Cheating Cover Models
How to find out if your cover art has been used elsewhere
It's bound to happen whether you're an indie or published with the Big 5. Occasionally, you'll find your cover image reused--sometimes straight out of box on someone else's book.
It's irritating, but it happens. Popular images tend to get overused.
If you'd like to see if your cover art has been used elsewhere (and how). Right click your cover and click on View Image Info. The url of that image will already be selected. Copy and paste into Google Images.
If Google has found that image anywhere, it will spit out all the places it's seen it. It will even list any images that look similar to it.
By the way, this is how photographers and artists find out if someone has used their images without permission or payment.
It's also a reminder that you are simply buying the license for the art, not the art itself.
There's not much you can do but either customize an existing image, or have a cover designed and buy the rights to it.
Does it bother you to see the same image used on different books? I think it dilutes the message a little. And I can't help but feel a little sorry for the authors. Everybody wants a unique cover.
It's bound to happen whether you're an indie or published with the Big 5. Occasionally, you'll find your cover image reused--sometimes straight out of box on someone else's book.
It's irritating, but it happens. Popular images tend to get overused.
If you'd like to see if your cover art has been used elsewhere (and how). Right click your cover and click on View Image Info. The url of that image will already be selected. Copy and paste into Google Images.
If Google has found that image anywhere, it will spit out all the places it's seen it. It will even list any images that look similar to it.
By the way, this is how photographers and artists find out if someone has used their images without permission or payment.
It's also a reminder that you are simply buying the license for the art, not the art itself.
There's not much you can do but either customize an existing image, or have a cover designed and buy the rights to it.
Does it bother you to see the same image used on different books? I think it dilutes the message a little. And I can't help but feel a little sorry for the authors. Everybody wants a unique cover.
Comments
Thanks for the tip on tracking images.
The stock art companies don't sell you the image, just the right to use it. This is how they (and the photographers) make their money.
What frustrates me, maybe even lends to a feeling of laziness, is the same exact image being used repeatedly, without any customization. Within a series, it can work well. However, different stories, different authors, maybe even different publishers...blah. LOL.
Thanks for the tip!
Re: off with their heads
I'm amused at how divided the issue is. I've met people from both camps wanting cropped bodies or full bodies. People either like it or they don't.
Interesting.
Very confusing.
As an author, the lack of differentiation can be disconcerting. That's probably the reason I hope to always go with an artist who can customize an image instead of using stock and nothing more.
It really drives me nuts with they use the same model(s) without any change of hairdo or facial expression, in YA genre especially have noticed it recently lots.
Unfortunately we both write in the same genre and if you put both covers side by side, you can't really tell them apart.
There's nothing I can do about it so I just won't show my covers before the book comes out anymore.
It's worse when big publishers do this because you expect them to have the money to buy original art.
And I'm with you about showing cover art. I guard mine jealously until the last moment. I've spent too much time and work on it to just give that idea away to someone else.
There's an old marketing ploy that releasing the cover early increases buzz. But with self-publishing, I'm not sure it's effective if someone can take that idea and publish before you.
How are you, my friend? Well, I hope. You take care, ok?
-Jimmy
re: Each story is original...
I think this is why it hurts me to see copycat covers. I know you can't always foresee when a cover might be used again, but if you at least try to modify it enough so it doesn't come straight out of the stock art site, it stands a better chance at being unique.
I feel bad for the authors.
In the old days, they were good about making changes, but no longer.
Hope you find the same thing.
Thanks for the tip!
Models are the most distinguishing feature, but I also notice when certain background elements are used.
You're right. It's inevitable. All you can hope for is that your cover is better than the other guy's. :)