A book cover and formatting checklist before release

Give the designer a useful brief

Describe the intended reader, genre, tone and central idea. Supply the final title and author spelling, a short synopsis and the formats you plan to produce. Reference covers can help explain a genre convention or an atmosphere; they should guide the conversation, not become artwork to copy. Explain which qualities matter and why.

Agree on the concept stage, feedback process and final deliverables. A front-cover image, a paperback wrap and a hardcover cover are different outputs. If promotional images, editable source files or later format adaptations are needed, include them explicitly in the scope and service fee.

Settle the edition's production choices

For print, confirm trim size, binding, paper and interior color choices before final layout. Trim size is the finished page's width and height. Bleed allows artwork to extend beyond the cutting edge; a safe area keeps important text away from trimming and binding. Apply the selected provider's requirements instead of reusing another book's dimensions.

The print cover's spine and overall dimensions depend on the final interior and production specification. Generate the appropriate template once these are settled. If the interior page count changes later, recalculate the cover rather than stretching an old wrap to fit. Check barcode space and other required elements against the template.

Approve a representative interior sample

Supply the edited manuscript as a controlled version, with images and captions clearly identified. Before formatting the full book, review a sample containing ordinary text and the most demanding material. A poetry collection, illustrated guide and dialogue-heavy novel need different treatment; a chapter opening alone will not reveal every layout issue.

• Check body type, heading hierarchy, line spacing, margins and chapter openings.
• Review tables, notes, illustrations, captions and any special characters.
• Confirm the order of title pages, acknowledgments, contents and back matter.
• Ask how running heads, page numbers and intentionally blank pages will be handled.

Review the ebook as its own reading format

A reflowable ebook lets text adapt to a reader's screen and settings. It should not be judged only by whether it resembles a printed page. Test chapter navigation, contents links, image placement and reading order. Try different text sizes and check that the content remains understandable. Consider meaningful image descriptions where the format supports them.

Some illustrated or highly designed books may need a different approach. Discuss the reading experience and target devices before choosing the format. An exported file that opens successfully can still contain poor navigation, accidental blank sections or text embedded in images that is difficult to read.

Check artwork rights and the final proof

Keep a record of the sources and permitted uses of fonts, photographs, illustrations and other supplied assets. Agree who obtains any required licenses and whether they cover the intended formats and promotional uses. A design service fee should not be assumed to include every possible third-party license or future adaptation.

Review the print preview and, where available, a physical proof. Look at cover legibility, contrast, image cropping, spine alignment and the feel of the interior at actual size. Check spelling on the cover separately from the manuscript. Compare title, author, edition and description across the files and listing sheet.

Keep a clear final-file package

Consolidate corrections into one list, verify the revised proof and record approval of the release version. Request the agreed print interior, cover files, ebook file and any included source files. Keep their version names, production specifications and license records together. This makes a later correction or new edition easier to commission without guessing which file was final.

Publishing Core offers cover design and formatting as separately scoped services. Author accounts remain author-controlled. Design approval does not guarantee a platform's acceptance, print consistency across every supplier, reader demand or sales; the provider's validation and your own proof review remain part of release preparation.