Question 1

When do I need to pay? How do I pay?

Accepted Answer

A 50% deposit is required before I begin the work.
The balance payment is due once you have approved the final cover design but before you actually receive the high-resolution non-watermarked file.

PAYMENT OPTIONS:
• PayPal
• With a debit/credit card via Stripe (no account needed)

Question 2

How long does a cover take to design?

Accepted Answer

For custom covers:
I always aim for within 2 weeks, but the more complex the design, the longer it will take. Typically you should allow up to 6 weeks for your cover to be completed but this is negotiable and we will agree upon a completion date before the project is started.

Depending on schedule, I may accept rush work. Fee may apply, ranging from +20-50% of the cover price.

For premade covers:
I always aim for 1 day, but please allow up to 2 weeks for your cover to be completed. This is negotiable and we will agree upon a completion date before the project is started.

If you're requiring any additions to your cover eg. adding paperback cover for a premade, or adding additional formats for your custom cover, please note that the time to complete the work may be longer than what is mentioned above.

Question 3

How are the covers made? Do you use stock images?

Accepted Answer

I illustrate all covers myself.

Custom covers are created specifically for your book. We will work together to create a cover that's gorgeous and communicates what your book is all about, and its genre to your target audience! I will then illustrate your cover, (sometimes even the typography although sometimes I also use free fonts with an open licence).

I do not use stock images or photo manipulation to create covers. A fully illustrated cover may be more costly than a photo/image based one but I believe illustrated covers not only stand out amongst there books, but ensure that your cover is exclusive to you. You also won't have to be limited by what photos/images are available since illustrations can be specific to your story and characters.

My premades are also 100% illustrated (minus typography).

There are no download limits for my covers since they're illustrated.
Covers that include stock photos are subject to a download limit so you won't have to worry about that when ordering from me!

Question 4

What can I do with my cover?

Accepted Answer

As well as uploading it to your ebook and print companies for publishing, you can use the cover to promote and market your book. Eg. You can share it on social media or add it to your website. You can also modify it in basic ways such trimming it into a banner, or creating a digital mockup for advertising purposes.

I'd appreciate any credit/tag/link back to my website or social media accounts when posting/sharing the cover online, but I don't insist on it.

I retain copyright and ownership over all my work. Therefore you may not use the cover in or as part of any other publication or for any other purpose (eg. merchandise) than what it was commissioned for; a book cover.

TO SUMMARISE:
- can use the design for digital and print marketing of the book, including but not limited to social media posts, website posts, and advertisements.
- can't use the artwork for commercial use for art prints and merchandise etc.

If you're still unsure about what is or isn't allowed, please email me at: contact.spiritofebullience@gmail.com and I will be happy to help!

Question 5

Who holds copyright?

Accepted Answer

As the creator of the cover, I automatically hold the copyright for that design. When you purchase a cover from me, I grant you a licence to use that design for your book only (and to market the book as outlined in the FAQ question 'What can I do with my cover?')

Basically, you can't copy the design, modify it, use it for derivative work, or resell it without my express permission. Individual elements of the cover design also can't be extracted, reproduced, or used in any other way. They can only be used as part of the overall cover design.

The agreement paperwork I will send you tells you which licences you have purchased (for example, it specifies if you have purchased an ebook licence only, or an ebook and a paperback). If you have any questions about any of the terms, or about the licences you have purchased, please don’t hesitate to let me know.

Question 6

Can I alter the design myself?

Accepted Answer

No. The licence I provide allows you to use the cover on your book and for promotion, but it does not allow you to alter it yourself.
You may not adapt — remix, transform, or build upon the artwork for any purpose. If you want any alterations to the final cover design you will need to consult me, and understand that additional payments may be required to make these alterations by me.

Question 7

What changes are included in the cost of a premade cover?

Accepted Answer

The cost includes adapting the cover design to include your author name, your title, and your subtitle/series name if appropriate.

If you would like additional simple adjustments made to the cover (eg. changing a colour) then let me know and I will do my best to make that change for you. This includes if you want a different typeface/font to be used. But please note that I may reject the change request if I feel that it reduces the quality of the cover.

More substantial alterations to the design will incur additional costs. Please let me know if you would like alterations made and I will give you a quote.

The list of additional costs eg. adding paperback cover, can be found on the Premade Covers page.

Question 8

Can I sell the design or sell merchandise of it?

Accepted Answer

No. You can produce materials to help market your book, such as bookmarks, that reuse part or all of the design but you cannot sell these. They can only be offered for free.
If you would like to make items/merchandise to sell, such as prints of the cover artwork, please let me know and we can go from there.
You may also not sell the cover as a cover to another party without permission from me.

LOOKING TO LICENSE YOUR COVER?
Licensing for my art is on a case by case basis, so it can be exclusive or non-exclusive, and it is given after you have signed a licensing agreement and paying a one-time fee. So depending on the duration you have requested you can simply renew the license after the expiry date. The fee itself will depend on the commercial use and duration you have requested but it will likely be a percentage fee of the price of the illustration. Royalties can also be negotiated if need be.

Question 9

What can you do with my cover?

Accepted Answer

I retain the right to use the cover as an example of my work. It may appear on my social media accounts or on this website.
If you have a release date for your book and you do not want me to share your finished cover publicly before that date that’s not a problem just let me know! If I don't hear anything from you regarding release date, after six months, if the cover has still not been made public by you, I reserve the right to publicly reveal the cover.

Question 10

Can I use an ebook cover for a printed book?

Accepted Answer

No. If you have purchased an ebook cover only, you are not allowed to turn that into a printed cover. You have only purchased a licence to use the design for an ebook.
If you would like to use the cover on a paperback as well, that’s no problem. Let me know and I will arrange for your licence to be extended for paperback use and I will send you an invoice for the additional payment required. I will also ask you to provide the extra information I need to prepare your paperback cover.

Question 11

Can I upgrade from ebook by adding paperback?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. If you have purchased an ebook cover, you can come back to me at any point and ask for it to be upgraded to a paperback cover as well. I'll send you a new invoice for the additional payment.

Question 12

Can I get extend my cover into a series?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Let me know what you need and I can provide an appropriate quote for you. A discount of $50 per book also applies when you order 3 or more covers for a series. If you're not ordering an additional 3 covers at once, a discount may still apply but less.

Question 13

How many revisions are included for custom covers?

Accepted Answer

I offer three (3) revision rounds:

1. After receiving the initial sketch/s based on the discussed concept
2. After receiving the more refined draft of the linework & base colours
3. After receiving the draft with more of the finalised details

Additional fees (in the form of an hourly rate) for extra major revisions may apply.
Minor revisions such as requesting to adjust the position of the typography etc. do not incur additional fees unless the amount of revisions requested is deemed to be too many.

Question 14

How can I credit you in my book?

Accepted Answer

Credit is required on the imprint or copyright page of digital and physical copy releases, as the following:
Cover Illustration and Design © 2023 by Kim Cavrak, Spiritofebullience.com
The same will be included in small print on the back cover of physical copy designs.

Question 15

Can I order a cover even if I don’t know my title yet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you would like to order a cover for a book you’re still working on, we can design the cover first, then add your title later once it has been chosen.

Question 16

What size will my cover(s) be?

Accepted Answer

I usually do paperback sized at 6″ x 9″ and ebook sized at 1600 x 2560 pixels.
However, if you require a different size, I can do it! Just let me know.

Question 17

Will you resell my cover?

Accepted Answer

No. Whether I have created a custom cover specifically for your book or you have chosen one of my premade covers, I will only sell each cover once. That way, you can be reassured that your cover design is unique and made just for you!

Question 18

What if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

If the client chooses to cancel the cover before completion:

- the deposit will not be refunded, nor will any files be handed over to the client. 
- the client is not granted any use of the artwork whether finished or unfinished. 
- If any of the work in progress has already been delivered eg. the sketch, the deposit payment will not be refunded
- If the client hasn't received the sketch/work in progress yet, they will receive a refund of the deposit payment minus the cost of the work already completed which hasn't yet been sent/shown to the client. This will be charged as an hourly rate.

If the commission is cancelled by me, the client will receive a total refund.

Question 19

Why are the prices in USD?

Accepted Answer

While I am based in Australia, many of my customers come from the US and countries which are more familiar with USD. Therefore to make the pricing and payment process easier for my customers, all of my prices are in USD. 
If you are based in Australia and would like a quote in AUD then please let me know and I will provide you with the equivalent price.

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