InDesign How-To: Set Up a Book Cover (Video Tutorial)

In this video, Laurie Ruhlin demonstrates how easy it is to create a wraparound book cover in InDesign. Using separate pages for the front, back, and spine makes for easy adjustments if the spine width needs to change.
You can find Laurie online:
laurieruhlin.com/
/ laurie-ruhlin-2a6226
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[@ClayRavin]

This is the best explainer video I've come across on KZbin so far. Thanks, you've saved me hours of work!

[@lan.c06]

Wow, I had no idea a book cover could be designed in this way with InDesign. Thank you for this.

[@MilmidStudios]

Teaching really is an art.... and you've got it mastered! Thanks! 🙏🏽👌💯

[@twerpist]

OMG This was so good. Brief and clear! An absolutely excellent tutorial!

[@deangelomccoy4548]

I've been designing book covers for 7 years and I've never even thought to look and see if this was a thing. Sh*t !!!! Something so simple has blown my mind. LOL

[@salone_di_atene]

This is so clear and succinct and wonderful! I've been struggling with the cover for several days and this tutorial literally saved me. Thank you so much!

[@CreativePro]

Glad it was helpful! We agree…Laurie is quite awesome! -EG

[@dinelikethesultans6108]

Thank you for creating clear and easy-to-replicate instructions. I am very grateful to you for the valuable service you provide.

[@ZoranImsiragic]

I made many books and book covers using various methods. Still, I found this tutorial very useful, and I learned something new. Thanks.

[@dggd]

You are the answer to a prayer. So many questions of uncertainty I had have been answered with clarity and precison. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Much appreciation.

[@rezamohaddesi6520]

I made the most of this video and its good tips. Thank you so much!

[@evangelistlisajames94]

this is literally the only tutorial that has helped me. I promise this has been a long well over 3 week journey for me. I am stuck at the spine because after the error message came up again when I calculated the spine measurements, put them in, I used the same markings method and it doesn't work. I can't fix my spine. WOW! Also I had no photo waiting to insert so I had to go to a different video for the instructions on how too insert a photo.

[@giovanmichael2695]

You are the best tutorial page I have found in the last six months of working on my project . Thank you!

[@CreativePro]

Great to hear it! Hope you’re finding lots of good written tutorials at CreativePro.com as well!

[@joseduncanjr.7664]

This is the BEST guide on KZbin for this THNK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU !! Took me all night

[@vlm3739]

Wow, how clear is this video! Thank you so much!

[@CreativePro]

You're so welcome!

[@terredee]

Excellent tutorial. Very clear. Thank you!

[@geekbettle]

This tutorial is just what I needed. Thanks!

[@sharifahasanova7738]

i think this one is a best tutorial ever. You covered all questions that i couldn't solve. thanks :)

[@CreativePro]

That is excellent to hear!

[@m.carter9090]

Thank you. Just a great, easy to follow tutorial.

[@juliandanieljimenezkrause7802]

Awesomely well presented and explained. Thank you!

[@aldolammel]

OUTSTANDING. Here we got someone that REALLY know what is doing! LEARN this sh** my Udemy Professor!

[@snowwhiteandthewhitenoise582]

Absolutely PERFECT! Thank you!

[@lizamijburgh8456]

Thank you for a great video - clear and to the point.

[@MsPerdz]

Really just what i needed - well done!

[@jamlane]

Excellent instructional design! Great job.

[@Martina_BCJdesign]

Thank you so much for this wonderfully helpful video!

[@jeansienkin]

Wow, I had no idea about that, I've been always designing my book covers with Illustrator so far.

[@kimcohen7756]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. Your instructions are clear and precise. Most of the tutorials and classes I've taken previously have focused primarily on creating documents not books and certainly not covers so your video was a joy! Additionally, I've looked everywhere to learn how to calculate the gutter/spine size without success, but within moments you provided that information and suggested a tool too! Wow! That's just fabulous! Thanks again!

[@CreativePro]

Glad this was helpful!

[@InDesignME]

Thank you for that :) I'm doing the same only I do check the spread option and then select the Spread on the Parent Pages Panel and under "Parent Options>Number of Pages" I aked it to be a 3 pages spread. Dragging it to the pages part will automatically makes inDesign to treat them as spread. When I create hard cover with Jacket, I create everything on the same document, so I have 1 Parent with 3 pages and a 2nd Parent with 5 pages for the Jacket (flap+front+spine+back+flap). When Exporting to PDF I can change the Bleed size to fit the spread I'm creating according to the print house demands regarding the crop marks position. I love this ability which saved me so much time and calcutions that I ued to do in the old days...

[@chingashimuyenga4438]

Well explained. Thank you!

[@zaini66]

Very good video. Step by step. Very clear.

[@rachelanardella6556]

great! thankyou so much for making it so easy

[@mustafajackson9430]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@joeylibin1129]

This was so helpful, you make so much sense. Thanks!

[@CreativePro]

So glad this was helpful for you!

[@wonderlilydesign]

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This helped me so much. 😁

[@LuoTheLotad]

Best tutorial I saw. Thx

[@mtm7031]

Really amazing content thank you so much And really too much helpful video 🙏🙏🙏

[@portuler]

Super helpful! Thanks for sharing

[@samuelelijas9002]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@20centurymodern]

Clear and well taught

[@nikkicanale2013]

AMAZING! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

[@tondeeclark5346]

Thank you so much!

[@ClaytonBridges]

GREAT TUTORIAL

[@CommandaInChief]

Best video out there. Thank you so much

[@CreativePro]

Glad it was helpful!

[@networkbyedvitug]

Super! Thanks!

[@Dreoc]

Fantastic video and so perfectly done! You saved me certain embarrassment! Thank you!

[@CreativePro]

You got this!

[@travelwithtarek6019]

Amazing, thank you so much

[@chesslab1]

Just Perfect! Explained so nicely. Thank you so much :-)

[@chesslab1]

Can you please make a vedio on, how to convert paperback cover into Hard cover? For publishing

[@grahamclarkson2457]

Thanks. Yup. Clear. You rock1

[@aaronotieno3228]

Thank you this was a big help.

[@CreativePro]

Glad to hear it!

[@arsenalboy4ever]

So useful, thankyou

[@LillianKZ123]

Oh my!!!! This is so helpful and easy to follow! I use InDesign very infrequently, so I find I have to relearn many things with each project. You video is amazing! Do you have a video about cover design?

[@MeryemKocabayDesign]

Amazing video👌 i am really surprised 😅 i've been using indesign for years...

[@WaynePeake-lm5sg]

An extremely helpful video tute but I do wish it was explained where that magical 'other document' that appears at 3.15 came from. Was it created in Photoshop or Indesign? How is is that it fitted exactly in the book cover three page layout? If anyone knows the answers to these questions I would really appreciate elucidation.

[@vishallonarijournalist]

I like this tutorial very much. Till today what I do is take 3 pages in document i.e for 6*9, gutter 0, top - bottom is .125 and .375 is wider margin... bleed .375 Then to put all pages in one spread 123.. then reducing middle page width till its comes to on sufficient value, and yes for 6*9 inches book I always calculate it with Cover Width = Bleed + Back Cover Width + Spine Width + Front Cover Width + BleedCover Height = Bleed + Trim Height + Bleed with this formula I will do next cover like this tutorial

Thank you.

[@quebuena111]

Thanks! :)

[@MrDhafirPhoto]

You can dispense step of alignment of pages by keep cheeked facing pages option

[@JourneyBackToMe365]

This information was all helpful. And thank you Dafirphoto as well. I can't wait to hold my end product.

[@JourneyBackToMe365]

Also I want to add that your voice was pleasant; I've watched a few others and they put me to sleep and this information I really needed. Thanks a bunch.

[@MrDhafirPhoto]

@@JourneyBackToMe365 Welcome! Glad this was helpful!

[@carlloos4340]

Thank you for this tip!!!//I was having trouble with the alignment of pages, as my "use spacing" option was greyed out..

[@e.calder_escritor]

I find that it's easyer to put the pages side to side in the "Master" pages. Doing so saves me the trouble of joining them when I change the size of the spine, ID does it automatically.

[@Rajsinghvlog77]

thanks

[@musicfreak0412]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:06 📘 The video demonstrates how to create a wraparound book cover with separate pages for the front, back, and spine in InDesign. 01:39 ✂️ The spine width is calculated based on the page count and paper thickness. A flexible spine width allows modifying the page count later. 02:37 📏 The align panel is used to precisely position the front, spine, and back cover pages side-by-side with consistent spacing. 04:39 🖼️ The separate cover pages allow exporting each element (front, back, spine) as JPEGs or PDFs for promotional use. 05:40 📄 The final PDF export creates spreads with crop marks and bleeds for production printing. Made with HARPA AI

[@daphneychaney9228]

I'm late to the Indesign party! But this is a great tutorial!! Now my dumb question is, where or what program did you use to design the actual artwork for the cover?

[@inbedduringcovid3005]

Noticed this is 2 years ago and I have not started ID yet but this is my first video here and want to know if they'll be any updates? I'm a artist that draw and I want to create my own covers. Here to learn how

[@MarenLachelle]

excellent ///

[@user-iy1od6mp1r]

hi thanks for this tutorial anyways for the pdf save does the range is 2? because in JPEG u put 3 on it?

[@IlanPerera]

Thank you so much - this was very helpful- could u also do a video on how to generate a barcode for the ISBN

[@CreativePro]

You might see if there is a solution for you in this article I wrote. Most people use a barcode generator for this task. creativepro.com/creating-barcodes/ -EG

[@alvarocarrilho]

Laurie, Thks for the Tut. I've been doing cover like this, for quite awhile, but today I've learn 2 things: aligning with the panel, and the spine calculator of Amazon KDP - COOL! Now, 1 comment and one question: 1) I would love to see some info about inserting the ISBN Barcode 2) For no specific reason, I use a Counterclockwise 90º in the title of the spine (is it because i'm in Europe?) - Is there a rule for that matter? THKS, from Lisbon - Portugal

[@aletabird]

I think it’s a regional thing about the spine orientation. In the US, we run the title top-to-bottom as in the video. I like it that way because you can read the spine if you stack books with the covers facing up.

[@YvesGabioud]

Alvaro, to insert ISBN barcode, I use a great script for Indesign (Mac and Windows), you can get it here, a demo version is available : www.indiscripts.com/post/2010/03/bookbarcode-indesign-ean13-isbn-barcode-manager_

[@manojsinha9959]

The presentation is very good and helpful. Can you please tell, which software is used for it?

[@CreativePro]

Adobe InDesign

[@dreamwork69]

Straight on point. Thank u 🙏 U deserve more subcribers. I think the problem is ur profile picture doesn’t look professional or appealing. I thought u r just a knock-off channel at the beginning. If only u can rebrand, this channel will improve better. Hope to see u grow!!! 🤙❤️

[@docahmadwaqas]

Thanks for helping.. What Adobe Indesign version you are using?

[@CreativePro]

Laurie is using CC2020. The version number shows in the header bar. -EG

[@myrnalieuwen5069]

My set-up is different than yours, but I do have the 'align' panel up, so it should work, right?

[@aliensarereal_4556]

the next time you buy a coffee, pretend one of us bought it for you because this deserves it, thank you.

[@CreativePro]

We are all fighting over the coffee, now! Glad it was helpful!

[@thatdeafguyuk]

Please turn the captions on, thank you.

[@tuckseverlasting5731]

Omg thank you for fuckin this♥️♥️♥️

[@skizzzm898]

i did the exterior aspect of the cover but I'm not sure how to do the interior of the spine, do you use the same layout for the interior aswell?

[@CreativePro]

Yes, you can. If your cover has a flap you’ll need to account for that and reverse it.

[@OfficialYzaDora]

This video is somewhat helpful but could it work for Lulu's 2020 updated templates? I'm having a really difficult time trying to create a spread for a hardcover template! People keep suggesting Photoshop, Adobe, Photopea, GIMP and others but when trying them (at least the free programs anyway) it's far too much for me to understand for they jump around too quick and I'll admit, I'm not heavily tech savvy. Lulu used to make it so easy to create a spread template but now I have to things like this in order to create one and like I said, I'm lost. And Amazon's KDP cover creator is a mishmash mess and distorts the interior. HELP! :(

[@CreativePro]

You might pose the question to the Adobe forums. We also have an InDesign FB (InDesignSecrets) for InDesign-related questions. There’s a good chance someone has uses Lulu with ID. -EG

[@gopinathvijayakumar915]

How to calculate mm CM spain calculate any website is there. For calculating pls tell me

[@CreativePro]

If you need to enter in a value in inches, but you work with mm/cm, InDesign will do the conversion for you. In a value field (like page width), enter 3in (or whatever value) and it will convert it to whatever measurement you’re using. -EG

[@djwarrior1421]

I am following each direction, yet my 2nd page, is staying connected to the first page "A" or master.

[@CreativePro]

Drag the “none” master on top of the 2nd page.

[@gwchenn]

I ran into some trouble, please help: After I paste an image onto the three pages, and then change the width of the spine, the spine width will change. However, the image on the spine will not budge, neither will the images on page 1 and 3, unlike what was shown in the video. What did I do do wong? How can I make the pasted image "stick" to the three different pages?

[@CreativePro]

You may need to check the box labeled “Objects Move with Page.” Also, if the image starts on another page (the back cover, for instance), it’s connected to that page. If it need to span multiple pages, drag in the frame, move the pages, and resize.

[@TheBlueMatrix]

Question. How do I know what size spine I use for however many pages I use

[@CreativePro]

You would need to know the page count and paper thickness. If you’re publishing via Kindle, they have a spine thickness calculator. If you’re taking it to a printshop, they should be able to calculate that for you. -EG

[@CarolBerryArt]

Was there no bleed on the photo on page 3?

[@laurieruhlin6135]

You're right, I should have dragged that photo a little wider to hit the bleed mark. In a working file, I would have made that photo bleed.

[@HOLBAG]

Please, how to center object on one page if the document has two pages??

[@CreativePro]

Turn on Smart Guides and the centering guides will appear as you move an item. Also, can set the X and Y axis to 0 with the center transformation point chosen (the 9 little squares in the upper left of the control panel). -EG

[@myrnalieuwen5069]

For some reason when I hit 'align top edges', nothing happens (not like in your video). What could I be doing wrong?

[@CreativePro]

Do you have both/multiple pages selected? Or are they already aligned? -EG

[@jaysr3949]

when try to export for print. it is in 3 different jpeg. WHY? and how to print in single sheet for make cover?

[@CreativePro]

Export as a PDF and choose Spreads in the General > Pages section.

[@thatdeafguyuk]

Please turn the captions on, thank you.

[@CreativePro]

Apologies! We didn’t notice KZbin never created the auto-captions. We will manually do that in the next day or two and put those up!