YOUR GUIDE TO COVER DESIGN
YOUR YOUR COVER WAY
Your cover design can give your book the edge and make it stand out. Things to think about are what colours are in the book. Making sure the cover reflects the interior of the book is a great way to tie the whole design together.
Our cover templates can help you bring your idea to life. They can be something that works straight away or they can be a great starting point. Your designer can help bring your vision to life but would always say to start from an AYB template and then we can go from there.
OUR TYPES COVER 2024
*We have several types of cover finishes that we are offering for 2024. More information and pricing structure can be found on our website.
NAMES IN A 24 WORK BEST WHEN THERE ARE OVER 50 STUDENTS.
LISTS AND COLUMNS WORK BEST FOR THE MAJORITY OF NAMES.
ADDING NAMES TO THE BACK COVER
We offer several ways to add names to the back cover. IN A NUMBER, LIST, COLUMNS etc. Speak to our design for what will work best with your names.
*We do not take names from the book. Our designer requires you to send a formatted list .
3 COVER STEP PROCESS
1. Select your cover template.
Click one of the cover thumbnails to select your cover template.
This template will be used by your designer when creating your first draft.
We can add elements from several cover templates if needed. Remember colour schemes / fonts and layouts are editable on the majority of designs.
If you are inspired by a particular look our designer can work with you to produce the artwork. In this case it is important to be clear and brief your designer with colours and reference imagery.
Find the available cover templates on the covers page in the book builder.
Click and browse through the designs.
COVER ADD CONTENT
2. Add content for your cover template
Customise your cover by adding content on the cover content page.
Your designer will work with this content to create your cover design.
Add your logo / badge, text and imagery in here. You can update the imagery as needed through the design process
When adding files like logos or Imagery please use the highest resolution possible. If in doubt please contact the school / organisation for a high resolution (print quality) logo.
When you have added items your designer will be notified of any changes as shown below.
DESIGN YOUR BRIEF
3. Send the design brief to your designer using the form
Things to remember in your design brief
Follow the notes above specific to your favourite example cover
Provide the exact text you’d like on the cover
Want to use your school crest? Ask the school office for a print-quality version rather than delaying your book by downloading a poor quality one from a web search.
Ensure you have permission from the copyright holder to use images on your cover
Use the green box to go through to write your brief to our designer.
All covers are different and our designer is happy to hear any ideas you have. Be sure to leave a detailed message so it can be used to be designed into you yearbook cover.
If you are waiting on an image / logo / names please mention this here. Our designer can ready the rest of the art work and get the design ready while you wait for the assets.
YOUR COVER DRAFT
When you receive your cover draft it will look like the imagery on the mock up on the right hand page.
You will notice the shaded area around the design. Areas that are not shaded will be visible on the cover. Areas that are shaded are affected by the choice of cover finish you have selected.
If you have selected a budget paper back these shaded areas will be cut off. The reason the design goes into these areas is to have a clean cut and no white showing at the edges of the design. So essentially this area is cut away when budget paper back is selected.
For standard laminated hardback and premium laminated hardback cover design options this grey area is slightly different in its end use. In these cover options the grey area is folded over the design. As you can see in the two images here the cover comes over and is folded into the rear of the design. This folded area is then covered as shown in image 2.
It is important to keep this in mind when providing your own cover design. Our designer can aide you and extend your design to cover this area if needed.
‘this folded area is then covered as shown in image 2 by your endpapers.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR COVER DRAFT
Key things to understand Grey are is cut off for Paperback // Grey area is folded for hardback options.
CHECKING YOUR COVER DRAFT
CHECKING WITH THE ZOOM FUNCTION
Green lines here represent fold or cut lines. On a paperback finish the outeredge of the design (where is has a grey area) is cut away. This provides a neat edge to your design.
On all other cover finishes the grey area is folded over. This provides a nice edge for your book.
SPINE
This area is a great area to have your text in.
FOLD & CUT LINES
Green lines here represent fold or cut lines.
On a paperback finish the outer edge of the design (where is has a grey area) is cut away. This provides a neat edge to your design.
On all other cover finishes the grey area is folded over. This provides a nice edge for your book.
PINCH
A great way to think of this area of the book is that it allows the cover to hinge open. It is important not to have key design elements here.
These are the centre lines for your front and back cover of your design.
When a cover draft is created we then go back and forth using the messaging system as shown below.
DRAFT COVER AMENDS
Your amends to the design and contacting your designer.
Things to remember in your design message
Our designer can manipulate the design to suit your needs. Did you need a specific colour that was not previously mentioned? Would you like a specific typeface on the cover? etc. By using our message system and highlighting the ( O Cover draft needs changes ) option, this will flag a message in the design message board for the team to action.
Use the response options to convey the changes you need to the designer .
Changes can be made after approval with this option . This appears after approval. If the artwork needs amending you have the option - cover draft needs changing.
When you are happy with the artwork you have the option to approve.
PREMIUM LEATHERETTE ENGRAVED COVERS
Our premium engraved leatherettes are printed in a variety of colourways. Currently we offer gold and silver foil engraving as shown below.
FOIL ENGRAVING IS FRONT COVER ONLY.
PREMIUM LEATHERETTE IS FRONT COVER PRINTING ONLY.
Speak to your customer service team to apply this option for your cover.
PREMIUM FOIL ENGRAVED COVERS
Our premium engraved covers are an option to add something extra to your cover artwork.
We can add this option to your text or logo or elements within the design.
We only offer this option to the front cover.
Speak to your customer service team to apply this option for your cover.
FOIL ENGRAVING IS FRONT COVER ONLY. PREMIUM LEATHERETTE IS FRONT COVER PRINTING ONLY.
FAQ’S
HOW ARE THE BOOKS PRINTED?
The books are always printed digitally.
HOW BIG ARE THE PAGES?
Contents pages for hardbacks are 170x245mm
HOW BIG IS THE COVER?
Cover - finished size is B5 (when book closed) so, 176x250mm. Flat size depends on the spine width.
WHAT PAPER IS IT PRINTED ON?
Contents pages always printed on 150gsm silk paper.
WHAT IS A HARDBACK?
Hardback cover constructed of 2250mic grey boards. with gloss laminated cover sheet printed on 130gsm silk, applied over them.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
All our yearbooks have a 2-to-3-week turnaround. Our Paperbacks and our Standard Laminated Yearbooks take 2 weeks and our Premium and Leatherette take just 3 weeks. Delivery and printing time is calculated into your print schedule, and we are here to keep you on track.
CAN I CREATE THE YEARBOOK ON MY PHONE OR TABLET?
All member functionality and most editor features will work with any recent smartphone or tablet. Our yearbook creation system is web-based and doesn’t require you to install an app.
I HAVE LEFT A MESSAGE BUT HAVE NOTHING BACK YET?
During a busy period, our designer will be working to print deadlines. This may mean that your cover has fallen into a que to be worked on. Our designer will get to it as soon as he can.
I NEED TO CHANGE A NAME BUT I HAVE APPROVED MY COVER?
If you are still in time we can make amends and adjustments to the cover.
I AM UNABLE TO FIND A HIGH-QUALITY LOGO?
In this instance we would recommend going for one of our text or image-based covers.
CAN I DESIGN MY OWN COVER?
Yes of course, we have an option to design your own cover and send the assets through on the COVER CONTENT section.
I WANT A REPEAT DESIGN FROM LAST YEAR?
Yes, we often do this. Just let us know the areas / images / text you would like updated. With a repeat design if you highlight this to the customer services team, they can push the designer to get this to you quicker than usual.
DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF OUR LOGO FROM LAST YEARS COVER?
Yes, we store all our previous designs for 3 years and can access the elements and bring them into your current artwork.
I REALLY LIKE OUR DESIGN FROM 2019 CAN WE HAVE THAT AGAIN?
We don’t keep designs for that long. But if you speak to the designer he will see if he can recreate it for you.
I WANT MY COVER TO LOOK LIKE THIS, BUT YOU DON’T OFFER IT?
Our designer can create any cover, however detailed illustrations and very complex artwork is something that can be difficult. The best thing to do is send through your inspiration using our cover message system and then the designer can have a look and get back to you.
THERE IS A SPINE WARNING! WHAT IS THIS?
The spine relates to the page numbers inside the book. When designing the cover, you may be in the early stages of the book. Our designer will design it to the current number of pages at the time. When you have completed your interior pages, these may be different to the cover spine settings.
Our designer will then change the cover spine to match and then re-supply the cover artwork. You can then approve the cover again.
WHAT ARE THE GREY BOXES ON MY PREVIEW?
Please refer to the checking your cover draft section of this document :)
FAQ’S
I WANT THE NAMES ALPHABETISED?
Our designer can do this for you.
CAN I CHANGE A COVER TEMPLATE?
Yes, cover templates are editable.
I WANT THE COVER TO MATCH THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THE BOOK?
Speak to our designer and he can get it to match up with your interior pages.
CAN I USE A CERTAIN FONT?
Yes, that’s all ok speak to our designer and he can get it to match up fonts with your interior pages.
THE STUDENTS HAVE DESIGNED THE COVER, IS THIS OK?
Yes, we encourage this. If you send through the cover our designer will get it onto a cover file and send you a first draft.
I WANT TO SEE VARIOUS COVER DESIGNS, IS THIS OK?
Our designer can mock up a variety of options but during a busy period this may not be possible. If you could narrow this down to 2-3, he will be able to achieve this.
CAN I CHANGE THE COLOURS?
Yes, you can change the colours and amend many aspects of the design.
CAN I CALL THE COVER DESIGNER?
We tend to not do this as with clear messaging on the cover message section we can create the look you are needing.
IM WAITING ON AN IMAGE, CAN WE STILL CREATE THE COVER?
Yes, we can create the cover and then put the image into it when you have it. It is easier to work like this and have all the other design elements in place for a smoother design process.
CAN YOU ADD NAMES FROM THE BOOK INTERIOR?
We ask you to send through the lists of names. The reasons for this are to avoid mistakes. We work with multiple books and names each day so by the client uploading the names we can add them into the design and avoid missing a name out.
IMAGE QUALITY IS NOT GREAT?
Our designer will always highlight a poor-quality image or logo. You may have received it on messenger which compresses the image. A good thing to do is ask for the image to be sent to you via an email or whatsapp so it is its highest quality.
If the image will make the cover look a poor quality the designer will ask you to find an alternate image.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DESIGNER
Cover Art Design - Patrick
Hiya Patrick here from the design team.
A quick message to say that if there is anything that I have not covered in the above FAQ please message me through the cover message section.
With the addition of the cover content section this year can now offer a more seamless cover process. Messaging me on the cover message section is the easiest way to get in touch. I will reply as soon as I can and throughout the process will keep you informed of what can be done to get your cover artwork finalised and finished.
