Custom Stock-Based Cover

Description

Custom covers feature photo or vector manipulated stock. Our goal is to make the stock that is used not look like it originally did whether we do face swaps, color corrections, color changes (such as hair color change), background removal, and much more. We typically use 3 or more stock images (photo or vector).

You will receive three different file sizes of your front cover in the JPG format along with a mockups package, PNG of the title design, and a print-ready PDF for the paperback wrap (can be created at a later date).

• Up to 3 concepts are provided in this service (additional concepts can add to the fee).
• Up to 3 rounds of changes once the concept is determined (additional changes can add to the fee).

Available add-ons are additional print wraps, audio book cover, marketing package, and formatting.

You will receive 1 print wrap with your original order (KDP or IngramSpark). If you want both a KDP and IngramSpark print wrap, you will need to order 1 additional wrap. We do not recommend using the same template for both as the spine calculations and template layouts are different for each printer. If you need to order more than 1 additional print wrap (if you plan on using another service other than KDP or IngramSpark), you will have the opportunity to let us know during the Questionnaire phase (will be billed separately from this order).

If you add on formatting to this order and your word count is higher than 70,000 words, you will be billed separately for the additional words ($10 for every additional 10,000 words).

Creation Timeline

1. Book Your Start Date: Choose your preferred Start Date and place your order, paying either a 25% deposit or the full amount via our secure checkout.
2. Receive Confirmation: Expect an email within 3 business days with detailed next steps and project information.
3. Complete Questionnaire: Fill out the provided questionnaire before your Start Date to share your project details (e.g., genre, title, image preferences, etc.).
4. Review Initial Concepts: Within 10 business days after your Start Date, you’ll receive the initial concept(s) for your cover design.
5. Approve Draft Mockup: Select your preferred concept, and we’ll prepare a draft mockup (showing the front, back, and spine). Placeholder text will be used if your final blurb isn’t ready.
6. Pay Final Invoice: Upon draft approval, settle the remaining balance (if you paid a deposit) to proceed with finalization.
7. Access Final Files: After final payment, receive your deliverables in a shared Google Drive folder, including three front cover JPGs (Large, Media, and Small), mockups for marketing, and title PNG.
8. Prepare for Print: Once your manuscript is formatted and ready to publish, provide your book trim size, paper color (cream or white), and exact page count. For IngramSpark print wraps, include your ISBN and specify your paper color (IngramSpark offers cream, white, and groundwood). The print-ready PDF(s) will be added to your Google Drive. Files will remain in your Google Drive for 2 years.

Terms and Conditions

Cancellation Policy

To provide flexibility while ensuring our commitment to quality service, we have outlined our cancellation policy below:

• Cancellations 30+ Days Before Start Date: If you cancel at least 30 days prior to your scheduled Start Date, you will receive a full refund of your deposit, minus any applicable processing fees (e.g., credit card or transaction fees, which are usually 2.9% to 3.9%).
• Cancellations 14–29 Days Before Start Date: If you cancel between 14 and 29 days prior to your Start Date, you will receive a 50% refund of your deposit.
• Cancellations Less Than 14 Days Before Start Date: No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 14 days of the Start Date, as we reserve resources and staff specifically for your booking.

How to Cancel: To initiate a cancellation, please contact us via email with your booking details. Cancellations are effective upon receipt of your written request, and we will confirm the cancellation within 2 to 3 business days.

Refunds: Approved refunds will be processed within 7–10 business days via the original payment method. Please note that processing times may vary depending on your financial institution.

Exceptions: We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise. Exceptions to this policy may be considered for emergencies (e.g., medical issues or natural disasters) on a case-by-case basis, with appropriate documentation. Please contact us as soon as possible to discuss.

Series Extensions and Pricing

• Your cover can be expanded into a series, and we offer discounts for additional books in the series.
• The discount for additional covers is between 5% and 20%, depending on whether a new background is needed for each cover. For example, a 20% discount applies if the same background is reused (a different color overlay can be applied), while a 5% discount applies for a new background requiring additional effort. Contact us for a precise quote.
• You can order additional books in the series at any time, once the first cover has been completed. We will offer a discount code for you to use on our website, or we can prepare an invoice. We will discuss this during the Questionnaire phase.
• Series extensions cannot be offered to another cover designer without written permission from Alt 19 Creative.

Sales and Usage Policies

1. With the exceptions mentioned in our Cancellation Policy above, all cover sales are final—no refunds or exchanges.
2. Covers cannot be resold publicly without written permission from Alt 19 Creative, granted only in extreme circumstances.
3. Retitling fees apply if all files have been delivered and any of the text on the cover needs changing, including updated author name, title, tagline, or blurb. Retitling fees vary depending on the complexity of changes and are charged at our current hourly rate. Contact us for an estimate of time. If the information you provided for the print wrap is not accurate, a fee of $25 will be charged if we need to redo a print wrap. Inaccurate page count provided to Alt 19 Creative is a common reason for print wraps to be redone. Please do not provide an estimated page count.
4. Rejected cover concepts may be modified and offered as premade designs on our website.
5. The cover style cannot be reworked by another designer without written permission, only granted in extreme situations. This includes duplication for series extensions. The cover style includes the basic layout, typography, and any hand-drawn elements created by Alt 19 Creative. Stock elements, while part of the design, remain subject to their own licensing terms as laid out by the stock provider.

Licensing for Final Design of Cover

Alt 19 Creative grants the Client exclusive rights to use the book cover design as is and associated promotional materials. The cover design includes elements sourced from licensed stock images. We typically license stock from Adobe Stock, Deposit Photos, VectorStock, Vecteezy, and/or Envato Elements.

Alt 19 Creative retains copyright of all original hand-drawn artwork, while stock image copyrights remain with their original creators or providers. Alt 19 Creative does not claim any copyright to images provided by the Client. The Client is responsible for adhering to the licensing terms of images and fonts used in the design. Alt 19 Creative is not liable for Client misuse of these elements. Alt 19 Creative will provide licensing information for stock images, if applicable, and fonts upon delivery of final files, and the Client must comply with those terms.

Licensing for Stock Images

• When stock images are used, the Client agrees to the terms of the license procured by Alt 19 Creative through third-party providers. The final cost includes these licenses, which may limit usage to a print run of 500,000 units (depending on provider terms). Exceeding this limit requires additional licensing. Most stock images may not be used on merchandise (e.g., t-shirts, mugs) without a premium license. Stock images remain copyrighted by their original creators and may only be used within the book cover design and promotional materials.

Licensing for Hand-Drawn Characters from Alt 19 Creative, if applicable

• For covers featuring hand-drawn characters by Alt 19 Creative, the Client is granted an extended, exclusive or non-exclusive license (depending on the option chosen) to use those characters solely for the agreed-upon book cover and associated promotional materials. If backgrounds or other elements are also hand-drawn by Alt 19 Creative, this extended license applies to those specific elements as well. These designs remain the exclusive property of Alt 19 Creative, and we retain full copyright ownership. The Client may use these hand-drawn elements on merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, character cards, bookmarks, and stickers, provided they remain part of the original design. Alterations to hand-drawn elements must be performed by Alt 19 Creative. If the Client wishes to use these hand-drawn character illustrations in a new cover layout, written permission from Alt 19 Creative is required, which may involve an additional fee. These images cannot be used by a third party, including another cover designer, without our written permission.

File Specifications

Your front cover is provided in the following formats:

1. FrontCoverLarge: 6”×9” at 300 dpi (1800×2700 pixels). This image can be used when you need a high resolution version of your front cover (i.e., if you create a print wrap or need your cover printed on promotion material).
2. FrontCoverSmall: Low-resolution file at 600×900 pixels. This cover is good for embedding into your eBook file.
3. FrontCoverMedia: Media-resolution file at 1873 pixels wide (universal size accepted by most providers). This cover can be used to upload to your service provider when they ask for the front cover JPG.

• Mockups are provided in both large and small sizes and provided as either JPGs or PNGs (PNG files are provided when there is a need for a transparent background). The title will be provided as a PNG file. Print wraps are provided as PDFX1A or PDFX3A as required by most printers.

Credit Requirement

• Please credit Alt 19 Creative on your copyright page. Sample wording:
  Cover design by Alt 19 Creative OR
  Cover design by (Artist’s Name) at Alt 19 Creative

Portfolio and Promotion

• Alt 19 Creative reserves the right to showcase the cover design in our portfolio, website, and social media for promotional purposes. Once the Client reveals the cover or releases the book, notify us, and we will feature it in our online portfolio, social media accounts, our Facebook page, the Premade Covers from Alt 19 Creative Facebook group, and other cover design communities.

Additional Details

• This agreement is not a work-for-hire arrangement; it is a license for use of our artwork. Work-for-hire arrangements are only available for fully illustrated covers to publishers and additional fees apply.
• After the final cover files have been delivered, if you consider recovering or making changes to your book cover (e.g., changing the typography, color palette, or testing new elements), reach out to us as we may have suggestions and can offer a discount (whether for a new cover or changes).