|
 Visual appeal is the first step
toward making a sale online. People have a great ability
to scan a web page quickly before reading anything about a
site. Its important to capitalize on this aspect by
providing a great visual stimulus. e-Book cover art has
come a long way in the past 5 years. High density graphics
can really make your product stand out, labeling it with a
high degree of professionalism and credibility.
Throughout the course of my research into the best design
tools I have uncovered that the saying "you get what
you pay for" holds all too true with cover design.
Here is a review of my results. It is broken down into two
categories: (1) software, and; (2) design services.
Software/Templates
If you perform a search on Google of e-book covers there
really is only a few software products that dominate the
first few pages of results.
(1) eCover Generator by Armand Morin
The cost, $97, is about the price of some personally
designed single covers. It is the first major player is
eCover software. You can create 2d and 3d book and
software boxes, and recent upgrades enable you to create
cd and spiral notebook covers as well. No other software
needed to use eCover Generator. Armand is giving away 6
other e-books with purchase. Very professional looking
samples created with this software. Windows
95/98/2000/ME/XP compatible. http://www.ecovergenerator.com
(2) eBook Cover Central This
is actually a mix between templates and design service,
not software. They will design your cover starting at
$39.95. This is not a bad price considering some charge
upwards of $100. You also receive three different images
sizes of your design. Template packages start at $9.95 for
25 pre-made templates. You only need to insert your text
and any other pictures that you wish to have on the cover.
For $49.95 you can purchase a lifetime Gallery membership,
entitling you to over 540 images and templates. http://www.ebookcovercentral.com
(3) Cover Software Pro This
software, priced at $97, is actually a plugin for Adobe
Photoshop. So, you need to have it (~$200) in order to use
the software to create your cover. It also comes with a 40
minute instructional video on using the software to design
not only covers but entire web sites. The samples
displayed at the site look quite nice. Apart from having
to purchase Photoshop, this appears to be a good deal. http://www.coversoftware.com
(4) Online Web Creations
offering free covers without text. All images are fixed.
There is a link through their site to a utility for adding
text. Fairly limited but it is free. These are not the
highest quality images, but I suppose you get what you pay
for! http://www.onlinewebcreations.com/ebooks.html
 Design Services
There are more companies offering services to design and
produce a one time cover than there are software products.
I cannot tell one from the other. All appear to produce
quality products. I also am not sure what they use as
graphical software, but I imagine it is something along
the lines of Adobe Photoshop, 3D Studio, Micrographix, or
something similar.
(1) Killer Covers e-Book
covers designed specifically for your product at $117.
They also design software boxes and e-zine covers. I
recommend taking a look at the samples. Very professional
results. http://www.killercovers.com
(2) eBook Cover Art This is
not software but a service. $99 for a professionally
designed e-book cover. Nice graphics but the site is
rather unconvincing. http://www.ebook-cover-art.com
(3) Dynamite Covers
Professionally designed covers starting at $99.95. This
company is owned by Simon Grabowski, CEO of GetResponse
autoresponder, Implix Corp. After processing your payment
online you are taken to a form which will let you choose
your style and provide more personal information such as
title, your name, business/product topic, etc. The
guarantee a cover in 5 days or less from the date of
order. Booklets, newsletters, web-based membership cards,
CD and video boxes, and tapes are all available. Your
finished cover is sent to you as an optimized graphic by
either e-mail or over the web. http://www.dynamitecovers.com
(4) Perfect Covers Covers
designed on an individual basis, starting at $87. You can
choose from e-book, report, or e-zine cover, software box,
report cover, membership card. In 3d you can request
multiple sizes. For a flat 2d image you receive the
graphic in three different sizes. You can receive add-ons
such as a matching web site header for an additional cost.
http://www.perfectcovers.com
(5) Max Covers e-Book covers
and e-book mini-site graphics all in a single package for
$149.99. The package includes a 3d image of your cover in
three different sizes, matching mini-site header, matching
order button, a 2d cover image, a matching footer image,
and a matching background image for your site. Site owned
by and design work by Max Rylski. Two years experience in
site and graphic design. He offers a 72 hour turnaround
time on the first draft of your cover. One very nice bonus
is that he includes the cover design Photoshop files along
with the fonts used just in case you need to modify
anything at a later date. http://www.maxcovers.com
(6) Absolute Covers Will
design e-book, cd, e-zine and magazine covers as well as
covers for reports and such. You must contact them for a
free quote. Offers anywhere from 48 hour to 5 days for a
finished product. You don't have to pay until you are
satisfied with your product. Quite unheard of in this
business. You will also get a banner image, order button,
a basic web site template, a 2d image of your cover, and a
matching icon. http://www.absolutecovers.com/5/index.php
Unless you knew about the contents of a book prior to
purchasing it, would you buy a book with a torn, faded, or
even blank cover? I am betting you will say no. I know the
title would need to be very compelling to convince me to
purchase. This is why it's important to have a
professional design for your info product cover. On the
inside its content that matters. But to stimulate a sense
of credibility, you need to 'tickle' the visual appeal.
|
