how to make covers

PSD coloring

Next up on my 'basics that you need to know' is PSD colorings.

If you are unaware of what PSDs are, they are a game-changer. They can turn your cover from something dull to vibrant!

The left is my raw cover and on the right is my final cover after I've used a PSD and a few color tweaking through 'selective color' on photoshop.

There are many PSDs online and it's really easy to get carried away with it. It's important not to go overboard with the coloring and to use the right ones. It's easy to tell if the PSD you are using is unflattering to your cover since the colors won't come out right.

Here I used a psd that was meant for the color purple, but since the main color on the cover was red it turned it into something horrid.

PSDs are stackable and I often stack different ones by different people to get something new but make sure to change the opacity of the PSD so that it doesn't cause any issues on the covers (especially if it's too vibrant) as shown on the cover above where the model's face seems discolored.

where to download psds:

1. Deviantart

Deviantart is literally a life-saver when it comes to making graphics. This is the only site I use to download my psds since there are an endless amount and amazing creators!

how to use and download psds:

Search 'PSD' on Deviantart and click on the one you would like.

Then hit the download button that is circled in pink on the image below which should then automatically be in your downloads folder.

after it's done downloading double click the icon which will open it up on photoshop and drag it to the side/desktop.

Once it's off to the side all you have to do is drag the PSD from the adjustment tab to your cover.

and you're all done!