Your Guide To Cover Design 2025

YOUR GUIDE TO COVER DESIGN 2024

ALLYEARBOOKS

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YOUR COVER YOUR 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.

CHOOSING YOUR COVER A QUICK GUIDE TO SELECTING YOUR COVER.

01.

SELECTING YO U R C O V E R Choose a cover from our list of available template designs.

02.

FIN D S O M E T HI N G T H AT C AT C HE S YO U R E Y E The covers have varying ways to layout the text and imagery.

03.

C O V E R DE TA I LS Each cover has specific details and various assets that are needed.

”COLOURS AND DESIGN INSPIRATION 04.

DE S I G N I NS P I R AT I O N Using sites like Pinterest is a great way to find the look you would like. Send your inspiration through to the designer to help inform him.

OUR COVER TYPES 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.

N AM E S IN A 24 W O RK BE S T W H E N THERE A RE O V E R 5 0 S TU D ENTS.

L I S T S A N D C OLUMNS W O R K B E S T F OR T H E M A J O R I T Y 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 STEP COVER 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.

ADD COVER 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.

YOUR DESIGN 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.

01.

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.

02. ‘this folded area is then covered as shown in image 2 by your endpapers.

U N D E RS TAN D IN G Y O U R C O V E R DR A F T Key things to understand Grey are is cut off for Paperback // Grey area is folded for hardback options.

CHECKING YOUR COVER DRAFT

05.

05. C H E C KI NG

W I T H T HE 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.

01. S P I NE This area is a great area to have your text in.

01.

04.

04.

02. F O L D &

C U T L I N ES Green lines here represent fold or cut lines.

02.

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.

03. P I N C H 01.

03.

03.

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.

04. C E NT R E LI NES These are the centre lines for your front and back cover of your design.

COVER DRAFT 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 .

When a cover draft is created we then go back and forth using the messaging system as shown below.

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.

Changes can be made after approval with this option .

This appears after approval.

PREMIUM LEATHERETTE ENGRAVED COVERS

O u r p re m i u m e n g r a v e d l e a t h e re t t e s a re p r i n t e d i n a v a r i e t y o f co l o u r w a y s .

C u rre n t l y w e o ff e r g o l d a n d si l v e r f o i l e n g r a v i n g a s s h o w n b e l o w.

FO I L E N G R AV I N G I S F R O N T C O V ER O NLY. P REM I U M L E AT HE R E T T E C OV E R P R I NT I N G O N LY.

IS

FRONT

S p e a k t o y o u r cu s t o m e r s e r v i ce team t o a p p l y t h i s o p t i o n f o r y o u r c o v e r.

PREMIUM FOIL ENGRAVED COVERS

O u r p re m i u m e n g r a v e d co v e r s a re a n op t io n t o a d d s o m e t h i n g e x t r a t o y o u r c over a r t w o r k .

We ca n a d d t h i s o p t i o n t o y o u r t e x t o r l og o o r e l e m e n t s w i t h i n t h e d e s i g n .

We o n l y o ff e r t h i s o p t i o n t o t h e f ro n t c over.

FO I L E N G R AV I N G I S FRO N T C O V E R O NLY. P REM I U M L E AT HE R E T T E I S FRO N T C O V E R P R I N T I NG O NLY.

S p e a k t o y o u r cu s t o m e r s e r v i ce team t o a p p l y t h i s o p t i o n f o r y o u r c o v e r.

GENERAL COVER-SIZE DOCUMENT SIZING

ON REQUEST OUR DESIGNER CAN SEND YOU A PHOTOSHOP FILE WITH THE SIZINGS READY FOR YOUR FINAL PAGE NUMBER BOOK SIZE.

When designing your cover it is important to design to the edge of the document and follow the areas highlighted to the left.

Text and imagery like class photos should stay within the text / image safe area.

A great example of this is a class photo which may experience some distortion to the left hand side of the image if it goes outside the text / image safe area.

DESIGN YOUR OWN COVER Designing your cover can be great. A lot of our customers design in Canva so I have put together a guide in setting up the files.

Follow this Canva set up guide to provide us with the right assets.

If you create a design in another programme, our designer can manipulate the design to suit your cover sizing and type. When designing in any programmes it is important to create the design tothe correct sizing that is available in the next section of the document.

Setting up the front and back covers.

Step 1 - log in to canva and create a design

Step 2 - Check your required cover sizes (available after this section) create a custom size (left hand side drop down menu) and input these (make sure it is in px), then create.

Step 3 - Create a box shape (ref the sizing and use the printed area size for this box) then centralise it.

(I have use a box with no fill and a stroke in the example)

Step 4 - Create another box shape (ref the sizing and use the text image safe area size for this box) then centralise it.

(I have use a box with no fill and a stroke in the example)

Setting up the front and back covers continued.

Step 5 - Duplicate this page

Duplicate button

You now have the front and back covers set up to the correct sizing. The boxes you have added are there to show you where the design areas are.

Text Image safe area Main Photos and text should be in this area to ensure they are printed correctly.

Cover Bleed The background should come up to this edge.

Printed Area The design that is printed will come up to this edge.

This will then be cut or folded as per your cover type.

Setting up your spine (not needed for 40pp paperaback options..

Step 1 - log in to canva and create a design

Step 2 - Check your required spine sizes (available after this section) create a custom size (left hand side drop down menu) and input these (make sure it is in px), then create.

EXPORTING

CLICK SHARE - THEN DOWNLOAD - FILE TYPE - PDF (YOU CAN THEN SEND THAT THROUGH TO US) This option is available for canva pro members. If you do not have this you can use the free trial and cancel after.

DESIGN YOUR OWN COVER - SIZE GUIDE

0PP - U s e t h i s f o r pa pe rba c k 4 0 pp

6 0 pp -

FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2550PX W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2080P X W / 2315PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1892P X W /2828PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) - N/A BAC K COVER INC BLEED 2550P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2080P X W / 2315PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1892P X W /2828PX H

FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2479PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H S PINE INC BLEED ( T OP & B O TTO M ) 98PX W - 3194PX H BACK COVER INC BLEED 2479PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H

40pp FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2495P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) 82P X W 3194PX H BAC K COVER INC BLEED 2495P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

50pp FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2487P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) 90P X W - 3194PX H BAC K COVER INC BLEED 2487P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

7 0 pp FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2465PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H S PINE INC BLEED ( T OP & B O TTO M ) 104PX W - 3194PX H BACK COVER INC BLEED 2465PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H

8 0 pp FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2461PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H S PINE INC BLEED ( T OP & B O TTO M ) 112PX W - 3194PX H BACK COVER INC BLEED 2465PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H

90pp -

120pp -

1 5 0 pp -

F RO N T C O V E R I N C B L EE D 2 4 5 8 P X W / 3189P X H P RIN T E D A R E A 2 0 5 5 P X W / 2953P X H T E XT IM A G E S A F E A R EA 1 8 6 7 P X W / 2765P X H S P IN E I N C B L E E D ( T O P & BOTTOM) 1 2 0 P X W - 3194P X H BA CK C O V E R I N C B L E ED 2 4 5 8 P X W / 3189P X H P RIN T E D A R E A 2 0 5 5 P X W / 2953P X H T E XT IM A G E S A F E A R EA 1 8 6 7 P X W / 2765P X H

FRONT C OVER INC BLEED 2437P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) 144P X W - 3194PX H BAC K C OVER INC BLEED 2437P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2409PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H S PINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BO TTO M ) 168PX W - 3194PX H BACK COVER INC BLEED 2409PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H

1 0 0 pp -

130pp -

1 6 0 pp -

F RO N T C O V E R I N C B L EE D 2 4 4 9 P X W / 3189P X H P RIN T E D A R E A 2 0 5 5 P X W / 2953P X H T E XT IM A G E S A F E A R EA 1 8 6 7 P X W / 2765P X H S P IN E I N C B L E E D ( T O P & BOTTOM) 1 2 8 P X W - 3194P X H BA CK C O V E R I N C B L E ED 2 4 4 9 P X W / 3189P X H P RIN T E D A R E A 2 0 5 5 P X W / 2953P X H T E XT IM A G E S A F E A R EA 1 8 6 7 P X W / 2765P X H

FRONT C OVER INC BLEED 2425P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) 152P X W - 3194PX H BAC K C OVER INC BLEED 2425P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2400PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H S PINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BO TTO M ) 176PX W - 3194PX H BACK COVER INC BLEED 2400PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H

1 1 0 pp -

140pp -

1 7 0 pp -

F RO N T C O V E R I N C B L EE D 2 4 4 1 P X W / 3189P X H P RIN T E D A R E A 2 0 5 5 P X W / 2953P X H T E XT IM A G E S A F E A R EA 1 8 6 7 P X W / 2765P X H S P IN E I N C B L E E D ( T O P & BOTTOM) 1 3 6 P X W - 3194P X H BA CK C O V E R I N C B L E ED 2 4 4 1 P X W / 3189P X H P RIN T E D A R E A 2 0 5 5 P X W / 2953P X H T E XT IM A G E S A F E A R EA 1 8 6 7 P X W / 2765P X H

FRONT C OVER INC BLEED 2417P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM 160P X W - 3194PX H BAC K C OVER INC BLEED 2417P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2394PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H S PINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BO TTO M ) 184PX W - 3194PX H BACK COVER INC BLEED 2394PX W / 3189PX H PRINT ED AREA 2055PX W / 2953PX H T EX T IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867PX W /2765PX H

DESIGN YOUR OWN COVER - SIZE GUIDE

180p p FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2387P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) 192P X W - 3194PX H BAC K COVER INC BLEED 2387P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

190p p FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2379P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) 200P X W - 3194PX H BAC K COVER INC BLEED 2379P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

200p p FRONT COVER INC BLEED 2372P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H SPINE INC BLEED ( T OP & BOT T OM) 208P X W - 3194PX H BAC K COVER INC BLEED 2372P X W / 3189PX H P RINTE D AREA 2055P X W / 2953PX H TEXT IMAGE S AFE AREA 1867P X W /2765PX H

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 :) I WANT THE NAMES ALPHABETISED?

FAQ’S 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.