Romance Book Cover Design: How to Create Covers That Sell

In this class, we’ll be creating a cover for a paperback (softcover) book, with B‑format dimensions (5.06 x 7.81 inches [130 x 198 mm]) and a 16 mm spine. It will also be suitable for an eBook cover as the single front page is just right.

To design a romance book cover in Affinity Publisher Version 2, you will need to:

1. Create a new document. Go to File > New and select the Book Cover preset.

2. Choose a color scheme. Romance novels are often associated with soft colors such as pink, purple, and light blue. However, you can use any colors you like, as long as they complement each other and create a cohesive look for your cover.

3. Add text to your cover. This includes the title of the book, the author's name, and the genre. You can use different fonts and sizes to create hierarchy and emphasis.

4. Add images to your cover. Choose images that are relevant to the plot of the book and that evoke the mood or tone you want to create.

5. Arrange the elements on your cover in a way that is visually appealing and balanced. Use white space to create separation between the different elements.

6. Export your cover as a PDF or PNG file. This will ensure that your cover is high-quality and can be used for both print and digital distribution.

Here are some additional tips for designing a romance book cover:

• Use high-quality images. The images on your cover should be high-resolution and visually appealing. Avoid using stock photos that are too generic or overused.

• Use a clear and readable font. The font you choose for your cover should be easy to read, even at small sizes. Avoid using too many different fonts on your design, as this can make it look cluttered and unprofessional.

• Use color to create emotion. Different colors can evoke different emotions. For example, the color red is often associated with excitement or danger, while the color blue is often associated with trust or reliability.

• Create a mood or tone. The overall look and feel of your cover should reflect the mood or tone of your book. For example, if your book is a light and romantic comedy, you might use soft colors and a whimsical font. If your book is a suspenseful romance, you might use darker colors and a more dramatic font.

Once you are finished designing your cover, be sure to get feedback from others. This will help you to identify any areas that need improvement. You can ask friends, family, or other authors for feedback. You can also post your cover on social media or in a writing forum and ask for feedback from other members.

By following these tips, you can design a romance book cover that is both visually appealing and reflective of the genre.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Designing a Romance Book Cover in Affinity Publisher Version 2

Welcome to the first lesson of the course on designing a romance book cover in Affinity Publisher Version 2!

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

• What is a book cover?

• Why is a good book cover important?

• The elements of a good book cover

• Design considerations for the romance genre

• Getting started with Affinity Publisher

What is a book cover?

A book cover is the front cover of a book. It is typically made of paper or cardboard, and it protects the book's pages from damage. The book cover also serves as a marketing tool, as it is the first thing that potential readers see.

Why is a good book cover important?

A good book cover is important because it can help to attract readers and sell books. A visually appealing and well-designed cover will grab the attention of potential readers and make them want to learn more about the book.

The elements of a good book cover

A good book cover should have the following elements:

• A strong visual impact: The cover should be eye-catching and make people want to pick up your book.

• A clear and concise title: The title should be easy to read and should accurately reflect the content of your book.

• An author name that is clearly visible: The author name should be easy to read and should be prominently displayed on the cover.

• A genre identifier: The cover should make it clear what genre your book belongs to. This can be done through the use of typography, imagery, and color.

Design considerations for the romance genre

When designing a book cover for a romance novel, there are a few specific design considerations that you should keep in mind:

• Use romantic imagery: The cover should feature imagery that is both romantic and relevant to the plot of your book. This could include images of couples kissing, holding hands, or gazing into each other's eyes.

• Use soft colors: Soft colors such as pink, purple, and light blue are often associated with the romance genre. Using these colors on your cover can help to create a romantic atmosphere.

• Use elegant typography: Elegant fonts such as script fonts and serif fonts can help to create a sophisticated and romantic look for your cover.

Getting started with Affinity Publisher

Affinity Publisher is a powerful software program that can be used to design professional-looking book covers. It is relatively easy to use, even for beginners.

To get started with Affinity Publisher, you will need to create a new document. To do this, go to File > New and select the Book Cover preset.

Once you have created a new document, you can start adding text and images to your cover. To add text, click on the Text tool and then click where you want to add the text. To add images, go to File > Import and select the image that you want to add.

You can use the tools in the sidebar to format your text and images. For example, you can use the Font menu to change the font of your text, and you can use the Size menu to change the size of your text.

Conclusion

This is just a brief introduction to designing a romance book cover in Affinity Publisher Version 2. We will cover more specific topics in future lessons. In the meantime, I encourage you to start experimenting with Affinity Publisher and see what you can create.

Here are some ideas for designing a romance book cover:

• Use romantic imagery. The cover should feature imagery that is both romantic and relevant to the plot of your book. This could include images of couples kissing, holding hands, or gazing into each other's eyes. You could also use images of romantic symbols, such as roses, hearts, or sunsets.

• Use soft colors. Soft colors such as pink, purple, and light blue are often associated with the romance genre. Using these colors on your cover can help to create a romantic atmosphere. You could also use complementary colors to create a more eye-catching design.

• Use elegant typography. Elegant fonts such as script fonts and serif fonts can help to create a sophisticated and romantic look for your cover. You could also use a variety of font sizes to create hierarchy and emphasis.

• Create a mood or tone. The overall look and feel of your cover should reflect the mood or tone of your book. For example, if your book is a light and romantic comedy, you might use soft colors and a whimsical font. If your book is a suspenseful romance, you might use darker colors and a more dramatic font.

Here are some examples of romance book covers that are visually appealing and well-designed:

• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood: This cover features a simple but effective design with a bold title font and a soft pink background. The image of the two main characters kissing is both romantic and relevant to the plot of the book.

• The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang: This cover features a more dramatic design with a dark blue background and a bold red title font. The image of the two main characters embracing is both romantic and sensual.

• The Bride Test by Helen Hoang: This cover features a more whimsical design with a light pink background and a flowing title font. The image of the two main characters laughing together is both romantic and heartwarming.

I hope these ideas and examples help you to design a romance book cover that is both visually appealing and reflective of your book.

Set Up the Layout of Your Cover in Publisher

In this step, we’ll be creating a cover for a paperback (softcover) book, with B‑format dimensions (5.06 x 7.81 inches [130 x 198 mm]) and a 16 mm spine. 

Note: You can adjust the width of the spine to suit your own purposes by using the Spread Properties (Page Tool) to adjust the width of the document later.

Step 1


Open Publisher and go to File - New. Select a Print preset to suit our exercise. A5 is probably good. We're going to Change it anyway.


DO NOT press Create yet to create the page.


In the New Document window goto the Pages tab, and set the number of Pages to 1, then uncheck Facing Pages.


Step 1 continued



From the Page Pre-set drop-down menu right at the bottom, select the New Category icon. 


Create a Category named Custom. It will appear at the bottom of the list. Just click on the new category name to be sure you have it selected.


Step 1 continued


Now Go back to your New Document Layout tab and Set the Width to 130 millimeters and Height to 198 millimetres And Select Prefer Embedded.


DO NOT press Create yet. 

Step 1 continued



Go to the little icon to the bottom left of the Page Pre-set drop-down, and select Create Pre-set. 


Type B-Format Paperback into the Name text box and select the little drop down menu to select your new Custom category. When you are sure you have the Preset name right, and it’s intended category right, click OK

If you don’t select Custom, the preset will be placed in the Print category. The one that’s ticked by default, because that’s where you found the original A5 one.

OK will Create the Preset.

Your setup will look like this.

When you are finished setting up, your preset category will be saved, and you can open a new document and apply the pre-set easily. This is the industry standard print size for a B-Format Paperback


DO NOT press Create yet. 

Step 1 continued



When you are finished setting up, your preset category will be saved, and you can open a new document and apply the pre-set easily. This is the industry standard print size for a B-Format Paperback


DO NOT press Create yet. 

Step 2


Back in the New Document window, set the Margins to 8 millimeters on all sides, and set the Bleed to 3 millimeters on all sides.

DO NOT press Create yet. 

Step 2 Continued

Check that all measurement are ok, in Layout, Pages, Colour, Margins and Bleed.

When you are sure all is well REMEMBER to click on the icon on the top right.         `notice the * next to the name … that means there are unsaved changes

Step 2 Continued

Now it’s good.

Now you can click on Create at the bottom of the page.

This page is the correct size for the front of your cover only. Though we will want to submit a whole cover to the printer, complete with spine and back cover, it’s a really good idea to design your front cover only at first. This allows you to judge better how the cover will look from a reader’s perspective when the book is on display in the bookshop. You can faintly see the Bleed, and Margins.


We’ll use the Document Setup Tool later in the tutorial to include the spine and back cover on the document. But for now, let’s work on the front cover alone as it is.

Continuing from Lecture 9.

To create a romantic backdrop, you can use a variety of elements, including:

• Lighting: Soft, indirect lighting is ideal for creating a romantic atmosphere. You can use string lights, candles, or table lamps to create a warm and inviting glow.

• Color: Soft colors such as pink, purple, and red are often associated with romance. You can use these colors in your décor, lighting, and table settings to create a romantic mood.

• Texture: Soft, luxurious textures can add to the romantic feel of your backdrop. You can use velvet, silk, and lace in your tablecloths, draperies, and pillows to create a sense of opulence.

• Flowers: Flowers are another classic element of romance. You can use fresh flowers in vases or centerpieces, or you can use artificial flowers to create a more permanent display.

• Candles: Candles can add a warm and romantic glow to your setting. You can place candles on tables, shelves, and mantels, or you can create a more dramatic effect by grouping them together in a centerpiece.

Here are some specific ideas for creating a romantic backdrop:

• Create a canopy bed: A canopy bed is a classic romantic symbol. You can create a simple canopy bed by draping fabric over a four-post bed frame.

• Set up a picnic in your backyard: A picnic in the backyard is a casual and romantic way to spend an evening. Spread out a blanket on the grass, pack a basket with your favorite foods and drinks, and enjoy each other's company.

• Have a candlelit dinner: A candlelit dinner is a classic romantic gesture. Set the table with your best china and silverware, light some candles, and cook your favorite meal.

• Take a walk in the park: A walk in the park is a simple but romantic way to enjoy each other's company. Stroll through the park hand-in-hand, enjoy the scenery, and talk about your day.

No matter how you choose to create your romantic backdrop, the most important thing is to make it something that you and your partner will enjoy.

Romantic typography is the use of fonts and typefaces to create a romantic atmosphere or mood. It can be used in book covers, wedding invitations, love letters, and other romantic materials.

Some popular romantic fonts include:

• Script fonts: Script fonts have a flowing, handwritten look that can be very romantic. Some popular script fonts include Amatic SC, Love Ya Like a Sister, and Pacifico.

• Serif fonts: Serif fonts have small decorative strokes at the ends of their lines. Some popular serif fonts for romantic typography include Bodoni, Garamond, and Times New Roman.

• Handwritten fonts: Handwritten fonts have a natural, informal look that can be very romantic. Some popular handwritten fonts include Lobster, Sacramento, and Signature Script.

When choosing a romantic font, it is important to consider the overall tone and style of your material. For example, if you are designing a wedding invitation, you might choose a more formal serif font. If you are writing a love letter, you might choose a more casual handwritten font.

You can also use typography to create different effects in your romantic designs. For example, you can use different font sizes to create hierarchy and emphasis. You can also use different font colors to create contrast and add interest to your design.

Here are some tips for using romantic typography:

• Choose a font that is appropriate for the tone and style of your material.

• Use different font sizes to create hierarchy and emphasis.

• Use different font colors to create contrast and add interest to your design.

• Avoid using too many different fonts in one design. This can make your design look cluttered and unprofessional.

• Use white space to create balance and avoid making your design look cluttered.

Here are some examples of romantic typography:

• Book cover for "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks: The book cover for "The Notebook" features a handwritten font in a script style. The font is elegant and romantic, and it perfectly reflects the tone and style of the novel.

• Wedding invitation: A wedding invitation might feature a serif font in a formal style. The font is elegant and sophisticated, and it perfectly reflects the tone and style of the wedding.

• Love letter: A love letter might feature a handwritten font in a casual style. The font is natural and informal, and it perfectly reflects the tone and style of the letter.

I hope these tips and examples help you to use romantic typography in your own designs.

7. Expand Your Cover

Step 1

It might be a good idea to duplicate Page 1 of your document in order to keep a copy of the front cover alone.In fact it’s a good idea to actually save your work at this point, and then Go to File -> Save As  and save the entire document at a file with a different name. ie; FrontPageOnly

To make a duplicate of your existing Page 1 click on Page 1, then click on Duplicate Page

Step 1 continued

option 1

Click Page 2 of the document to bring it up on screen. Select the Document Setup from the Selection panel and click once on Page 2 of the document to select it.

In Spread Setup you will see two Spreads. Spread 1 and Spread 2. Check Selected Spreads and it should highlight Spread 2 (page 2) or simply select Page 2.

Now, navigate to the control panel and adjust the Width of the page to 276 mm. This will allow for a back cover at the same width as the front cover (130 mm) plus a 16 mm-width spine.

Unlock both of the grouped layers in the Layers panel.

Select all the elements on the page by Selecting both the Layers.

Using the Move tool, move them along to the right until the image frames meet the edge of the right-hand bleed. Re-lock your Layers.

Step 2

From the left-hand Ruler, pull out a vertical Guide to 130 mm, to mark the left edge of the spine. Pull out a second Guide to 65 mm, marking out the centre point of the back cover.

You can also pull out Guides to 138 mm and 122 mm, to mark out the centre point of the spine, and the right-hand margin of the back cover. You can see the markers as you drag the bar. Place you cursor on the left hand ruler and hold and drag to the right.

Go to View, Lock All Guides,

Design the Spine

Note: In this tutorial, we will be creating a spine with a contrasting colour to the rest of the cover. Therefore, it is very important that the spine’s dimensions on the artwork match the dimensions of the printed and bound spine exactly. When creating your own artwork for print, be sure to ask your printer to give you an accurate width for your spine before creating your cover artwork.

Step 1

Return to the Layers panel and Lock all the existing layers. Create a New Layer, renaming it as Spine Artwork. Move this layer to sit below the Typography layer and above the Front Cover Artwork layer.

Select the Rectangle Tool (M) and drag to create a frame 16 mm in Width that sits between the Guides marking out the edges of the spine. Extend the Length of the frame so that it extends to the top and bottom bleeds.

Select the Picture Frame Tool (F) and drag to create an image frame 16 mm in Width, as before, and 58 mm in Height. Position the frame at the bottom of the spine, resting the bottom edge on the edge of the bleed.

Set the box colour to Transparent if not already the default.

Select the box you have just placed.

Go to File > Place and select the Petals image, as we used earlier for the front cover. The image should fill the rectangle.

Use the handle to turn the petals image so it is more vertical.

Select the Transparency Tool. That’s the Wine Glass on the left side.

Select the image in its Layer Panel.

With the blue frame showing, place the pointer exactly on the bottom of the rectangle at the centre point, and you will see a Dot and a Green vertical line appear with a dot on the bottom intersection of the vertical and horizontal line. carefully click and drag the marker toward the top of the rectangle. The red background will appear, and you will slowly move it toward the top of that frame.

Select the image frame and Edit > Copy, Edit > Paste, before shortening the Length of the frame to about 25 mm and positioning it at the top of the spine. Switch the Angle of the gradient to -90 degrees, so the image fades downwards.

Step 3

In the Layers panel, Lock the Spine Artwork layer and Unlock the Typography layer. Select the Type Tool (T) and drag to create a text frame 8 mm in Height and 45 mm in Width. 

Type ‘ROBERT CHALMERS (Author Name)’ and set the Font to Futura Std, Medium Condensed, Size 25 pt, in Character set Tracking to 90, All Caps and Font Color to [White]. Select the text frame and Rotate 90 degrees CW. Position the text frame centrally on the spine

Select the text frame and Edit > Copy, Edit > Paste. Alter the text to ‘November Flowers, the Font Weight to Light and Tracking to 0. You may need to extend the Length of the text frame to accommodate the text. Position the frame centrally on the spine, just below the author’s name.

Create a Back Cover

Your cover’s starting to look more complete. Now, all that’s left to do is to put together the design for the back of the cover.

Step 1

Return to the Layers panel and Lock the Typography layer. Unlock the Image layer. Select the Picture Frame Tool (F) and drag to create a frame 133 mm in Width and 102 mm in Height. Position the frame so that it covers the top half of the back cover, meeting the edges of the bleed to the top and the left.

Go to File > Place and select the background image we used earlier, for the front cover. Arrange the image proportionally in the frame.

Go to Transparency. Position the marker dot on the TOP Bleed line. No image will be visible. Now, click and drag the Position Dot downward and slowly expose the image until you are satisfied.

Select the image frame and Cmd-C (copy), Cmd-V (paste) to create a duplicate of the image and frame.

Click and Drag the frame to the lower half of the page and > Flip Vertical.

If the image is slightly misplaced, Manoeuvre this second image frame to the bottom of the back cover, allowing the top edge to meet the bottom edge of the first image frame.

In the Layers panel, Lock the Image layer. Create a New Layer, naming it as Back Cover Artwork. Position this below the Typography layer and above the Spine Artwork layer.

Remaining on the Back Cover Artwork layer, select the Ellipse Tool (L) and, holding Shift, drag to create a perfect circle 113 mm in diameter. Set the Stroke Color to [None] and the Fill Color to White

With the shape selected, click Transparency Tool (wine glass)> Click centre dot in shape.. Go to Top Left nav bar. Set the Type to Radial. Click on the oval shape just to the right of Type Radial. It displays a selection interface. Now, go to the top right of the colour display and set the colour to White.

Go back to the Type -> Oval Settings interface and drag the slider all the way to the right. Center the circle.

You will need to place a barcode on the page if you are intending to sell the book in shops.

Create a frame using the Picture Frame Tool (F) and File > Place a generated barcode image. Ensure the barcode image is large enough to be scanned with ease, and don’t crop the code too closely around the edges in case any of the code’s data becomes illegible. I made this one 20mm by 45mm. It’s a genuine barcode from one of my books. Look it up if you like! Hey. buy a copy…

I also created a second frame just below the barcode, set in C=19 M=98 Y=89 K=10. This is a suitable place to insert pricing for the book using the Type Tool (T).

Lock the Back Cover Artwork layer and Unlock the Typography layer.

Select the Ellipse Tool (L) and, holding Shift, drag to create a circle shape 88 mm in diameter. Set the Stroke and Fill Color to [None], and position the circle centrally on the back cover, right over the white circle.

Convert the circle to a text frame, Select the Type Tool (T) Type the book’s blurb, setting the Font to Futura Std, Medium, Size 12 pt, Leading 14.4 pt (Auto), Align Center, and Font Color to [Black]. You can highlight the first few lines of the blurb and make them slightly bigger, around 13 pt, and pull out the first line in Bold and a red swatch (C=19 M=98 Y=89 K=10).

Export Your Book Cover for Print

Great work—your cover artwork is complete, and it looks awesome!

Now all that’s left to do is to export the artwork to PDF, ready for printing.

Step 1

Go to File > Export... to open the Export window. Select PDF (Print) from the Format drop-down menu.

Name the file and click Save.

In the Export PDF window select PDF (for print). In the Area section, select Current Page - you must have the double spread page highlighted, as it’s the one you want if you’ve kept a copy of only your front cover on Page 1

Maybe you saved the Front Page Alone in a separate file. That’s ok. You just want this double spread page.

Include bleed. Tick the box.

Well done! You now have your book cover ready to be sent to the printers. You can choose to print your cover on coated or uncoated paper stock, both of which have their own unique look and tactile feel. Communicate with your printer before you send the artwork to print, to receive samples and/or their advice on paper stock and weight.

In this tutorial, we have learnt how to create an attention-grabbing, genre-appropriate book cover for a conventional romance. The design traits for this genre include a soft photographic background and high-impact text.

Good use of gradients give the cover a sense of mystery, and give the whole cover a romantic appearance, with pops of soft white light.

Writing a Romance

To write a romance novel, you will need to:

1. Come up with a concept. What kind of romance story do you want to tell? What kind of characters do you want to create? What kind of conflict will they face?

2. Develop your characters. Your characters should be believable and relatable. They should have their own goals, motivations, and flaws.

3. Create a plot. Your plot should be engaging and suspenseful. It should keep the reader guessing until the end.

4. Write a first draft. Don't worry about making it perfect. Just get your story down on paper (or on the computer).

5. Revise and edit your novel. Once you have a first draft, take some time to revise and edit it. Make sure the plot is tight, the characters are well-developed, and the writing is clear and concise.

6. Get feedback from others. Once you are happy with your novel, ask some friends, family members, or beta readers to give you feedback. This will help you to identify any areas that need improvement.

7. Publish your novel. Once you are satisfied with your novel, you can publish it in a variety of ways. You can self-publish it as an ebook or print book, or you can try to find a traditional publisher.

Adding Chapters in the Books Option of Affinity Publisher V2

To add chapters in the Books option of Affinity Publisher V2, you will need to:

1. Create a new document and select the Books preset.

2. Go to the Books panel and click on the "+" button to add a new chapter.

3. Enter a name for your chapter and click on the Create button.

4. Your new chapter will be added to the Books panel and will be displayed in the document window.

5. You can add text, images, and other elements to your chapter as needed.

6. To add more chapters, simply repeat steps 2-4.

Once you have added all of your chapters, you can export your book as a PDF or PNG file.

Here are some additional tips for writing a romance novel:

• Focus on the characters. The most important thing in a romance novel is the relationship between the two main characters. Make sure that your characters are well-developed and that their relationship is believable.

• Create conflict. No romance novel is complete without conflict. There needs to be something that stands in the way of the two main characters getting together. The conflict can be internal, such as one of the characters' insecurities, or it can be external, such as a disapproving family member.

• Write a satisfying ending. Readers of romance novels expect a happy ending. So make sure that your novel ends with the two main characters getting together and living happily ever after.

Here are some additional tips for adding chapters in the Books option of Affinity Publisher V2:

• Use the Book Styles panel to create consistent chapter styles. The Book Styles panel allows you to create and apply styles to your chapters, including font, font size, line spacing, and indents.

• Use the Table of Contents feature to create a table of contents for your book. The Table of Contents feature will automatically generate a table of contents based on the chapter headings in your book.

• Use the Page Numbering feature to number the pages in your book. The Page Numbering feature allows you to choose a numbering style for your pages and to start the numbering at a specific page.