eBook cover design is a thing! Yes, your eBook needs a virtual cover that’s just as good as your printed book, but it’s a bit of a different process and there are extra things to consider. Below are the details you need to know. 

Yes, eBook Cover Design is More Than an Afterthought 

Much like your print book cover, your eBook cover design needs to be captivating. But viewers need to be compelled to click rather than pick it up off a shelf. They don’t get to see it in all its carefully crafted 3D glory, so that flat image is everything. Here are some things you need to keep in mind. 

Size is a Factor in eBook Cover Design

Viewers will be seeing your eBook cover design as a thumbnail. This just means it’s a small image that represents a larger image. In other words, it’s not the size of a printed book. 

Sizing is also important because the platforms where you eBook is available have file sizing standards. And these standards will vary across platforms. KDP’s is different than Ingram’s, for example.

Other Conventions to Follow

You also have to keep in mind that your eBook cover design will only be displayed as a flat image of the front cover. This means no cover spreads or spines. Also:

  • eBook cover colors should also follow color codes. Like RGB or HEX. RGB stands for Red, Blue, Green and they’re color codes, like HEX that translate to a visual representation of the color. 
  • Your eBook cover also needs to be in JPG format. 
  • And last but not least, just as with a print cover, any images used can’t infringe on an existing copyright

The Similarities Between eBook Cover Design and Print

A good eBook cover requires many of the processes and elements of a print cover. So, you’ll still need to do your research and possibly consult with experts however.

The Colors and Font

Just as with a print book cover, your eBook cover design process involves choosing the right color story, images and font to make it look visually appealing. But make sure you take into consideration the size, once again. Because most viewers will be seeing just that tiny thumbnail before deciding to click on it you’ll want stand out colors and fonts so it’s not dull, but you also don’t want it to look cluttered and hard to see.

Colors and font work extra hard on eBook covers for these reasons.  

The Genre Conventions 

Even eBook cover design needs to follow genre conventions, despite the differences in format.

This means doing your research on comparable titles-in this case, in eBook form. Nonfiction eBook cover designs will look different than a fantasy cover and a Fantasy cover will look different than Romance or Historical Fiction. 

It’s important to do your research and not just focus entirely on grabbing attention. Because the wrong kind of attention will do nothing for your eBook in the end. 

So, there it is. Now you know some of the top things to keep in mind when beginning your eBook cover design. The good news is, if you’re just putting out an eBook, the whole process can be quicker, easier and more cost effective than a printed book cover because there’s less involved. Just make sure you have a solid plan before you begin, and refer to this guide as needed.