# Book 1 Cover — GIMP Text Overlay Guide

**Date:** 2026-03-09
**Related:** `docs/plans/2026-03-09-book1-cover-design.md`

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## 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/`

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## 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)

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## 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

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## 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%

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## 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.

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## 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`

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## 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.