Book Cover Illustration Brief

This project aims to create complete dust jackets for 15 important Italian novels selected from periods throughout the 20th century.

We hope that all those participating enjoy the experience and process of writing for and illustrating these book covers and enjoy the collaborative and cultural aspects of this project, which aims to raise awareness of Italian literature both visually and through the written word.

We would like to see illustrations that capture the essence of the novels in an appealing manner, that complement the styles of the 'back cover synopsis' and that make full and playful opportunity of the space and folds of a book dust jacket.

The template has been designed in such a way that it provides some limits, but at the same time provides a lot of flexibility for illustrators to be able to really maximise the use of space i.e. giving the illustrator the ability to play with the shape and folds, the spine & flaps and giving the ability to treat the book cover as a tangible object...

Each illustrator is assigned one book, see this list for your book assignment

The results will be presented in an exhibition during the Edinburgh Book Festival, August 2011 at the Italian Institute of Culture, Edinburgh (exact dates to be confirmed).

Book Cover Illustrations - Meetings, Deadlines

Meetings:

• No more meetings scheduled. If you require more information or need to discuss your book / illustration contact Lefke Kerr ailurus@gmail.com

Deadlines:

• Deadline for final illustrations: 29th July - require digital files of illustrations, CMYK, 300dpi
•  Exhibition starting 21st August

Contact for book cover template design and information: Lefke Kerr

View project page for illustrator and writer contact names for individual books

Book Cover Template - details

Each book has been set in a standardised template to create consistency and give the impression of the books belonging to a publisher's Italian Classics series

Contact Lefke Kerr for a copy of the book cover spreads relevant to your illustration (available as inDesign and pdf files)

(Be aware some editing of text on the templates may still be required over the next two weeks)

Dimensions:

Full length: 519mm
Full length including bleed: 539mm
Height: 235mm
Height including bleed: 255mm
Front & Back page width: 160mm
Spine width: 15mm
Left & Right folds: 92mm

All illustrations need to take into account print bleed areas

Colours, fonts and text:
All fonts - sizes, weights are not to be changed
All text positions are fixed

All font colours can be adjusted to match illustration

The following text areas have a transparency background available:

• This series list (full height of book)
• Back cover blurb (text area only)
• Spine text (full height of book)
• Collaboration list (full height of book)

Note: No transparency behind title and author name on front cover

Examples of the use of transparencies: