General Notes

  • Please provide all artwork in CMYK color mode, at 300 dpi resolution. JPGs, TIFFs, PDFs or PSD files are all acceptable file formats. If your image files feature text, layered PSD files with the text elements on their own layer that we can turn on/off (for reference) is best.
  • While you may opt to have your illustrator develop custom artwork for your cover, we are happy to design your cover with an interior image of your choosing instead. We will just need to make sure the image has plenty of bleed area to fit its intended format/scaling on the cover (especially if you want a Hardcover version at some point). Click here to generate a preliminary hardcover template.
  • PLEASE REMOVE OR HIDE any text layers prior to submitting your final high-res artwork to us.
  • File naming Requirements: Please name your image files with a number to indicate their chronological order of appearance in the book.

HOW TO SEND US YOUR FINAL IMAGES:

Option 1: We recommend sending files via WeTransfer.com (You don’t need an account and it’s free to use.) Just direct your files to [email protected].

Option 2: Mail the images to us on a thumbdrive to our office (address below) and be sure to include as self-addressed, stamped envelope, should you want your materials returned to you.

Option 3: If you have your originals but need to enlist our services to scan or photograph them for reproduction in print, please email us or call 541-636-3102 to get an estimate on the cost of this added service. From there, you will carefully package your originals and mail to our office at the address below.

MAILING ADDRESS:
Luminare Press
442 Charnelton St.
Eugene, OR 97401

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you or your designer/illustrator have questions or need further support after reviewing this page.


Cover Art Specs + Templates

Cover art sizing will vary depending on the following:

  1. Your final page count will dictate the final spine width.
    We will provide additional instructions below on how to prepare for spine-width adjustments, since it is not always easy to estimate page count at the beginning of your project.

TIP FOR CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATORS:
Storyboarding your children’s book is a really useful tool and can help authors and illustrators save time, effort, and cost while planning during the illustration process. Not only does it help you calculate your final page count, but also how much text will land on each page that your illustrator will need to work around.
Make sure to account for front and back matter pages in your storyboard and total page count (Eg: half and/or full title pages, a copyright page, dedication page, author/illustrator page, and the blank left-side page at the end of your book that our POD printers require). Click here to read more on creating a Storyboard.

  1. Selection of a Print on Demand Printer you will be printing with AND format (Hardback vs. Paperback).

Interior Image Sizing

Specs for single-page images

Our printers require that full bleed illustrations that are contained to a single page rather than spanning a full spread require a special binding-side edge bleed so their sizing is slightly different.

Trim Width + .25 inches

BY

Trim Height + .25 inches

For example, if your final trim size is 8 x 10 inches, your single page, full bleed illustration will need to be provided at 8.25 x 10.25 inches.

See image sizes for available book formats.

Specs for full spread images

If you have an image that will span a full spread as one continuous image.

Please calculate the image size needed as follows:

(Trim Width x 2) + .25 inches

BY

Trim Height + .25 inches

For example, if your final trim size is 8 x 10 inches, your full spread illustration will need to be provided at 16.25 x 10.25 inches.

See image sizes for available book formats.


Creating a Storyboard

Creating a storyboard of your rough book layout plan is a really helpful tool for BOTH children’s book authors and illustrators. Storyboarding can help you establish where scene breaks  will occur, establish how much text will land on each page that the imagery will need to accommodate, and ultimately give you an approximate idea of how many illustrations you will need created. This helps your illustrator understand the scope of the illustration work you need done and give you a more accurate price for their services. It will also help the interior layout process go quickly and efficiently and avoid costly troubleshooting later down the road.

Here is an example of a storyboard shown in spread-view: