Israel Degema

Book Cover Designer: Hardcover & Dust Jacket Formatting Specialist

Jul 2026 - Jul 2026 • 0 mos

Hardcover covers and dust jackets follow different panel specs than paperback, and getting them wrong means a print run that doesn't fit the case. I format hardcover covers and dust jackets to the correct panel sizes, including front flap, back flap, spine, front, and back, so the file is ready for your printer without back-and-forth corrections. This works alongside a matching paperback or ebook cover, so a series can have a consistent look across hardcover, paperback, and digital editions, or as a standalone service if you only need the hardcover file built correctly. I calculate spine width from your page count and case type, build the file in Adobe InDesign or Illustrator with linked assets, and deliver a print-ready PDF at 300 DPI with correct bleed and fold lines marked. Source files are included (InDesign package or .ai), so you can hand off future edits to another designer or make small text changes yourself later. This service is aimed at authors moving from paperback-only to hardcover, or self-publishers producing a hardcover edition for the first time and needing someone who already knows the format's specific requirements. Tools: Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop.

Book Cover Designer: Full Paperback Wrap With Spine & Back for KDP

Jun 2026 - Jul 2026 • 1 mo

I build complete paperback wraps for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark: front cover, spine, and back cover in a single print-ready file. Spine width is calculated from your final page count using the KDP cover calculator, so the spine text and fold lines land in the right place instead of guessing. The full wrap is laid out in Adobe InDesign with linked cover assets, then exported as a CMYK PDF at 300 DPI minimum, with bleed and trim marks set to spec. Back cover copy placement, barcode space, and back-cover imagery are laid out to match the front, so the wrap reads as one cover rather than three separate pieces stitched together. This service is for authors who already have a front cover concept (from me or elsewhere) and need the spine and back built to match it, as well as authors starting from scratch who want the full wrap designed as one piece from the start. Deliverables: print-ready CMYK PDF, layered source file (InDesign package or PSD), and a separate ebook front cover sized for Amazon's digital thumbnail. If you publish on both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, I build to both platforms' cover specs so you're not paying for two separate cover jobs. Tools: Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, KDP cover calculator, IngramSpark spec sheets.

Book Cover Designer: Romance, Thriller & Nonfiction Genre Specialist

May 2026 - Jun 2026 • 1 mo

I specialize in genre-accurate cover design for authors who need their book to read correctly on shelf within seconds. Romance, thriller, memoir, self-help, and nonfiction each have their own visual language, and I build covers around that language instead of a generic template. For romance, that means composition and color choices readers associate with the subgenre. For thriller, that means typography and imagery that signal tension and stakes. For memoir and nonfiction, that means a cover that reads as credible and personal rather than promotional. Every project starts with multiple concept directions before we lock in one, so you're choosing between real options rather than approving a single guess. Deliverables include a print-ready CMYK PDF with correct bleed, a separate ebook cover sized for Amazon's thumbnail display, and full layered source files (PSD or .ai) so the design stays editable later. If you're building a series, I price per cover and keep the visual system consistent across the set, so book 2 and book 3 clearly belong with book 1 on a shelf or a search results page. I also source and license stock photography where needed, with color grading done to match the mood of your genre rather than using stock imagery as-is. Tools: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, licensed stock libraries.