Every photo book you make is a unique creation. Whether you want to preserve family memories or look back on the year in review, you know that the design you choose for your photo book is important. Be sure to devote attention to your photo book cover, too. After all, it's the first impression readers will get of your book.

The Basics of Creative Photo Book Cover Design

You know the old cliche that you can't judge a book by its cover. When it comes to photo books, though, that maxim isn't true. A striking cover is an important part of any well-designed photo book. It sets the tone for your design and lets readers know what to expect from the photo book.

Choosing the right theme will help guide your cover design. But there are other factors you'll need to take into account too. You should consider things like what image is best for your cover and how elements like colors and fonts can be used to convey your message.

It can also be fun to draw inspiration from book and album covers that you love. Browse your home library or vinyl collection to find something that ignites your creativity. You can check sites like Pinterest for cover design ideas too.

Choosing Images for Your Photo Book Cover

You probably spend a decent amount of time choosing the right photos for your albums. As you select the photos for your book, make a mental note of which images you think would look great on the cover. Be sure to choose images that are

Clear and crisp
Related to the theme of your book
Visually appealing

If you're using pictures with people in them, be sure to keep faces towards the center. Be sure to check each page of your photo book before having it printed. Mixbook warnings will alert you when there might be issues, like improper cropping.

Using Colors to Set the Tone for Your Photo Book

Did you know that colors are one of the most powerful elements of any design project? Remember that colors are connected to emotions and actions. For example, you might assume that a project with muted colors or a pastel palette is a baby book. You might associate bold colors and black-and-white designs with sports photo books.

You can use some basic color psychology when you're creating your photo book cover too. Think about colors that will help enhance your message. It's fine to use a minimalist design with plenty of white space too.

Many designers also use the 60-30-10 rule when choosing color palettes for their projects. According to this design principle, you should use no more than three colors for any project.

Your primary color should appear in about 60% of your design.
Your secondary color should appear in about 30% of your photo book.
Your tertiary color should be used about 10% of the time.

You don't have to follow this rule, but it can make the design process a lot easier. Using more than three colors together can lead to cluttered, overworked designs.

Every Mixbook theme comes preloaded with a complementary color palette. Remember that you're not stuck with the theme you chose for the rest of your photo book. You can insert a blank page and design your cover from scratch. You can also switch to a different theme for your cover.

Incorporating Fonts that Compliment Your Design

Much like colors, all fonts have their own personalities. Some are playful and fun while others are elegant and professional. Think about the message behind your photo book as you choose fonts, and make sure that your selections align with it.

It's also important to avoid using too many fonts in the same project. Graphic designers advise using no more than two or three fonts in one project. Limiting the number of fonts you use helps make your design look consistent and professional.

You should also use fonts consistently. Before you start your design, decide what font you'll use for page titles and which fonts you'll use for captions. Remember that text-rich stickers have fonts too. If you're using balloon-lettered stickers as part of a birthday photo book, be sure to count them as one of your three fonts.

Nine Creative Photo Album Cover Ideas

Thanks to Mixbook Studio, you have endless options for creating unique photo album covers. Here are nine album cover ideas to help you get inspired for your next photo book.

Get inspired by an album cover. If you have a favorite music album cover, consider making your own version of it for your photo book. Maybe you love the cover for Abbey Road by the Beatles. You could recreate the iconic crosswalk shot with your family for your next year-in-review or holiday photo book.
Try out color blocking. Color blocking is a well-known design technique that you can find in everything from fashion to interior design to art. You can build a color-block design in Mixbook Studio by layering shapes in two to three different colors.
Go with graphics. Do you enjoy using a photo editing app that turns your pictures into artistic portraits or comic-style drawing? Use one of these graphically enhance photos as the cover of your next photo album. PicsArt has free photo effect tools that you can use to make pictures into watercolor paintings, pop art, and more.
Use tiny photos. Maybe you want to use multiple photos on the front cover of your next project. Instead of using two or three on the cover, make a grid out of thumbnail-size shots.
Be bold with words. Your photo book covers don't always need to feature pictures. You can use text art, text stickers, or quotes instead. The trick is to make sure that the phrase or quote you use speaks directly to the theme of your photo book.
Experiment with cutouts. Mixbook Studio is preloaded with a variety of geometric stickers that feature both solid blocks of color and transparent areas. You can create a unique frame on your photo book cover by placing a central photo, then applying a sticker over it.
Take your filters for a spin. You want to make a unique photo book cover, but you don't want to spend a lot of time designing it. Just apply one of the photo filters you'll find under "Effects" in the photo editing screen on Mixbook Studio for a custom look.
Upload your own art. If you create visual art like paintings or drawings, use one of your own pieces as the cover for your next photo book. This is a great choice if you're creating a photo book as a gift for someone who appreciates your creativity.
Add custom details post printing. There are tons of ways to create custom covers in Mixbook Studio — but don't be afraid to add special touches once you receive your photo book in the mail. You could add bejeweled details, glitter, or even customized stickers to your cover.

Embrace the Power of Unique Photo Album Covers

Creating a unique photo book cover is all about expressing yourself and letting readers know what to expect from your design. Are you ready to show off your creativity and have fun with a book cover design? Get started on your next unique photo book today. Mixbook has dozens of templates, color palettes, stickers, and fonts perfect for every project.