Creating book covers can be an expensive, especially if you have multiple titles to design. The costs can range from $1 to $300 per cover, depending on the artist’s expertise, and can escalate significantly for high-quality work.
In this guide, I will outline three straightforward steps to help you create your own book covers using AI tools like MidJourney, along with graphic design software like Canva or Adobe Photoshop.
How to Create Book Covers With MidJourney?
Step 1: Research Your Genre
Understanding your genre is crucial. An effective book cover captures the essence of the content and appeals to the target audience. Here’s how to begin your research:
Explore Amazon Bestsellers
- Visit Amazon: Go to the Kindle Bestsellers section.
- Select a Genre: Choose a specific genre that aligns with your book. For example, let’s select Mystery Thriller Suspense.
- Analyze the Covers:
- Look for common design elements such as color schemes, typography, and imagery.
- Take note of recurring themes or motifs within the covers.
Immerse Yourself in Your Genre
- Consider diving deeper into sub-genres. For instance, focus on Private Investigators within the Mystery genre.
- Pay attention to:
- Typography: Bold, sans-serif fonts in bright colors like yellow, white, or red.
- Imagery: Common elements often include silhouettes of figures, dark forests, or urban landscapes.
Example Observations
| Common Elements | Examples |
|---|---|
| Text Style | Big, bold, sans-serif fonts |
| Color Palette | Bright colors like yellow, red, blue |
| Imagery | Silhouettes, intriguing locations |
By understanding these design conventions, you can create a book cover that resonates with readers in your genre.
Step 2: Generate the Image
Now that you’ve researched your genre, it’s time to generate your cover image using Midjourney. Here’s how to do it effectively.
Using Midjourney
- Set Up Midjourney: Ensure you have access to Midjourney via Discord. If you need help, look for setup tutorials on YouTube.
- Create a New Channel: I recommend creating a dedicated channel for your book cover designs.
- Generate Your Image:
Use the command /imagine followed by your prompt. For instance, type:
/imagine a woman facing away from the camera in the woods at night
To specify that it’s for a book cover, you can enhance your prompt with:
/imagine a thriller book cover image featuring a woman facing away from the camera in the woods at night
Keep in mind that Midjourney may include text in the images, which you can remove later.
Aspect Ratio Considerations
For a Kindle book cover, the recommended aspect ratio is 1,600 x 2,560 pixels. Adjust your prompt to reflect this size if necessary.
Upscaling the Image
Once you have your desired image:
- Upscale: Select your preferred image and upscale it using the command
U2orU4to enhance quality.U2is typically sufficient for most needs. - Save the Image: Download the upscaled image to your device for editing in Photoshop or Canva.
Step 3: Edit the Image
With your image ready, the next step is editing. While Photoshop is ideal for this, you can also use Canva for basic edits.
Removing Unwanted Text
- Open Your Image in Photoshop:
- Import your upscaled image.
- Use the Generative Fill feature to remove any gibberish text.
- Simply select the text area and apply the fill, allowing Photoshop to suggest replacements.
- Using Canva:
- If you prefer Canva, upload your image and use its text removal tools. While the process may differ, Canva provides similar functionalities for editing.
Adding Text
The text on your cover is critical for conveying your book’s title and your name. Follow these tips to ensure it looks professional:
- Choose an Appropriate Font: Avoid common pitfalls like plain white text with a simple stroke. Instead, research fonts that fit your genre’s aesthetics.
- Placement: Position your title and name thoughtfully. Here’s a simple layout suggestion:
- Title: At the center or bottom of the cover.
- Author Name: Positioned at the top or bottom in a complementary style.
Typography Examples
| Font Style | Recommended For |
|---|---|
| Bold Serif | Historical Fiction |
| Modern Sans-Serif | Thrillers |
| Handwritten | Romance |
Finalizing the Design
Once you’ve added and positioned your text:
- Adjust Colors: Ensure the text color contrasts well with the background.
- Add Effects: Consider subtle shadows or outlines for better visibility.
- Preview Your Cover: Always preview how it looks at different sizes, especially as a thumbnail.
MidJourney Prompt for Book Covers:
MidJourney Prompt for Fantasy and Science Fiction book
- “A crystalline city floating in a sunset sky, iridescent towers piercing through pink clouds, photorealistic, book cover composition, elegant typography space, rich colors, volumetric lighting –ar 2:3”
- “Ancient tree with glowing runes carved into bark, moonlight filtering through branches, mysterious fog, fantasy book cover style, professional typography layout, dark atmospheric –ar 2:3”
- “Futuristic cybernetic eye reflecting neon cityscape, sleek metallic textures, high contrast, sci-fi book cover design, minimalist composition, dramatic lighting –ar 2:3”
- “Majestic dragon perched on mountain peak, breathing aurora-like magical flames, epic fantasy book cover, dramatic storm clouds, professional typography space, volumetric god rays –ar 2:3”
- “Ancient magical grimoire floating in void, pages turning into golden butterflies, mystical particles, dark fantasy cover style, ethereal lighting, ornate details –ar 2:3”
- “Crowned sword embedded in cosmic ice, northern lights in background, fantasy book cover composition, crystalline reflections, professional layout, epic scale –ar 2:3”
- “Quantum computer core merging with organic matter, bioluminescent tendrils, sci-fi book cover design, holographic elements, cyberpunk lighting, high-tech aesthetic –ar 2:3”
- “Astronaut discovering ancient alien ruins on Mars, red dust storm approaching, cinematic sci-fi cover style, dramatic perspective, space for title, otherworldly –ar 2:3”
- “Gothic cathedral transforming into mechanical clockwork, dark fantasy aesthetic, rays of light through stained glass, steampunk elements, professional cover layout –ar 2:3”
- “Portal mirror showing eldrich dimension, tentacles seeping through cracks, cosmic horror book cover style, ominous lighting, Lovecraftian atmosphere, high contrast –ar 2:3”
MidJourney Prompt for Mystery and Thriller Book
- Shadowy silhouette in Victorian doorway, gaslight casting long shadows, fog-filled cobblestone street, vintage mystery book cover style, muted colors, atmospheric –ar 2:3
- Shattered mirror reflecting multiple realities, psychological thriller aesthetic, dark moody lighting, contemporary book cover design, clean typography space, high contrast –ar 2:3
MidJourney Prompt for Literary and Contemporary
- “Single red origami bird on pristine white background, shallow depth of field, minimalist Japanese aesthetic, literary fiction cover style, negative space for text –ar 2:3”
- “Vintage typewriter with paper butterfly emerging from keys, magical realism style, soft natural lighting, muted color palette, contemporary cover design –ar 2:3”
- Empty chair on rain-streaked window, morning light casting prism shadows, literary minimalism, contemplative mood, elegant typography space, soft focus –ar 2:3
- Weathered hands holding delicate paper boat, magical realism aesthetic, soft natural lighting, contemporary literary style, emotional depth, negative space –ar 2:3
- Stack of love letters turning into autumn leaves, vintage paper texture, nostalgic mood, literary fiction design, selective focus, neutral palette –ar 2:3
- Single teacup with memories reflected in spilled tea, contemporary minimalist style, morning light, professional cover layout, subtle symbolism, clean design –ar 2:3
- Urban rooftop garden with city melting into watercolor sky, contemporary fiction aesthetic, golden hour lighting, professional composition, dreamy atmosphere –ar 2:3
- Old family polaroids scattered on wooden table, some fading into abstract shapes, memoir cover style, natural window lighting, vintage aesthetic, emotional tone –ar 2:3
- Apartment building windows at twilight, each telling different story, modern literary style, urban contemporary aesthetic, professional layout, cinematic mood –ar 2:3
- Origami birds emerging from open book pages, magical realism cover design, soft diffused lighting, contemporary art style, metaphorical composition –ar 2:3
Romance and Drama
- “Two silhouettes facing each other in rain, city lights bokeh background, romantic mood, contemporary cover design, space for author name, emotional –ar 2:3”
- “Antique key wrapped in delicate flowers and vines, soft dreamy lighting, vintage romance cover style, pastel colors, elegant composition –ar 2:3”
- Paper lanterns floating in twilight rain, two shadows merging on wet pavement, romantic city aesthetic, bokeh lights, soft muted colors, emotional composition –ar 2:3
- Coffee cups leaving heart-shaped steam trails, morning cafe window light, contemporary romance style, intimate atmosphere, professional layout, soft focus –ar 2:3
- Vintage love letters transforming into butterflies, selective color on blush pink background, romantic cover design, ethereal lighting, delicate mood –ar 2:3
- Ballroom chandelier crystals catching sunset light, two dance shadows in distance, vintage romance aesthetic, golden hour glow, classical composition –ar 2:3
- Lace glove holding antique key with rose vines wrapping around it, period romance style, soft dramatic lighting, elegant cover design, romantic symbolism –ar 2:3
- Storm-tossed waves with two hands reaching across lighthouse beam, dramatic romance cover style, moody atmosphere, professional layout, emotional intensity –ar 2:3
- Shattered mirror reflecting couple walking away in different directions, contemporary drama aesthetic, moody lighting, professional composition, emotional depth –ar 2:3
- Red ribbon connecting two doors in minimalist white space, modern romantic drama style, subtle shadows, clean design, metaphorical elements –ar 2:3
Historical
- “Ancient map with compass rose and burning edges, sepia tones, historical fiction cover style, textured paper, dramatic lighting, professional layout –ar 2:3”
- Weathered marble statue half-buried in desert sand, ancient scroll unfurling in wind, historical cover aesthetic, dramatic sunbeams, archaeological mood, textured design –ar 2:3
- Roman gladiator helmet transforming into metallic falcon, sunset silhouetting Colosseum, epic historical style, dramatic shadows, professional composition –ar 2:3
- Egyptian hieroglyphs coming alive with golden light, ancient temple atmosphere, sand-worn texture, historical fiction design, mystical mood –ar 2:3
- Medieval/Renaissance
- Illuminated manuscript pages with moving illustrations, candlelight catching gold leaf, medieval aesthetic, monastery shadows, professional layout, rich textures –ar 2:3
- Venetian mask with reflection of Renaissance court intrigue, oil painting style, dramatic chiaroscuro lighting, historical cover design, ornate details –ar 2:3
- Victorian Era
- Steam locomotive emerging from London fog, clockwork elements in smoke, Victorian gothic style, gaslight atmosphere, professional composition, period mood –ar 2:3
- World War Era
- 1940s typewriter with war newspaper clippings floating upward, vintage sepia tones, historical drama style, emotional depth, professional layout –ar 2:3
- Colonial Period
- Sailing ship’s compass with map transforming into stormy seas, age of exploration aesthetic, dramatic maritime lighting, historical adventure style –ar 2:3
- Revolutionary Period
- Quill pen writing declaration with ink transforming into revolutionary soldiers, historical drama style, candlelight atmosphere, professional composition –ar 2:3
Conclusion
Creating book covers using AI tools like MidJourney can significantly reduce costs and allow for creative freedom. While it’s essential to understand and respect the role of professional artists for primary book covers, using AI for supplemental materials can enhance your portfolio without straining your budget.
