7 Reasons Why Most AI-Generated Book Covers Are Terrible
The Downsides of Using AI-Generated Book Covers
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in book cover design has provided a fast and cost-effective option for authors and designers. However, while AI-generated images may seem like an appealing shortcut, they come with notable downsides that can affect creativity, quality, and the publishing industry at large. In this article, I explore the key reasons why AI imagery is not the best choice for your book covers.
1. Childlike Cartoon And Graphic Comic Appearance
AI-generated images are created using data and patterns, which often results in covers that feel generic and repetitive, and most have a cartoon graphic comic appearance. Since book covers play a crucial role in attracting readers and conveying the essence of a story, unoriginal AI-generated can be off-putting to readers. This is especially problematic for independent authors who rely on distinctive branding to establish their presence.
2. Quality Limitations
While AI technology has improved significantly, its outputs often contain noticeable flaws. Issues like unrealistic anatomy, misplaced elements, and awkward compositions can undermine the professionalism of a cover. AI-generated art has been known to produce images with distorted faces, or unnatural lighting, making them unreliable for high-quality book covers. Authors and designers who aim for a polished, compelling cover may find AI-generated images fall short of expectations.
3. Concerns About Legality
Many AI models are trained on existing artworks and photographs scraped from the internet, often without the original creators' consent. This raises concerns about copyright infringement and the ethics of using AI-generated art. Some platforms pull graphics and photos from various online sources, leading to questions about whether the resulting images are truly original. For creators who value artistic integrity, relying on AI could present legal and ethical dilemmas.
4. Limited Creative Control
Book covers should reflect an author’s vision, yet AI-generated images restrict fine-tuning and customization. While users can input prompts to guide the design, the AI's interpretation may not fully align with the desired aesthetic. Making adjustments can be difficult, and there are often limitations on how much an AI-generated image can be altered. This lack of control can lead to covers that feel impersonal or fail to capture the book’s genre and theme effectively within any given genre market.
5. Undermining the Value of Skilled Designers
AI-generated book covers risk devaluing the work of professional designers, implying that cover creation is merely an automated process rather than an art form requiring skill and expertise. This shift could lead to fewer opportunities for illustrators and designers, ultimately reducing the diversity and originality of book covers in the marketplace. Professional design involves thoughtful composition, typography, and branding—elements that AI struggles to replicate with the same level of finesse.
Unlike most cover designers, I'm also an author so I understand the needs of indie authors, but more importantly, my cover designs are based on meticulously researched and accurate studies of crime fiction and its subgenres. With over 70,000 book sales and 1 million Kindle Unlimited page reads I know how to sell books within this niche.
6. Damaging Effects On The Design Industry
If AI-generated imagery becomes the norm, it could significantly impact the design industry by reducing demand for human designers and illustrators. This shift could stifle creative innovation and result in a homogenized aesthetic across book covers. Fewer professional opportunities for artists and designers could lead to a decline in the variety and quality of book cover designs available to authors.
7. Branding Risks for Authors
For independent authors and publishers, a book cover serves as an extension of their brand. Generic AI-generated content is out of sync with market trends and will affect an author’s style, thus harming branding efforts. Additionally, many publishing houses and retailers have begun to ban AI-generated art due to its ethical implications. Associating with AI-generated designs could send the wrong message to readers and industry professionals. Authors who take pride in their craft would likely feel uncomfortable knowing AI-generated books were being marketed as "in the style of" their work.
Do you really want your book covers to look like some of these terrible AI-generated designs...
Or do you want something like this...
Conclusion
AI-generated images offer a quick and inexpensive alternative for book cover design, but there are many disadvantages. Issues with quality, customization, and copyright breaches highlight the importance of human expertise in design.
Ask yourself... "How many best-selling book covers look to have been created by AI?"
There are very few that I know of!
The reason is, that the most successful publishers and indie authors know that poorly created AI book covers are amateurish and off-putting to their target readers!
For authors serious about crafting an impactful book cover that fits in with current market trends, and will attract their target readers and lead to sales, investing in professional designers remains the best way to ensure a high-quality, unique, and compelling visual representation of their work.
At around £24 a cover, my premade and bespoke designs are affordable, and I offer discounts for repeat customers. Check them out here...