I used four
sites, Pressbook (or a formatter to get your print pdf), Canva , Calibre
(or any site that will let you open a pdf file) and Createspace.
sites, Pressbook (or a formatter to get your print pdf), Canva , Calibre
(or any site that will let you open a pdf file) and Createspace.
1.
Go to Pressbook or wherever you format your work and complete the pdf book file
so you can export. (Make sure the Table of Content is in the front matter.)
Go to Pressbook or wherever you format your work and complete the pdf book file
so you can export. (Make sure the Table of Content is in the front matter.)
Export book for
a pdf print file – using file requirements – I used the 5 X 8 size.
a pdf print file – using file requirements – I used the 5 X 8 size.
2.
Take that pdf file and check it in Caliber to make sure it looks good and to
get the number of pages – as soon as you open it – top left.
Take that pdf file and check it in Caliber to make sure it looks good and to
get the number of pages – as soon as you open it – top left.
3. Next go to Createspace and follow these directions:
Go to Books –
top left, then click on Publish a Trade Paperback, then click on Cover, then go
to submission requirements.
top left, then click on Publish a Trade Paperback, then click on Cover, then go
to submission requirements.
Taking the
number of pages your book has – let’s say it has 230 pages, use this as the
calculation:
number of pages your book has – let’s say it has 230 pages, use this as the
calculation:
Spine:
(calculation for white is 0.002252 and the calculation for cream is always
0.0025): I use cream so – number of pages – 230 x 0.0025 = 0.575”
Now, Createspace
has a bleed of 0.125” for the book which needs to be used in the calculations
also.
has a bleed of 0.125” for the book which needs to be used in the calculations
also.
My book size is
5” wide X 8” High.
5” wide X 8” High.
Therefore for
the width: 0.125” + 5” + 0.575” + 5” + 0.125” = 10.825”
the width: 0.125” + 5” + 0.575” + 5” + 0.125” = 10.825”
And the height: 0.125” + 8” + 0.125” = 8.25”
These are the
amounts in inches that you will fill in Canva’s Custom Dimensions to get the
template to build your full book cover.
amounts in inches that you will fill in Canva’s Custom Dimensions to get the
template to build your full book cover.
4.
Go to Canva and use Custom Dimensions (top
right). When it opens, go to the px down arrow and change pixels to in
(inches). Design you full cover by adding the back page information, remembering to leave space for the ISBN#. Make sure to set up the spine that Canva has available with your name and the title.
Go to Canva and use Custom Dimensions (top
right). When it opens, go to the px down arrow and change pixels to in
(inches). Design you full cover by adding the back page information, remembering to leave space for the ISBN#. Make sure to set up the spine that Canva has available with your name and the title.
When you go to
Createspace, and if you use the cover Creator, choose the empty full cover
pattern called “Palm”.
When you upload
your cover into the Palm template, you can see if it will work for CS. Sometimes
the bar code at bottom-left needs more space. Sometimes the writing of the
title, etc, is too close to edge. Make adjustments on Canva and then Download a
PDF Print file.
your cover into the Palm template, you can see if it will work for CS. Sometimes
the bar code at bottom-left needs more space. Sometimes the writing of the
title, etc, is too close to edge. Make adjustments on Canva and then Download a
PDF Print file.
Now go to
Createspace and choose the “Upload your own cover” option and choose the one
you downloaded from Canva.
Createspace and choose the “Upload your own cover” option and choose the one
you downloaded from Canva.
And hope you did
everything right so that Createspace accepts the file J
everything right so that Createspace accepts the file J
Another option is to do as I did after CS did not accept the cover.
I chose instead,
to upload my own file. The one that I had built on Canva and downloaded as a PDF Print file. I made sure the writing and so on didn’t interfere with the edges. I
did this by first choosing a background (see left options) that matched the color of my covers. It framed the original cover and it was
accepted. Then I ordered a proof copy and when it arrived, I could see for
myself that the cover had worked out just fine.
to upload my own file. The one that I had built on Canva and downloaded as a PDF Print file. I made sure the writing and so on didn’t interfere with the edges. I
did this by first choosing a background (see left options) that matched the color of my covers. It framed the original cover and it was
accepted. Then I ordered a proof copy and when it arrived, I could see for
myself that the cover had worked out just fine.
I found this a
lot easier than playing around with their template.
lot easier than playing around with their template.
The reason I went
through this nail-biting, hair-yanking, frustrating process is because I had
four novellas, all with the same background and all needing to be made into
paperbacks. But my cost – if I had gotten my cover artist to make them – would
have been $320. Figuring out how many books it would take to earn back that
investment made it a stupid way to go. Therefore, I either did it myself or
gave up on the idea of Christmas presents for not only me, but some of my
readers who love paperbacks and might be thinking they’d make great presents
also.
through this nail-biting, hair-yanking, frustrating process is because I had
four novellas, all with the same background and all needing to be made into
paperbacks. But my cost – if I had gotten my cover artist to make them – would
have been $320. Figuring out how many books it would take to earn back that
investment made it a stupid way to go. Therefore, I either did it myself or
gave up on the idea of Christmas presents for not only me, but some of my
readers who love paperbacks and might be thinking they’d make great presents
also.
Therefore… I bit
the bullet, so to speak, dug in with some of my resources (good buddies who
already knew how this worked) and I did what I had to do. Now I’m feeling quite
proud of not only learning another new process, but realizing it wasn’t nearly
as hard as it first appeared.
the bullet, so to speak, dug in with some of my resources (good buddies who
already knew how this worked) and I did what I had to do. Now I’m feeling quite
proud of not only learning another new process, but realizing it wasn’t nearly
as hard as it first appeared.
I’m thrilled (giddily so) to announce that…
All four books are now available as paperbacks on Amazon.
