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