
Get the colors confused and you may not get the right response. For example, using yellow often creates a feeling of optimism while red can generate feelings of passion or aggression.
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When learning how to design a book cover, don’t forget that colors can affect sales. In color theory, which colors we select and the combinations we choose can have a strong effect on emotions. Alternative elements to utilize for creating visual hierarchy include contrast and color. Move the reader’s eye to where you want it to go by increasing the size of the element you want to stand out the most (e.g., author name, book title, or imagery).

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The key is to find an image that reflects the theme of your book and fits the genre. When adding imagery to your cover, you can choose between original photography, illustrations, stock photos, or AI-generated artwork. The right typography can be the difference between a cover that looks sharp and professional and one that looks cheap and homemade, so choose wisely. In most cases, you’ll want to use a maximum of two or three fonts. Be open to breaking the rules when you have a good grasp of the whys behind them. Stay within the basic genre guidelines, whether fantasy, romance, business, or historical. This can be done by reinterpreting the conventions of the genre by putting a creative spin on it.

It’s possible to honor the expectations of the genre and still engage your reader in a surprising way. In this article, we touched on how and when to break the rules of genre-based cover design to create something engaging and unexpected. Before you publish your book, you have an opportunity to explore all of the possibilities of great cover design (regardless of budget) to uncover what could make your book a bit more special than the next. Playing it safe means blending into the crowd.
