Send a cover handoff packet containing the approved interior revision, final page count, format and trim choices, relevant paper and ink settings, current cover template, and confirmed metadata. Label unresolved choices explicitly. The designer needs a stable specification for the exact edition, not an approximate description of the project.
Freeze the production inputs
Confirm which interior export is approved and record its page count. Include the selected print format, trim size, and other settings required by the current KDP cover workflow. Do not mix a paperback interior count with assumptions from a different edition.
If editing is still underway, label the handoff provisional. A designer can explore visual direction before pagination is final, but production dimensions should not be presented as settled. Explain which decisions are stable and which may change so exploratory design work is not confused with a finished cover file.
Supply the current template and identity
Obtain the appropriate current template using the actual edition inputs and include it with the handoff. Record when and for which settings it was obtained. A template from a previous book is not a reliable starting specification for the new one.
Provide the exact title, subtitle, author name, and any other approved cover wording in a copyable document. Compare that wording with the title page and metadata sheet first. Asking the designer to extract text from an old mockup increases the chance that a late correction will be missed.
Explain the visual brief separately
Describe the intended reader, genre or category expectations, desired hierarchy, and the book's central promise. Include useful references with a sentence explaining what each demonstrates. Distinguish inspiration from material you have permission to reproduce.
For an illustrated guide, identify whether the cover should show a finished result, a process, or a symbolic concept. Give the designer room to solve the composition while keeping essential requirements clear. A list of unrelated attractive covers is less useful than a concise explanation of the reading audience and communication goal.
Make assets and permissions easy to inspect
Supply approved artwork at its best available quality, relevant usage records, and any mandatory attribution wording. Identify which elements are final and which are placeholders. Do not let an attractive mockup imply that every image in it has been cleared for use.
Keep the handoff in one folder or document with a version identifier. This reduces dependence on scattered messages.
- Include the exact approved interior revision.
- Attach the current edition-specific template.
- Provide final cover wording as editable text.
- Label provisional assets and unresolved decisions.
- Name the person who can approve changes.
Define the return and review process
Agree on the files you expect back and the checks you will perform. Preserve an editable source where your arrangement permits it, alongside the production export and preview. Confirm who is responsible for incorporating later pagination changes.
When the cover returns, compare it with the same specification packet before reviewing visual preferences. Check wording, dimensions, edition identity, and important placement. If an input changes, issue a revised packet rather than quietly replacing one attachment. The handoff should make the cover and interior parts of one controlled release.
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Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for this publishing decision.
Can cover design begin before the manuscript is final?
Concept work can begin earlier. Keep production dimensions provisional until the edition inputs and final pagination are confirmed.
Should I send screenshots of my settings?
Screenshots can help, but also provide a clear written specification and the actual template. A screenshot alone may omit important inputs.
What if the page count changes after handoff?
Send an explicit revision notice with the new interior and updated specification. Ask the designer to confirm which cover files need revision.
How wide does the full-wrap cover need to be, and how thick is the spine?
The cover width is back cover plus spine plus front cover plus bleed on both sides; the spine width is the final even page count multiplied by the paper-specific factor Amazon publishes, so the cover cannot be sized before the interior page count is final.
Prepare the cover in a book project