Do you want to create a book cover for your completed book, and don’t know where to start? Check out these five ideas to get you going.
Once you have your book title, it’s time to create a cover for your book. The following five options will get you started.
Online Resources
Canva is an invaluable design resource for posters, social media posts, advertising and logo designs. They also have a very awesome book cover design feature with great results. If you need a book cover, fast, and don’t know where to get it, try out Canva. It costs you an email and time to sign up for an account.
2. Adobe Spark
Adobe Spark is another great resource. Their concept is similar to Canva, if you can’t find what you’re looking for on Canva, maybe you’ll get it on Adobe Spark. I use both for social posts. The interface is easy to use, and you can save the cover anywhere you wish.
Learn How to Be a Designer
This is my favorite. You get a lot more freedom with creative decisions. It does require a longer period of time to learn, but once you understand the basics, you are able to create a decent book cover, in any shape and size. ^_^
4. Adobe Illustrator/ Indesign
Use these to create and format books and book covers. You’ll need time and patience to grow expertise with these. If you’re willing to learn, your book cover issues will be a thing of the past. Indesign is especially great for book formatting.
Hire an Illustrator for your cover
5. Get Your Cover Designed for You
This is a really great choice especially if you want to print your book. You can get someone to design a book cover for you. The advantage to this is that you get original artwork. The artwork will match your content, as you work with the illustrator until you’re satisfied with the result. Alternatively, you can purchase a ready-made book cover design from a graphic designer.
Below please find profiles on two Illustrators based in Nairobi.
Wanjira Kinyua of @born_on_the_way . Visit her blog to see the amazing illustrations she has posted, to see the type of work she does.
The standard cost for simple illustrations, pricing starts from Kshs. 5,000 and complex illustrations start at Kshs. 7,500 .
Wanjira
From Wanjira
My work is primarily done using digital techniques and inspired by everyday objects and subjects that challenge me in drawing. My style is heavily influenced by printmaking techniques and the use of a limited colour palette. If you would like to talk to me about a project, please get in touch.
email: kinyuakelly@gmail.com
Humphrey Osoro of Humphrey Osoro Illustrations. Humphrey is a comic artist and graphic designer based in Kenya. He has a comic running at 254comics.com called the Unaffected Resolve. Make sure to check it out.
Humphrey takes commissions on different types of illustrations. His recent work includes cover art for Less Vol. 1 by Jofre De Orosz.
If your work needs illustrations, reach out to Humphrey at the following links.
Instagram: @humphreyosoro
Blog: Humphrey Osoro’s Blog
Facebook: Humprey Illustrations
Coming Soon: Watch out for a feature on Humphrey Osoro on this blog!
If you know an illustrator who creates book covers do share, and we can create a list of Book Cover Illustrators to reach out to. If you are an illustrator who can create book covers, share your information as well. Authors are looking for book covers.
I hope these five ideas are of use to you on your journey to creating wonderful book covers.
Book Reviews | Self Publishing Ideas | ellyinnairobi.com 
Those are some great covers.
They really are. ^_^