Print Cover Templates: Where to get them?

Designing a professional book cover is crucial for self-publishing success, and using the right template ensures your cover meets the technical requirements of your chosen publishing platform. Major self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press, and Draft2Digital provide downloadable cover templates to help authors format their covers correctly. Below is a guide on where to access these templates and how to use them for your book.

Amazon KDP offers cover templates based on your book’s trim size, page count, and paper type. To download a template:

• Visit the KDP Cover Calculator & Templates page.

• Enter your book details, including trim size and page count.

• Download a PNG, PDF, or InDesign template to guide your cover design.

KDP requires covers to be in PDF format for print books and ensures proper margins, bleed, and spine calculations. For ebooks, the cover should be a high-resolution JPEG or TIFF file.

IngramSpark distributes books to a wide range of retailers and has strict cover formatting guidelines. To get a cover template:

• Go to the IngramSpark Cover Template Generator.

• Input your ISBN, trim size, page count, paper color, and binding type.

• Download the template in PDF, PNG, or InDesign format.

IngramSpark’s templates help align your design with their precise printing specifications, ensuring spine and bleed accuracy.

Barnes & Noble Press provides self-publishing services for print and ebooks. To access cover templates:

• Visit the Barnes & Noble Press Book Cover Generator.

• Input your page count, trim size, paper color, cover format, and cover finish.

• Download the template folder. They provide a PDF of just the front, just the back, or a full cover template.

B&N Press requires a PDF for uploading back onto their website. You can also use B&N Press to print personal copies or ARCs before publishing.

Draft2Digital has a different process and you can only access their template during the upload process. To get their template:

• Log in to Draft2Digital.

• Upload your manuscript and once on their Print Book Cover page, click the orange button that says Download Blank Template.

• Use the template to create your print cover and then upload it on that same page where it says Upload Custom Print Wrap Around Cover: (optional)

D2D does provide the option to create the spine and back cover through them as well, but the more personalized you can make the back and spine, the more professional your book will look.

Using the correct book cover template ensures your design meets industry standards and prevents costly errors in the publishing process. Whether you’re publishing through KDP, IngramSpark, Barnes & Noble Press, or Draft2Digital, accessing their templates or cover guidelines will save time and help you create a professional-quality book. Always check each platform’s latest specifications to ensure your cover is formatted correctly before submitting.