Get inspiration from other book covers.
Manga is a specific style of Japanese cartoon that is characterized by its sharp lines and colorful images. It is modern and minimalist in design. When you are designing a manga book cover, it is important to demonstrate this. Not only that, but you need to bear in mind that a book cover needs to be eye-catching and symbolic of the story inside. Therefore, design the book cover once you have completed the cartoon strip.
Instructions
1. Read the manga book first. You need to be able to understand the context and mood of the book cover. Reading the book will help you adapt the cover to the actual story. Or, speak to the author about the type of book cover she would like to have.
2. Research. Look at book covers of other manga style books and develop your understanding of how they are designed. You will find that they often contain a striking image of a central character, plus basic text that illustrates the name of the book. For example, check out TheJadedNetwork.com, which provides examples of different manga graphics.
3. Allocate a schedule for outlining the design. This will give you focus during the project.
4. Write down the main characters, themes and mood of the book. The main premise of the book needs to be told through the cover, without giving too much of the storyline away. Create a list of ideas that you could be translated into an image onto the front cover.
5. Sketch initial ideas on rough paper. Experiment with which characters to use, how the characters are positioned and the scale of the image.
6. Show the initial designs to a friend or the author of the manga book. Ask for feedback so you can find out what aspects of the design work and do not work. Make amendments to the book cover based on these suggestions.
