book 1 finished, created some images for the cover, working towards publishable

docs/plans/2026-03-09-book1-cover-gimp-overlay.md

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+# Book 1 Cover — GIMP Text Overlay Guide
+
+**Date:** 2026-03-09
+**Related:** `docs/plans/2026-03-09-book1-cover-design.md`
+
+---
+
+## Setup
+
+### Files to Use
+- **Print cover:** `images/book1-cover-print.jpg` (3375 x 5181 px)
+- **eBook cover:** `images/book1-cover-expanded.jpg` (4096 x 4096 px — crop to ~2560 x 3840 portrait first)
+
+### Fonts to Install (All Free — Google Fonts)
+- **Cinzel** — title font (top pick, bold serif with fantasy/classical feel, readable at thumbnail)
+- **Cinzel Decorative** — optional for series tag if you want slight flourish
+- **Cormorant Garamond** — alternative, more literary feel
+- **EB Garamond** — alternative, classic book feel
+
+Download from https://fonts.google.com and install system-wide or drop into `~/.fonts/`
+
+---
+
+## Layer Structure
+
+Create layers in this order (top to bottom):
+
+1. **Author Name** — text layer, bottom of cover
+2. **Series Tag** — text layer, above or below title
+3. **Title** — text layer, top third of cover
+4. **Glow/Shadow Effects** — duplicate text layers with blur for readability
+5. **Cover Image** — base layer (the generated art)
+
+---
+
+## Text Placement — Print Cover (3375 x 5181)
+
+### Title: "THE UNBREAKABLE CURSE"
+- **Font:** Cinzel Bold
+- **Size:** ~200-240px (adjust until it fills ~80% of the width with comfortable margins)
+- **Color:** White (#FFFFFF) or light gold (#F0D48A)
+- **Position:** Centered horizontally, top ~15-20% of the image (y ~600-800px)
+- **Letter spacing:** Slightly expanded (+2 to +5) for authority
+- **Lines:** Can be one line or split as "THE UNBREAKABLE" / "CURSE" — test both
+
+### Series Tag: "THE SHADE SERIES"
+- **Font:** Cinzel Regular (or Cinzel Decorative)
+- **Size:** ~80-100px
+- **Color:** Gold (#D4A843) or muted warm white (#E8DCC8)
+- **Position:** Centered, just above the title (~50-80px gap)
+- **Letter spacing:** Wide (+5 to +10) for a refined look
+
+### Author Name
+- **Font:** Cinzel Regular
+- **Size:** ~100-130px
+- **Color:** White or light gold, matching title
+- **Position:** Centered, bottom ~8-12% of image (y ~4600-4800px)
+- **Letter spacing:** Slightly expanded
+
+---
+
+## Glow/Shadow for Readability
+
+The background is dark but has bright lattice elements. Text needs to be readable over both.
+
+### Method: Drop Shadow + Outer Glow
+1. **Right-click text layer → Alpha to Selection**
+2. **Select → Grow** by 3-5px
+3. **Create new layer below text**, fill selection with black (#000000)
+4. **Filters → Blur → Gaussian Blur** at 8-15px radius
+5. **Set layer opacity** to 60-80%
+6. Repeat with a larger grow (8-12px) and larger blur (20-30px) at 30-40% opacity for a soft outer glow
+
+### Alternative: Filters → Light and Shadow → Drop Shadow
+- Offset X/Y: 0/0 (centered shadow, not directional)
+- Blur radius: 10-15
+- Color: Black
+- Opacity: 70%
+
+---
+
+## eBook Cover Crop
+
+Before adding text to the eBook version:
+
+1. Open `book1-cover-expanded.jpg` (4096 x 4096)
+2. **Image → Canvas Size** — set to 2560 x 3840 (or similar ~2:3 ratio)
+3. Center the layer, crop evenly from sides
+4. Flatten, then add text layers as above (adjust font sizes proportionally — roughly 60-75% of print sizes)
+
+KDP eBook ideal: 2560 x 1600 minimum. A 2560 x 3840 gives you plenty of resolution.
+
+---
+
+## Export Settings
+
+### Print Cover
+- **File → Export As** → JPEG
+- Quality: 95-100%
+- Ensure RGB color space (Image → Mode → RGB)
+- Final: 3375 x 5181 px at 300 DPI (Image → Print Size to set DPI)
+
+### eBook Cover
+- **File → Export As** → JPEG
+- Quality: 90-95%
+- RGB color space
+- Final dimensions per your crop
+
+### Save GIMP Project
+- **File → Save As** → `.xcf` format to preserve layers for future edits
+- Save as `images/book1-cover-print.xcf` and `images/book1-cover-ebook.xcf`
+
+---
+
+## Thumbnail Test
+
+Before finalizing, shrink the image to ~150 x 225 px and check:
+- Is the title readable?
+- Does the figure + lattice silhouette still read clearly?
+- Does it look like a fantasy book?
+
+If the title is hard to read at thumbnail, increase font size or boost the glow/shadow.