Recommendations for E-Cover Software

I have always used photoshop for my ecovers...you just have to know how to design some stuff in photoshop then press a button and it will make it for you.

I recommend looking on google for "ecover go action scripts"

ecover engineer

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I use Photoshop CS3 - if you have a google for some action scripts they will pretty much do what you need. My photoshop knowledge isn't great, but I can do an e-cover using action scripts created by someone who knows what they are doing...

check out cover action pro

Hey Charles,

Just wanted to mention that if someone is recommending a "action" then you will also need Photoshop. An action without photoshop is like having gas with no car. Just wanted to make sure you understood that.

My recommendation: Outsource your graphics. I know that's not really a recommendation but it takes a long time to get good at graphics and you can't be good at everything. Unless you need a consistent supply of graphics all the time... don't waste your time. Pay an expert and save your time for marketing.

Good luck,

Dave

There are two types of ecover generators:

1. Standalone software where everything is done in an application

2. Photoshop action scripts where you create the flat design in photoshop and it does all the transformations in to a box automatically

Some people say the photoshop actions produce better results.

I just bought this software for my designers:

True BoxShot Software | Create professional 3D boxshots and covers

It's working out really well.

However, even if you have the greatest software in the world, it's only going to be as good as your graphics ability. If you have a hard time drawing stick men, it's definitely worth outsourcing your work

I got the Laughingbird product and while it's a big program
and it has some warts it's also easy to learn and does things
well enough. I'm of the opinion that for digital delivery products
you want the ecover to look like an ecover... clearly a computer
generated graphic and not a real product - so super-high-res is
a little counter-productive to making that clear.

The sample e-covers on the site are pretty boring I think - so
I was reluctant to order the thing. I was surprised though at what
it could do and the level of creativity that was possible with it -
and I also learned it fast so the curve wasn't steep at all.

You can get 20% off the product with this code: laughingdis

http://www.webgraphicscreator.com/eCover3d_Samples.html

Also, Charles, most e-covers I see going around
pretty much violate the design rules proven
to sell books offline.

Here's what I mean. I have half-a-dozen business/
marketing/writing books on my desk at any one time
and 90% of them have a bold, big, title you can
read from 20 ft away. Sometime the words are big
and sometimes it's done with clear contrast.

These books seldom super-impose the text over a
picture - which is a common design strategy for
ebooks that makes the title HARD TO READ!

So - do you want "not cheasy"? don't putting cheasy
pictures of smiling, leaping, people and cluttered
graphics on your covers.

Take a look at non-fiction THAT SELLS! look at the
dust jackets. The titles are designed in such a
way that you know immediately what the book is about
and you don't have to squint to make out the words.

Just my opinion. I love clever graphics... but in
terms of selling product clarity of message is way
more important.

Are there any Photoshop action generators etc that generate stuff like 3D laptops? I've seen PDAs but not laptops.

Thanks,
Adam

You can also check GFX Writer V2.0 Header Creator | Create headers, ebook and report covers, graphic software boxes; low cost alternative to PhotoShop... is our solution for covers and headers graphics, easy to use and affordable ($19.95) if you have any questions about it, just email me dhernando[@]gmail.com

I think I am going to go with Cover Action Pro.

Charles

I have to agree with some of the folks in here, hands down Coveraction Pro, although you need Photoshop the software does all the work for you. So much easier than tweaking it by hand in Photoshop yourself. You either alter their ready made templates or put together one of your own. Then click a button and watch your ecover, e-magazine cover, e-box magically form infront of your eyes, that's my favorite part of the whole process. Good luck.