I'd like to start off by thanking for inviting me to participate in this wonderful event again. It truly is an amazing honor to be featured alongside so many successful authors and designers. This event truly is one to behold and I hope that you all find my post interesting in this sea of other talented people.

If you don't remember me from the last block party, my name is Whitney. I have been a book cover designer on Wattpad for over 3 years now, but I have been making digital art since 2009. On WattPad I offer graphic design mentorships to a select few people as well as take commissions from soon to be or already published authors. With all of these years, I've gained a lot of knowledge. For this block party, I'd like to share some of it with you. Here are some things I often hear from my students:

This is how you begin your journey. The moment you admit to yourself that you want to be a designer, your journey begins. The thing that truly matters at the beginning is passion and a will to succeed. Times are hard at the beginning, so having confidence in your own future growth is most important. If you believe that you can get better over time and your willing to put the time into it, then you will succeed.

In the beginning, any editing software you can get your hands on it the best. This could either include mobile apps like PicsArt or more advanced softwares like PhotoShop. Though many designers suggest starting with mobile, I disagree. If you can get PhotoShop on your first day trying, that is the best you can do. In the end, PhotoShop is what is best if a career in graphic design is what you're looking for. If you can't get PhotoShop, that's also okay. Getting the most advanced software that you can find is what you need to do. Being a mobile designer is not necessary. I started with Gimp (free alternative to PS) and moved to PhotoShop right away. It doesn't matter where you start, but my suggestion is to look at PhotoShop from the start.

Softwares that my peers use:

PhotoShop

Gimp

Pixlr

IBS Paint

PicsArt

Though PhotoShop can seem very intimidating, it's actually very easy to maneuver once you've learned all of the tools. Before even starting any sort of graphic, I suggest making a new canvas and testing out every tool you can find on it. This also translates over to any sort of software you'd be using. Whenever you're using a new software, you must test out all of the tools. Even if you've used a similar software in the past and the new one has the same tools, test it out. I've been forced to use Pixlr a few times and found that certain tools do not work as well as the PhotoShop ones. Even if a tool name is the same, it could be slightly different and drastically affect the outcome of a graphic. Always know the strengths and weaknesses of the software you're using, even PhotoShop. After you know your tools, then you can begin a graphic.

It's okay to idolize another designer or yearn to be at the level they are, but never let that cloud your own potential. Focus on what you are comfortable with making and not what another designer is making. Just because they gained success from that style doesn't mean that you will too. All designers have their own style, so find your own. Don't focus too much on what other people are doing, just focus on what you want. Design for you first before you design for anyone else. It is your journey.

You can find good free stock photos on DeviantArt and sites like Unsplash. My only suggestion is to be really careful with which photos you're using. Regardless of what you're using the graphic for, always avoid using photos that are not labeled as resources. So when you go on Deviantart, make sure you filter your searches with stock images.

You cannot use someone else's work and slap text over it. That is called plagiarism and is extremely hurtful for your designing journey and the original artist. Google and sites like Pinterest should be avoided as much as possible. Every image on Google and Pinterest is owned by someone and is most often put there without the creator's permission. Look for images on websites that have stock rules or have images released to the public, not Google images or Pinterest.

Free stock image sites:

DeviantArt

Unsplash

Pixabay

Freestockimages

Pexels

In the event that you find a stock photo that is free to use, you must make sure that it is a larger size. The smaller the image, the more poor the quality. Even if you think that you can increase the size of an image, it only decreases the quality of it. Each image has a set amount of pixels in it. When you increase the size of that image, the pixels get larger and create a grainy/blurry effect on your graphic. This is not a good look. If you find yourself only having access to a small image, just do not use it. Go hunt for another one. The quality of the photos you use can make or break a graphic.

You can find good fonts on sites like dafont and 1001 free fonts. When you are using fonts on a cover, try to keep the amount you use very low. The title should not be in three separate fonts and the author name should not be in another. Always make sure that the title is legible because the purpose of a book cover is to grab someone's attention. The title of the book must be seen in order to do that properly.

There are many variations of sizes that you can use for your graphics. Though there is a base size that is often told to people, you can make a graphic in any size as long as it is within the same ratio. Your best bet is to have a larger size so that your graphic can be of better quality.

General cover size: 520x800

My cover size: 640x1000

Banner size: 1200x400

Icon size: 400x400

Profile header size: 1920x600

A commission is a graphic request in exchange for real money instead of a follow, comment, etc. Though commissions are a great way to get some extra money, not just anyone can do them. Making commissions require a contract for the process and licensing for all of the stock images you use. This means that you have to buy the rights to all images and fonts you use in the graphic. If you are getting any money from a graphic you're making, you must own the license to all of the images used. If you don't, then you're getting money from someone else's work.

Good sites for commercial stock:

Shutterstock

Depositphotos

Bigstock

Though most high quality stock must be bought to use in commissions, there are some places that offer Creative Commons (CC) images. These images are open for commercial use to the public for free. You can often see these images as the preset background images on your computer.

As for contracts, it is very important for you to make one with every client you have. This protects you, the designer, if the client breaks any of your rules or refuses to pay. If the client signs your contract, they are legally bound to complying to your rules. If you don't have one, a client could easily refuse payment and/or credit for your work.

I personally do not suggest commissions to newer designers. You should only begin commissions if your graphics are at a level that you could possibly see in a bookstore and your knowledge of copyrights and contracts are at a good level. You cannot just jump into commissions. You must do your research. What I have given is not all of the information on commissions, but it is the spark that could help with your research.

As for my giveaway, I will be giving away 3 free book covers to 1 lucky winner! My giveaway is over internationally. Winning this giveaway guarantees that your order will be accepted and done quickly, so be sure to check it out! Only those who commission from me get this privilege, so this is a big opportunity!

Here are a few examples:

I'd like to thank you all for reading my post and I hope that some of my tips were useful! Feel free to ask any questions below or message me privately. Thank you, Kelly, yet again!

—Whitney