Cover Art? Where to find AFFORDABLE artists or the best tools to do it yourself??

[Crystal Lea]

Hi everyone.

 

I have been on the hunt for some great cover art for my ebooks and

seem to keep getting looped back to artists who charge in the

hundreds of dollars for their work.  While I'm not disputing that

they are indeed fantastic artists, I was wondering if there are

not artists out there who do cover work that is great for a

paranormal romance writer but that will not cost the proverbial

arm and leg.

Does anyone out there happen to know of any cover artists

that would fit the bill?  And if any of you do your own cover art,

what programs are the most suited for doing so?  Best places

for stock art, that kind of thing?  I appreciate all the help anyone

can give me!  :-)

 

Thanks all!!

Crystal

[SmatteringsBooks]

Gimp on Win 7 has done the best. Other freeware and open source programs that have helped or were needed to run gimp  are listed at http://smatteringsbooks.com/graphics.html

 

Ruth Willerth

http://www.smatteringsbooks.com/wordpress/

[KW McCabe]

I'm doing cheap book covers $15-$75 depending on what you want- check me out at  http://cheapbookies.blogspot.com/

[Naj Qamber]

Hey Crystal! I'm a book cover designer as well as a book blogger. 

Check out my style and if it'll fit what you have in mind for your cover then pop me an email if it does. :D 

eBook Designs

Price is negotiable + free bookmark designs at a certain price. :D

[Joe Perrone Jr.]

I am NOT an artist, but I am able to come up with eye-catching covers for a very reasonable fee: $50 for a front cover only and $75 for a full cover design.  Samples and references upon request.  And, yes, I do accept PayPal.  If you're not happy with the cover I design for you, there's no charge.

[Ermilia]

I've got some free book covers up for grabs if you'd like. I made a post in the forum. Here's a link!

 

http://bookblogs.ning.com/forum/topics/free-book-covers-up-for-grabs

 

- Ermisenda Alvarez

[Joe Perrone Jr.]

That's some very nice work, Ermilia!

[Robert Lee Beers]

I hope this reply is within rules. I happen to be a graphic artist with a lot of covers under my belt for assorted publishers. Check out my page and profile. There is a link to my Wordpress blog that has some samples. You shouldn't have to pay hundreds for a decent cover if the artist has no requirement to do an actual painting.

[B.J. Whittington]

http://www.romancenovelcovers.com/

Has custom and pre-made book covers. Prices start at $45

[Howard David Johnson]

Hi Crystal,

     I'm a professional illustrator and teacher and I feel you- If a couple hundred bucks is tough ( I've been there) your options are limited but you can still get yourself GREAT cover art using paintings, photos or designs.

Lulu.com and other self publish sites have FREE templates to upload your art to and perfect your cover and terrific online support. They have a spine width calculator and other awesome free features. I've used them for years.

     What you must watch out for when choosing art is copyright infringement. You can get zillions of AWESOME paintings online for free but they must be a hundred years old, those are ALL out of copyright now. They will only suit retro time period stories of course. Newer art is almost always copyrighted. Photography is only for certain kinds of covers and can be had for a license fee but even those can get into hundreds quick because of fees. Bad photography is worse than a solid color.

  If you can get a friend to let you use their computer with Photoshop installed that's free. adobe TV online has FREE TUTORIALS. If you can't borrow a friends computer with Photoshop installed, I've seen used CDs of Photoshop out there for only 20 bucks on auction sites. Anything from Photoshop 5 (not CS5)on will suit your needs if you have an old computer, even vista will run those. With that program you can crop, color enhance, create geometric designs arrange lettering and have fun doing it. Find a pattern you like that looks professional to use as a guide so it won't look amateurish. If you copy the pro layout but not the font or picture you'll have a sharp cover with NO copyright worries.

My website has hundreds of paintings that can be licensed for 99 bucks and all new "dream covers' for five hundred and up. After programs and fonts and your time spent this actually might be one of the cheapest options to get a terrific professional looking cover. I'm setting up a blog on this site to give pointers to emerging writers on a budget and want to thank all the nice people who've already welcomed me to the group. You can contact me with questions about getting started doing it yourself at [e-mail]. If you're not a do-it-yourselfer I'm afraid there is no hope for a GREAT cover for under a hundred bucks. Examples of licensed pre-existing art by me for under a hundred are below.

Bright Blessings!

David

www.howarddavidjohnson.com

[Roxanne Galpin]

Hi. I have photoshop and am quite adept in its use. I also have a deviantART membership, which provides me with access to some great stock photographs for making book covers. Some stock photographers only want credit for their work. 

I am willing to help you out ... message me or get my via my blog: Blossoms and Books.