CreateSpace Self Publishing
Trying to Make a CreateSpace Cover

To show how complicated this cover stuff is at CreateSpace, take a look at their instructions:

Calculate Spine Width and Modify Template

The template is for the exact page count of 60. If your book’s page count differs, follow these steps to modify the template: 1. Multiply the total page count of your book by 0.002347, which gives you the spine width for your book in decimal inches.

2. Open the cover template in your image editing software and make sure that your software is set for decimal inches.

3. Select the area enclosed by the gray outlines designating the spine using your software’s area selection tool. (Photoshop example: use the Rectangular Marquee Tool)

4. Copy and paste the spine area from the template to a new layer. You should now have a second layer that only contains the spine.

5. Select the spine on the spine layer and adjust the width, ensuring that the spine width is equal to the calculation made in Step 1. (Photoshop example: select the layer and then select the free transform tool – Edit > Free Transform. Adjust the spine width while holding the alt/option key to ensure the spine stays centered in the template. The info window will provide the exact width measurement in decimal inches as you adjust.)

6. Once you have created the correct spine width, you should move the front and back covers to align with the spine. Use the selection tool again to select only the “Front Cover” area from the initial spine line to, and including, the red trim area.

7. As with the spine, copy this selection and paste it into a new layer.

8. Adjust the front cover layer so that it lines up with the right-hand edge of the newly adjusted spine. Don’t resize the front cover, merely move it to align with the spine.

9. Repeat these steps for the back cover.

10. Save your template. You are now ready to design and upload your cover.

Talk about not for the faint of heart!!

Update - CreateSpace obviously got a lot of complaints about this manual process. As of November 2007, when you tell CreateSpace how many pages your book is going to be, they generate a template for you that has the correct spine length. So while you are still placing items on a template to try to get your full cover to look properly, at least the spine is set up at the right width for you.

CreateSpace Self Publishing
Loading Up the CreateSpace Book
Trying to Make a CreateSpace Cover
CreateSpace Book Photos
Timing of CreateSpace Process
Problems and Issues with CreateSpace

Getting Your Book Published
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