad at you, Zee, you're still my friend who speaks beautiful French:)
Groovy wrote: "Et tu, Zee?I feel the same way about GIMP that you two do about Canva. But it's all about what we feel most comfortable with, and you have to respect that. I ain't mad at you, Zee, you're still m..."
LOL, Groovy! No worries. I guess it's a question of habit, too - I am used to GIMP and can just go in and zap-zap-zap something together as I'm used to the different steps. It just seemed like a headache for me to go learn Canva (which is not that intuitive to me!) when I can already do the same thing in GIMP.
That being said, I do find the dimensions Canva already gives you for the different templates very helpful!
And let me know if you need help. I'll guide you through it:)
Making Connections
Books mentioned in this topic
The Alliance (other topics)The Alliance (other topics)
Hyperearth (other topics)
Hyperearth (other topics)
Amstel Girl: Playing With Destiny (other topics)
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I would like to start making my own E-covers. For those of you who design and create your own, what do you use?
Thank-you