---
title: "How to design a paperback cover and spine | PubliWrite"
source: https://publiwrite.com/guides/design-a-paperback-cover
---

# How to design a paperback cover (back, spine and front) in PubliWrite

A print cover wraps the whole book, and we size it from your page count so the spine fits. This guide shows how to make the full wrap in Compact mode, then use Advanced mode to place the spine text and check it in 3D.

## Steps

1. On the Cover step, scroll to Print cover and choose Design it here.
2. In Compact mode, pick a style, check the words on the back and front, and choose your colours.
3. Switch to Advanced and keep your words inside the safe area; the ISBN box is added at print.
4. Add the title to the spine: make it smaller, turn it ninety degrees and centre it.
5. Preview it in 3D, then click Done.

## Chapters

- 0:00 [Intro](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq7J_px-Mrk&t=0s)
- 0:06 [Open the print cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq7J_px-Mrk&t=6s)
- 0:17 [Compact mode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq7J_px-Mrk&t=17s)
- 0:35 [Advanced mode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq7J_px-Mrk&t=35s)
- 1:09 [Check and finish](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq7J_px-Mrk&t=69s)

## Learn more

- [Cover designer](https://publiwrite.com/features/cover-designer)
- [Print on demand](https://publiwrite.com/features/print-on-demand)

Read the transcript

A print cover wraps the whole book: back, spine and front. Here's how to make one. On the Cover step, a print book has two covers. Scroll down to Print cover. Its size comes from your page count, so the spine fits. Choose Design it here. Compact mode takes three steps. First, pick a style. We'll use Print wrap. Your words go on the back and the front. The title comes from your book. Add your author name, and the cover updates. Then the colours: a white background, with dark ink for the text. That's a full cover already. For more control, switch to Advanced. The guides show the trim line, the safe area and the bleed. Keep your words inside the safe area. This box holds your ISBN barcode. It's added at print. Now the spine. Open Text, and add a subtitle line. Type the title. Make it smaller. Then turn it ninety degrees. Align to page centres it on the wrap, right on the spine. Preview it in 3D to see it as a real book. Drag to turn it. Check the spine, then turn again for the back. Click Done. Both covers are added, and you can carry on to Price. Next in the series: publishing your first print book. Click the video on screen to watch it.

Last updated 10 November 2026

## Watch next

[How to publish a paperback on PubliWrite](https://publiwrite.com/guides/publish-a-paperback)

Get started for free