How to Create a Cookbook Cover
You have a cookbook and need a dynamic and attention-grabbing cover. But before turning to a professional to design your cover, try your hand at graphic design and create your own cover. As you look at book covers and designs, take note of what features you find appealing and try to emulate those positive points into your design. Although competition is fierce, especially with cookbooks, an eye-catching cookbook cover design increases your chances of success.
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Things You'll Need
- Professional clip art graphics or photos (high resolution)
- PageMaker or other page layout software
Instructions
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Sketch out your design, including front and back covers, spine and inside flaps.
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Write the copy for the inside flaps and back cover.
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Open a new document in PageMaker or other page layout program to the dimensions provided by your commercial printer, including the trim area. Set the page resolution at 300 dpi (dots per inch) and color to CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black). Many commercial printers provide pre-made template guides for you to use.
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Place your graphics on the cover (front) page. Graphics for a cookbook should reflect the book's content, such as photos of prepared meals, ambiance or a chef.
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Proportionately customize the graphics size by holding down the shift button and moving (sliding) a corner anchor until you have the desired size.
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Typeset the name for your cookbook. Choose a typeface (font) that works well with your graphic.
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Set the type for the spine, rotating 90 degree with the top of the letters align parallel with your front cover.
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Place the copy for your back cover; add photos or graphics.
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Place the copy for the inside covers. The inside front flap (closest to the front cover) usually starts with a synopsis of the book; inside back cover continues the summary and concludes with your bio and photo.
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Apply color to covers and spine titles. Choose a light color if the text is on a dark background, or a dark color if the text is on a light background.
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Save your document.
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Print and proofread carefully.
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Export to PDF, JPG, EPS or TIFF formats, at high resolution and CMYK. Many printers accept RGB format as well as the original files, so consult your commercial printer before sending the document.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask your printer for pre-made templates to use as a guide.
Experience using a page layout design program is helpful.
Use serif fonts, such as Times New Roman, for copy as this is easier to read than sans-serif.
Avoid too many colors or graphics. Keep the design clean and inviting.
All graphics should be high resolution (300 dpi) for best quality.
Book cover designs include a front cover, back cover and spine. Dust jacket covers also include a front and back flap.
Never manually resize an image without using the shift button, this will distort the image.
Never use graphics from the web without permission to avoid copyright infringement.
