A book cover is just an image. That's all it is. You can take a photo, and use that. You can get a copyright free image off the intrent and use that. You can use an image editor like the GIMP to change it how you want, then use the resultant image.

But do you put that in "tags" by any chance?

Tags are for the search engine, nothing to do with book covers.

Thanks you CjayS42!

No problem, glad to help =)

all these questions are helpful but none are telling me, HOW DO I MAKE A BOOK COVER?!

No, they have told you. Read my first comment, all you need is in there.

where do you go to make a cover and how with words???

sorry but im kinda new at this so please forgive me on my ignorents!!!

Momo, do you mean a book cover image, with text on it? Or a book cover with no image - just words.

I'm so sorry. I am really knew at this and i am so lost. I tried making a cover 4 my book. I thought you could copy something off the Internet and paste it so it could be your book cover??? Please answer my Question. I do not like my cover as Two Cats sitting next 2 eachother. 

same here i dont understand how you upload it on to wattpad to make it your bookcover??

Nightmare412 wait, it's impossible to have two cats as your book cover unless you intentionally set it as that...are you sure you're looking at the right thing?

And no, any image you choose for you book cover needs to first be saved on your hard drive. And don't even think about taking just any image you find from the internet, that's illegal.

But its not like we're trying to sell it. 

Can't you find a picture on the internet (fine a copyright free picture) drag it to the desk top and then click like download file or something? I am confused! 

Underground_Agent It doesn't matter in the slightest if you're trying to seel it or not. If someone has copyrighted an image, then it belongs to them, so using it without their permission is stealing it.

If you do find a copyright free image, then first you need to open the image so that it is the only thing on the page. Usually you can try to englarge the image as much as you can, and then right click and then click "view image" / "see full sized image" etc.

Rigt click again and click "save image as..."

That's it.

I hate being blond mentally, my head hurts. Okay so what if I like MOST of the picture but not all of it. Like its a picture of a purple elephant or something but I want a blue elephant? And how do I put words on it?

If you chenge the image, it's classed as a derivative. And almost all copyrighted images do not allow derivatives.

To add words, you'll need an image editing program, such as paint.net or the GIMP

sorry but im new aswell and i've read this and i still dont get it so like do we click somewhere because i want a pic as my cover for my poem and i dont know how! please help!

i am SOOO confused...

Yes, 256x400 in pixels.

thanks again CjayS42  computers hate me :( so i'm glad to have someone who understands how to navigate one :)

No problem, glad to help =)

But how do you know if a picture is copyrighted?

General rule of thumb: Unless it specifically says it isn't copyrighted, assume it is.

okay the very first comment it said something about making it how you want with a GIMP? or something?  is that on wattpad?  if so where is it/ how do you use it?  sorry I am very new to wattpad and I don't know anything. Thank you for your help if you answer!!

Answer: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=the+gimp

Quite simply, the gimp is just an image editor you can download.

where can u get copyright free images

@Purple as I said above, "General rule of thumb: Unless it specifically says it isn't copyrighted, assume it is."

@NIghtmare Why not search for "copyright free images"? Or, go onto devaint art and search for stock images, but make sure to check for any rules for using those images.

Your question has already been answered.

Read the thread before posting.

I think you just restored my faith in humanity.

Thank you.

LOLZ! You just made my day. XD

Hi. I found photoscape much easier to use than gimp. Much more user friendly for altering pix and adding text. Gary

*Slow motion facepalm*

With all seriousness, how was what I said not helpful?

Well that a lie.

First, the Gimp is free. it always has been, and always will be.

Secondly, I gave far more information, including what unclegarf gave (if you're reading this, unclegarf, thanks for your help.)

You know, I'm getting sick of having the job of answering questions here, and no-one listening.

Wait wait...you're using an app? For a mobile?

Trust me, Computers are far better for this job (and most jobs at that), and whatever that is is likely a fake.

At least? Are you expecting me to know every last little detail about one program? How am I supposed to know if someone's made a fake!

Be reasonable.

I said reasonable. And no, I have no obligation to do that. I'm not going to hold you hand, sometimes you have to work through things on your own.

I'm done with this discussion.

Oi. Put your claws away you two. Kiss and make up! Being poor, I always check out if stuff is free first. I tried Gimp and couldn't get my head around it. I downloaded photoscape, (FREE) and I find it great, with a little practice. I wouldn't recommend microsoft antivirus though. I will have to save up for a proper one. Now, play nice, ok? Uncle Garf

Oh would some power the gift to give us, to see ourselves as others see us. LOL

I like this man.

Anyway, yes, I agree. I just wish people would listen. I'd like Godric to try a week in my shoes and she how they fare...but I'm all for stopping this now.

Hi. Cjay. I hope you have had the chance to lie down in a quiet calm room. I know where you are coming from. I offered my services for one on one mentoring for newbie writers, as i saw a need. One step up from the general critique club. I certainly got some interesting replies, from prima donna's (is that spelled right?) to one kid who wrote EVERYTHING in caps. Go figure. Then I got one who strongly objected to my opinion, even though i said he could write. Turns out he or she is bi polar. Oh, well. Just a thought. If you want a laugh to cheer yourself up, go grab "explain that to a martian" by me, Gary Weston. It is just a short story and I promise you will feel better when you have read it.  Keep up the good fight, Uncle Garf.

suppose i edit it by using ohtoshop, but then how do i edit it into a 256x400 frame and can we write anything on the pic on photoshop?

PHOTOSCAPE!!!!!!! I keep saying this. Brilliant FREE photo editing software that does the lot. Get photo>Crop>RESIZE>Modify image (Loads of options) Add text Job done. 

So wait, we cant just go on google images and find a picture we like and copy and paste the link as the book cover? Or can we? I'm so confused! Now I know how fish must feel!

So wait, we cant just go on google images and find a picture we like and copy and paste the link as the book cover? Or can we? I'm so confused! Now I know how fish must feel!

To make it clear:

TAKING ANY PICTURE FROM GOOGLE IS LIKELY TO BE ILLEGAL.

/end

I was wanting to know if I added a copywright image as a cover, would i still get in trouble? and before anyone even says this a stupid question or anything like that, I've seen plenty of people with copywrighted images as covers and i checked uncopywrighted pictures.... and they all weren't very good or what i was looking for. I thought i wouldn't get in trouble because i'm not technically selling it or anything?

ummm actually i didn't check the comments above me sorry wattpadders.

Okay, too many questions here, but I have my own. Is it still illegal if I crop parts of several images and make them into a book cover?

@Snowy yes. You need to ask the writers for permission.

Woudl you like it if I took bits of your stories and claimed that they were my own?

@Cutelittlecookie the word "app" immediately makes me think that you're using something that isn't a computer.

Which likely means it'll be next to useless.

You can try, but I don't know how well it will work.

@CjayS42 You are freaking hilarious!!! you remind me a lot of my cousin who is really funny!

I'm reading through these comments and honestly wanting to headbutt a wall...

1~ I'm confused as to why am illiterate person is writing stuff...

2~ You all keep on repeating questions...

3~ Cjay aint some kind of God. He doesn't know the answer to every fricken question...


RantOver.~ 

@GaryWeston, I REALLY hope Photoscape isn't a con, cos I installed it without looking at your site, just your comment!! XD

And I sincerly hope that 'Babylon' won't now destroy my laptop... :/

But WHERE do I make a book cover ? Please :) thanks in ADVANCE !

But WHERE do I make a book cover ? Please :) thanks in ADVANCE !

@Kaylee , this was answered in the very first post. You need to use an image editor, many of which can be easily downloaded. I suggest Paint.net.

@Kaylee, I'm gonna try using Photobucket :) Ug, don't install Babylon.... Evil thing... :L

I don't know what to choose as my image editor to make my book cover, everyone says that each of them is good, but i want to know which one is better:)

Cjay,

How do I download GIMP? I've tried several times, and it never appears. The only thing I can find is the setup, even after it (the installation thing) says that the installation of GIMP is complete. Am I doing something wrong? Can you tell me what you did when you downloaded it? And I'm sorry that Godric was being so rude to you when you were only trying to help. I'm sure that the person was just overwhelmed the massive amount of great info that you gave, and needed someone to let all the frustration out on. Thank you in advance for your help, if you choose to help.

I'd like to know how to post a book cover in a thread.

Just wanted to say you answered my questions thanks.

@Chickenalfredo: "better" is subjective. You will never receive a true answer to that question. Just look at what you like, and use that.

@Cuddlyoctopus, well, thank you for your kind words. But I don't use GIMP, I just know that it has a very high reputation.

If it has fully installed, then it will be on your computer. When installing, did you remember to check where the files were being saved? I'd explore the C drive if I were you.

@Pickled ice cream past this code into a club comment: <IMG SRC=" Direct Image URL">

@Suebug8 oh behalf of everyone who answered in this thread...much obliged.

I go for Photoscape...(Just Sayin)

Okay, I'm new and I don't think this question has been asked yet. I went on Google Images and found a picture of a Celebrity that I wanted to use for my book cover. Would it be illegal if I used it? Sorry if this has been asked. 

Reading this, i thought i might be able to help someone. Firstly, i will say this: i did NOT read this whole thread (way too much reading for a girl who just wants to browse). But i thought i might still be able to help somewhat to those people who are still confused, or for future readers. If what i write has already been brought up or covered, please disregard.

To upload a cover, you do the same process you would as if you were uploading a personal picture to a facebook/twitter/ect account. Find the upload button paired with your story (OR, Click  [my works] under profile option. Then click the actual blank cover of your story. An UPLOAD tab should pop up.) - click the browse button and chose from the files you have saved.

NOW- for DESIGNING your cover (remember it needs to be done before you upload it to this site) . Designing is all up to you. For those technologically retarded (ME), paint pretty much was the only option. I looked around at Photoshop and other ones, and either they weren't free, or i was hesitant because i was too new at editing photos and didn’t know what to chose or what was the best/easiest program.

Your best bet is to ask about those programs from people who use them. Maybe even watch the Youtube tutorials they have. Once you get the hang of it, BAM- you can’t stop!

As for me, i don’t use any computer program (please note I’m probably an odd ball for this).  i found something that will apply to people with iphones (Sorry). It was called Photowizard. it was ¢.99, and thought I’d give it a try out of boredom. To my excitement- it provided as much as the 200.00 Photoshop programs for the computers, and i could kick ass with it. EXAMPLE 

BOREDOM IS AN AWESOME FEET:

http://www.facebook.com/welcomeback/requests/#!/photo.php?fbid=141521819319800&set=a.107393472732635.9841.100003859489193&type=1&theater

I am willing to help out with a few covers if anyone wants me to. Please note the above picture took some time, and it was something i had spent a while envisioning.  I would need a few ideas from you about the cover; perhaps some photos you already found that you want blended in. Or i can do a quick read of your story and give you what i come up with. And if you don’t like it, no sweat. I’m a big girl- i can handle someone saying "thanks, but no thanks."

I will see about helping the first couple of people, but that’s going to be my limit. (Got 4 stories I’m writing)

Send me a message if you want some help :)

Just go to Clubs, click on the book cover club, and choose a discussion offering free covers. Fill out their form and I promise they'll make you a great book cover. :)

Ive Made my own cover, on microsoft word, & when i try to upload it by browsing it on wattpad, it does all the search stuff but doesn't appear on my books. What's the problem ?

You could always use lunapic and photobucket, too. it wont perfect, but there's options

this is going completely off the subject. HOW DO YOU MAKE A COVER???

Sozzy if that seemed a bit rude but i really want to know and so far im getting no answers :-(

what to i click to drag the pic to the book to make it my book cover? i tried it multiple times last night and it didnt work

helium!!!! i need your help!!!!!!

Well my comp wont let me use GIMP and I want to use PhotoBucket can some one Help!!!

plese helppppppppppppppppppppppppp

go to my works and click on the story that you want to add a chapter to. there is a button that says new part click on that. its pretty straight forward from there.

I just have a simple question and I really want it to be answered ASAP. I have a picture it has the right size and I really made it. the upload icon thing when you're about to change the cover doesn't work. is there any chance of me uploading my photo.