Crea Editores designs complete covers for print and digital books: front cover, spine and back cover built to your real trim size and page count, plus the flat version for eBook. Files are delivered ready for Amazon KDP or IngramSpark, with bleed, safe margins and reserved barcode space. Pricing depends on format and scope and is quoted per project.
What a book cover actually is
A print cover is not an image: it is a wraparound file with three zones — back cover, spine and front cover — built to the exact trim size, page count and paper stock. Miscalculate the spine and the printer either rejects the file or the title sits off-centre on the physical copy.
Concept
Genre references, a look at the Amazon category and an argued visual direction before anything is drawn.
Front cover
Hierarchy of title, subtitle and author name — legible at thumbnail size and in print.
Spine
Width calculated from final page count and paper stock, with title and author when thickness allows.
Back cover
Sales copy, short author bio and reserved space for the barcode and ISBN.
eBook version
Flat cover in the proportions the Kindle store expects, checked at thumbnail size.
Final files
Print PDF with bleed and marks, plus digital versions for the store and social media.
Print requirements that shape the design
| Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Bleed | Trimming has tolerance. Without bleed, white slivers appear on the printed copy. |
| Safe margins | Any text outside the safe area risks being cut. |
| Spine width | Derived from page count and paper. It changes whenever the interior changes. |
| Barcode zone | The printer reserves space on the back cover; the design must leave it clear. |
| Resolution and colour profile | Low resolution or the wrong profile shifts printed colours. |
| Paperback vs hardcover | Hardcover needs a different calculation and a wrap allowance. |
Exact specifications are published by the print platforms and get updated: Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. We build files to the platform you are publishing on.
The test almost nobody runs
Your cover will be seen for the first time at roughly 40 pixels wide, in Amazon search results, next to dozens of competitors. Before approving a design, shrink it to that size: if the title is unreadable, the design does not work, however good it looks full screen.
80 pxproduct page
50 pxsearch results
35 pxrecommendations
Process and revisions
Brief
Genre, reader, competing titles and the references you like — and the ones you do not.
Concept directions
Genuinely different directions rather than variations of one idea, so the route is chosen before the detail work.
Revision rounds
The number of rounds is agreed in writing up front, on the chosen direction.
Technical close
Spine recalculated against the final page count and a print file with bleed.
Proof and approval
Reviewed in the platform previewer and, where possible, on a printed proof copy.
The cover closes after formatting, not before: spine width depends on the final page count. If the interior changes, the cover is recalculated.
Pricing
Cost depends on format, on how many versions you need (paperback, hardcover, eBook), on whether original illustration is involved and on the number of revision rounds. There is no flat rate: request a proposal and you will receive scope and revisions in writing.
Published covers
Quantum Physics for Kids: an illustrated children's cover adapted across six languages — Spanish, English, German, French, Italian and Czech — holding the visual identity in every market while recalculating the spine per edition.
El Códice del Líder Digital by Edmund Mejía: front cover, spine and back cover for paperback, published on Amazon. Read the case study.
If you want to see the common failures before commissioning a design, they are collected in the cover design mistakes that sink a book.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a book cover cost?
It depends on format, number of versions and whether original illustration is involved. There is no flat rate; request a proposal and you will get scope and revision rounds in writing.
How many revision rounds are included?
The number is agreed in writing before work starts, on the concept direction you choose.
Do you deliver files ready for Amazon KDP?
Yes. We deliver the wraparound print PDF with calculated spine and bleed, plus the flat cover for the Kindle store.
What about IngramSpark?
Also yes. IngramSpark uses its own templates and tolerances and requires an ISBN on the back cover; we build files to their specifications.
Can I supply my own illustration or photograph?
Yes, provided you hold the usage rights. We work with author-supplied material or with original illustration, depending on the project.
Do you design illustrated children’s book covers?
Yes. “Quantum Physics for Kids” is an illustrated children’s book with a cover adapted across six languages.
What if the page count changes later?
We recalculate the spine and adjust the file. That is why the cover closes after formatting.
Request a proposal for your cover design
Tell us the genre, the format and the approximate page count and we will send scope, revision rounds and a schedule.
Keep reading
Ángel Humberto Montiel Razo
A systems engineer turned editor and author. He published “Quantum Physics for Kids” in 6 languages through Amazon KDP and now guides authors in Mexico, the United States and Latin America through professional publishing.