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Question about cover art.

lovecraft68

lovecraft68

Bad Doggie
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Posts
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So using Smashwords to e-publish and need to provide cover art. Well they do have a list of e-packagers so to speak who will format your stuff correctly and work on cover art but not sure what they charge. For my first book I'm sinking a little money into and having a local art student painting one for me. However beyond that I have some short stories that can sell on that site and others for small amounts $.99- $1.99 obviously not looking to put an investment into those but they go into the "premium" catalog if they have a cover. My question is that there are those stock art sites that you can get a 30 day membership for pretty cheap or sometimes even a free trial during which time you can download as many photos as you want. is it legal to use these as covers? Or are these people models who are supposed to get paid? I know it's a dumb question but i have no experience with this. I know you can find some things on Flickr and if you contact the photographer sometimes they will let you use their pic. But searching Flickr is a hassle and many of the Photographers a bit touchy. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
It's legal to use stock photos with an "extended license." That works out to about $100 a photo. You can try searching Flickr for "creative commons" photos (make sure you have for "commercial use" checked) but I'd also get permission from the photographer as well. Some have had luck finding photos on Deviant Art, but I'm not familiar enough to tell you how it all works over there.

Good luck!
 
If you own a copy or Microsoft Office you and use the Office clipart site and use the photos and clipart however you like. It's all spelled out in the office license.

Then there are DreamTimes free stock photos that you can use as long as you don't exceed sales of 250 items. So if you think you are going to sell more than that you will have to have the extended license.
 
Selena_Kitt said:
It's legal to use stock photos with an "extended license." That works out to about $100 a photo. You can try searching Flickr for "creative commons" photos (make sure you have for "commercial use" checked) but I'd also get permission from the photographer as well. Some have had luck finding photos on Deviant Art, but I'm not familiar enough to tell you how it all works over there.

Good luck!
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Thank you! Actually the $100 is what I'm paying the girl to do up the first one for me. Well that and an acknowledgment and some class credit. Good call on Deviant Art! The series is a bit Dark so I may get some good ideas there. Thanks again.
 
This question made me think of my own collection that's about to be pubbed. I have a very specific cover idea that is perfect for the title, but I'm almost positive I won't find it in stock photos. Would I have to hire a photorapher and models to do it, or would the publisher assist me?
 
Impressive does a lot of covers. Not sure if she slides through here much anymore, but I can get you an email address if you are interested. Or you can contact her through this website.
 
RoyceConnors said:
This question made me think of my own collection that's about to be pubbed. I have a very specific cover idea that is perfect for the title, but I'm almost positive I won't find it in stock photos. Would I have to hire a photorapher and models to do it, or would the publisher assist me?
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As do I, but setting up a specific scene and taking a single photograph is an expensive proposition. In your mind, see all the elements of the cover as individual pieces. Then go find those pieces. Putting them together as a digital image is fairly easy. You may not find that woman in the exact pose you want her to be in, but I would bet you can get close, so close as not to matter.
 
Thanks for the tips Fool and Zeb. I'll check out both of those options. Maybe a blending of the two. ;):)
 
I've used iStock in the past. They have a small sample of kind of erotic pictures. Reading their licence terms, their Standard licence covers book covers for a print run up to 499,999 copies. I guess if I go above that I won't mind paying the Extended licence costs.

I then just photoshop a title over the picture.
 
Selena_Kitt said:
It's legal to use stock photos with an "extended license." That works out to about $100 a photo. You can try searching Flickr for "creative commons" photos (make sure you have for "commercial use" checked) but I'd also get permission from the photographer as well. Some have had luck finding photos on Deviant Art, but I'm not familiar enough to tell you how it all works over there.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I'll have to say "tilt" on this. You don't pay any $100 for the cover art of your and my books at eXcessica, do you? My other erotica publisher gets them from just about the same source you get them from and pays between $1 and $10 for a cover image, depending on the unit price and whether or not he's temporarily joined to buy in bulk. And he makes the covers himself for nothing--and they do just fine in the marketplace (much better, actually, than some of the amateurish art you'd buy from an art student).

Can you imagine how many e-books you'd have to sell to cover a $100 cover image charge?
 
sr71plt said:
I'll have to say "tilt" on this. You don't pay any $100 for the cover art of your and my books at eXcessica, do you? My other erotica publisher gets them from just about the same source you get them from and pays between $1 and $10 for a cover image, depending on the unit price and whether or not he's temporarily joined to buy in bulk. And he makes the covers himself for nothing--and they do just fine in the marketplace (much better, actually, than some of the amateurish art you'd buy from an art student).

Can you imagine how many e-books you'd have to sell to cover a $100 cover image charge?
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I guess it depends on if the story is worth it? If it's a good seller, you'll make your money back shortly and be thankful that the added cost was worth it.
 
RoyceConnors said:
I guess it depends on if the story is worth it? If it's a good seller, you'll make your money back shortly and be thankful that the added cost was worth it.
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The prices he's talking about of course are the "Stock photo" sites and you can get stuff cheap. i plan on putting some of my short stuff up as $.99 -$1.99 E-reads so yeah $10 is tops on something like that. But like you said if you feel it's worth it...
This will be my first book and I have a cover in mind that won;t be found on a stock art or if it could be would require searching 1000's of images I just don't have the time. I also have a rough version of the cover and just need it "done right" to me it's worth it all day long at least fro the first time out. I feel the cover is pretty cool if you want to see the rough verssion click on my link and go t o my bio page it's there.
 
I'll let you two discover what you discover when you've actually done it. :rolleyes:

A major point is that neither one of you has actually done it.

I'm used to folks who haven't done anything yet telling me how it's done. I just laugh.
 
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sr71plt said:
I'll let you two discover what you discover when you've actually done it. :rolleyes:

A major point is that neither one of you has actually done it.
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oooooo the be all and end all has spoken. Heed his wisdom.

And you knew everything right from the get-go? Is that what you want us to believe? You knew everything there was to know about writing and publishing and everything in between? Really?

I'm in the same boat as Lovecraft and need a specific setting/scene for my cover. That's nice you can just grab a stock photo from a Gay male site or the like and it works for you. It all depends on what a reader sees when browsing, that catches their eye and then the title. If the two look like a quality product and the price is right, I'll wager the sales will warrant spending the extra and doing it right the first time. And really, what's a $100 when you feel your story is worth ten times that.
 
RoyceConnors said:
oooooo the be all and end all has spoken. Heed his wisdom.

And you knew everything right from the get-go? Is that what you want us to believe? You knew everything there was to know about writing and publishing and everything in between? Really?

I'm in the same boat as Lovecraft and need a specific setting/scene for my cover. That's nice you can just grab a stock photo from a Gay male site or the like and it works for you. It all depends on what a reader sees when browsing, that catches their eye and then the title. If the two look like a quality product and the price is right, I'll wager the sales will warrant spending the extra and doing it right the first time. And really, what's a $100 when you feel your story is worth ten times that.
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As I say, report back when you've actually done it. Well, a year later, when you see what actually happened with it. :D

Until then rag on me all you like. I just laugh at your naivete.
 
sr71plt said:
As I say, report back when you've actually done it. Well, a year later, when you see what actually happened with it. :D

Until then rag on me all you like. I just laugh at your naivete.
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You are just so helpful. Do it your way or fail, is how that sounds. Lots of great advice as always.
 
RoyceConnors said:
You are just so helpful. Do it your way or fail, is how that sounds. Lots of great advice as always.
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No, I give a lot of advice here. That you don't want to hear any of it is your problem. I'm happy to leave you to learn what you learn through your arrogant ignorance.

You seem to think I care about the shit you pile on me. I don't.
 
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sr71plt said:
No, I give a lot of advice here. That you don't want to hear any of it is your problem. I'm happy to leave you to learn what you learn through your arrogant ignorance.
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I'm arrogant? Really. And you are, what? I'd rather learn through my mistakes than follow in yours. What makes you think I'd spend a penny on anything, without doing my homework and having my publisher assist me? I did have some rather good advice from a couple of Litsters already, so your drivel is meaningless in comparison.
 
My advice here is not to pay $100 out of your own pocket for the cover art of your first attempt at a self-published e-book.

Do try to remember that I gave that advice. :cattail:
 
sr71plt said:
My advice here is not to pay $100 out of your own pocket for the cover art of your first attempt at a self-published e-book.

Do try to remember that I gave that advice. :cattail:
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Dickhead, I have a 100 bucks to spend on something I want to publish. Maybe you're just a cheap fuck, but some of us want to put our best foot forward the first time and not slough off a cheap $1.99 POS on the cover, like you do.

Remember this old saying and it might make sense to you, maybe not. You only get one chance to make a good first impression. If you want to look like a cheap trash novelist, that's your perogative. I want to come across as a quality product from the beginning, so my future work is sought after, as soon as it hits the shelves.
 
RoyceConnors said:
I'm arrogant? Really. And you are, what? I'd rather learn through my mistakes than follow in yours. What makes you think I'd spend a penny on anything, without doing my homework and having my publisher assist me? I did have some rather good advice from a couple of Litsters already, so your drivel is meaningless in comparison.
Click to expand...

You know what is really funny here is I just called him arrogant in the "Spina Bifida" thread. I however have decided it's not so much arrogant as toot your own horn syndrome. Look at his signature he's been sporting that five star review thing for months now. And there is another expression to go with your "first impression" comment. Sometimes you have to spend it to make it. He's got the backing of a very good publisher and is riding Selena Kitt's rep and coat tails. I'll do it my way sink or swim. I had two goals I set as teenager own a comic book store (insert geek joke hear) which I did for almost 6 years before the economy crashed. And publish a book which is what I am in the middle of right now. I didn't start writing until April of last year so to do it within a year isn't bad. But for me $100 or even a little more is worth making sure that when I achieve my goal I am happy with it. Hopefully I'll make a few bucks if not it's okay I'm not looking at this as a means to support myself (That's what the wife is for!) Just want to have some fun and put something up I can take pride in. And as for the covers in gay male? show them a guys buttcheek and they can;t buy it fast enough. they are as easy as they are promiscuous. Let me know if you find a good place for your cover and I will do the same. psssst Money is no object;)
 
lovecraft68 said:
You know what is really funny here is I just called him arrogant in the "Spina Bifida" thread. I however have decided it's not so much arrogant as toot your own horn syndrome. Look at his signature he's been sporting that five star review thing for months now. And there is another expression to go with your "first impression" comment. Sometimes you have to spend it to make it. He's got the backing of a very good publisher and is riding Selena Kitt's rep and coat tails. I'll do it my way sink or swim. I had two goals I set as teenager own a comic book store (insert geek joke hear) which I did for almost 6 years before the economy crashed. And publish a book which is what I am in the middle of right now. I didn't start writing until April of last year so to do it within a year isn't bad. But for me $100 or even a little more is worth making sure that when I achieve my goal I am happy with it. Hopefully I'll make a few bucks if not it's okay I'm not looking at this as a means to support myself (That's what the wife is for!) Just want to have some fun and put something up I can take pride in. And as for the covers in gay male? show them a guys buttcheek and they can;t buy it fast enough. they are as easy as they are promiscuous. Let me know if you find a good place for your cover and I will do the same. psssst Money is no object;)
Click to expand...

Deal!!:D I figure, even if it never sells more than a few copies, I can frame the cover and hang it with pride in my office. I can quietly admire an effort accomplished and take pride in what I've done. Can't say I'd be too thrilled showing off some guy's buttcheek or the like, that would be hard to explain away.
 
lovecraft68 said:
He's got the backing of a very good publisher and is riding Selena Kitt's rep and coat tails.
Click to expand...

Let's ask Selena whether I'm riding her coat tails. Let's ask her what my books are worth to eXcessica. :D

She rides through here. Maybe she'll comment on that.

No speculation. Let's hear some real-world talk.
 
RoyceConnors said:
Deal!!:D I figure, even if it never sells more than a few copies, I can frame the cover and hang it with pride in my office. I can quietly admire an effort accomplished and take pride in what I've done. Can't say I'd be too thrilled showing off some guy's buttcheek or the like, that would be hard to explain away.
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That is hilarious! My wife just went out and bought a frame! But yeah this to me, for now anyway is about pride. By nature I am competitive and at some point will start obsessing over sales being a "known" author but the first time is the best time and all I am looking for right now is to enjoy the ride.
For the record you think the Buttcheek could be a tough one? I have a female pen name! All I'll get is so who's Laura?
 
lovecraft68 said:
That is hilarious! My wife just went out and bought a frame! But yeah this to me, for now anyway is about pride. By nature I am competitive and at some point will start obsessing over sales being a "known" author but the first time is the best time and all I am looking for right now is to enjoy the ride.
For the record you think the Buttcheek could be a tough one? I have a female pen name! All I'll get is so who's Laura?
Click to expand...

LMAO, I'm writing under a female pen name as well. The guys looked at me strange at first, until I explained why. Once they understood, the next hour was sitting around picking out a woman's name that sounded good. It was harder than hell to make them promise not to say anything. :D
 
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