A lot of people have said to me that they would love to create an ebook cover in photoshop – but they don’t own Photoshop. t is quite an expensive piece of software, so for anyone looking to create amazing looking ebook covers – without Photoshop, consider this great product.
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However if you are looking for a free tutorial (that is quite old and bad (sorry, but I’m not that much of a designer), read my photoshop ebook cover tutorial below.
This is a simple tutorial on how to create a fantastic looking ebook cover for your latest project using Photoshop. For this tutorial I will be designing the cover for my forthcoming ebook series on how to successfully launch a blog.
- Ebook Cover Template
Why reinvent the wheel? The people over at EbookTemplateSource.com have created some free black ebook covers for you to work with.Here are their three options:
This cover is suitable for smaller ebooks, newsletters/ezines or special reports. 
(52 KB)Standard “hardcover” ebook. This design is suitable for most ebooks. (33 KB)
Tired of the same old covers? This design will certainly set you apart from your competition. Optional: Set your page layout inside your ebook to “landscape” instead of the standard vertical layout.
(27 KB)For this tutorial we will be using the first ebook cover template.
- Front Page Design
Once you have downloaded the ebook template that you want to use, unzip it and open the file titled ‘cover01_blank.psd’
This will be the starting point of your ebook design. Now lets start creating our amazing ebook cover. - Your Cover Background
I like to start with a simple gradient. I have chosen two blues that go with my logo for branding purposes.
And then to make the design a little bit more unique we will find a great free stock photo from sxc.hu to blend into the background. There are many great stock photography websites around but I love sxc.hu because the photos are free and all it requires is a simple free registration.As the cover is for an ebook series on launching blogs, I started using the search term ‘rocket’ and came across this space shuttle photo that I decided fitted perfectly.
The next step is to copy and paste the image into a new layer above the gradient background, and then in blending options set the opacity of the image to a desired level – so the gradient shows through. For this ebook cover I set the opacity of the image to 41%.
- Creating Your Ebook Title
This is where you need to think about branding. And ask yourself exactly what you want from your design. With this ebook cover I was looking for a title that looked ‘spacey’ almost a little ‘alien’ as the concept of the ebook is to launch your blog, and we were playing with the space shuttles for the image. So where do space shuttles go? Into space of course.That meant we needed a new font for the title, and there are a couple of great free font websites on the internet. I personally use DaFont.com.
- Insert Your Subtitle
Your subtitle is the main point of your ebook. The Phrase that will make your visitor want to buy or download your ebook. For this ebook we decided on ‘Planning Your Blog For A Successful Launch’. It tells exactly what the ebook is about and should capture the interest of anyone who is looking to start a new blog.For subtitles it is best to keep the font simple. We have used Tahoma, and made the phrase 24pt so that it spans over two lines.
- Add Logo And Branding
This is where you let people know who you are. Credibility sells, and people like to know who they are buying from. As this ebook is written for branding a blog I have added the words ‘A Free Blogging Tool By’ followed by the logo of the blog. Now we have finished with the front cover. Let’s see how it turned out!
Just a few more steps to go before you have finished your first ebook cover. We now have to import the front cover into the ebook template. - Open File ‘cover01.psd’
This is the other psd file from the folder you unzipped. And looks something like this:
- Flatten Front Cover And Paste Into Ebook Template
Now go back to the front cover we just created and flatten the images by clicking the ‘Layer’ menu tab and clicking the selection right down the bottom that says ‘ flatten image’.
Now copy and paste this image into the ebook cover:
So close now guys! Just two more steps! - Free Transform The Front Cover Layer
Now we just have to make the front cover fit properly into the ebook template. You do this by taking the following steps:- Select The Front Cover Image Layer
- Press The Control Button and ‘T’ at the same time – To transform
- Right Click on the image and select ‘Skew’
- Drag each corner until it fits in the corner of the blank front cover
- Save Your Completed Ebook Cover
You should end up with something similar to this:
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Tags: blank ebook cover, creating cover page for ebook, design covers for ebooks, e-book cover templates, ebook cover designer, ebook cover designs, ebook cover page create, how make ebook cover, how to make a book in photoshop, how to make ebook collection image, how to make ebook cover
well am not that much good at PS but am great at fireworks may be will try this in FF :D
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That was a great tutorial…now if you only used GIMP rather than Photoshop :D
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Nice Tutorial.
I am planning on writing an E-book soon!
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[...] Tom from StandOut Blogger, in a very interesting post, explains how to create an Ebook cover with Photoshop. [...]
Nice tutorial! Now how about a post on how to use our e-book to pump up readers on our blogs and get traffic to our website.
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VERY nice tutorial Tom.
I love all the pictures and the step-by-step explaining. Was really nice reading this post.
I think I might have even learned a thing or two about Photoshop :p.
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Great detailed and easy to follow tutorial mate. Will make sure I come back to this when I get around to writing my own eBook. Btw I love your theme and logo! Did you make it yourself?
Thanks guys! I cant take credit for the theme or the logo as both were purchased, I did edit the theme a bit if that counts :D
Nice tutorial! Now how about one about downloading photoshop for free so I can do this!
Nice. I did a lot of this a few years back but then started using actions. They make life so much easier.
Maybe you should consider creating a few yourself.
Thanks for the cool tut.
Tim
Very helpful! You may soon see many professional looking e-books being released by me soon :)
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[...] to create your own ebook cover, I recently created a tutorial on how to do this using Photoshop: Tutorial: How To Create An Ebook Cover With Photoshop Hope it helps! __________________ StandOutBlogger.com – Because no one wants to be average! [...]
[...] Tutorial: How To Create An Ebook Cover With Photoshop [...]
Good one Tom, though, I too wish this was in GIMP lol, but, I will try to see if I can take what you laid out and apply it to my graphics in GIMP.
Sweeet tutorial. Is there anything you can;t do with photoshop? LOL. I downloaded the 2nd ebook cover but modified it to look more like a box with a semi-open top than a book.
Great tutorial..I just recently started blogging and I am in the midst of writing my first ebook and i was looking for some templates for the cover and I didn’t want to buy some software..this will make it easy.
Tyrone
http://tyroneliggians.com
Good tutorial.
How about turning this utorial into camtasia video? I’m sure many people will benefit from this.
BTW, I’m offering free Photoshop actions for creating ebook covers on my site:
http://www.VirtualCoverGenerator.com
Hope you can blog about it :)
Nice tutorial! However, for people that don’t own a copy of photo shop… I develop a product designed to help people make 3D eBook Cover images. It’s called 3D eBook Shot. Unlike any other ecover design tool, as well as creating static images, 3D eBook Shot can export video animations of your ebook covers. You can easily upload these videos to youtube and embed them on your web pages. I also offer an eBook Cover Design Service. Prices start at just $100 USD for a cover design.
[...] [1] eBook Templates [2] Terms of Service " height=1> Sites you may be interested in Tutorial: How To Create An Ebook Cover With Photoshop | Stand Out Blogger Tags > No Tags < This product is also listed in Business to Business Publishing New [...]
You just saved my arse in a job with your “don’t reinvent the wheel” ebook cover. I am exhausted right now and the client wanted the cover to show on a book – you are an angel!! Thank you thank you
[...] has a great guide on how to create a cover in Photoshop over at Standout Blogger. If you don’t already have Photoshop, you can download a free [...]
I am very impress with your tutorial.I will apply in on my latest and very first ebook
at http://syokbisnes.com
Thanks my friend.
very nice tutorial,
it completely explained by the details. Photoshop is a very good software and I am also already use it for many years.
GREAT tutorial! I’m still somewhat a novice with Photoshop, but even I believe I can do this. Thanks for the informative post.
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This is a very good tutorial. However, if you don’t have Photoshop and or don’t want to purchase a copy, there are free softwares that you can use in the place of Photoshop. I’ve written a short report that tells you how to do it for 100% free.
http://www.easy-link.org/howtocreateebookcoversforfree
i want to start writing an ebook, and so is they any one who can give me detailed lecture of how to design an ebook cover, please should post a comment on my blog.
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Awesome post, thanks a lot! There are so many tutorials out there that are really a waste of time, but not this one. It works a treat!
Check out this eBook cover software it helps speed things up a lot – check it out at http://www.ecoversuiteelite.com
Thanks again
- Jay
Great tutorial Tom! Easy to follow, and everything you’d need to know included. I like the designs themselves too – something I need to work on!
Someone asked for a similar tut using GIMP the free graphics software. I have a tutorial at http://get-started-online.com/blog/how-to-create-an-ebook-cover-for-free-with-gimp – not as pretty and no screenshots yet, but I’ll add them if there’s enough interest! ;)
Steve
[...] Make your own ebook and software box covers – The Website ProfessionalsTutorial: How To Create An Ebook Cover With Photoshop | Stand Out Blogger [...]
Very good tutorial on how to create a ebook cover. Thanks Greg Ellison
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[...] How To Create An Ebook Cover With Photoshop (hat tip to @billvick) [...]
wao such a great idea i was thinking about my logo desing with the help of this tutorial i can make my site logo.
Nicely done. Personally I prefer GIMP to Photoshop, mainly because I’m cheap. :) It’s what I have, so it’s what I use. There is a guide for making eBook covers with GIMP at http://www.makeebookcovers.com. They don’t do the ‘rotate the image to fit on a template’ method…they actually show how to use the wireframe in GIMP, create the reflection, shadow, etc. It’s pretty cool.
Hey Tom,
Great tutorial! ;)
You can also find a free ebook cover action script here: http://www.absolutecovers.com/blog/page/8/
Ovi Dogar
TheCoversExpert
Nice post, Thomas. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for that great tutorial. As a PS pirate, I love finding new ways to do things with it. Saved me $ to find your nice walk-through. Mine is already done and looks great. First eBook cover is a success. Thanks bro.
Great tutorial!, Thanks for sharing.
Great detailed and easy to follow tutorial mate. Will make sure I come back to this when I get around to writing my own eBook. Btw I love your theme and logo! Did you make it yourself?
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I think I have an easier way to easily create stunning ebook cover designs :)
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Hewy Jaky, How is that?
very great tutorial, I have made a good looking cover! thank…
Hi All
I found this http://www.digitalmediacovers.com to be the least expensive. It does more that the others and is Professional. Has a Real Professional feel to it and the results are Awesome!
Hope this helps you all
Jo
Thanks Jo, looks like a great product you have there and something that a lot of my readers could take advantage of.
Thanks so much, I jsut made my very first cover! The tricest part was I’m also learning how to use Photoshop so some of the process was harder for me as I had to experiment to get where you were.
Thanks Sandy! I am glad that you were able to make use of my tutorial!
Thank you for your great tutorial, Tom!
I just created my ebook cover using your tutorial!
You can view it here:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a311/Bierhoff21/ebookcover.png
Nice looking tutorial. Although I have been trying for ages to do this from the tutorial and failing.
As usual for a program like PS, there is not enough detail. You are expecting people to know their way around the program. You do not go into detail enough about how you add layers, and get the gradients etc. PS is a mystery to me and I was hoping that i could do this. please add details for PS newbies.
I don’t think there’s any PS tutorials around the net teaching us exactly steps by steps in details especially if it’s presented in html. Missing out or skipping just a small detail will make you stucked somewhere especially for newbies.
GIMP is great BUT PS can do much MORE magic.
I remembered my early days of long 2-weeks intensive learning basic PS( though I have adequate skills in GIMP before ) by playing and experimenting a LOT with the Layers Palette, Tools Palette, Menu bars..and of course referring to FREE BUT QUALITY designing tutorials such as Thomas did here.
Great Job, Thomas.
I am not very good at PhotoShop but this tutorial is awesome. I readily figured out a great way to create a great e-book cover. Thanks!
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