Wednesday 4 November 2009

Advice on book cover illustration and book cover design for self publishers


Artistic Book cover Design & Marketing-The first impression a potential customer has of your book is the book cover illustration or book cover design. This makes your book cover the single most important visual marketing tool your book has to stand out in the Market.




Free Consultation?
Call me or email me for a free consultation. Lets discuss the specifics of your book cover, in terms of tone, setting, themes and the direction you envision as the author. I will answer any questions your have concerning the creative process, and give you a quote on your book cover. I work with you to derive and visually interpret the unique qualities of your manuscript, creating aesthetic market specific concepts and artwork that will empower your book with the edge it needs to compete in the industry.


Email Me: simon@matchworkstudio.com



Relax and enjoy A smooth workflow- As Matchwork Studio’s founder and seasoned book cover illustrator & book cover designer, I have been down the self-publishing road many times. I hold extensive experience in developing powerful book cover designs & book cover illustration solutions. Experience proven as a book cover illustrator and designer for a variety of publishers and editorials including: Hyperion, Lulu, Greenleaf, Times, Penguin, Arkham House. (Have you read my feedback at the top of the page?).



Tips to good design- Being a book cover illustrator & designer over the years, has helped me develop a formula of key elements. Here are just a few of the questions I go through during the book cover illlustrator creative process, as I work with you to explore and concept a book cover that will magnetize your audience into a sale

Note: As a book cover illustrator or self publishing Author, a good practice is to simple go into your local book store and observe how customers are drawn to and interact with a book on the shelf. Ask your self questions like…



1.Does the book cover design or book cover illustration jump of the shelf among other books? Does your book cover make people want to pick it up?

Note: Most people are initially attracted to a book through its cover. After picking up the book to view its cover, they usually flip it to the back and read the summary, so the back cover design and marketing layout is very important.



2.Does the book cover visually derive the author’s tone, setting and theme? Will it powerfully penetrate and attract the authors target market?

3.Is the typography in the book cover illustration or book cover design unique and powerful? Is it eye-catching at a distance?

Note: A common mistake in book cover design and book cover illustration is “over complexity”. A book cover design or illustration cannot be treated the same as an interior book illustration. A graphically strong illustration or design should incorporate the type and allow for ample negative space, allowing the design to appear prominent and legible on the shelf.

A seasoned book cover illustrator will intrigue the viewer with the artwork, conservative with the narrative of the piece, not giving away to much of the story, but enough to entice the viewer into reading the book.

4.Does the book cover look attractive at a small size. As a book cover illustrator, I offer awareness and tips in online marketing. In the online portal, books often appear as very small icons (about 108 pixels).

Free Consultation?
Call me or email me for a free consultation. Lets discuss the specifics of your book cover, in terms of tone, setting, themes and the direction you envision as the author. I will answer any questions your have concerning the creative process, and give you a quote on your book cover. I work with you to derive and visually interpret the unique qualities of your manuscript, creating aesthetic market specific concepts and artwork that will empower your book with the edge it needs to compete in the industry.


Email Me: simon@matchworkstudio.com