Simple cover
The simple cover is produced as mentioned on the previous post (see pictures of the previous post – cover, inside cover).
Cover with jacket flap
The cover with jacket flaps is produced like the simple one, by adding flaps on its right and left sides. Flaps are useful for adding information we want the reader to read through quickly (like the writer’s resume, other books they have published etc), but also for practical reasons, as they can be used as bookmarks.
Book cover with jacket flaps created on indesign
In order for the flaps not to open when we close the book, they should be wider than 7.5cm, of course depending on the size of the book. On the picture above, the book size is 17x24cm with a 1cm* back, so the flaps we made are 8cm wide. As we mentioned on the previous post, the book covers are created on a separate file. (see picture)
Paperback cover
A book is paperback bound when its cover is printed on thin paper and then laminated on very thick carton. In this case, we have to leave 2cm of extra background around the cover – back-cover – back, so that it can be easily laminated.
Check out the picture below. The shape remains 17x24cm and the back 2cm.
Paperback cover created on indesign
Paperback covers should be 3mm longer on each side, except for the back. In the case above, the basic cover should be 17.3×24.6, which indicates we have to add 3mm on the upper, lower and right side of the cover, but not on the side of the back. You can take a paperback bound book you have on your bookcase and see that the cover is a little longer than the rest of the block. The back-cover should be the same size as the front cover, but 3mm wider on the left side.
Tip! Create the cover in its basic dimensions, without the 2cm required for the folding, leaving some space on each side so that it looks as you want it to, then print it and make corrections. Then resize your file to be 2cm wider on each side and expand the background. This way you can avoid mistakes on the basic design of the cover and back-cover.
We’ll talk further about covers on the following post.
*On some future post, we’ll talk about the way we can calculate the back, but in any case it’s best to ask the binder before handing in our project. The back size can vary depending on the number of pages, the binding type and the paper used.
Book covers