Over the past few months, animated book covers have become trendy, and you can spot them all over social media right now. They look great, help 'stop the scroll' on social media, and make great marketing assets... but a ton of authors are stumped! What are they good for? How do you even use them, seeing as you can't upload them as your actual cover? And more importantly: are these possible without AI?
I've been offering animated covers for years now (After Effects was one of my first loves...) and they've been a great addition to cover packages, marketing bundles, and plenty more. Tons of my clients loveeee their animated book cover designs, and if you're interested in them but not sure where to start, then keep on reading!
How to Use Animated Book Covers
So, you can't use these fancy things as your actual cover at storefronts, and you can't get an animated cover without first having a cover to animate... but that doesn't make them useless!
One of the best ways to utilise your animated cover is by using it on social media. They can be flashy and attention grabbing or subtle and mysterious, depending on your design, and they can help you create beautiful video content without stressing too much about recording anything. They work great as end-cards for reels, so you aren't stuck with a static image at the end of a video, and even if you post them as-is, they make beautiful, attention-grabbing reels on their own.
Another way to use your animated book cover is to use it on your website. Some of my clients have opted for animated covers, and others have gone for animated mock-ups. Either way, a sleek, professional animation can make your site look ten times better, and these videos/GIFs can be reused for advertising space on other websites. Double whammy!
Animated Book Cover Requirements
Depending on who you're using for your animation, all you need is a book cover design, and permission to have it animated. There aren't too many animators out there in the indie author scene, so check in with your designer to see if this is a service they offer. It's always easier to design with animation in mind, rather than cutting up the design later on, so let your animator know as soon as possible.
Your cover design might make animation a little tricky if you're using a ready-made cover. If you have tons of overlapping elements, it can be hard to cut up properly. As mentioned, try to find a designer who offers cover animation alongside cover design as this can make your life (and theirs!) a lot easier.
If you're looking to DIY an animated book cover, then you'll need to learn about animation! I personally use After Effects, but there are other suites that are more affordable, and possibly less intimidating to use, such as DaVinci Resolve and Procreate Dreams. Animating a book cover is no small task, though, so be sure to set aside as much time as possible to learn the ins and outs of key framing and motion graphics.
What About AI? Are Animated Covers Even Worth It?
As with any additional cover service, there's pros and cons to hiring someone to do it for you. Even though this is a service I offer, I would urge you to weigh up the benefits of having one, and if the cost is right for you. They make fabulous marketing assets, and as an add-on service from your cover artist, it might not cost as much as you think! If you need someone to cut up your cover, though, it can start to get pricey.
AI is another concern, and one that every author should bear in mind when shopping for designers and artists. I've been seeing tons of people offering AI-generated 'animated covers', and usually for pretty cheap! If you're not anti-AI, and are working to a strict budget, then there's plenty of folks out there who'll be willing to run your cover through an AI generator.
For the rest of us, though, it can be a little tricky to find an artist who offers animation. When you're looking into artists, try to find one that's been staunchly against AI since it first started popping up, and ideally someone with a background in animation (like me!). To make sure you're protected from AI scammers, try asking for a screenshot of the timeline, or asking some questions about what software they're working in.
And if you've read this far and think you might like to jump on the animated covers wagon, then I offer a bespoke animation service that's completely AI-free. All my animations are handcrafted in After Effects, and I can always show the timeline as proof of creation.
Happy creating!
Comments ()