Whether or not a book cover falls under fair use is a common question. Most people do not realize that the publisher typically holds the book cover’s copyright, not the author’s.

You can use a book cover if you are giving a review of the book. Authors, publishers, and cover artists typically love the exposure, and you are not violating copyright laws. Other provisions are considered fair use, such as educational use and for the purpose of parody.

If you are creating over the work of others, you must seek a license or permission. If you would like to understand more concerning book covers and fair use, check out this informative article.

What Is Fair Use?

The rule of fair use lets you use images in specific contexts without permission from the original creator. There are situations in which fair use is acceptable. It is a matter of considering what is “legally” fair to the copyright holder.

The following include some of these uses:

• Criticism and commentary Reviewing or commenting on someone else’s work for the purpose of criticism or commenting. A person giving a book review would be allowed to see excerpts from the book.
• Research and scholarship Using quotes in a research paper for class or technical work to illustrate an author’s conclusions. A professor’s choice to make a copy of an article from a copyrighted periodical for reference is acceptable.
• Non-profit or educational use A teacher uses excerpts from portions of written work for educational purposes—student review of a literary work, which enables them to use copyrighted work.
• News reporting Short written extracts or clips from video footage to report current events. The utilization of various sources to create a report for a newspaper. The use of excerpts from books or online articles to make copies.
• Parody Making fun of someone else’s work is typically well-known. A good example is a Weird Al Yankovic song that mimics the original song for the purpose of parody.   

Book covers are copyrighted. However, they also fall under the fair use category because you can give commentary or criticism of a book. There are certain situations where using a book cover does not fall under fair use, such as using the book cover to create the cover for your own book and violating copyright laws.

Who Holds the Copyright for the Cover of a Book?

It is typical for the publisher to own the rights to the cover of a book. Cover art is made by an artist, which generally the publisher hires, only if the contract with the publisher includes the copyright to the book cover that an author can claim as their own.

Sometimes an independent artist who does not work for the publisher comes in, and the contract determines who owns the copyright to the book cover. Usually, the artist owns the copyright, but the publisher obtains a license to use it.

It is a bit tricky because while the author retains the copyright to the book, they do not have the copyright to the book cover. 

When a traditional publishing contract ends, and the rights are given to the author of the book, the cover of the book is not part of the package. When an author switches to publishers or self-publishes, it requires the production of new cover art. 

What Is a Violation of Copyright?

Again, when you review a book, it is fair use to use the book cover. However, you cannot reproduce the book cover in any way. Publishing the book cover on your blog is a violation of copyright.

You cannot use copyright-protected work and claim it as your own. However, you will not likely be sued for copyright infringement. Authors and publishers like to see their work put out there, especially if it is not being criticized.

Book covers encourage the sale of the book, and using book covers for reviews does not go against copyright law. A review with a picture of the book cover on display basically advertises the book, whether the review is positive or negative. If you are worried, you can seek approval for use from the copyright holder, but it is unnecessary.

What Do You Need to Take Into Consideration?

The essential factor in determining copyright infringement is how you used the material involved.

You must establish whether you are copying the original work of the publisher or author or creating an authentic, fresh piece. You cannot use another person’s work to compete with them by copying or plagiarizing their work.

Conclusion

The cover of a book has special protection, which is separate from the writing inside the book. Book covers only fall under fair use if they are being used in a book review or for educational purposes. The publisher usually owns the copyright to the book cover. As a general rule, you never want to steal someone else’s work and take the credit because you do not want to experience the same fate. 

You may have often wondered who has creative control over the books you read. Publishers typically have many roles, one of which includes the cover art of a book.

Publishing houses usually have designers who create book covers. Those who self-publish have more creative freedom to choose their designer and contribute to the cover of the book. However, authors can generally trust their publisher to do the right thing for the book.

Publishers often allow the author to have some say in creating the book cover. If you want to know more about whether publishers always design book covers, this article may be able to answer your questions. 

What Is the Role of the Publisher?

A publisher may be a group or a person who oversees the work or process of getting a book published. They are also responsible for distributing copies of the book.

When an author signs with a publisher, there are specific jobs the publisher will do:

• Approaching newspapers and magazines to run reviews
• Copy editing the book
• Creating marketing materials
• Determining which retailers will stock the book
• Media training authors and illustrators
• Promoting the book and creative control

As you can see, this is a lot to do. When an author has a publisher, it is up to the publisher to obtain the right cover art for the book. It is crucial to note that even the most incredible book ever written may never be read without a fantastic book cover to make people want to read it.

Publishers may be made up of separate publishing houses which serve as small companies within a larger company. The publishing team consists of editors, designers, marketers, and publicists. These publishing houses tend to publish specific genres or types of books.

Who Has Control Over Cover Design?

Publishers usually have control over the cover design, which can be difficult for the author. However, publishers often allow the author to have input concerning the book cover and how it should be set up. A good publisher will help produce a quality cover.

As an author, you should never ask your publisher to make decisions that will personalize the book. This judgment means they should not have the publishers make the cover with the author’s favorite color or make it suitable to their liking without considering what is best for the book. A good publisher will consider this.

The book cover must be suitable for the reader and make them want to read the book. The author may not like the decisions the publisher has made. However, it is up to the publisher to make these kinds of decisions.

In traditional publishing, the designer is usually an employee of the publishing house, and it does not necessitate any agreement in writing for the copyright to be owned by the publishing house. When the contract ends, the rights go to the author.

As a general rule, even though the rights go back to the author, those entitlements do not allow the use of the original cover design. When the contract ends, new cover art must be produced. Otherwise, the author can get into trouble.

What About Self Publishing?

The only time the author controls the book cover is when they are self-publishing. When an author utilizes their assets to create a book cover design, they own the copyright. The group of rights that the author retains from the cover art includes making products that display the book cover, which provides for coffee mugs, t-shirts, calendars, and other items.

The author’s assets allow them not to be contractually bound to the same rules and regulations that would come into play if the publisher designed the cover. It is the way to go if you want creative freedom, but you may be sacrificing the quality of the book cover. 

When a Cover Artist Designs the Jacket

The professional cover design is categorized into two classifications. The first is when the author uses their assets to create the cover. The other is when the author uses a third party to make the cover.

There are only two occasions in which the author retains ownership of the book cover in this case:

• The artist relinquishes the copyright to the author
• The cover artist is the owner of the copyright

When ownership is transferred to the author, you must write it. This contract is how the copyright is given to the author to have control. Self-publishing gives the author more creative freedom than if the author has a publisher who retains control over the book cover. Book cover art is also regarded as work made for hire.

Work-made-for-hire agreements must be signed before any work is done. Authors who want the copyright after it is created must sign a copyright assignment or transfer agreement. The artist and the author must determine the cover’s use if there is no transfer agreement.

If the cover artists create the book cover from their assets, they can transfer ownership to the author. As long as the handover is in writing, the author can use the cover art in any way they want. There can be all types of items sold that contain the cover art. 

When an Author Should Not Have Control

Most authors lack the proper training required to produce a quality book cover. There are essential elements to creating the perfect book cover that professional designers put into practice every time they design a cover. However, the author does not have the necessary experience.

Some authors get stuck on one idea for their book cover and try to force it instead of allowing a designer to take control. When an author gets stuck like this, they may end up with an amateur-looking cover. When you work with a cover designer, you get to see the cover brought to life.

Since the cover artist often works at the publishing house, the author should allow their team of people who are responsible for distributing the book to design the cover. It just makes things easier for everyone involved.

Conclusion

The publisher’s responsibility is to design the book’s cover. However, if you are self-publishing, you have the creative freedom to choose the designer for your cover art. The book cover is an important aspect of the publishing work. Authors can usually trust their publisher to make the right decisions concerning the book cover.

It seems like everyone is a self-published author in 2022. Whether it is another self-help book or steamy romance fantasy, e-publishing has given an outlet to all of those aspiring artists who are tired of getting rejected by traditional publishing houses. With this comes an increased demand for book covers. Just how much can book cover artists make per book?

Book cover artists can expect to make about $50 per book cover–a very rough estimate. Some artists in developing countries charge as little as $5 per simple cover, while more complex projects from established graphic artists can return well over $150 per cover.

As can be expected, there are myriad factors that will influence just how much artists can make for a book cover. Keep reading to find out all of the details on what graphic artists can expect to make per book cover!

How Much Do Book Cover Artists Make Per Book?

Book covers artists can expect to make anywhere from $5 to $150+ per book cover.

When all of the extenuating factors are considered on a case-by-case basis, it is likely that a cover artist will make roughly $50 per book cover, on average.

How Much Can Book Cover Artists Charge?

There is an extremely wide range for what book cover artists can charge. Some factors that will influence asking price include:

• Geographic location – most cover designers have a presence on global marketplaces such as Fiverr or Upwork. As a result, some artists in areas of the world with lower costs of living charge little for a single book cover, while those in more expensive regions will charge more
• Experience – beginning designers will usually have to charge a modest fee for their cover designs, while highly experienced, master designers can charge a premium
• Scope of project – if you are designing a cover for a first-time, self-published author on a low budget, a cheaper cover may be produced in little time. More ambitious projects for clients with deeper pockets may require a cover to match the content
• Quality of materials – if artists are using nothing but stock images and clipart in their designs, the fee will be lower. If they are using professional Placeit logos or custom photographs, the fee will be higher
• Number of edits – some artists that charge a low fee for their services use a “you get what you get” approach, yielding a more generic cover. Artists willing to go back into the file and make extensive edits to increase specificity for the project will charge a higher fee

As you can see, there are myriad influences that can affect the fee charged for designing a book cover. As a designer, you need to determine where you fall along the continuum for each of these factors to help you arrive at a competitive price.

How Profitable Are Book Cover Artists Per Book?

Okay, so a rough estimate reveals that book cover artists can make about $50 per cover. But is that good? Is that a figure that makes designing book covers worth it?

While you would have to design a lot of book covers each month to make a livable wage at $50 per cover, it can turn out to be a nice little side hustle if set up correctly.

Simple book covers can be finished in as little as a day. This type of cover will likely include little more than title, author, and stock image. While this type of cover may fall short of the $50 figure, it is entirely possible that you could be working on several of these projects–along with other projects in your repertoire–simultaneously without undermining quality.

More complex book covers that include custom photographs, uploaded freehand art, and greater layers in design can occupy your time for up to a week. While these designs will be more labor intensive, remember that you can likely charge above the $50 figure for this type of project.

The good news about designing covers is that even though the income can be modest, the costs are relatively low. Once you have your computer paid for, it is nearly all profit from there. The main factors to keep in mind are that you will probably need to pay a monthly fee for your editing software and that online marketplaces like Upwork or Fiverr will take a cut of your project fee for listing on their platform.

On the plus side, you can use your cover design gigs as a tax write-off, with home office space, utilities, subscriptions, and technology upgrades a few of the items that can help lower your tax bill and make your cover design business as profitable as possible. 

The Bottom Line: How Much Do Book Cover Artists Make Per Book

As a general estimate, artists can expect to make around $50 per book cover. However, this is a very rough figure, with some simple projects yielding much less and more complex designs bringing in much more. Whatever the case, use the breakdown listed above to get an idea of what you can expect to make for your book covers!

The cover of a book plays a significant role in selling the book. It creates the first impression of the book for the potential reader. Book covers give the reader insight into the book.

There are many reasons why a single book can have several different covers. It is a great way to sell more book copies to the reader and generate interest. There are also different book cover styles for other geographical areas. Some people are just collectors.  

If there are several different book covers, the reader can choose which one they like best. If you would like to understand more on the subject of why books can have several different book covers, check out this article.

Why Do Books Have More than One Cover?

Have you ever been surprised to see the same book with more than one cover available? People may wonder why this occurs. Well, there can be many reasons why some books have different covers. You may see this in other countries. The following include the reasons why a book could have various covers:

There May Be Different Publishers

It is common for different publishers to be listed for the same book in different markets. You can have a United States version of the book and a United Kingdom version. US and UK versions may be different due to the following:

• United States book covers tend to be elaborate to catch the reader’s eye
• United Kingdom book covers are often more focused on information about the book
• United States books are usually sold in stores such as Barnes & Noble
• United Kingdom books are often purchased online so buyers can do their research

There may also be updated versions of the book that are published separately from the original version. Publishers may also make deals with each other, and a book published under exclusive rights may have different publishers.  

There May Be Anniversary Editions

New or anniversary editions of books come out all the time. Publishers like to make a big deal out of these versions, as they often add something to them to make them a little bit special. Some examples of this:

• Anniversary sticker on the cover
• Another author writes an introduction
• New and exciting illustrations
• The author wrote a new introduction

There may also be unseen archive material in the new edition. Publishers also like to utilize this profit-making strategy to cut down on the competition from the sales of used books.

A Style of Book Cover Becomes Too Popular

Sometimes publishers use gimmicks to promote the book. An example would be a horror novel using blood or a spider web to depict a Halloweenish nightmare. This illustration is a picture that many different publishers of horror books often utilize.

Since part of the goal as a writer is to make your book stand out, you do not want to do the same thing other authors do, and you do not want to be labeled as a copycat. Another point is that you want to personalize your book cover to represent the story uniquely. You want it to stand apart from the rest of the horror books and be different.

The Book Becomes a Television Series or Movie

 Adaptation can be fun for authors and scriptwriters. Hollywood sometimes likes to make great books into movies. It happened with

• “Prozac Nation”
• “The Great Gatsby”
• “The Hobbit”
• “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”

All these books had original covers that changed when the book was made into a movie. The idea of the new book cover is to appeal to the masses. The publisher figures that they can make an extra buck on the book if they put an edition with the movie on the cover.

Young adults or teenage novels also have a habit of becoming television shows. Books like “Twilight,” and “Pretty Little Liars” are popular novels that made it big on television. Television shows get people interested in the book and allow the story to continue. Book covers often feature characters of the tv show, which immediately draws people in and helps to attract new readers.

 It Makes Things More Attractive for the Reader

If there are several different covers for a book, the reader can choose whichever book they prefer. It can make it more fun for the reader this way. It lets the reader decide, and some people even purchase all versions of the book to keep as collector’s items.

It has been said that people keep three copies of the same book if it has different covers. One is for show, one is for use, and one is for borrowers. If someone loves the story that much, they will likely spend the money on a different cover.

There Are Different Book Cover Styles

There is a significant disparity between the book covers in The United States and the United Kingdom. One of the truly significant distinctions is that American covers tend to involve the main characters. British covers usually do not do this, instead leaving it up to the reader to determine the characters’ looks and who they are.

Another difference is that British covers often use darker shades, while American covers like to be brighter and bolder. The US and the UK have two totally different audiences for each market, and in the US, book covers are often created to intrigue you to read the story and catch your eye.

Trends Change

Another reason for different book covers is that trends in publishing change. Most people tend to gear toward a more modern version of the book. A book cover that worked on a particular demographic in 1985 may not captivate the attention of someone in the same age demographic in 2022.

It is just the way the market is. Many people do not like their books to have an outdated appearance. Another point is that when it comes to what is trendy at the time, that may determine the direction of the cover.

Conclusion

Book covers are an essential aspect of selling a book. They bring life to books and give the reader a sneak peek at what to expect from the book. There can be several different book covers for the same book. It is an ingenious marketing strategy. 

As a music-loving artist, you’ve been considering creating album artwork for locally or nationally-known musicians and bands. But, before you start seeking this type of work, you have a couple of questions. One question many ask is, “do album cover artists get royalties?”

Whether or not an album cover artist will receive royalties depends on the contract between them and the musician. If the artist does receive royalties, the amount is generally 10% or less of the musician’s annual album sales.

Below, we’ll discuss more information on receiving royalties for the album covers you create. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to get started!

Will I Get Royalties for Creating Album Cover Art?

Almost all artists will charge a fee for a band or musician to use their artwork as their album cover. However, whether or not the artist will receive royalties depends on the agreement between the artist and the musician.

Some artists are paid a one-time fee, either upfront or upon receipt, by a musician in exchange for the album cover artwork they create. Others let musicians use their artwork in exchange for only royalties. Some even get the best of both worlds — an upfront payment and royalties.

Before you agree to let a musician or band use your artwork as their album cover, make sure to draw up a contract highlighting how much you’ll be paid and when you’ll receive your payments.

How Much Do Album Cover Artists Make in Royalties?

If you’re looking to become an album cover artist, you’re probably wondering how much you can make royalties.

The amount of money you’ll make in royalties, as well as how these royalties will be calculated, depends on the agreement you have with the musician. Generally, there are two ways royalties are calculated — a percentage of the net sales, or per unit.

Album cover royalties based on yearly net sales are usually 10% or less of the annual sales. However, this number may increase if the musician sells posters or other merchandise with the album cover. If you go with per unit royalties, you’ll receive a percentage according to how many albums a musician sells each year, rather than how much they make from selling those albums.

If you’re a well-known artist, or if the musician really wants to work with you, you may be able to arrange what’s known as a “guaranteed minimum annual royalty payment.” This means that you’ll receive a fixed minimum amount of royalties at the start of each year.

This number does not change, no matter how many albums they sell. At the end of the year, you’ll receive any additional royalties you earned over this initial amount.

Most artists will not receive royalties for longer than five years. However, this may vary based on the musician or record label you’re working with.

How Much Do Album Cover Artists Make?

It all depends on the type of musicians they’re working for, how in-demand their work is, and the payment arrangement they make.

On average, an album cover artist makes between $27,000 and $50,000 per year. In some cases, they can make up to $150,000 annually.

How Much Should I Charge As an Album Cover Artist?

As far as one-time fees go, the amount each artist will make depends heavily on how well-known the musician they’re creating the art for is.

It’s always up to you how much you’ll charge, but the following pricing model is pretty standard in the industry:

• Small, local, unsigned bands: $350 – $2,500
• Smaller touring bands: $1,500 – $6,000
• Well-known bands signed to major labels: $2,500 – $10,000

When deciding your price, keep in mind that it’s usually not worth charging smaller, unsigned musicians any royalties. They’re probably not making very much from selling their albums and don’t tend to keep good track of their sales. Any time you’re not charging a musician royalties, you’ll probably want to charge a higher upfront fee.

What Determines How Much Album Cover Artists Make?

Like most artists, the amount you can expect to make as an album cover artist depends on several factors.

These include:

• Work portfolio
• Level of experience
• Who they’re working with
• What the artist will use the artwork for

Now you know everything about the royalties album cover artists receive.

Final Thoughts

Whether or not an album cover artist will receive royalties for their artwork depends entirely on their contract with the album artist. Some charge only an upfront fee or royalties for a certain period, while others charge both.

Royalties are either calculated based on net annual sales or the number of albums they sell in a year. Again, this will depend on your specific contract. Deciding how and how much you’ll charge for a musician to use your artwork as their album cover is entirely up to you and what you’re comfortable with.

Designing a book cover can be tricky. When it comes to publishing a book with a publisher, you may be wondering if the author of the book plays a role in the choosing and creation of the book’s cover?

Authors typically do not have much of a role in the process of creating a book cover. Designers and publishers are the ones who usually make or break the cover. Authors can get their agents to negotiate cover input before signing a contract.

A great cover can help boost sales. If you want to know if authors choose their own book covers, check out this article.

The Cover Design Process

If you are a writer and would like to have your book cover designed, you should know there is a process to it. You likely will not get too much creative control, which is why you have a team of professionals to help. The cover design process typically involves a meeting where the titles and subtitles are suggested.

Each professional plays a specific role during these meetings:

• The editor typically speaks to the author’s taste.
• Sales and marketing present market perspectives, as they are the guiding tool to make informed decisions concerning the cover.

There will likely be several incarnations of book covers until the final one is approved.

What Should an Author Ask About During the Design Process?

Authors rarely have legal control over their covers. However, feedback and input from the author are welcome. The goal is to arrive at a decision that will appease everyone involved. If you have an agent, bring up your ideas, and they will help you navigate the meetings.

Some concerns you should bring up to the agent:

• Where do you visualize your book fitting in
• Why specific ideas do not fit with your vision
• Why do you want it presented in a certain way
• Who is the audience you are targeting

These are all matters you should take to your agent. It is important to note that publishers want the author to like the cover and for their ideas to be appreciated. Everyone on the team wants the book to be a success. The goal is to successfully sell the book, which is why you want an agent and a publisher you can trust.

What Happens If People Do Not Like the Cover of My Book?

Whenever a cover comes out that the readers do not like, the author takes the brunt of the blame. It is a frustrating concept because the author does not usually have authoritative control over the cover.

In a traditional publishing situation, the author often receives an e-mail that displays the cover, and they do not have much of a say. Sometimes, the author can give their opinion, but the publisher will often override what the author wants.

It is not exactly fair for an author not to have some creative input in the cover because they are the ones who are sacrificing a piece of their baby to others who do not have as much stake in the outcome other than financially.

Authors should have some say because it is, after all, their book. If people do not like the cover and the author did not design it, the author may feel like they were duped out of an important decision concerning their book. However, there are arguments you could make for the other side of the coin.  

Reasons Why Authors Should Not Design Their Book Covers

 A cover represents the book like no other aspect of the book. There are many reasons why authors should not design their book covers. While it is their book, it may not be a good idea for some authors. Here’s why.

They Utilize Templates

Many self-publishing platforms allow you to choose a book cover. However, most of the time, you get what you pay for. Free does not always mean good. A lot of times, the cover will turn out unprofessional looking. Templates will not make your book cover very interesting. Professional book cover designing is the way to go.

They Are Not Professional Designers

Most authors do not have design training and do not know the concepts involved in creating a book cover that will generate interest and sales. Designing a book requires the technical ability to produce a professional-looking, quality result.

It will be evident if you lack the skill to accomplish this task. There is a difference between having a book cover design that looks like an elementary school kid did it or you could have a very professional-looking and impeccable cover design that turns heads at the library or bookstore.

They Come Up with Contrived Concepts

When you work with a designer, you will see several concepts, not just get stuck on one. You may have an idea you are sure will work, but when you try to put that idea into a picture, it falls flat. You could get stuck on that concept and never get the right cover. However, with a professional designer, they will give you more than one idea, which is ideal.

They Do Not Understand Design Elements

Most designers have some idea of what will work and what will not work. It is easy to understand why, for example, a book cover for a sports-related book does not jive with a cover for a fantasy fiction book. The two were not meant to go together.

You must research other successful books in your genre to know what fits. Do not copy it but emulate it if you struggle to figure out the right cover. When figuring out what picture works best with your book, please leave it to the professionals to help you determine the right way to go.

They Do Not Have Good Strategies for Selling it

If you are self-publishing, our book will not likely be sold to the masses. However, you will be selling your book on the internet. An author’s primary goal is to make people want to click on your book to find out more and motivate them to purchase. You want a professional designer to help you sell your book.

Conclusion

An author should have some say in the cover of their book. However, you can trust a publisher to choose a cover to generate and increase sales. Most of the time, the author does not have authority regarding their book cover. If you see a book cover you do not like, do not be so quick to blame the author.  

There are many ways to monetize your graphic design skills. Some examples include t-shirts and merchandise, business logos, and cartooning. However, with the advent of e-books and self-publishing, book cover design is a field with increasing demand for graphic artists. But can you make any money by designing book covers?

You can make money designing book covers. Although it takes hard work and commitment, with relatively modest earnings in the beginning, veteran cover designers can make $25 per hour or more and create a successful side hustle by designing covers.

Of course, there are a host of factors to consider when it comes to profitability and cover design. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about making money through book covers!

Can You Make Money By Designing Book Covers?

Yes, you can make money designing book covers.

However, like any type of business venture, designing book covers will not be a cash cow for you overnight. You have to plan, put in the hard work, and, of course, produce quality art.

If you do all of these things, you will eventually see your book cover business evolve into a lucrative little side hustle, with the potential for even more.

How Much Money Can You Make Designing Book Covers?

As with any type of freelance work, there is no set-in-stone answer to this question. The initial response is that “you get out of it what you put into it.”

With that said, be prepared to make a humble wage in the beginning. Many artists starting out in the field of book covers end up making around $10 per hour. They have to set a competitive price per project, and their work regularly gets sent back for edits.

However, once you get more experienced and proficient in cover design, and start securing some loyal, long-term clients, it is not unreasonable to make over $25 per hour making book covers, with some master artists reporting incomes over $100 per hour.

While few cover designers end up making this kind of money, it gives you an idea of what is possible if you set your mind to it. 

How to Make More Money Designing Book Covers

Okay, so you know that there is money to be made in book cover design. How can you leverage your skills and make even more?

Produce Quality Art

Book cover design is a competitive field, with relatively few barriers to entry. There are people all over the world with computers, Adobe Illustrator, and a passion for design who wake up one day and decide they want to freelance their cover designs.

Therefore, it is critical that you produce quality, professional art to stand out in a crowded field. Have an extensive catalog on your digital storefront (Upwork, Fiverr, personal website, etc.) of past projects and mock-ups through which clients can peruse. Use high-quality Placeit logos in favor of clipart or other stock images to further set your covers apart. You can also use Placeit to customize book cover templates.

If you do a good enough job, you will have clients choosing one of your covers to match their book, and not the other way around.

Be An Elite Communicator

Clients can be notoriously finicky. You may have produced what appears to be the perfect cover for their project–but they want you to make one minor edit. Then another. And another.

While it can be frustrating to your design sensibilities, always respond to these requests promptly and professionally. Let clients know that you take their requests seriously and don’t “ghost” them if they start becoming more trouble than they are worth.

At the end of the day, if you want to make money in the design game, you have to be equal parts businessperson and artist. Communication is king when it comes to running a successful business.

Develop Long-Term Clients

Even if you are able to get $500 for a single cover (congrats if you do!), remember that one-time payments do not make a lucrative business. You need a steady revenue stream to be sustainable. The best way to accomplish this is through long-term clients.

Be on the lookout for e-book publishing companies and other types of businesses who order covers with regularity. Take the time to study these entities and have a firm understanding of what they are looking for. Pitch mock-ups to them and offer bundle deals that can catch their attention and help secure an ongoing relationship.

Price with a Purpose

Pricing can make or break any type of business, and it can be extremely tricky for cover designers to arrive at the correct figure for their services.

On one hand, if you are new to the field and are charging $100 per cover with no ratings or past client recommendations, you will immediately be struck from most clients’ consideration set.

On the other hand, if you are charging $5 per cover, you run the risk of conveying inferior quality through such a low price.

Start with a modest price figure in the beginning, adjusting as needed to get a steady flow of clients. As the reviews and recommendations start coming in, raise your price accordingly to help increase your profits.

The Bottom Line: Is There Money in Designing Book Covers?

Yes, you can make money designing book covers. Like any type of business, it takes time and effort to become profitable in this enterprise, but once you break through, it is not unreasonable to turn your cover design business into a substantial side hustle. Use the advice listed above to get on the right track for making a profitable cover design business!

Adobe Lightroom is one of the most popular photo editing applications on the market, especially for professional photographers. However, some people run into an issue where Lightroom cannot read their RAW files.

If Lightroom cannot read your RAW files, there are four reasons you can look into to help you solve the underlying cause. Below, we’ll discuss these four common problems and how to remedy them. Keep reading to learn more!

Why Can’t Lightroom Read My RAW Files?

Most professional photographers choose to work with their RAW files in Lightroom to make more precise edits and achieve the highest quality possible before exporting their photos to another format. 

RAW files contain a range of metadata, including camera exposure and white balance settings, to give photographers more editing flexibility without compromising quality. In some cases, however, Lightroom won’t be able to read your RAW files. There are four reasons why this may be happening:

• Your version of Lightroom is outdated
• Lightroom doesn’t support your camera
• You don’t have write permission for the folder
• Your camera’s RAW format is not supported

Below, we’ll discuss how you can work around these four common problems and, hopefully, begin editing your RAW photos in Adobe Lightroom.

Your Version of Lightroom is Outdated

If Lightroom cannot read your camera’s RAW files, the first thing you should consider is the software version you’re currently running. If you haven’t updated Lightroom in a while, the Camera RAW version you’re using is likely too old to understand the RAW file format from your camera.

Follow these steps to update your Lightroom and Camera RAW versions:

• Launch Adobe Lightroom.
• Choose the “Help” menu.
• Select “Check for Updates.”

If any new Lightroom or Camera RAW versions are available, download and install them. Then, try to upload your RAW files once again and see if you’re still experiencing the issue. 

Lightroom Doesn’t Support Your Camera

The last thing you want is to shoot some pictures with your brand-new camera, only to open Lightroom and find that the software cannot read your RAW files. Unfortunately, this is a common problem with new cameras.

It takes a while for Lightroom to catch up to all the new technology on the market. Check Adobe’s list of supported cameras, and see if you can find your model there. If not, you’ll need to wait for the company to update their photography software.

Luckily, Adobe usually updates this list monthly. If you don’t see it yet, there’s a good chance you will once the next Lightroom update rolls out. 

Until then, you have two options. You can change your camera’s settings to shoot in RAW and JPEG, then save your RAW files manually to your computer and upload your JPEG files to Lightroom. Adobe also offers a free DNG converter, which will allow you to convert your RAW image files into a Lightroom-compatible format.

You Don’t Have Write Permission for the Folder

Sometimes, the reason why Lightroom cannot read your RAW files is that the folder you’re trying to import your images to is not set to the right permissions. Luckily, there’s an easy way to fix this:

If you’re working with a Windows computer, open terminal.app and type in “diskuntil resetUserPermissions / ‘id-u’”. This will reset your write permissions and hopefully solve your problem.

If you’re using a Mac computer, follow the steps below to change your Lightroom permissions:

1. Open your System Preferences.
2. Select “Security & Privacy.”
3. Press “Accessibility,” then open the “Privacy” tab.
4. Make sure the box next to Adobe Lightroom is checked.
5. Save your changes before exiting.

As long as you’re running the latest version of Lightroom and your camera is supported, you should no longer have issues opening RAW files.

Your Camera’s RAW Format is Not Supported

Another reason why Lightroom cannot read your RAW files is that the RAW format it shoots in is not supported. Although “RAW” is an available format on most cameras, different camera manufacturers use different types of RAW files. Sometimes, these file types can even vary from different cameras within the same manufacturer’s line.

Like with camera support, the only thing you can do here is wait for the next Lightroom update and hope your format will be supported in the future. You can also use the free DNG converter in the meantime, or shoot in RAW and JPEG and work with your JPEG files in Lightroom.

Final Thoughts

Shooting hundreds of photos and importing them to Lightroom, only to find out that the software cannot read your RAW files, can be incredibly frustrating. Luckily, there’s usually an easy fix to this problem.

You may need to update your software version, or you might need to edit your folder permissions. If the issue is caused by an unsupported camera or RAW file format, you can use Adobe’s free DNG converter or work with JPEG files until Adobe updates their photography software.

Grid snapping is used when Illustrator objects always move to a specific location and can’t be moved at small distances. This can be an infuriating problem, but it can be solved by doing a bit of homework and browsing through the drop-down menus. So how do you turn off Align to Pixel Grid in Illustrator?

Working with Illustrator can be frustrating because they often add elements turned on by default and don’t let you know. This can cause problems and significant confusion. Don’t sweat it! Read on and learn all you need to know about how to turn off the Align to Pixel Grid option in Illustrator.

How to Turn off Align to Pixel Grid in Illustrator

Align to Pixel grid is a helpful tool that will allow you to move things quickly and have them align with other pieces of your project. This snapping motion can move the items instantly and can lead to confusion if you don’t know where the details snapped. You can clear up this problem and move forward with your project by checking a few drop-downs.

Why Objects Keep Snapping to Grid

Before fixing the problem, you should know why it is happening. If you have a box clicked or other options selected, you could have a rough time aligning the pieces you want. Each time you attempt to click and move the file, it jumps to another position that could obscure other parts of the logo or design. 

A few reasons that your objects snap to the grid are as follows:

• Snap to Grid – One of the main options for aligning elements in your project is Snap to Grid. It is like Align to Pixel in that it will take letters, numbers, or vectors and put them in places that could be wrong for your project or job.
• Align New Objects – A frustrating option often chosen before the job is started is Align New Objects. That means every time you create a new angle or vector for the job; it will align with your project, even if it doesn’t look correct.
• Align to Pixel Grid – The significant difference between the ‘Snap’ options is where they decide to snap. For some projects, it will be the pixels of your project, and for others, it will align with the grid that is always present in the application.

The reasons behind the pixel snapping are usually pre-selected by Illustrator and can be changed by getting into the menus and unclicking a few boxes. Remember that projects can always be saved, and deleting jobs because of wrinkles in the program isn’t an option if you are a working graphic artist.

How to Prevent Objects from Snapping to Grid

Now that we know the culprits behind Object Snapping, we can get to work knocking those barriers down. By checking a few boxes, you can unleash the potential of your design and set yourself up for success.

The process to prevent objects from Snapping to Grid are:

• Click Window – The place to start when attacking the grid is by going to the top of the application and looking for Window among the options. There are serious functionality options in the top menus, and Window will have options for everything you can see in the active pane of your application.
• Transform – One of the most potent tools in Illustrator is Transform. There are options inside the panel that allow you to move the images to an X/Y grid location and even increase the angle of the image. The choice we are looking for is on the bottom and is labeled Align to Pixel Grid.
• Click the Box – Once you unclick the option in the Transform box, you should be able to move the bits around as you see fit. Remember that other options could be clicked that will continue to Snap your work until you get it all sorted.

Sometimes unclicking the box in the Transform pull-down could just handle the current project you are working on. If you start a new job and realize that everything is still snapping, you could be in for a few more menu fixes and clicks.

Solving the Align to Pixel Grid Problem

When Illustrator continues to Snap things into the grid, the Palette setting could be a problem. This setting controls the area you are working on and keeps them in a grid that could move the pieces already in place or move the ones you continue to add to the project. By removing another option, you can quickly solve this problem.

The steps to turn off Align to Pixel Grid are as follows:

• Find Search Bar – Since 2017, Illustrator has undergone some upgrades that allow you to make this process much more manageable. You locate one of the most improved application pieces by finding the Find Search bar in the top right of the menu. Look for the row of buttons beneath the search box for the next option.
• Align to Grid – Now that you are looking at the Search box, you will notice a row of pics beneath it. These options impact all parts of the process, but the one we want looks like a magnet facing a row of boxes. It is the on/off switch for Align to Pixel Grid.

Once you have clicked the Align button, everything will be locked/unlocked. Click it a few times if needed to see how the clicks impact your work. By testing the switch out, you learn what it is capable of and how often you must interact with the button to stop things from Aligning.

Conclusion

Turning off Align to Pixel Grid is easy once you know where the options are located. Snapping or Aligning to grid can be a problem that continues to plague your workspace until you learn how to disable the possibilities and how to get around them.

No matter what job you are working on, Align and Snapping can be turned off by searching in the Transform pane or with the symbol, which is three boxes and a magnet. Once clicked, you can move the bits of your project anywhere you see fit. Learning how to turn off Align to Pixel Grid could save the day on your next project or job.

If you have ever gotten to the point where you are working on the final touches of a logo in Illustrator, you know the feeling. You have everything in place and drag an image to blend in seamlessly with the font–only to have that image move a few millimeters to the left when you release the mouse.

Luckily for you, we are here to help. This type of “snapping” within Illustrator is a default setting that can easily be turned off, so keep reading to discover 5 simple steps for stopping snapping in Illustrator!

5 Simple Steps to Stop Snapping in Illustrator

Use the following 5 steps to easily turn off snapping in Illustrator.

1. Click Window

At the top of your Adobe Illustrator program, you should see a tab labeled “Window” on the task ribbon. Click this tab. You will be met with an extensive drop down list.

2. Select the Transform Palette

From this drop down list, identify the tab labeled “Transform.” As mentioned, the drop down list is rather extensive, so you may have to scroll a bit to find the Transform tab. Luckily, the menu is organized alphabetically, so it should be easy to locate.

3. Click on the Object to Stop Snapping

Once you are in “Transform,” a small task box will pop up in the foreground of your design. 

Make sure that the object you want to stop snapping has been selected. 

This is easily accomplished by clicking on the image. Dotted lines should appear around the object to show it is being worked on. 

If the object or image is not selected, the steps you have taken to stop snapping will not apply. Snapping is not applied as a general setting within the project, but is applied individually for each image.

Therefore, if you want to stop snapping for more than one item in your project, you will need to take these same steps with each image. 

4. Identify Align to Pixel Grid Option

Once the image has been selected, you are ready to turn snapping off.

At the bottom of the “Transform” task box, you will notice a line item that says “Align to Pixel Grid.”

By default, there will be a checkmark next to this item, which is the setting that permits snapping.

Make sure that the check mark next to “Align to Pixel Grid” is not active to turn off snapping.

5. Test Your Image to See if Snapping is Off

Close the “Transform” task box and experiment with moving your image around. If it stays where you placed it when you release the mouse, then you have successfully turned off snapping in Illustrator!

What is Snapping?

If you are like many digital artists, you are probably wondering what in the world “snapping” is. Does it mean that Illustrator is snapping a picture of your project out of nowhere? No, Illustrator is not taking a picture, but it has probably been snapping on you–to your dismay–without you even realizing it is called snapping.

Snapping occurs when Illustrator moves an image to the nearest coordinate on the pixel grid, even if that coordinate is not the exact location you want the object placed.

Essentially, Illustrator “snaps” the image to the nearest location on the coordinate grid.

Imagine that package delivery services had a setting where they knew the location of every street intersection, but not the exact address of your home. Whenever you ordered a package, the delivery service would default its dropoff location to the intersection closest to your home. So you would be receiving your parcels close to where you want them, but not exactly where you want them.

This same concept applies to snapping on Illustrator. It gets your image close to where you want it for making the perfect logo, but not close enough.

Why Would You Want to Turn off Snapping?

As you can see from the previous explanation, there are numerous reasons why you would want to turn off snapping in Illustrator. 

By removing snapping, you give yourself, as a graphic designer, greater control over image placement. You can ensure that everything is perfectly aligned in your project–or not perfectly aligned, if that is what the design calls for.

What Are the Benefits of Snapping?

So far, we have not painted snapping in a very favorable light. Having the program automatically override where you are placing your carefully crafted Placeit logo: Who would want that?

Actually, although snapping can be highly annoying when you do not want it activated, it does have some practical benefits. 

Snapping is meant to help graphic artists align digital images when visible lines are not clearly distinguishable. When we have no point of reference for where to move our images, snapping can use the digital pixel location to move the image to where it is supposed to be.

However, you will need to set a point of reference to ensure that the image is snapping to the correct location. Many graphic artists who incorporate glyph characters into their designs will choose to have an image snapped to this glyph character to help create a cohesive logo.

But without giving Illustrator specific “snap to” instructions, the program will automatically snap images to the nearest pixel coordinate, causing frustration for artists who know their lines and want greater control of the design process. 

Why Does Illustrator Snap By Default?

As most graphic artists want to be able to control the design process and move their objects and images around until they pass the eye test, there is a bit of exasperation in the community as to why Illustrator snaps as a default.

To be honest, there is no clear consensus as to why it does this.

The best anyone can figure is that since Illustrator is a digital program, it wants to add as much automation as possible to the design process, believing that snapping simplifies design and makes life easier for the artist.

If you know how to use it, yes, this is true, but for those uninterested in computer assisted design, it is more of a pain in the neck than anything. 

The Bottom Line: How to Stop Snapping in Illustrator

Meant to be helpful for graphic designers without distinguishable reference lines, snapping is usually a point of frustration for those artists who want control over the process. Fortunately, snapping is a simple setting to turn off. Use the 5 simple steps listed above to stop snapping in Illustrator at your discretion!