FAQ

No. We offer a design service only.

Please use either “Cover Design by Paper & Sage (www.paperandsage.com)” or simply “Cover Design by Paper & Sage”, if its better to exclude the link. 

Nope, none at all. The same dimensions are used for a pre-made cover and a 6×9″ custom cover.

If you’re looking for a PreMade, please feel free to navigate to the top menu and click the ‘PreMades’ option there. For a Custom Cover, please choose the ‘Custom Cover’ option above. Want an outline of the entire process? Click on through to the How it Works page. It’ll give you a general over-view of the entire design process, with specifics for both PreMades and Custom Covers.

Absolutely. Please feel free to order the ebook only now and get in touch later for the print layout (though the bundle discount will no longer be available). You can learn more about print layout requirements, cost, and other details on the print layout page.

Sure, that’s no problem. Just visit the Add-ons section of the Shop.

Premades designed by Paper & Sage are sold exclusively to one customer. We never re-sell a design. However, the designs do rely often on stock photography, so there’s a chance that another author or designer will feature the same image with different effects, fonts, title, etc.

Of course we will, that’s included in the purchase. We will replace the P&S preview elements (logo, text, social media info, etc.) with the information you submit for the paperback print layout.

We strongly discourage using our premade “filler” titles for publication. While we never recycle premade designs, we do reuse our premade “filler” titles.

You can just enter “TBD” in the form and we’ll set it aside for you. Then, when you have your title, pen name and other relevant details decided, fill out this form and we’ll start working on the design within 1-3 business days. Please note: Orders with any “TBD” information must be purchased as-is, with no revisions. If you will want changes to the design, you must have all of the details ready and submit your revision request before ordering. 

This depends a bit on the details. Are you still uncertain about the title/author name (i.e. front cover details)? Or are you planning to order an ebook and paperback print layout bundle and curious about those details? If the title (or other front cover details) aren’t ready yet, please feel free to enter TBD in the appropriate blanks on the order form and it’ll be set aside in a folder with your name on it. After that point, you’ll have a year to send us all the details for the design (see TOS for more specifics). Please note: Orders with any “TBD” information must be purchased as-is, with no revisions. If you will want changes to the design, you must have all of the details ready and submit your revision request before ordering.
On the other hand, if you’re ready with all of the information but the final paperback print details (page count/back cover blurb) are still in-progress, simply choose that option while ordering.

No. This is directly in violation of the licensing for the designs at Paper & Sage (see TOS). When we purchase license(s) for stock image(s) that are included in a PreMade, Paper & Sage is legally the one licensed to manipulate the image(s) — that’s part of how stock licensing works. If you make any changes to the final version of the cover, it is directly violating both Paper & Sage and the stock company’s licensing rules. 
If you need additional changes to an approved design, contact us.

The answer is still “No”. (See more in the question above). This isn’t to be mean, or charge you extra money. This is based firmly in our desire to never violate stock license terms. If you need changes, let us know!

This is frequently possible, but we don’t want to promise what can’t be done, so please go ahead and contact us with details, including the IDs of all of the premades you’re interested in purchasing within the ‘Revision Request’ section. Please keep in mind that revisions typically require an extra charge.
Also, have you checked out the available Series PreMades, too?

In most cases, yes, but please contact us before making your purchase so we can discuss the details. On occasion, a design simply does not lend itself to ‘expansion’ into a series. If we can expand the design for a series, the rest of the series covers will be created as Custom Covers and we will “extend” the premade cover details (fonts, etc.) into a series-wide design.

No, unfortunately, we can’t offer this option, so please be confident before you buy.

Well, actually, you should’ve gotten in touch before purchasing. While we can offer some optional changes (see here for details), those are an avenue for tweaking the cover. Premades are created as a unified design, and purchased as a whole. Taking a premade and completely re-creating the art is a different request entirely and premades can NOT be “upgraded” to a custom design. If you want this level of customization, you will need to purchase a custom cover.

Absolutely no problem! When filling out the Title blanks on the order form, please just number them accordingly. In other words, if you’d like to use the first cover shown in the previews for book three, in the first blank simply enter “3: TITLE”, then in the next blank enter the order number and title and so on.

Absolutely. Please feel free to order the ebook only now and get in touch later for the paperback print layout (though the bundle discount will no longer be available). You can learn more about print layout requirements, cost, and other details on the print layout page.

Of course we will, that’s included in the purchase. We will replace the P&S preview elements (logo, text, social media info, etc.) with the information you submit via the Preliminary print form.

If the title (or other front cover details) aren’t ready yet, please feel free to enter TBD in the appropriate blanks on the order form and it’ll be set aside in a folder with your name on it! After that point, you’ll have a year to send us all the details for each book in the series. In other words, if a 2-cover series is purchased, the first cover’s information must be submitted within 1 year and the second cover’s information must be submitted within 2 years. If this timeframe is exceeded, additional fees may apply.

Sure, that’s no problem. Just visit the Add-ons section of the Shop.

Sure, within reason. For more specifics about that, visit the Optional Revisions for Pre-Mades page.

We can often extend the current series design with a custom cover order. However, depending on the stock and design, this may not be possible. So we can evaluate your request, please submit a Custom Cover Design Questionnaire (found here) before you make a purchase. Be sure to include the PM series ID# in the ‘Additional Details’ section of the questionnaire. Note: Some series will require a Pro custom design and others can rely on an Economy custom design.

Please feel free to purchase the set, then let us know which three you’d like to use. The fourth we’ll set aside so if you decide to use it later, it’s ready, and if not, that’s fine, too.

Please get in touch at least four to six weeks in advance for a custom cover. We are typically scheduling 3-5 weeks out, but at the busy times of the year, it can be up to 6-8 weeks before there’s an opening on the schedule. We can’t guarantee that there will be an opening if you’re on a tight deadline, so we always suggest getting in touch earlier rather than later.

Absolutely. Please feel free to order the ebook only now and get in touch later for the paperback print layout (though the bundle discount will no longer be available). You can learn more about print layouts — including cost and what information is necessary up-front in the process — on the print layout page.

Paper & Sage often relies on stock photography or vectors for the starting point of the design. However, we are always happy to discuss an opportunity to work with art provided to the author by a professional custom illustrator or photographer. There’s a brief article about custom photography on the site for reference (here), though many of the same tips and requirements will apply to a custom illustration as well. Of course, please feel free to contact us with any follow-up questions.

Please feel free to purchase your image from any stock site. But if you’re looking for a place to start, we typically rely on Depositphotos or Shutterstock, though Adobe Stock, iStock and Dreamstime are also very popular.

P&S carefully reviews all images before starting the project. We want to be sure it’s a good fit for your book and meets all technical/licensing requirements. Unfortunately, on occasion some images won’t work as a book cover due to licensing, content, quality, or size. So, we always recommend that you have P&S review the stock image options before purchasing.

We maintain a subscription with Depositphotos. If you really want a stock photo from another stock site (Adobe Stock, iStock, Dreamstime, etc.), then an additional fee will be added to your invoice to cover the price of the stock or you may need to purchase the stock image instead, depending on the details.

The answer actually depends a lot on what “it” is. Do you want to change hair/clothing/eye color? We can probably do that, just send a link to the image so we can review and discuss it.
For more extensive changes, we’ll need to see the image and details on what changes you’d like before giving any kind of guess. Typically extensive changes will require at least one upgrade to a PRO cover, so please expect additional cost as well.

Sure. Please email the details and we’ll respond with a quote.

No. This is directly in violation of the licensing for the designs at Paper & Sage (see TOS). When we purchase license(s) for stock image(s) that’re included in a custom design, Paper & Sage is legally the one licensed to manipulate the image(s) — that’s part of how stock licensing works. If you make any changes to the final version of the cover, it is directly violating both Paper & Sage and the stock company’s licensing rules. 
If you need additional changes to an approved design, contact us.

The answer is still “No”. (See more in the question above). This isn’t to be mean, or charge you extra money. This is based firmly in our desire to never violate stock license terms. If you need changes, let us know!

Everything’s probably on schedule, but there are a few things that might delay the proof by a few hours. First, we’re located the in Eastern Standard Time zone, so if you’re an international customer, please account for the time difference. Second, proofs are typically sent out in the afternoon, so if it’s still early in the day, please be patient, the design is probably being finalized to send your way right now.
However, if you don’t receive your proof by Monday evening, (after normal 8-5 working hours, EST), please check-in. Occasionally emails do get lost in cyberspace.

Unfortunately, it may be a problem. Especially if your access to email and/or the internet will be limited. Please get in touch as soon as possible if you are planning to be gone, particularly if your plans change unexpectedly. If you’ll only be gone on the Monday or Friday of that week, we may be able to work around that. However, we always want to be able to do our absolute best on the cover for your book, so it’s better to chose a week during which you will be available, able to focus on the design and respond to emails at least 2 times a day.

If your week is almost over, and you don’t think we’ll be finished by Friday, you can request an extension. Whether an extension is granted — and the timeline for that extension — will be decided at our staff’s discretion. You are more likely to get an extension if you’ve been working diligently with us throughout the week (so if it is Wednesday evening and you haven’t responded to your first proof, don’t expect an extension).
Please note that we can not guarantee meeting any particular deadlines or timeframes with an extension. Other scheduled projects for the following week(s) will take priority, (just as your project takes priority during your scheduled week).
Extensions should be seen as a chance to finalize current proofs/mock-ups. A request for brand new mock-ups or complete overhauls of the design will not qualify for an extension.

We will format your cover to fit 6×9, 5.5×8.5, 5.25×8 or 5×8 — the most common trim sizes offered at KDP and LightningSource (IngramSpark). If you’re planning to print with another company, or at an alternate trim size, please get in touch before purchase. For more information about trim size, including a few helpful tips, check out this article that discusses trim size in more detail.

Yes, however we do not offer bundle pricing for hardcover at this time. If you are interested in a hardcover layout, please contact us so we can evaluate the project.

Absolutely. Please feel free to order the ebooks only now and get in touch later for the paperback print layout (though the bundle discount will no longer be available). You can learn more about print layouts — including cost and what information is necessary up-front in the process — on the print layout page.

When you upload the formatted file to your chosen printing company, they will confirm the final page count. This is the number that we’ll need for the spine size.

It depends on where we are in the design process. If the finalized print file hasn’t been delivered, then please contact us ASAP. However, if you’ve already received the print-ready PDF, a spine size change will require an additional fee.

It depends on your chosen printing company.
For Amazon KDP: No. KDP will print the barcode on the back of the book for you.
For LightningSource/IngramSpark: Yes. we’ll need your ISBN to download the correct version of the template. There are a few other details that are LI/IS specific, so please take a look at the Print Layouts page to learn more.

We’re always happy to review the print specs. Send the final details in an email (trim size, paper color and page count in particular), and we will triple-check the print-ready file to be sure all the information matches. The next step, though, is that you’ll need to contact the printer personally. If there was a misalignment when it was printed (it happens occasionally), then any changes we make to the file will only complicate the printer’s process to identify the problem and get it sorted out as efficiently as possible.

Each printer has their own templates and requirements for upload. A print template designed for one printer is NOT a universal file. If you’d like to use more than one printer, please tell us. At that point, we can discuss pricing and adapting your current print layout for upload to the other print company.

Unfortunately, we don’t offer editing services.

We are more than happy to finalize the back cover text when you’re ready at a later date, along with the spine width. Unfortunately, though, we can not release a print PDF with a “blank” back cover. Changes made to the cover by anyone other than Paper & Sage is a direct violation of both the stock company’s and our licensing rules. (When we purchase license(s) for stock image(s), Paper & Sage is legally the one licensed to manipulate the image(s) — that’s part of how stock licensing works.) However, if you need updates to a print layout, please get in touch and let us know.

Please use either “Cover Design by Paper & Sage (www.paperandsage.com)” or simply “Cover Design by Paper & Sage”, if its better to exclude the link. 

In 2018, CreateSpace and KDP merged. You can learn more here. Typically a print layout designed with CS specs will upload to KDP without any issues.

No. There are several reasons for this, including licensing restrictions on stock, fonts and other resources.

Well, it seems like a yes or no question, but in practice, it’s not. We can probably change it back later, but on the other hand, the rest of the design may be tweaked to work with each requested change. Which means it’s very rare that a change (even something like a font color) is just a simple mouse-click from one color to another.

At minimum, please expect at least the price of an Economy Custom Cover (Ebook + Paperback Print Bundle). Typically, any files we receive from these programs/services are 96dpi or lower. Print files, on the other hand, must be at least 300dpi. In most of these cases, you’ll need to send the current design, along with any stock images used, and then we’ll evaluate the project from there. Please note: We do not re-create designs.