Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you are a seasoned author or just starting out on your journey to self publishing, the answers below will help clarify some of the most common questions that arise during the book cover design process.

How much does a book cover design cost?

This varies greatly depending on a lot of factors:

  • the cover design style – there are different processes to create cover art: by mixing photography, by painting the concept either digitally or traditionally or by creating a vector based illustration.

  • your publishing deadline

  • the availability of matching stock photography

  • the genre of your book

  • whether character creation is part of your project

Basically, the flat fee of a project is calculated depending on the amount of work needed to create the kind of cover art that you desire. Therefore the cost of each project needs to be calculated independently.

If I need an urgent cover design, can you help?

Most book cover design projects are scheduled in advance of a few months, however in certain cases, I can take on projects with a tight deadline. Depending on your publishing date, estimated budget and the level of complexity of the design, an additional urgency fee may apply.

How do I start a project?

When you decide you’d like to start your cover design project, simply fill out the order form located on either the homepage or on the contact page. Please offer as many details as possible – they are essential in my correct estimation of budget and turnaround time. Feel free to mention any book covers you find inspiring as well, as this will help me better understand what kind of design style you favor for your own project. Once I receive your e-mail I will prepare a custom, detailed set of services that carefully matches your project. After we agree on the structure of the project you will be provided with a secure client account where you will be able to fill out a more comprehensive project brief.

I need an e-book cover, paperback, hardcover and dust jacket design, can you prepare the entire set?

Yes, I can offer you a complete publishing-ready set of templates once the cover design is complete.

Does the paperback design include the front cover, spine and back cover design?

Yes, the paperback includes the entire cover design.

Can you prepare my book cover for publishing on KDP (former Create Space) and Ingram?

Yes, the final, publishing-ready files are compatible with the guidelines of your publisher of choice.

What other services do you provide?

In addition to book cover design, I offer author branding, website design and general graphic design services. If you would like to order your own author logo, a complete website for your book series or a custom bookmark design, then I’d be glad to create your entire brand design.

Do you provide interior formatting services?

At the moment I do not offer interior formatting services.

Can you provide a contract?

Yes, a standard contract and agreement is available upon request.

Can I supply my own images and have you use them as part of the cover design?

Provided that the photos were taken in good lighting and are of high enough resolution then I can use them as part of the cover art.

How many initial cover concepts do you deliver?

A typical project consists of 2 initial draft designs. This may vary according to your budget and needs. Additional cover concepts require an extra fee. However most authors choose the winning design right from the start.

How long does it take before I receive the initial designs?

Generally, the initial designs are created within 10 business days. More complex projects that require detailed character design, digital painting or vector art may take longer than usual. The turnaround time for the initial drafts is determined at the start of each project.

How many revisions do you provide?

Each concept is unique therefore the number of revisions each project receives depends on a lot of factors such as: how elaborate the project is, what the client’s wishes are, the estimated budget and the publishing deadline. Usually, 2 or 3 rounds of revisions are all it takes to polish a cover design and bring it in its publishing-ready format. Note: a set of revisions does not include a complete redesign of the chosen concept or a completely new design.

I would like for one of the characters in my story to appear on the front cover. Is it possible to create my character in high detail, based on the description I offer?

Depending on your character’s features and the complexity of the work involved, I can create detailed characters based on almost any model. Please note that character design is quite a time-consuming job and will add to the turnaround time of the initial drafts. An additional fee is also requested for this kind of work.

What kind of payment methods do you accept?

I accept PayPal and bank transfer as means of payment. Please take into consideration that each payment method requires a transfer fee that is not included in the project’s flat fee. The transfer fee varies depending on your chosen payment method, the overall project budget and your country of residence.

Do I need to pay a deposit when starting the project?

Most book cover design projects do not require an advance payment or deposit. The payment is required after you preview the initial draft designs and agree on moving forward with one of the concepts. In some cases, when a project is quite elaborated, a deposit is necessary prior to the project kickoff.

Can I cancel the project at any time and is there a cancellation fee?

You can cancel the project at any time you wish. If the cancellation is requested immediately after receiving the first drafts and no payment has been made, then no cancellation fee is charged. If the cancellation occurs after the start of the revision phase, a kill-fee of 50% of the total project fee is charged.

Are stock images included in the project price?

Yes, stock images available at Depositphotos.com under the standard license are included in the project flat fee. If you would like the cover art to include stock images that are available for purchase on other websites (i.e. Shutterstock, iStockpoto, Neostock etc.) an additional fee is required for each purchase. Alternatively, you can supply these images if you’ve already purchased the rights of use.

I found an image online, can you use it as part of the cover design?

All images, photographs, vector art, fonts and other design elements that can be found online are subject to copyright and cannot be used without purchasing a license of use first.

Can you design promotional materials for social media such as Facebook/Twitter headers and Instagram posts and stories?

Absolutely. A set of promotional designs as well as Facebook and Twitter headers is included with each project.

Where are you located?

My studio is located in Stuttgart, a wonderful city in southern Germany. I am delighted have the opportunity to work with clients all over the world, from the US to the U.K. and all the way to New Zealand.

I have a question that wasn't addressed in the FAQ, how can I contact you?

Feel free to contact me with your question via the contact form. I will get back to you with a detailed reply as soon as possible.