So you have been digging away to writing your masterpiece and now you have got a brilliant manuscript to hit the bookshelves. You want to include pictures because, as we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Now while writing has its own problems regarding the use of text of others. The use of pictures can bring a host of other things that you need to steer clear of.
Properly chosen images (photographs, illustrations, drawings, and any sort of graphical material) can take your book to new heights. These images are essential elements in some types of books.
But, what things do you need to consider as a self-published when going about choosing and sourcing images?
If you are stuck on this question, too, then read below!
Here are some tips to spice up your stories with eye-striking visuals while at the same time, making sure that you do not tread on any toes.
Let us get going!
7 Tips For Including Images In A Self-Published Book
Tip No. 1 – Size Matters
Before you overburden yourself with images, keep in mind to get your size game on point. Oversized pictures might steal all the attention. Whereas, tiny pictures can turn into a pixelated nightmare. So, strive for a resolution of a minimum of 300 dots per inch (DPI) for crisp prints. You can also resize the images accordingly. Moreover, if you download your pictures from the internet, they are mostly at a low resolution (usually not more than 96 DPI). This is why they do not print very accurately. If you cannot find appropriate images for your story, feel free to ask reputable book publishing companies in UAE to provide you with some. By doing so, you can easily get your hands on a higher-resolution copy.
Tip No. 2 – RGB Vs. CMYK
Wait up! You were about to throw your vibrant RGB images into the mix without thinking twice about them, weren’t you? We urge you always to convert your pictures to CMYK. By doing so, you will avoid any colour discrepancies between the printed versions and the on-screen or digital images. If you only plan to print your images in black, then they must be in greyscale, not colour. This will either make them print very very dark or not print them at all. So, feel free to use any picture manipulation tools such as Photoshop to turn from one colour format to a different one as per your goals. You can use a lot of free image editing software on your Macs and PCs, too.
Tip No. 3 – Caption This
While it is true that a picture is undoubtedly worth thousands of words, however, a gripping caption can take the entire game to the next level. So, take this as your cue to add engaging but brief captions to your pictures to evoke emotions or provide more context. If you have permission to reproduce a picture, then always add a copyright acknowledgment along with your caption.
Tip No. 4 – Placement Magic
Have you ever heard the saying that goes “right place, right timings”? Well, this phrase goes perfectly well for your book images. You need to place your visuals strategically where they complement the text, enhance the reader’s experience break up monotony, and a lot more. A properly placed picture can be a page-turner and can make your book go directly from blah blah to wham bam!
Tip No. 5 – What Is In A Perfect Picture
Opt for pictures that echo directly with your story, do not scream “Stock Pictures”, and elevate the entire narrative. The key lies in originality. Regardless of whether it is a carefully chosen photograph or a bespoke illustration, make sure that it adds more value to your book. Select your pictures carefully so that incorporating them in your work will only enhance your masterpiece, not just add to its length.
Tip No. 6 – Legal Eagles
You certainly do not want a lawsuit knocking ruthlessly on your door. So, to avoid that from happening, make sure that your pictures are sourced legally. For that, you can use different platforms, such as Pexels, and Unsplash, or you can even buy stock images from trustworthy sites including iStockphoto, Adobe, and much more. Never ignore a copyright. It is way better to avoid a picture than add it without the proper copyright permission. This can risk the lawful owner claiming against you and your work. You can ask an online book cover design company to get you some original art pieces for your story, too.
Tip No. 7 – Late Section Visuals
Never let your book crackle near the end. You can always spice up those late sections by adding some eye-striking visuals to them. Oftentimes, the readers will remember the last things that they come into contact with. So, make sure you offer them something worth remembering. Try your level best to make it memorable. Maybe adding a graphic that wraps up your fascinating journey or a mesmerising picture that leaves them wondering can do wonders for your book.
- How can I use pictures in a book?
If you are planning to use a copyrighted image, make sure to get permission from the right holder, first. While buying content from any photo agency, it is always a great idea to read the terms stated on the back of the photo or agreement very attentively. In any case, you must always acknowledge the lawful copyright holder to use the pictures in your book.
- How can adding pictures enhance the story?
By adding pictures to your story, you can help your readers make sense of difficult data, elevate information retention, and elicit emotion.
- Why are images significant in books?
A properly illustrated book can not only make your story more entertaining. The pictures add meaning and elevate the comprehension of the text narratives. For instance, in text-only content, any descriptions of the characters can be very restricted to match a kid’s reading vocabulary.
- How can images and pictures enhance the overall reading experience?
Striving readers mostly get stuck on decrypting unfamiliar words, so comprehension of the meaning of the story suffers badly. This is where the illustrations and pictures come to the rescue. They help the readers pay attention to the meaning of the text.
Summing It All Up!
There you have it! 7 tips to make your stories pop up with eye-striking visuals. Now go forth and make those pages turn into a drool-worthy visual feast. Your readers will thank you for the fascinating journey you have crafted. Images and words intertwined in perfect harmony. In the land of emojis, your audience may not be patient enough to focus on what you have to say. This is why, opting for the right book pictures to convey your story is so vital. By reading the information above, we are sure that you got the idea!
