If your skill set runs to the literary side of things, you may find the process of creating an ebook cover to be something of a challenge. I know I did. There are a number of companies offering ebook cover creation for a fee (see bottom of post). However, if you want to save money and if you’re willing to spend a few hours downloading software and teaching yourself the basics, you can create your own ebook covers. Some sites even allow you to create free ebook covers. After much trial and error, I came to love Graphic Converter, a fairly self-explanatory program with a free trial which allows you to combine images, text, and other graphic elements to generate a JPEG file. PhotoShop is another fine option for cover creation if you already have the know-how. Grab an image from Bigstock.com, add some text, resize the image, and you’re good to go.
There’s plenty of software out there designed specifically for the ebook publisher. Here are a few:
- Ebook cover artist: this is one of my favorites, and not only because the website has a cool superhero graphic. At $29.99, and with a decidedly mod sensibility, this is a fun tool that can really make your covers pop.
- Ecover suite elite is a more professional package, perhaps a bit user friendly. If you’re serious about cover design, this might be the package for you.
- Ecoversoftware pro
- Cover software pro
If, on the other hand, you have more money than patience, you’ll be happy to know the web is teeming with people who would love to create your cover for an often reasonable fee.
- Jaebee Creations
- Custom Ebook Cover Design
- Virtual Graphic Artist
- Author Support (from a design standpoint, one of my favorites)
- Ebooks by design (not cheap, but they do the whole shebang, from interior to cover design)