Can you use an eBook cover for a paperback cover?

spentastico · Mar 14, 2012

If I end up going the self-pub route this summer, I'm going to have an eBook cover done for the novel by a site (or maybe someone who would like the commission work... *cough*). My main vehicle will be online, but I would like to print off some official copies for myself through CS.

I have a question for people who have used professional services for their eBooks' covers. When you get a proof or a final of your eCover, do you just get a cover picture, or do you get enough towrap around the entire outside? If you just get the one front image, can you then re-use that as your cover for an actual print book, or do you get an image with a big watermark "PROOF" over it or something?

veinglory · Mar 14, 2012

An ebook cover typically is the front only. What you can do with it will depend in how high resolution it is (printing requires high res) and your contract with the designer.

Deleted member 42 · Mar 14, 2012

You will need a higher resolution image, and a printed book cover is full-wrap, with spine and back cover copy. You would need to license and pay a cover designer to use the cover on both. You will have better luck finding a designer/artist if you offer to name them on the back of the book cover, and in the front matter. They will need to have the cover copy in final form before they start working.

FOTSGreg · Mar 14, 2012

I did, or at least I will when I get back to completing my book for CreateSpace. But, as Medievalist said, you need a high quality image (300 dpi is good, but higher is better) and you need to wrap it around so you have back cover, spine copy, and front cover and you have to be meticulous about your preparation.

I was fortunate in that my cover artist designed a wraparound cover. I was unfortunate in that I did not follow CreateSpace's cover requirements meticulously (and then lost the frakking image).

merrihiatt · Mar 14, 2012

CreateSpace also has an online cover creator. So, if you only have a front cover image, the back can be a solid color with text (CS will place the ISBN on the back cover for you). There is also room for a small photo on the back, which could be used for an author photo or some part of the main cover image highlighted. It also creates the spine portion. Just something to think about. I prefer the wraparound covers. If you want to look at a few samples, CS also has stock images that will give you an idea of their different cover styles. You could make a "test" book just to try out their features. I've really liked the covers it has created for my books and it is really simple to use.

SBibb · Mar 14, 2012

Depends. If the resolution is high enough, you could use it as the front cover of a print book. Keep in mind though, if you have someone make your book cover, you'll need to clear it with them. Some designers charge more for use in both ebook and print covers.

spentastico · Mar 15, 2012

Good info, thanks!

merrihiatt: I will try that!

Scarlett · Mar 17, 2012

I wrote an article on this very issue here: http://booksat.scarlettrugers.com/b...-and-understanding-image-size-and-resolution/

But as mentioned it comes down to the resolution of the images used, the size of the final image and if it can be adapted to a print image. If it was made for web, I wouldn't think it likely to work as a print cover.

mpclemens · Apr 6, 2012

Sorry for (slightly) resurrecting this thread, but one other consideration may be that a design that "works" on a print book may not on an ebook. It's less of an issue if your readers are on a nice, hi-res color display (a la iPad or Kindle Fire or Nook Color) but e-ink screens are grayscale. So it's one more consideration along with resolution and proportions: having a design that can work for print as well as reduced to thumbnail size on an e-ink screen.

thothguard51 · Apr 6, 2012

If you bought a stock image for your e-book cover, you will need a seperate licensing agreement for the print book.

merrihiatt · Apr 6, 2012

thothguard51 said:
If you bought a stock image for your e-book cover, you will need a seperate licensing agreement for the print book.

Shutterstock allows this, making a note that the terms only allow for 250,000 copies of the book to be sold (or 250,000 e-books downloaded).

Specifically:

l) As part of editorial or advertising copy in magazines, newspapers, books, book covers, textbooks, editorials and directories provided that the print or manufacturing run(s) of such magazines, newspapers, books , book covers, textbooks, editorials and directories does not exceed two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) copies in the aggregate;
m) In eBooks, including multi seat license electronic textbooks, provided that the number of potential seat licenses or end users is fewer than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) in the aggregate;

Here's a link to Shutterstock's Terms of Service: Shutterstock TOS

I think it's a good idea if you're using stock images to read the Terms of Service carefully. I've seen several books that don't give proper credit for images used. Gets my dander up. We don't want people using our words without giving us credit, it's the same for someone else's images.

Can you use an eBook cover for a paperback cover?

spentastico

veinglory

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Deleted member 42

FOTSGreg

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merrihiatt

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SBibb

spentastico

Scarlett

mpclemens

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thothguard51

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merrihiatt

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