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

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 FLOUNDRY AFFAIR"

• 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 FLOUNDRY" / "AFFAIR" — test both

Series Tag: "A PHELAN VARRANT NOVEL"

• 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.