Part 3 — Design, Images & Simple Formatting

Meta: Make your ebook look like it cost more than it did. This guide shows you how to design a clean cover, lay out the interior, pick or create images, and export in PDF/ePub-ready formats. Includes three Canva cover layout recipes, Midjourney/AI image prompts, image resolution rules, alt-text examples, and a compact export checklist so your final file actually opens on phones.

TL;DR: Good design = more perceived value → higher conversions. Use simple, repeatable cover layouts in Canva, pick 2–3 consistent image styles (photos, diagrams, icons), and follow a short export checklist (fonts, TOC links, image sizes). If you want speed, use the Canva pack + one Midjourney hero image and you’re done.

Why design matters (and why you don’t need to be a designer)

People buy with their eyes. A tidy cover, readable interior, and a few well-placed visuals tell customers your product is polished and trustworthy. You don’t need to become a designer overnight — you need consistent choices and a handful of templates that repeat across the book and your marketing assets.

Design helps in three ways:

1. First impression — cover sells the click.

2. Readability — clean interiors keep people reading (and finishing).

3. Perceived value — nice design justifies a higher price.

Cover: three simple Canva layouts that always work

Pick one layout and use it across hero images, Pins, and thumbnails. Each layout includes suggested font pairings and color accents.

Layout A — Bold Type + Minimal Photo

(best for how-to guides)

• Composition: full-bleed photo (softened with 20–30% overlay) + large, left-aligned title block.

• Fonts: Big, bold sans for title (e.g., Montserrat ExtraBold), simple sans for subtitle (e.g., Inter).

• Colors: warm accent (goldenrod / soft coral) + neutral background.

• Where to use: website hero, Amazon/StanCart thumbnail.

• Canva recipe: Upload hero photo → Add rectangle layer with 25% opacity → Place title left → Subtitle under title → Author line bottom-right.

Layout B — Graphic Badge + Serif Title (best for higher-perceived-value workbooks)

• Composition: centered serif title, circular badge/illustration above, subtitle small under title, author below.

• Fonts: Elegant serif (e.g., Playfair Display) + clean sans for subtitle.

• Colors: cream background + single rich accent (indigo or forest green).

• Where to use: printable PDF covers, sales pages.

• Canva recipe: Create circle element → place small illustration/icon inside → Title centered below → Subtitle + small author line.

Layout C — Typographic Block + Pattern Accent (best for checklist / minimalist ebooks)

• Composition: large typographic block title on left, subtle repeating pattern on the right, small CTA ribbon at bottom.

• Fonts: Condensed grotesk for title + neutral sans for body.

• Colors: monochrome + one bright accent.

• Where to use: thumbnails, social posts, quick product images.

• Canva recipe: Use grid → left text box with large title → right panel apply pattern from “Elements” → add ribbon at bottom: “Includes templates”.

Interior layout: make it scannable (and cozy)

Principles:

• Use a single readable body font (serif or sans) and one accent font for headings only.

• Keep line length ~55–70 characters for comfortable reading.

• Use H1 for chapter titles, H2 for sections, and consistent spacing between them.

• Use lists and bold callouts for action steps.

• Add a linked Table of Contents for PDFs/ePubs.

Practical settings:

• Body size for screen PDFs: 14–16pt (comfortable on phones)

• Body size for printable PDFs: 11–12pt

• Margins: 0.6–0.8 in for screen PDFs; 0.75–1 in for print.

• Line spacing: 1.25–1.5 depending on font.

Repeatable interior elements:

• Chapter opener page (title + 1-sentence promise + small hero image)

• Chapter skeleton (Hook → Promise → Steps → Micro-exercise → Resources)

• Sidebar callout boxes for tips / examples (use 1 accent color for all)

• Footer with page numbers and short site URL

Images — what to include and where

You don’t need a photo on every page. Aim for 3–8 images depending on length:

• Hero / chapter opener image (1 per chapter)

• Simple diagrams (2–4 across book)

• Worksheets/printables (1 per chapter if workbook)

• Iconography for lists (optional, consistent style)

Image style choices (pick 1 style and stick to it):

1. Photo-realistic (warm, lifestyle images)

2. Clean vector illustrations (icons, diagrams)

3. Painterly / AI art (dreamy, textured backgrounds)

Sources:

• Commercial stock: Unsplash (free, check license), Pexels, Pixabay (watch for model releases), paid: Adobe Stock, Shutterstock for guaranteed rights.

• Create with AI: Midjourney / Stable Diffusion — check licensing terms and disclose if you want.

• Icons & diagrams: The Noun Project, Flaticon, or create simple vectors in Canva.

Midjourney & Canva image prompts (copy/paste-ready)

Use these to generate hero images or decorative chapter openers. Adjust aspect ratios as noted.

Cozy Lighting hero (16:9 for website; 2:3 for Pinterest)

cozy small living room with layered warm lighting, table lamp and string lights, soft shadows, inviting composition, painterly photo-realistic, subtle bokeh, warm color palette, --ar 16:9

Pinterest / tall:

cozy small living room with layered lighting, close-up of lamp and armchair, soft shadows, hygge mood, detailed textures, --ar 2:3

General hero — how-to guide (16:9)

minimal workspace with laptop, notebook, coffee, soft morning light, tidy desk, flat-lay composition, warm tones, high detail, --ar 16:9

Painterly background for workbook pages (2:3)

soft cream textured paper background with subtle gold flecks, gentle vignette, high detail, --ar 2:3

Canva-specific copy for chapter opener:

• “Use hero image as full-bleed header (height 25% of page), overlay with 30% warm filter; place chapter title in left third in Montserrat Bold 36pt.”

Image resolution & file formats — quick rules

• For screen PDFs: export images at 150–200 dpi, longest side ≥2000 px.

• For print PDFs: 300 dpi, images ≥3000 px on long side recommended for large spreads.

• For ePub: use 72–150 dpi, keep file sizes smaller (resize to max 1200–1600 px width) to avoid bloating the file.

• File formats: PNG for images with transparency (icons), JPEG for photos, SVG for vector icons (if supported by your export method).

Accessibility & alt text (do this every time)

Always add concise alt text to images in your source document (and in the ePub metadata). It’s good practice and helps search.

Alt-text examples:

• Hero photo: “Cozy small living room with lamp on side table, soft string lights, and armchair.”

• Diagram: “Three-layer lighting diagram showing ambient, task, and accent lights with labels.”

• Worksheet thumbnail: “Printable 30-day lighting checklist, page 1 of 3.”

Also include short image captions under important images (1–2 sentence context).

Formatting for export: PDF & ePub checklist

Use this checklist before you export.

Pre-export checks

•  All headings use consistent styles (H1/H2/H3).

•  Table of Contents linked to chapter titles.

•  Fonts embedded (or convert header fonts to outlines for print).

•  All images at correct resolution and optimized (not huge).

•  Alt text added for images (for ePub and accessibility).

•  Hyperlinks use full URLs or are linked properly (test them).

•  Page numbers correct and footer consistent.

•  Metadata filled: Title, Author, Description, Keywords.

Export settings (PDF)

• Export as PDF/X-1a for print; standard PDF for screen.

• Include bookmarks (for lengthy docs).

• For screen PDFs, set page size to intended reading device (8.5×11 or A4 for printable, or 6×9 for Kindle-style).

• Check links in exported PDF (click each once).

Export settings (ePub)

• Ensure TOC is generated from H1/H2.

• Resize images for smaller file size (max width 1600 px).

• Test in an ePub reader (Apple Books, Calibre) and on a phone.

• Note: complex layouts (multi-column, heavy page art) may not translate well to ePub — prefer simpler layouts for reflowable formats.

Canva step-by-step (cover + one chapter opener)

1. Open Canva → Create design → Custom size (e.g., 1600×2560 px for tall pin or 2048×1152 for hero).

2. Upload hero image (use Midjourney result or stock).

3. Place image full-bleed → Add 30% warm overlay rectangle layer.

4. Add title text (Montserrat ExtraBold, size ~120 for tall pins, adjust for landing).

5. Add subtitle and author line with smaller sans.

6. Export as PNG (for image assets) and PDF (for interior mockups).

7. Save a duplicate with editable layers for future tweaks.

Repurpose assets (don’t reinvent)

From your book assets you can immediately make:

• 3 Pinterest images (use cover variations + one chapter quote image)

• 6 social quotes (pull 1–2 lines per chapter)

• 1 promo video: 30–45s slideshow of cover, chapter highlights, CTA

• 1 product thumbnail set (square, tall pin, hero)

Keep a single folder with all exported sizes and names like:

• title_cover_1600x2560.png

• title_cover_2048x1152.png

• title_chapter1_header_1600x600.jpg

• title_checklist_page1.pdf

Common export traps & fixes

• Broken fonts: Embed fonts or replace with system fonts before export.

• Huge file size: Compress images; downscale to needed resolution.

• Links not working: Use full URLs and re-export; test clickable links after export.

• Weird spacing in ePub: Simplify layout, remove multi-column sections, use simple paragraph styles.

Pricing & packaging tips tied to design

• A clean, well-designed ebook can command $17–$29 more easily than a plain PDF.

• Offer a lower-priced base ebook ($9–$17) and a higher-priced design bundle ($29–$47) that includes the Canva source file and printable worksheets.

• If you create Midjourney/AI images, consider a modest disclosure line and a slightly higher price for “art-forward” editions.

Quick checklist to finish Part 3 (copy/paste)

•  Choose one cover layout (A/B/C) and create 3 variations in Canva.

•  Pick one image style and generate/collect 3–8 images.

•  Place chapter openers + insert alt text and captions.

•  Export test PDF and open on phone/tablet.

•  Export ePub (if applicable) and test in at least one e-reader.

•  Build 3 Pin images from the cover art and schedule a promoted Pin test ($5).

Closing note & CTA

Design doesn’t have to be scary. Pick a layout, pick an image style, and be consistent. Cheers!