A flat cover file sells nothing on a landing page. A render of the book sitting in someone’s hands, or propped on a table beside a coffee cup, sells the idea of owning it. Mockups are the cheapest conversion improvement in publishing, and most authors are still uploading a rectangle.
What you receive
- Photorealistic 3D renders: tablet, phone, paperback and hardback, each with your actual cover wrapped on the model.
- Transparent PNG at 2000 px on the long edge, so it drops onto any background colour without a halo.
- Composition variants: straight-on for a store page, angled for a social post, stacked set for a series.
- Layered source file so a new title in the series can be rendered in minutes.
- Web-optimised exports under 300 KB per image, because a hero image that takes four seconds to load costs more sales than the mockup earns.
How it works
- Send the cover as a flat front file, ideally 1600×2560 or larger.
- Choose the devices and the mood — studio white, desk scene, dark background, seasonal prop.
- Renders delivered in the agreed sizes, with the transparent versions included.
- One round of amends on angle, shadow or background.
Where mockups earn their money
Sales pages, Facebook and Instagram ads, Amazon A+ content, BookBub creatives, email headers, press kits, and the first image on a product listing. The same render can serve all of them, which is why five mockups usually pay for themselves on a single campaign.
Why the render has to look like a photograph
Perspective, contact shadows and a believable reflection are what make a render read as an object rather than a graphic. Our models are lit as though they are standing in real rooms: soft shadow under the tablet, slight glow on the screen, correct paper thickness on the paperback block. Those details are why a mockup can be used in a paid ad without the suspicion that greets a flat cover pasted onto a white background.
Using the renders without breaking the rules
Retailers require the flat cover as the primary listing image, so mockups belong on your own pages and ads, not as the first image on Amazon. The safe pattern is a flat cover first, then two or three renders further down the listing and on the sales page. Each render ships with a transparent background, so it can be dropped onto your brand colour, a photograph or a gradient without visible edges.
Pricing
| Tier | Scope | Price | Was | You save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 mockup | $10 | $15 | |
| Professional | 5 mockups | $50 | $50 | |
| Bulk / Authority | 20 mockups | $150 | $150 |
Frequent questions
Do you need the print files?
No, the flat front cover is enough. If you have a full wrap we will use the spine and back for the paperback and hardback renders.
Can the model be a real person?
We use studio models and hands, not recognisable individuals, so there are no model releases to worry about for commercial advertising.
What resolution are the files?
2000 px on the long edge for web and ads, with a 300 dpi print version available when a mockup is going into a printed flyer.
Order mockups — send the cover file and tell us which devices you need.