Process and Terms of Service
PROCESS:
Provide a synopsis of your book. Please include any specific descriptions of items you may want incorporated into your cover design, such as character, environment, or object descriptions. It is also helpful to provide the target audience, genre, and any samples of covers you may like or dislike. Please note any colors, fonts, or other components that you may and may not desire. That will ensure that initial design concepts will be headed in the right direction, saving valuable time on both sides.
Two or three concepts will be designed initially, with proofs sent via email as soon as they are complete. After client review and selection of a design, any changes will then be incorporated for a second review. For printed covers, you have up to five rounds of total changes. Changes do not include complete design revisions, but do include font style, placement, color, shifting of elements, and other such revisions. Revised designs will be emailed with changes incorporated until final design is completed. New design concepts will incur additional charges. Any additional changes will be charged by the hour at $50/hr in 15-minute increments.
Final high-resolution files of client-approved design will be delivered upon receipt of final payment. As always, delivery of concepts, revisions, and final files is dependent upon your response time.
TERMS OF SERVICE:
Timetable: Anticipate initial concepts in two to three days for a fairly simple cover. Covers that require more custom work and photo manipulation will add a few more days, depending on the amount of work involved.
Deposit and Payments: A deposit of 50% of the fee is required prior to starting your project. Final files will be delivered upon receipt of final payment (unless 100% of payment is made in advance). PayPal is the only payment form accepted.
Refunds: Book cover design is a non-refundable service with the exception of what is described under Terms of Service: Termination and Delays.
Images: Royalty-free stock images may be used in your design, unless client requests otherwise or provides personal images. My stock houses of choice are dreamstime.com and vectorstock.com for a variety of reasons, including being very affordable. A standard license for print covers up to 500,000 copies and for online use is unlimited. If royalty-free images are used, you will be notified of cost at the initial concept phase. I do my best to keep in mind cost of images and will exhaust searches for quality images that are free for commercial purposes or very affordable. If you have your own images that you would like used on your cover, please email them to me. By sending me an image, you warrant that you have the legal right to use the image, and you take full responsibility for any legal repercussions. Client is responsible for the purchase of any stock images used and agreed upon. High-resolution images will need to be emailed to me in order to place them in the final design.
Copyright and Ownership: If you provide content or photography to me, you warrant that (a) you own all right, title, and interest in, or otherwise has full right and authority to their use the content/photography, (b) to the best of your knowledge the content/photography provided does not and will not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party, (c) that you have permission and are in compliance with the terms and conditions of any licensing agreements which govern the use of Third Party Materials, and (d) you will comply with all laws and regulations as they relate to the Services and project. Upon receipt of full payment in the amount discussed, copyrights for the one (1) completed design(s) will transfer to you, the author. I give you the right to use your new design(s) in all media useful for your business and waive the right to any future royalties associated with your books or business, which are the intellectual property of the author. I retain the right to reproduce, publish, print, and display your cover for use in my portfolios, websites, and galleries for the purposes of professional advancement/marketing endeavors. If you would prefer that your design be added after a specific date, just let me know and I will respect your wishes.
Cover design credit: Credit in your book for the design is not required, but would be appreciated. Please make it: Cover design by Marla Thompson, Edge of Water Designs, www.edgeofwater.com. A testimonial is not required, although I would appreciate it for use on my website.
Termination and Delays: This agreement may be terminated due to illness, injury, or events beyond your or my control: fire, theft, computer failure, and Acts of God that cause a delay of more than 30 days from the agreed delivery date. If design process has not begun, you will be entitled to a full refund of your deposit. If designs were already created but not completed, you will be refunded 50% of your deposit.
Indemnification/Liabilities: You agree to indemnify, save and hold harmless designer, Marla Thompson, and Edge of Water Designs, from any and all damages, liabilities, costs, losses or expenses arising out of any claim, demand, or action by a third party arising out of any breach of copyright or obligations, representations or warranties under this Agreement.
Provide a synopsis of your book. Please include any specific descriptions of items you may want incorporated into your cover design, such as character, environment, or object descriptions. It is also helpful to provide the target audience, genre, and any samples of covers you may like or dislike. Please note any colors, fonts, or other components that you may and may not desire. That will ensure that initial design concepts will be headed in the right direction, saving valuable time on both sides.
Two or three concepts will be designed initially, with proofs sent via email as soon as they are complete. After client review and selection of a design, any changes will then be incorporated for a second review. For printed covers, you have up to five rounds of total changes. Changes do not include complete design revisions, but do include font style, placement, color, shifting of elements, and other such revisions. Revised designs will be emailed with changes incorporated until final design is completed. New design concepts will incur additional charges. Any additional changes will be charged by the hour at $50/hr in 15-minute increments.
Final high-resolution files of client-approved design will be delivered upon receipt of final payment. As always, delivery of concepts, revisions, and final files is dependent upon your response time.
TERMS OF SERVICE:
Timetable: Anticipate initial concepts in two to three days for a fairly simple cover. Covers that require more custom work and photo manipulation will add a few more days, depending on the amount of work involved.
Deposit and Payments: A deposit of 50% of the fee is required prior to starting your project. Final files will be delivered upon receipt of final payment (unless 100% of payment is made in advance). PayPal is the only payment form accepted.
Refunds: Book cover design is a non-refundable service with the exception of what is described under Terms of Service: Termination and Delays.
Images: Royalty-free stock images may be used in your design, unless client requests otherwise or provides personal images. My stock houses of choice are dreamstime.com and vectorstock.com for a variety of reasons, including being very affordable. A standard license for print covers up to 500,000 copies and for online use is unlimited. If royalty-free images are used, you will be notified of cost at the initial concept phase. I do my best to keep in mind cost of images and will exhaust searches for quality images that are free for commercial purposes or very affordable. If you have your own images that you would like used on your cover, please email them to me. By sending me an image, you warrant that you have the legal right to use the image, and you take full responsibility for any legal repercussions. Client is responsible for the purchase of any stock images used and agreed upon. High-resolution images will need to be emailed to me in order to place them in the final design.
Copyright and Ownership: If you provide content or photography to me, you warrant that (a) you own all right, title, and interest in, or otherwise has full right and authority to their use the content/photography, (b) to the best of your knowledge the content/photography provided does not and will not infringe upon or violate the rights of any third party, (c) that you have permission and are in compliance with the terms and conditions of any licensing agreements which govern the use of Third Party Materials, and (d) you will comply with all laws and regulations as they relate to the Services and project. Upon receipt of full payment in the amount discussed, copyrights for the one (1) completed design(s) will transfer to you, the author. I give you the right to use your new design(s) in all media useful for your business and waive the right to any future royalties associated with your books or business, which are the intellectual property of the author. I retain the right to reproduce, publish, print, and display your cover for use in my portfolios, websites, and galleries for the purposes of professional advancement/marketing endeavors. If you would prefer that your design be added after a specific date, just let me know and I will respect your wishes.
Cover design credit: Credit in your book for the design is not required, but would be appreciated. Please make it: Cover design by Marla Thompson, Edge of Water Designs, www.edgeofwater.com. A testimonial is not required, although I would appreciate it for use on my website.
Termination and Delays: This agreement may be terminated due to illness, injury, or events beyond your or my control: fire, theft, computer failure, and Acts of God that cause a delay of more than 30 days from the agreed delivery date. If design process has not begun, you will be entitled to a full refund of your deposit. If designs were already created but not completed, you will be refunded 50% of your deposit.
Indemnification/Liabilities: You agree to indemnify, save and hold harmless designer, Marla Thompson, and Edge of Water Designs, from any and all damages, liabilities, costs, losses or expenses arising out of any claim, demand, or action by a third party arising out of any breach of copyright or obligations, representations or warranties under this Agreement.