Shapes and image layers

Beyond text, a cover in
the cover designer can carry
shape layers and image layers. Both sit above the background and can
be moved, resized and stacked freely.

Shape layers

There are ten shape types to choose from. On a book cover they
earn their keep in three ways:

• As a surface for text. A plain rectangle behind your title
  gives the letters a calm, even background, no matter how busy the
  picture underneath is.
• As structure. A thin bar under the title, or a frame near the
  edge, holds a design together and makes it look intentional.
• As an accent. A single small shape in a strong colour draws the
  eye where you want it.

Restraint pays here. One or two shapes usually strengthen a cover;
six of them usually fight each other.

Image layers

An image layer is a picture placed on top of the background rather
than behind everything. Each one has:

• Fit — how the picture sits inside its frame when the two are
  not the same shape.
• Corner radius — from square corners to fully rounded ones.
• Opacity — how much of what is behind it shows through. Lowering
  opacity is the gentle way to blend a photo into the background.
• Rotation — turn the layer to taste.

There are also five filters you can apply to an image layer, so a
photo can be tuned to match the rest of the cover without editing it
elsewhere first, and six presets that apply a ready-made
combination of settings in one step. Presets are a good starting
point when you are not sure what you want — apply one, then adjust
the individual settings from there.

Image layers count against their own cap, and AI-generated images
against a tighter one; both are listed in
Cover limits, versions and the OutaStory mark.

How the stack works

Layers are drawn from the bottom of the stack upward. Whatever is
higher is drawn later, so it covers what is below it where the two
overlap.

That is the whole rule, and it is behind almost every "why can't I
see my title?" moment: the title has not gone anywhere, an image or
shape layer added afterwards is simply sitting on top of it.

To fix it, reorder the stack. The designer lists your layers, and
moving a layer up or down in that list changes what is drawn in
front. A workable order for most covers is:

1. Background at the bottom.
2. Image layers above it.
3. Shapes that act as a surface for text.
4. Text on top, so nothing can ever cover it.

Selecting a layer in the list is also the quickest way to grab a
small element you cannot easily click on the canvas — a thin bar
behind a large photo, for instance.

A quick way to build one

1. Set the background — see
   Cover backgrounds.
2. Add the image layers you want and get their fit, rotation and
   opacity right.
3. Put a shape where the title will go, if the background needs one.
4. Add the title last, and style it as described in
   Text on your cover.
5. Shrink the view down to thumbnail size and check it still reads.