Posted on: 13 June, 2004
Author: Dan J. Fry
Visual appeal is the first step toward making a sale ... have a great ability to scan a web page quickly ... anything about a site. Its ... to ... onthis aspect by pro Visual appeal is the first step toward making a sale online.People have a great ability to scan a web page quickly beforereading anything about a site. Its important to capitalize onthis aspect by providing a great visual stimulus. e-Book coverart has come a long way in the past 5 years. High densitygraphics can really make your product stand out, labeling it witha high degree of professionalism and credibility.Throughout the course of my research into the best design tools Ihave uncovered that the saying "you get what you pay for" holdsall 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/TemplatesIf you perform a search on Google of e-book covers there reallyis only a few software products that dominate the first few pagesof results.(1) eCover Generator by Armand Morin The cost, $97, is about theprice of some personally designed single covers. It is the firstmajor player is eCover software. You can create 2d and 3d bookand software boxes, and recent upgrades enable you to create cdand spiral notebook covers as well. No other software needed touse eCover Generator. Armand is giving away 6 other e-books withpurchase. Very professional looking samples created with thissoftware. Windows 95/98/2000/ME/XP compatible.http://www.ecovergenerator.com(2) eBook Cover Central This is actually a mix between templatesand design service, not software. They will design your coverstarting at $39.95. This is not a bad price considering somecharge upwards of $100. You also receive three different imagessizes of your design. Template packages start at $9.95 for 25pre-made templates. You only need to insert your text and anyother pictures that you wish to have on the cover. For $49.95 youcan purchase a lifetime Gallery membership, entitling you to over540 images and templates. http://www.ebookcovercentral.com(3) Cover Software Pro This software, priced at $97, is actuallya plugin for Adobe Photoshop. So, you need to have it (~$200) inorder to use the software to create your cover. It also comeswith a 40 minute instructional video on using the software todesign not only covers but entire web sites. The samplesdisplayed at the site look quite nice. Apart from having topurchase Photoshop, this appears to be a good deal.http://www.coversoftware.com(4) Online Web Creations offering free covers without text. Allimages are fixed. There is a link through their site to a utilityfor adding text. Fairly limited but it is free. These are not thehighest quality images, but I suppose you get what you pay for!http://www.onlinewebcreations.com/ebooks.htmlDesign ServicesThere are more companies offering services to design and producea one time cover than there are software products. I cannot tellone from the other. All appear to produce quality products. Ialso am not sure what they use as graphical software, but Iimagine it is something along the lines of Adobe Photoshop, 3DStudio, Micrographix, or something similar.(1) Killer Covers e-Book covers designed specifically for yourproduct at $117. They also design software boxes and e-zinecovers. I recommend taking a look at the samples. Veryprofessional results. http://www.killercovers.com(2) eBook Cover Art This is not software but a service. $99 for aprofessionally designed e-book cover. Nice graphics but the siteis 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 ofGetResponse autoresponder, Implix Corp. After processing yourpayment online you are taken to a form which will let you chooseyour style and provide more personal information such as title,your name, business/product topic, etc. The guarantee a cover in5 days or less from the date of order. Booklets, newsletters,web-based membership cards, CD and video boxes, and tapes are allavailable. Your finished cover is sent to you as an optimizedgraphic 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-zinecover, software box, report cover, membership card. In 3d you canrequest multiple sizes. For a flat 2d image you receive thegraphic in three different sizes. You can receive add-ons such asa 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 ina single package for $149.99. The package includes a 3d image ofyour 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 anddesign work by Max Rylski. Two years experience in site andgraphic design. He offers a 72 hour turnaround time on the firstdraft of your cover. One very nice bonus is that he includes thecover design Photoshop files along with the fonts used just incase you need to modify anything at a later date.http://www.maxcovers.com(6) Absolute Covers Will design e-book, cd, e-zine and magazinecovers as well as covers for reports and such. You must contactthem for a free quote. Offers anywhere from 48 hour to 5 days fora finished product. You don't have to pay until you are satisfiedwith your product. Quite unheard of in this business. You willalso 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.phpUnless you knew about the contents of a book prior to purchasingit, 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 bevery compelling to convince me to purchase. This is why it'simportant to have a professional design for your info productcover. On the inside its content that matters. But to stimulate asense of credibility, you need to 'tickle' the visual appeal. Article Tags: E-book Covers, Three Different Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com