How do you get book covers for your book

[klaizee]

Okay, writers, I need your amazing brains! . I always have problem at the book cover stage, and I'd love your input.

I'm looking for help/advice on a few things as I try to capture the essence of my story. It's a Sci-fi about “A fantastic AI hybrid She was built to be a weapon, but she yearns to be human. AURA-9, a prototype oracle with a beating (but not yet beating) heart, escapes the clutches of the oppressive Dominion. Saved by the enigmatic hacker Milo Vance, she discovers a world of feeling and choice beyond her creators' control. Together, they navigate a neon-drenched world of conspiracy, rebellion, and the blurred lines between flesh and machine. But as AURA-9 awakens to her own humanity, she also attracts dangerous attention—from those who want to control her, and those who want to understand her “.

What kind of imagery, colors, and styles come to mind when you think of this? Any particular elements that must be on the cover to convey the tone or themes?

Got any examples of book covers you think are particularly effective in my genre? Drop them in the comments! What do you like about them?
I'm also thinking about using AI-generated art. Anyone have experience with this for covers? What are the best generators, tips, and potential pitfalls?
The image below is my current book cover.

 

[Fairemont]

I went on the internet, looked for royalty free art, and then made some minor tweaks, added text, and called it a day.

The InkyStones murdered my cover, so I was sad for a while.

 

[Corty]

I either generate one via AI or commission one when I have the funds to do so.

I think, going forward, I am going to simply generate one first, and if the book hits, then I will commission one for it to be proper.

 

[Macha]

Carefully.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

I commissioned an artist.

 

[klaizee]

Carefully.

carefully, how?

 

[CarburetorThompson]

Used to us ai mixed with photos, but now I draw my own. A lot of them are for unrealized or dropped stories though

http://imgur.com/a/29OdvAk

carefully, how?

it’s an inside joke for SHF

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Either I use an AI prompt to create a starting point and edit it in PaintShop Pro, or I use royalty free images scoured from the internet, composited in PSP.

 

[Kalliel]

Only now can I say this, but I draw them.

 

[Okram]

AI

 

[Xcalibur_Xc]

Just search on pinterest there are countless free use images

 

[naosu]

I hope this doesn't sound cliche but... I started doing my own book covers maybe 4 years ago. It didn't start that way. Basically what I'm saying is just practice and experiment. My first few book covers sucked. But lately they've been pretty good. Just try to experiment and play with it. And then you start to think about it. And then you get ideas and your like, oh what if I did this with it....x.

It helps if you aren't stressed out when you work on book covers. If you are stressed out then you won't get much out of it. You need to do it also when you aren't working on a deadline and can enjoy it.

What prompted me to get into working on book covers was that people that I'd hired in the past to make them for me just jacked their prices up too much. It made me unable to use their business anymore because they sometimes wanted more than I could afford. So I began to experiment on my own.

 

[Clo]

I draw my own covers. Not because I'm great at it, but because commissions can be expensive.

 

[RepresentingEnvy]

I commissioned them from artist on Vgen. vgen.co/miftasee

 

[klaizee]

Used to us ai mixed with photos, but now I draw my own. A lot of them are for unrealized or dropped stories though

http://imgur.com/a/29OdvAk

it’s an inside joke for SHF

what is SHF

 

[Bartun]

I drew it myself

 

[beast_regards]

Use AI generated pictures or, simply, download the picture you like from the Internet, same as the amateur writers had done before the advent of AI.

Stories published by amateurs on the site like this couldn't be held too much scrutiny. They aren't professional works, but something done in spare time, and are unlikely to earn any amount of money that would make commissioning artwork viable, assuming they make any money at all.

The commissioned art doesn't come with any proof of authorship, anyway. It could be AI generated, or could have been copied from the other artists and slightly edited, so having it proves nothing other than showing off how much money you could waste on the pointless endeavours.

What kind of imagery, colors, and styles come to mind when you think of this? Any particular elements that must be on the cover to convey the tone or themes?

As for the cover itself...

You need a picture, any picture, contrasting enough to be recognizable on the thumbnail.

Try to crop and edit pictures you get from the AI generation. It should have the novel title edited in, some filters could be applied.

 

[CarburetorThompson]

what is SHF

Scribble Hub Forums, it’s what you’re using right now

 

[klaizee]

I drew it myself

For people who draw theirs what do you draw with like what tool do you use to draw

 

[beast_regards]

I would try something like this ...

Your cover is kinda stretched on the thumbnail, so adjusting it a little bit wouldn't hurt.