Abstract Dark Fantasy Cover
Budget: £20 – £250 GBP
I’m commissioning an abstract-style cover for my upcoming dark fantasy novel. The image should immediately pull readers into a brooding, other-worldly realm by blending three key visual threads—my main characters, an eerie landscape, and a gigantic, looming demon—into one cohesive, painterly composition.
Mood & style
Think “dreamlike darkness”: deep jewel tones, swirling textures, and shapes that hint rather than spell things out. Faces and forms can be slightly stylised or partially obscured, as long as the overall silhouette reads clearly at thumbnail size. The abstract approach should heighten the sense of mystery without losing the epic fantasy vibe.
Practical details
• Trim: 6 × 9 inches, full wrap (front, spine, back) for print with a separate front-only version for digital.
• Resolution: minimum 300 dpi, CMYK for print, RGB for e-book.
• Formats: layered PSD or AI plus flattened TIFF/PNG.
• Allow safe-zone guides and 0.125-inch bleed all around. I’ll drop the exact spine width once the final page count is locked.
Acceptance criteria
• Characters, scenery, and artifacts are all present yet harmonised through an abstract treatment.
• Colour palette and lighting clearly communicate a dark, mysterious tone.
• Legible title space left in the upper third; no text needed from you.
• Artwork remains crisp and recognisable when viewed at Amazon thumbnail size (≈160 px tall).
If digital painting, Photoshop or Procreate fits your workflow, that’s perfect. Vector illustrators using Illustrator are equally welcome as long as painterly textures are achieved. I’m happy to share rough sketches of character silhouettes and artifact shapes once we start so you can weave them organically into the scene.
Mood & style
Think “dreamlike darkness”: deep jewel tones, swirling textures, and shapes that hint rather than spell things out. Faces and forms can be slightly stylised or partially obscured, as long as the overall silhouette reads clearly at thumbnail size. The abstract approach should heighten the sense of mystery without losing the epic fantasy vibe.
Practical details
• Trim: 6 × 9 inches, full wrap (front, spine, back) for print with a separate front-only version for digital.
• Resolution: minimum 300 dpi, CMYK for print, RGB for e-book.
• Formats: layered PSD or AI plus flattened TIFF/PNG.
• Allow safe-zone guides and 0.125-inch bleed all around. I’ll drop the exact spine width once the final page count is locked.
Acceptance criteria
• Characters, scenery, and artifacts are all present yet harmonised through an abstract treatment.
• Colour palette and lighting clearly communicate a dark, mysterious tone.
• Legible title space left in the upper third; no text needed from you.
• Artwork remains crisp and recognisable when viewed at Amazon thumbnail size (≈160 px tall).
If digital painting, Photoshop or Procreate fits your workflow, that’s perfect. Vector illustrators using Illustrator are equally welcome as long as painterly textures are achieved. I’m happy to share rough sketches of character silhouettes and artifact shapes once we start so you can weave them organically into the scene.