Earlier this week we talked about How Not to Get Overwhelmed: The Book Cover Design, and I felt like something was missing. Yesterday I listened in on a webinar hosted by Joseph Michael and featuring Mike Balmaceda that discussed making your book cover the best it can be to sell your story. That’s when it dawned on me what I’d forgotten to add when we discussed cover design! Color! I wanted to give you one more bit of info whether you plan to design your own cover or commission one.
Colors Matter
I have always enjoyed the feel of colors, and any time I’ve asked for feedback on the various covers I’ve designed the response often comes with an emotional connection of some sort. There is something about colors that attract and repel us, and they also convey a sense of emotion, which as writers and indie publishers we need to be taking advantage of for our book covers.
Instead of me rambling on I wanted to share some infographics I have found helpful as I learn more about the psychology of color and work to use it more efficiently. I thought you might also find this info helpful for designing your own covers. If you are having someone else design the cover, it’s good to share the color scheme you’d like for your books with whoever might be designing it so that you best convey the feeling/emotion you want your readers to gain.
I’d also say that while you’re researching other covers in your genre that you pay attention to the color schemes, too!

The following chart is from CoverDesignStudio.com:
Red | Energy, enthusiasm, emotion, power |
Dark Red | Passion, depth, dominance, prestige |
Orange | Positive, dynamic, optimistic, confident |
Pale Yellow | Friendly, approachable, warm |
Bold Yellow | Ambition, motivation, creativity, cutting edge |
Green | Nature, vitality, environment, health |
Blue | Dependability, trust, thoughtfulness, calm |
Dark Blue | Deep sincerity, intuition, truth |
Light Purple | prosperity, spirituality, creativity, harmony |
Dark Purple | Depth, wealth, mystery, fantasy |
Grey | Sophistication, knowledge, prestige, wisdom |
Pink | Youth, playfulness, emotion, innocence |
White | Clean, straightforward, self-sufficient, simple |
Black | Authority, power, control, mystery, suspense |
Brown | Natural, of the earth, comfortable, organic |
This next one I like to look at when thinking about branding and logos for author marketing type stuff.

This last chart I added because I adore the simple and straightforward presentation of how primary, secondary, and tertiary colors correspond!

You can click on any of the images to see the infographics on the owners’ websites.
Reblogged this on When Angels Fly and commented:
Truly food for thought in this post. I design all my own book covers and I feel confident that I made the right choices.
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š
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Colour is sooo important when it comes to design – I remember spending ages learning about it at uni (I did an Applied Arts Degree), and the way that people use colour within their businesses to evoke an emotional response – book covers are no different. Lots of useful info here š
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That is great, Helen. You’ve already got a background in this. Do you have any other thoughts or advice to add?
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Thanks, Rachael. I think the infographics you have here cover the main aspects of using colour – less is more, opposite colours vibrate, co-ordinate colours if possible, use colour to set the mood. For my book covers, I wanted them to have more of an antique feel, so I chose colours that were slightly faded, like old leather bindings. So there’s that to consider as well, I guess š
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That’s great advice, Helen! Thanks for sharing that. š
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Thanks, Rachael – you’re very welcome š
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Wonderful post thank you. It will be going into my library bookmark as with all of your indie overwhelmed posts as they are so intrinsic to our craft.
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Thanks, Adele. I’m sho glad to be sharing helpful info!
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Your advice really helps.
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š
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Another useful post. š Colour intimidates me. There, I said it. I’ve tried designing small things in the past, and freaked out at now knowing what colours will go together, or what looks right or anything. But the above could be useful in facing that particular fear. Thank you. š
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I think the color wheels that show the primary, secondary, and tertiary colors that compliment each other is the best place to start. Don’t worry so much about the moods besides how those combinations affect your perception of what you’ve made. Colors are friends not food…oh wait, that’s fish. Fish are friends not food. No…fish are definitely food. Nevermind. Just use color! š
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Fish can be friends and food. Though that can be confusing. But colour isn’t food.
Will use colour. Or try. š
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Haha!
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Those are great. The first one really cracked me up. Hugs!
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A little humor to the process keeps the head from exploding. š Thanks, Teagan!
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Reblogged this on Kate McClelland.
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This is fabulous and just what I needed! Thank you for sharing this Rachael. š There is so much learning involved when it comes to using colors well. I’m trying to learn this now.
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Me, too. I already know what works for me, and studying this information explains a lot about why I see certain combinations working and others not. š
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I love this!
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Me, too! š
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Great post. I’ve learnt a lot. Now following you..All the best. Kris.
https:///awritersden.wordpress.com/
https://1951club.wordpress.com/
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Here is a great post on the subject of color use in book cover design
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š
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Wow-za, Rachael. Undeniably illuminating. Thank YOU. š
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š I live to serve up so much info everyone’s brains explode. Errr…ummm..I mean, I live to serve…? š
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Oh heck…this has hit me where it hurts….arty book cover stuff….I write, no do art š¤
And yet I know the cover is a make or break thingamy that cannot be avoided….I think I best dig deeper into your posts on this š¢
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It hurts me, too, Gary and I’m even a bit artsy. I feel like I’m still on a learning curve here with this subject in particular since the cover is sooooo important. I have a feeling as I write this series my design sense will evolve and I’ll find I REALLY need new covers for the series. Since you have to get a new ISBN for print books with new covers that could mean serious expense later. I guess it’s best to get a great cover FIRST so you don’t have to go back and do that later. You know?
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Yes, not even thought about ISBN yet….book, proofer, synopsis, blurb, cover then decision…agent or self publish….I’m at the synopsis point…but chose to prevaricate and do some blog posts instead starting with the five word challenge š
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nothing wrong with a little prevarication when the overwhelming feelings set in. Take a break and come back to it. š
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I am and the solution to surfer has presented itself….but book covers is fingers in ears, eyes shut tight and la la la chanting š
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š I find myself smiling at both. Haha
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No pressure then…don’t go expecting too much š
On either front š¤
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Okay. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the read just like chatting with you.
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Odd you say that because I think my narrative voice gets ‘chatty’ in its wordcraft…rightly or wrongly š
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Haha maybe it ‘keeps it real!’
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Shoot there’s real and real….I think I do chatty narrative just to make sure I don’t spook myself out…no idea if it works for readers that way though š¤
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Curious thought. Well have to see.
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Hopefully tomorrow for that piece I was mucking about with then š
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š
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Well, for better or worse….here you go
https://fictionisfood.wordpress.com/2016/05/14/the-god-strain/#more-600
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Really? š Cool! Will just get on the computer to read. š
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Err….no rush…it’s…nothing more than a ramble…expect nothing too inspiring š
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and yet your book covers are stunning. Can I ask how you did them?
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Thanks, Jen! I make them using PaintShop Pro. I use my own photography and lots of photo manipulation in the program. Not sure I’d that’s helpful info, but if you have other questions, please ask. š
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Not tried PaintShop Pro. Hope its not expensive!
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I have an old version, but I checked their website. Pro8 is the current version and the base program is $79.99, but currently discounted to 63.99. Not cheap, but if you use it a lot, it is worth it. If you don’t think you’ll spend a lot of time or aren’t comfortable with designing it might not be worth it, but something to consider.
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I might have to try the free trial first, if its too technical it won’t help my sanity levels!
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That I totally understand!
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