Frequently Asked Questions from Authors
Here are the most common questions we get from authors. Hopefully your question is answered, but if not, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Finding and Purchasing A Cover
I found a great cover for a book I'm thinking about writing, can I buy the cover now and customize it later?
Yes! You can customize your cover as many times as you need, directly on our site.
Can I change the cover art that I buy?
No. The cover is yours and you can to do what you want with it.
However, the individual images that were used to create your cover are copyrighted by the photographers from the stock houses and they have strict rules about the use of their images and who uses the images.
The artist that created your cover bought the rights from the stock houses to use and manipulate those images. Those rights are non-transferable.
If you want a modification made, please see our Modify A Cover page.
Once I buy my cover, you take it off the site and never resell it, right?
YES! It’s one-of-a-kind, unique, and yours alone.
Are the covers on your site only ebook covers?
The premade book covers we sell are sized for ebooks, but you can easily add a paperback or hardcover (“full wrap”) print cover at checkout.
You’ll need to have a template file generated, but that’s easy! Read how to do that here.
I found a cover on your site that is almost perfect, can I have that cover changed?
Yes! At checkout, you’ll see an option to Modify your cover. Just check that box, fill out the form, continue the checkout process.
After I buy my cover, how do I get it?
As soon as you finish the checkout process, go back to your account and you can download your ebook cover file.
Can I use your files on all publishing platforms?
Yes! Our covers are perfect for all publishing platforms (though we recommend just using Draft2Digital 😉).
Our high-res files are perfect quality for any ebook publishing service.
Modifications & Print Cover Options
How do I get a print (full-wrap) cover for my paperback or hardcover?
You can add a full-wrap print cover (paperback, hardcover, or both) at checkout!
Just click on the cover you’d like, then add it to the cart and check the options beneath “Cover Options.”
You’ll need to have a template file generated, but that’s easy! Read how to do that here.
I'm trying to make my own generic back cover and spine but KDP is asking for a PDF but when I downloaded my book cover, it was a JPG. How can I get a pdf?
You’ll need to generate a cover template file, and then drop your .jpg cover inside (and design the rest of the back cover and spine).
Read how to generate your cover template file here.
I ordered a back cover spine for my book and I'm seeing thin white lines around my text boxes on the final file you sent me.
The lines you are seeing around the text are really not there – they’re artifacts from the PDF viewer you’re using, and will not be printed.
We have run into this question before and in all cases when a test book is printed, the author sees that there is no line printed.
The title of my book is larger than what is shown in the sample art... how can I make it fit?
Use our drag-and-drop editor to resize all the text on your cover!
Can I customize my cover in any way?
Yes! You can customize your text (author name, title, tag line) in many different ways, including changing the fonts, sizes, colors, and location.
Why do the colors on my cover look a bit different when it's printed on a paperback, or bookmarks, compared to on my computer?
It is normal to see a difference because files will look brighter when viewed as a PDF on a computer screen.
The reason for this is that the colors are illuminated from behind, and the colors are often RGB.
When we look at a printed book cover we see it with reflected light and it is printed in CMYK.
This is why we always recommend that our authors get a test book printed.
Rights, Legal, and Our Process
I found another cover that uses the same image as one that's on the cover that I purchased, why? I thought all of your covers are one-of-a-kind.
All our covers are one-of-a-kind because they were created using multiple images.
Our artists often purchase stock photos to create book covers, and these stock images are available for any artist to buy.
We are able to offer professionally designed book covers at a low price because most of our covers are created with stock photos.
If you are looking to get a book cover that is totally different from any cover ever created, look into our Custom Cover options.
If for some reason I need to prove I have the appropriate rights/licenses/releases to use my cover from SPBC, what evidence can you provide me?
We have a vetting process that all covers go through before we accept it from the designer.
We require artists to acknowledge that the images they used to create a cover were either purchased from a stock photography site, created on their own, or using generative AI (as in Photoshop’s built-in tool).
We will not accept any covers that show people from public domain or covers that do not have proper documentation.
Your receipt from us should suffice as evidence your cover is legally yours to use, but if needed, we can produce a statement explaining where individual images used on our covers came from.
Once I buy my cover, you take it off the site and never resell it, right?
YES! It’s one-of-a-kind, unique, and yours alone.
What is your policy about AI book cover art created with AI (Artifificail Intelligence)? Do you allow it?
We don’t allow covers 100% produced with AI tools. However, specific elements of a cover design may be created using AI tools.
For example, our artists use tools like Photoshop’s Generative Fill tool to create textured backgrounds, extend a scene, or change the hair color of a model.
It is impossible to determine these use cases with any accuracy, so we cannot disallow artists from submitting covers they’ve designed with the aid of AI tools.
What is your policy of using stock images?
It is important to always follow stock image licensing agreements. Many of our covers use two or more images, which our cover artists then work with and manipulate to create completely one-of-kind, customized premade covers that are sold once to an author for their book, and never sold again.
We try to ensure that every cover on our site has been created using either legally purchased images or exclusive illustrations, photography, or original art.
Other Questions
If I send you my book, can you review it for me?
No. We are sorry to say we cannot review your book.
How should an author credit the artist in the front pages of the book?
While it’s not required, the best way to credit the artist is to link to that artist’s gallery of other covers.
You can find the artist’s name near your cover while searching and when you purchase the cover.
Click the artist’s name to get their storefront URL.
Can I use my book cover for other things like bookmarks, stickers, mugs, t-shirts?
Yes, you can use your book cover for all marketing and promotional use!
Can I buy my cover without text on it and customize my typography myself in another program?
Yes! After you buy your cover, it’s yours to customize your typography as you wish.