How it Works: An Outline of the PreMade Process

How it Works: PreMade Covers

Step One: Initial Contact

Search the PreMade Shop

Visit the Shop and take a look around. The PreMades can be filtered by details like Categories, Genres, Keywords, Colors, etc. to help you find the right cover. Also, don’t hesitate to look over the Choosing a PreMade article for a few more tips & tricks. If you see a PreMade that’s almost perfect, but might need a little change (learn more about available revisions here), please get in touch to discuss the details.

Find & Purchase PreMade

When you’ve found the PreMade that you’d like to purchase, please fill out the required text fields and drop-down menus, then add the cover to your cart. (Don’t forget to bundle a print layout or banner with your design to get a discount!) During check-out, be sure to create a user account since we’ll send you additional information and download links there. Also, if you’ve ordered a print layout, be sure to visit the Print Layouts page and use the Get Started button to fill out a Preliminary Print form.

Look for Follow-Up Email(s)

If we have any follow-up questions for you, we’ll get in touch in the next 1-2 business days. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder over the next few days. We never want to spam you, but our emails sometimes get tossed into the junk bin anyway. (Also, if you’ve ordered a print layout, be sure to visit the Print Layouts page and use the Get Started button to fill out a Preliminary Print form if you haven’t already.)

Back to Flowchart

Step Two: Proofs & Revisions

View the First Proof

Once we have all of the information we need to get started, the first proof will be ready within 2-3 business days and remain on the site for a maximum of 14 business days. We’ll email details about the proof when it’s ready to view on the site. (Again, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your spam folder.)

Send Feedback

You’ll send feedback. To request changes, either leave a comment beneath the proof or respond via email. Be sure to request all changes together at once, rather than one-at-a-time. A PreMade design comes with 2 proofs for that fast-turn around, and we want to use them as economically as possible!

Once we’ve received your feedback, we’ll make the requested revisions and send a new proof.

Please note: Some requested changes may require additional cost, please read over the Optional Revisions page carefully if this is a concern. If additional proofs are required (which is rare), additional cost will be involved. (If additional charges are incurred during the proofing process, they will be billed separately and must be paid before final files are released).

Approve the Design

When you’re pleased with the design, please Approve it on the proof site.*
(If you ordered a print layout and some final details are still pending — i.e. the back text or spine size — please don’t hesitate to approve.** For more details on this, refer to the last step below: “If print details are still in progress, we can finalize files at a later date”).

Back to Flowchart

Step Three: Finalize the Files

Files are Finalized

We’ll get to work on finalizing the files and send the ebook files (and banner if applicable) within 2-3 business days. This step begins either a) after we receive the purchase when the 15-NO-PROOF coupon code is used, or b) after the design is approved if you’ve gone through the proofing process.

Download Final Files

When the final files are available on your account, we will email you. They’ll be in the Downloads section for 14 days.
Now all you have to do is save them and get back to writing! (If you purchased a print layout, please check the point below).

If Print details are still in-progress, we can finalize the files at a later date.

If the back text and page count are already confirmed: We will export all final files, both ebook JPGs and print-ready PDF, and deliver them to you within 2 business days. However, if the back text and/or page count are still pending: We will send the final ebook JPGs within 2 business days. Then, to finalize the print-ready PDF, when you have the details ready submit the Final Print form. We’ll update the approved version of the print layout at that point and send the final, print-ready PDF within 1-3 business days.**

Back to Flowchart

*All Approvals are final and additional costs will be required if changes are made after approval is given. This can involve re-scheduling your art. Please be sure you’re 100% ready to approve when you hit the “approve” button.
**If the back text and/or page count are still pending when Approval is given, this means that there are no further changes to the print layout beyond replacing “filler text” with the final text for the back cover and updating the spine size with the final page count. Please do not expect to receive additional proofs when the final page count and back text are ready. So be sure you are happy with the back and spine layout as well as the front cover art when you submit your approval.

Following this process as closely as possible allows Paper & Sage to offer quality designs at reasonable prices. If deviations from the above process are required for your project, please understand that additional cost will be required as well.

...Christa was amazing with responding to my emails. I asked many questions and not once did she make me feel like I was a bother. She made the entire process enjoyable and exciting. She did everything I asked and had [the premade cover] for me in under three days. All of this took away a ton of stress and I plan to work with her again.

Jami Wagner, Date in the Dark

Paper and Sage

2016-03-17T17:34:54-04:00

Jami Wagner, Date in the Dark

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/jami-wagner/

I could not be happier...and I will definitely come to [P&S] for book 3, as well as any other books. Thank you SO much for all of your hard work, and for seeing inside my head so brilliantly.

Dena Nicotra, The Weaver Series

Paper and Sage

2013-05-11T18:02:06-04:00

Dena Nicotra, The Weaver Series

I could not be happier...and I will definitely come to [P&S] for book 3, as well as any other books. Thank you SO much for all of your hard work, and for seeing inside my head so brilliantly.

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/dena-nicotra/

Easy. No hassle.

Peyton Woodson Cooper, True North

Paper and Sage

2016-09-10T17:04:43-04:00

Peyton Woodson Cooper, True North

Easy. No hassle.

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/peyton-woodson-cooper/

I loved the huge selection of premades. [A]ffordable and…beautifully made.

Lindsey Sablowski, Bloodline Inheritance

Paper and Sage

2015-06-30T17:30:15-04:00

Lindsey Sablowski, Bloodline Inheritance

I loved the huge selection of premades. [A]ffordable and…beautifully made.

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/lindsey-sablowski/

Super friendly and prompt feedback and delivery! Christa is a total joy to work with!

Becky Wicks, Our Frozen Wings

Paper and Sage

2014-12-18T17:44:48-05:00

Becky Wicks, Our Frozen Wings

Super friendly and prompt feedback and delivery! Christa is a total joy to work with!

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/becky-wicks/

Efficient, Professional, Creative

Aria James, Hearts of Larceny

Paper and Sage

2015-02-26T17:31:53-05:00

Aria James, Hearts of Larceny

Efficient, Professional, Creative

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/aria-james/

I think the different available services, from pre-made to the various tiers of custom work are important. As an indie author, I appreciate the ability to balance expense with the level of customization and detail.

Laurie Baxter, A Charlie Brown Christmas & Who Does He Think He’s Fooling?

Paper and Sage

2016-12-01T14:44:25-05:00

Laurie Baxter, A Charlie Brown Christmas & Who Does He Think He’s Fooling?

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/laurie-baxter/

I fell in love with Paper and Sage the first time I visited the website, and I’ll never go anywhere else for my cover-art. Christa is the ultimate professional and I love all the covers she’s done for me, but the cover for The Standout literally stands out. So many people noticed and complimented it during my Kindle Scout campaign, and I know her work majorly contributed to my success as a Kindle Scout winner.

Laurel Osterkamp, The Standout, Kindle Scout Winner

Paper and Sage

2015-10-29T16:43:26-04:00

Laurel Osterkamp, The Standout, Kindle Scout Winner

I fell in love with Paper and Sage the first time I visited the website, and I’ll never go anywhere else for my cover-art. Christa is the ultimate professional and I love all the covers she’s done for me, but the cover for The Standout literally stands out. So many people noticed and complimented it during my Kindle Scout campaign, and I know her work majorly contributed to my success as a Kindle Scout winner.

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/laurel-osterkamp/

I had a great experience working with Paper and Sage. I was feeling so frustrated after looking at dozens of sites… The covers [at P&S] are so current and original, I trust the designer’s pulse on the marketplace and that is really important to me.

Anya Monroe, Heart of Stone

Paper and Sage

2015-03-13T17:36:37-04:00

Anya Monroe, Heart of Stone

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/anya-monroe/

[Clients of P&S are] getting a quality product that’s incredibly professional and it will allow their book to stand out from all other indie books.

Cheyanne Young, Not Your Fault

Paper and Sage

2014-08-28T17:46:45-04:00

Cheyanne Young, Not Your Fault

[Clients of P&S are] getting a quality product that’s incredibly professional and it will allow their book to stand out from all other indie books.

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/cheyanne-young/

It was so easy to make changes and approve the design. Easy……Professional……Friendly.

Gia Riley, Between the Pain

Paper and Sage

2014-05-08T17:53:29-04:00

Gia Riley, Between the Pain

It was so easy to make changes and approve the design. Easy……Professional……Friendly.

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/gia-riley/

I’ve been looking into cover designers for a bit, and I made sure I felt my project would be in the right hands before I agreed to anything and I felt Christa was the right designer as soon as she responded back. …[She] was incredibly easy to work with! The little changes I did want, she made without any problem.

Nicole Sobon, The Outbreak Duology

Paper and Sage

2013-12-08T17:57:40-05:00

Nicole Sobon, The Outbreak Duology

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/nicole-sobon/

Thank you for making my novel come to life with your beautiful cover! …I had been shopping around for a few weeks before I realized your service was unprecedented.

B.M. Sandy, Someone to Stay

Paper and Sage

2017-03-17T16:56:29-04:00

B.M. Sandy, Someone to Stay

Thank you for making my novel come to life with your beautiful cover! …I had been shopping around for a few weeks before I realized your service was unprecedented.

https://www.paperandsage.com/testimonials/b-m-sandy/

Although it bills itself as a pre-made cover outlet, P&S actually rides the line between one-on-one designer support and a straight “here’s your cover” download experience. It’s somewhere between custom and pre-made. I liked that a lot. There’s a definite need in this market for a service like that... I liked that I was able to type in a title and my name, then pass it off for a professional tweaking.