Book Cover Art Rates and Pricing

I invoice towards the end of a custom project, which can then be paid via PayPal. I do ask for $50 upfront, but prefer to invoice for the rest of the amount (including the cost of any stock) once we have a final image that we’re both happy with. At that point the invoice should be paid.

It is quite common that a POD template will be needed some time after the front cover files have been provided, which is fine. When you have a final page count, I will do the POD template for you.

Unique, Affordable Pre-Designed Cover Art.

You can purchase ready-to-go book covers at a greatly reduced price. The design is already done and can be personalized with your title and author name. Cost of these at present are from $75.

eBook do not come with a psd file. I am happy to do extra hi res copies for you to use for promotion and such like. This is to prevent other artists trying to turn my artwork into a printed wrap. I would rather that i do this to keep the flow and art work exclusive.

Premade Ebook and Print Book Cover Art and Design package: $125

Some minor changes can be made major alterations will incur a fee.
You get a layered .PSD file (for Print covers only) in case you need to change the text, use without text for a book trailer, etc. Note: the artwork is flattened, but all text layers are left unflattened. You will still need to purchase any fonts used in order to change the text.
A full-size version (6×9″) Hi res
An ebook version for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Amazon catalogue and Smash words. This version should work for all.
POD template .pdf file – one only, for either KDP or Ingram. I don’t do Lulu POD templates.
3D Promo item.

Print On Demand Book (POD) Templates:

I will need:

Your back cover copy and any tagline or strapline
Your Ingram template OR
For KDP, the exact number of pages after you upload the novel, the colour of the paper (cream paper makes the spine wider), and the dimensions/trim size of the book.

The print cover templates are usually done at some point after the ebook cover and need very little lead time (2-3 days). I do not offer the .psd file for POD templates, only the finished .pdf.

Premade Ebook Cover Art and Design package: $75

Some minor changes can be made major alterations will incur a fee.
A full-size version (6×9″) Hi res
An ebook version for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Amazon catalogue and Smashwords. This version should work for all..
3D Promo item.

Unique, Affordable Custom Cover Art Designs.

Custom Ebook and Print Book Cover Art and Design package: From $225 plus the cost of any stock needed. This covers:

All mockups and proofs until we have a final design (see FAQs below for an idea of the typical process in creating a cover).
You get a layered .PSD file in case you need to change the text, use without text for a book trailer, etc. (This applies only for Print versions) Note: the artwork is flattened, but all text layers are left unflattened. You will still need to purchase any fonts used in order to change the text.
A full-size version (6×9″) hi res
An ebook version for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Amazon catalogue and Smashwords. This version should work for all.
POD template .pdf file – one only, for either KDP or Ingram. I don’t do Lulu POD templates.
3D promo item

Custom Ebook Cover Art and Design package: From $150 plus the cost of any stock needed. This covers:

All mockups and proofs until we have a final design (see FAQs below for an idea of the typical process in creating a cover).
A full-size version (6×9″) hi res
An ebook version for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Amazon catalogue and Smashwords. This version should work for all.
3D promo item

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are rough mockups?
Initial mockups use watermarked stock from stock sites. At this point, we’re just throwing ideas around and approving models, so I don’t purchase stock. If I have a firm idea of the overall theme or background, I may go ahead and do that part of it, so generally I work on the fullsize 6×9″ 300dpi file. Since many of the mockups won’t be right, I generally don’t do any painting, etc., on the mockup at this stage. It is, indeed, a rough mockup – think of it like a storyboard for the cover we’ll chose as a final. I don’t do any text treatment at this stage, so most text will be relatively plain.

2. What is a Proof?
When we have a final image that we both think works, I’ll go ahead and purchase all stock needed and start work “for real.” I’ll send proofs at various stages so that you can approve composition, layout, colour, etc. When that has been approved, the proof layout is locked, as I’ll start all the paint and detail work (it’s tough to move things around once I’ve started that stage).

3. Titles
After we have the final proof in pretty good shape, I’ll send a round of text treatment mockups. These will be proofs with various title fonts and treatments for you to approve.

4. Final Proof and Invoice
When we’re completely happy with the cover, I’ll send a final proof and an invoice which can be paid via PayPal. As soon as I have that payment, I’ll upload the final artwork in a zip file for you to download.

5. Pre-Designed Ebook Covers
Once I purchase a ready-to-go ebook cover, is it mine? Of course! These are unique designs, and once you’ve purchased the design it will be deleted from the site – it’s yours. I plan on doing these for several reasons: one reason is to give authors a lower-cost alternative to having a bespoke cover designed. Sometimes you don’t know what cover image might be perfect for your book until you see it. It’s also for my benefit as an artist; at times, a very specific set of cover guidelines can restrict what I might create otherwise. These covers allow me to create something truly unique, which will then hopefully find the perfect home with an author who falls in love with it. I’m looking forward very much to doing these, and I hope that you will love them as well.

6. Are there any types of covers that you don’t do?
I have a policy that I will refuse to do covers for any project that contains hateful material. If you have an axe to grind for a pro-hate belief, I will not do the cover. I have tolerance for most things such as gore, eroticism, etc., but I draw the line at homophobic, racist, anti-woman, etc. works as I don’t want my artwork to support those beliefs, nor do I want to be associated with them. So just don’t. I have done covers for Christian books and I don’t have a problem with it (any more so than I would for any other religion) and as long as you have a positive message that doesn’t advocate hate toward anyone, I’m fine with it.

7. Do you do fully illustrated covers? No, unfortunately I don’t – all of my covers use 3D renders or commercial stock images as a base, which are composited and then overpainted using a Wacom tablet.

8. Can I have all of the stock images used in this cover, the fonts, or the unflattened artwork file? No. This invalidates the licensing on fonts and stock, and I don’t allow others to adapt or change my artwork. I will send you links to the main stock images used if you wish.

9. With AI becoming a thing in the industry i have chosen to use this occasionally within my designs. I pay for a commercial use sub to Mid journey. I will however post these in a separate page informing of its use Titled AI Premades. These may contain a main character but with extensive work and painting to improve and alter its appetence.

I will not use an artist’s name in the prompt to attempt to copy a style. If I ever do reference artists I’ll always use multiple names so it doesn’t reference a style too closely by making the prompt it as non-specific as possible.