What I would prefer to cover right now is methods to make an eBook cover. There are a number of services that can do this for you and the fee varies relying on the service. When you selected to go this route then you definitely’ll clearly need to see their work and determine if you can work with them. Look for feedback from their clients. You’ll wish to ensure that they are going to proceed to tweak your design until you are happy. An amazing place to find these graphic designers is Elance.com.

In case you have somewhat bit of design expertise and know the best way to use a graphics program, then there are some nice software solutions out there for you. Once once more, the cost varies relying on the capabilities of the program. Most of them offer you a free trial interval in which time you possibly can probably get many of the eBook covers you need completed. The problem for most people is that they really don’t have any design expertise and do not wish to spend the hassle studying methods to use a graphics program. That is the place this tutorial comes in.

What I’m about to show you is how one can create an awesome trying eBook cover with little to no design ability. No, it isn’t a magic trick or hypnosis, just easy step by step instructions. The best part about the whole thing is that you can be utilizing only free instruments available on the internet. I will show you exactly tips on how to get them, learn how to install them, and the right way to use them. Should you don’t need to read easy methods to do all of this you can watch the free video tutorials and download all of the free programs. Let’s get on with the tutorial.

Step 1. Get Your Tools.

The first instrument I would like you to download is Paint.net. This is a free program that acts very similar to Photoshop from Adobe. The truth is, it has some very useful options that Photoshop sadly does not have. The subsequent instruments you want to get are some plug-ins for Piant.net. Since Paint.net is an open supply program, it would not include the entire features we need. Some nice programmers out there have developed plug-ins to do the things that we need. The first one is the indirect tool. This allows us to create angles for our graphics and provides us a three-D feel. The subsequent device is the reflection plug-in. This provides a pleasant professional look to the cover. The final plug-in is the drop shadow effect. This is optional and I show you in the videos how you can get around using this plug-in.

Step 2. Installing The Tools.

Once you’ve downloaded Paint.net go ahead and use the defaults to install it. Once Paint.net is installed you will want to install the plug-ins. Click on your pc icon and select Program Files then choose Paint.NET then effects. This is where you will extract the plug-ins from their zipped files to. It ought to appear like this C:/Program Files/Paint.NET/effects.

Step 3. Getting The Templates

Now you will have all of the instruments you’ll want some eBook cover templates. There are a number of sites that you can use and download the files free of charge ebook2u and ebooktemplatesource are good places to start. Pick a cover style you want and put it aside to your computer.

Step 4. Discovering Graphics

You probably have an thought of what you want your cover to appear like then you should be able to search out those images on the internet. Ensure that they are not licensed and are free to use. Once you have a couple of images you may play with them to see which ones you like.

Step 5. Building Your Cover Graphic

Open up Paint.NET and create a new project. Determine what graphics to use and open them up. Copy your graphics and paste them into a new layer on your new project. You can move the graphics around till you like the place of them. Every time you add another image, textual content, or shape be sure to use a new layer. Next, create a new layer and click on on the textual content software to the left. Pick the font, measurement, and magnificence you need and start typing. You’ll be able to move this around to your liking. For those who don’t like the best way the text appears to be like strive a distinct font, model etc. In the event you still do not like the way in which it seems go to cooltext.com and you’ll create your own textual content image and use that. Once you’ve played round with the layers, graphics, and textual content and come up with something to your liking it’s time to create the eBook cover.

Step 6. Creating The eBook Cover

Open the file of the book template you liked. Use the magic wand on the left and click on the book cover. It ought to select the part that you need to change the color of. If not change the Tolerance on the menu bar and preserve making an attempt till you get the correct selection. Select the Paint Bucket on the left and fill with the color you want the background to be. If you can’t discover the colors to select they’re on the Window menu and select Colors. Copy your cover creation and paste into a new layer on that template. Now you should resize the image to fit on the cover. As you’ll be able to see the shapes do not match. This is the place it is advisable to use the indirect plug-in you’ve got installed. Click on Effects then Distort to pick the Oblique tool. Adjust the angle to suit the shape of your cover.

Move it and resize till it appears good.

In case your okay with the spine the way in which it’s great, if not the you will have to create a new project after which paste that right into a new layer and rotate it, resize it, and move it into position. Once you’re pleased with the style of the eBook cover it is time to create the effects to get that professional look. Choose the layer that contains the image you’ve got created. Go to Effects and select Reflection and play around with it till you like what you see. Next, select the eBook cover template layer. Go to Effects, Stylize and select the Drop Shadow. Play around with it and see in case you just like the effect.…