Do

• Do credit your sources - even for covers. May be done on text pages.

• Do take your budget into consideration.

• Do add other things besides text.

• Do be creative. Click for ideas and examples of fonts, elements, margins, photos/graphics.

• Do follow ISBN requirements (if used) and other laws.

• Do consider archival quality.

• Do seek help. Click for ideas and examples of fonts, elements, margins, photos/graphics, QR Codes.

• Consider using the back cover for collage

• Unless you are providing a camera ready cover layout along with your finalized manuscript, check with your publisher to see if they are willing to work on the design with you before you have your manuscript complete. Terms may vary, but as cover design can turn into a long process, it is usually worth it to get a jump start - unless you have no expectation of actual publish date.

• Do have fun.

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Designs for the same book:

Deluxe hard cover (custom line imprint) Collectors Edition (out of print) and
color soft cover (in print).

Consider changing the look, just by changing the color!

Don't

• Don't do anything to your cover that you hate to come across.

• Don't over clutter - often trying to get "more bang for the buck".

• Don't use small type if you want older people to easily identify your work.

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Basic design elements to consider

• font style(s)

• font size(s)

• photos - quality, content, and captions

• title

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Black and White hard and soft cover mirrored design.
The choice of b/w complements the subject of the work - newspapers.

Books with planned hard and soft cover editions may be published at the same time to reduce printing costs. Cover design may be the same, similar, or totally different.

Some basic ideas to make your publication special (some ideas for Hardbound {HB} or Sofbound {SB} only)

• Make a trip to the bookstore and note likable or hated covers, use this as a guideline or springboard for ideas. Do not limit yourself by subject or size for this step.

• Consider using a pre-planned color palette.

• Use clipart or stock photography to liven up layout where you don't have items specific to the book to use.

• Do add other things besides text.

• For more than one book in a series, or from the same author, consider using the same basic layout in different colors.

• HB: Match your end papers to the cover (main) color.

• HB: Use custom printed end sheets (end papers).

• HB: If economical or offered, use stock pre-printed end papers such as marbleized, etc.

• HB: Consider dust jackets versus color covers.

• SB: Print on the inside of the cover.

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For more suggestions on this subject and more, order our book:
G550-$20.00 WRITING Family History Or Genealogy For Pleasure and Profit Complete Edition, by Gregath Company, Inc., *updated* 2015. ISBN: 978-0-944619-00-1, 8½x11", softbound book, 132 pages, suggestions & examples of all facets of your project for the typist and/or computer user. Note: All G prefix books 100 pages or more, this one included, that are SB can be special ordered in hard cover edition - contact for details. Also available on disk. | Click here for more information.