So You Want Your Own Bespoke Book Cover
Fabulous! That's what I'm here for: To take your creative vision and elevate it into something fabulous that's both true to your story while adhering to market and genre codes. I always take that extra leap to ensure you book cover stands out amongst the noisiest market.
Whether you're revving with creative vision or need a bit more guidance; eager to splurge on the ultimate illustration or aiming for a more budget-friendly option, there is an pathway for you.
I work across all genres and creative styles so don't hesitate to push creative boundaries either.
The Three (and a half) Book Cover Types
in the simplest and broadest strokes.
This is the blending of photo imagery with graphic design. It remains heavily popular in crime fiction and had a major boom in 2010s young adult paranormal fiction.
All my images are either sourced from the ethical platform Arcangel or Unsplash. Or, for the more adventurous, custom-produced with local photographer Olivia Holt.
01 Photo
02 Illustrated
The current en vogue option, illustrated covers are the popular choice for most fantasy genres. There is no restriction on creative vision only the stretch of your budget.
From the highest-concept science-fiction renders, to the simplistic romance flat art, there is option for all.
Unlike most covers that spotlight the illustrated or photographed subject, these covers are all about the title. They usually incorporate the most design aspects and either heavy typographic styling or custom lettering.
While rarely the first envisioned option for contemporary authors, this format often produces the most timeless and striking visions. For those looking for budget-friendly options, there is no going past Paul Bacon's Big Book Look.
03 Type
Seen those nifty book covers that have crosses drawn over some marble statue? Or paint spilling down over landscape? Maybe you didn't realise that, while I drew the man running in Beasts of London, those newspapers? Designed from scratch baby. The graphic design way.
There's been a surge in popularity of one of my favourite styles of book covers and that's mixed media. Sometimes it's subtle. Sometimes it's obvious. Either way, it stands out.
3.5 Mixed Media
Book Cover Prices
I can't offer an upfront cost without knowing your book cover vision. At least the broad strokes.
This information may help you mix-and-match where your head is at as often it is a balancing act of how many elements vs how detailed or complex the overall style is.
Rule of thumb? More there is, more the cost.
Please Note These Prices are for Front Cover Alone.
Full Wraps are +20-40% depending on complexity and whether they're completed together or seperate
For Mixed Media Book Covers refer to the Typography and Illustrated Pricing. Complex design work covers often lean into mixed media. For a specific vision, please contact Dayna or email hello@creativedayna.au
The Photo Composite Cover
Base Starting Cost (Non-Exclusive) $650AUD.
This includes one non-unique image from Unsplash.
(Credit to Photographer preferred). Basic design work.
Base Starting Cost (Exclusive) $970AUD.
This includes one unique licensed image from ArcAngel.
(Credit to Photographer preferred). Basic design work.
Standard Photo-Composite Cost $1400AUD+
This includes one unique licensed image from ArcAngel.
(Credit to Photographer preferred). Standard design work.
Complex Photo-Composite Cost $1800AUD+
This includes one unique licensed image from ArcAngel.
(Credit to Photographer preferred). Complex design work.
The Typography Cover
Standard Type Starting Cost $1650AUD
Depending on needs this may include an illustrated element, a unique licensed image from ArcAngel, and/or a typeface license. Includes Standard design work primarily focussing on typography.
Complex Type Starting Cost $2200AUD+
Often an unofficial mixed media book cover style with custom or heavily manipulated title copy fused with other visual assets, either illustrated, or stylized photography. Sometimes both!
Illustrated Book Cover
Please use this as a starting price ballpark guide only.
Prices are Australian Dollar ($).
Style | Basic Design | Standard Design | Complex Design |
|---|---|---|---|
Stylised | 1400 | 1900 | 2400 |
Realism | 1900 | 2400 | 2900 |
Flat Art | 900 | 1400 | 1900 |
Prices Be Scary?
Don't worry. I get it. Today's world is insane. Don't even get me started.
(I mean. Fellow cookbook owners, let's get this sh*t burning already).
But that is why I have Premade Book Cover Designs Across All Kinds of Genres and Styles.
How Do I Decide Costs?
By projecting how much time it will take.
I take into consideration the following aspects:
There is a cost difference between those who have an idea of what they want, and those entirely lost: Which is okay. I love providing creative direction and working with authors to find that perfect unique visual position. But it can get costly if we're constantly flipping-flopping
For those budget conscious, I do encourage you provide a rough scribbled visual idea. Those ready to dig in deep, I'm willing to go the long route if you are!
01 Vision
02 Style
This is probably the biggest determiner of cost. Not just what we're creating, but how. I am a very versatile artist and designer, so the options are endless.
Want a treasure chest on your cover? Done. Now will that be stock, custom photography, a cartoon 'scribble', photorealism, or even a mixed-media project? I'm willing to explore it all with you to find the perfect fit.
How many elements or images are involved in this project is the next big kicker. There is a huge leap between a book cover using one stock image; a flat cartoon art style with various subjects and borders; to even just one photorealistic or heavily stylized subject.
Finding the balance between all this, can be tricky, but this is what concepts are for! Just be up front so I can help you manage, and elevate expectations.
03 Elements
You don't need to go crazy with complexity to have a very effective cover. It goes back to that Big Book Look. Simple is often most impactful. Plus, we have access now to so many well developed types that I often don't need to create one from scratch to get our desired look. Or go heavy in the photo-composite styling. Sometimes we just need text slapped on image.
Basic Design is basically that. Basic. Not custom type. Little to no photo composite work. Just strong visuals and text.
04 Basic Design
Okay, it is nifty when we have a more developed vision with visuals interacting with text or images bleeding together. We love our gold rendered titles and who can't pass up some paper tears. The hardest part is narrowing all those options to that best one.
Standard Design covers most of what you'd expect. Customised title manipulation and rendering. Bashing visuals together in the best of ways. All that fun.
05 Standard Design
Some covers require that bold something-something special. Usually means weeks of me developing the visual composition and then digging deep to pull it together: This could mean custom type titles. It could mean creating tens of crumbled vintage posters. It could mean slicing up art into glass shards. Whatever's bold.
Complex Design means everything that involves a little innovation. A little outside the box thinking. The cool sh*t.
06 Complex Design
Also known as minimalist. For an entire era, Gen X Corporate Memphis. And for the sake of simplicity, I'm throwing silhouette and line art styles in here too. (Get mad. Get at me. Yeah).
This style is as basic as it gets. But don't be fooled thinking it's simple. Not all Book Blobs are the same. Even flat styles can become complex. Detail-maxing doesn't have to be about how realistic it is. . . But regarding cost spectrum? Lowest.
07 Flat Art
08 Stylized Art
Calm your t*ts. I know the semantics are off. Just go with it.
For this, stylized is what happens when flat art evolves into what Alana Pockros calls "frappuccino unicorns". And line art nears too close to Kerby Rosanes' star.
Other words: Art forgot to be minimalist, ain't realist yet.
This category is for everything wonky in the in-between. Where the most daring walk.
Does it look real? That's realism. Sure, there's a grey zone around what's life-like-enough but we're not going to fuss about it.
Comes down to this.
You want all the detailing? Or as much detailing as you can afford that lobs you into that sweet, sweet, grey zone?
This is your area baby. And yes, what is considered "alive" can be fantastical. I'm open minded.
09 Realism Art
FAQs
I will be adding more to this later, sorry.
When Should I Book?
Now. That doesn't mean we have to start now. But it allows me to block space for your project.
Otherwise there's two schools of thought:
+ Earlier the Better.
Sooner you get your cover done, the sooner you can put together a kick ass press kit and push that sh*t. Plus, cover reveal tour? Do it properly and that's amazing reach.
+ Digital and Physical At Once.
Most people work to a tight deadline. That means release happens pretty much straight after formatting completes; which means we're finishing the front cover well before we even consider physical wraps. Let me stress: that's fine!
Buuuuuuuuuut doing it all at once is best. So much that I offer a half price discount (_+20% vs 40%). There are ways around it, say if you have a excellent estimate of final page count formatted for print based on previous works. Buuuut yeah. That's that.
How Many Revisions Do I Get?
Three. . . and a bit. My process is broken into four stages:
01 Concept
02 Development
03 Finesse
04 Delivery
Big changes are allowed between Concept & Development. Small changes between Development and Finesse. Tiny changes (corrections) between Finesse and Delivery.
If we get to finesse and you ask to rework the entire cover with a new direction? Sorry mate, that's a new project.
(If it helps, that's only happened twice in past decade. Once at the very start of illustrative career when I was young and messy. And the second because the publisher changed genres. . . )
Got another question?
Email me: hello@creativedayna.au
