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KDP Book Builder course · Episode 9 of 10

How to design a full-wrap KDP paperback cover

Episode 9: switch to the Cover Studio, start from a starter cover or one of 32 styles, set colours, front and back text, add a background or your own picture, and drag everything into place.

1:47 · Prefer the animated version with sound and chapters?

Step by step

  1. 1Build the full interior first so the spine width is exact, then switch from Interior to Cover.
  2. 2Turn on Guides: red is where the book is cut, green is where words stay safe, blue marks the spine.
  3. 3Pick a starter cover, then choose from 32 cover styles and 28 colour sets.
  4. 4Check the title, subtitle and author, then add a corner badge and a proof strip.
  5. 5Write the back cover: a short blurb, up to five what's-inside lines and an about-the-author line.
  6. 6Choose one of 35 free backgrounds, or upload your own picture at 300 DPI or more.
  7. 7Click an element to drag it, nudge it with the arrow keys, zoom the picture, or reset positions.
  8. 8On the Publisher plan, optionally generate artwork or write the back cover with AI, then edit every word.

Transcript, chapter by chapter

0:04 Open the cover and read the wrap
One sheet wraps the book — back, spine, front — and the spine width comes from your real page count; Guides show trim, bleed and the safe area.
0:19 Pick a starter cover, a style and colours
Start from a starter cover, then choose from 32 cover styles and 28 colour sets.
0:33 Write the front and the back cover
Title, subtitle and author, a badge and proof strip on the front; blurb, what's inside and about the author on the back.
0:52 Add a free background or your own picture
Pick one of 35 free backgrounds or upload your own picture — aim for 300 DPI.
1:02 Drag, nudge and zoom into place
Click to select, drag, nudge with the arrow keys, zoom the picture, Reset positions, and check Front only.
1:19 AI artwork and back-cover copy (Publisher)
On the Publisher plan, generate artwork or write the back cover with AI — then edit every word.

Parts marked Publisher (the full interior PDF, the cover print files and the AI tools) need a KDP Publisher plan; building, previewing and the first 10 pages plus cover are free. Everything else shown is free. See the plans.