Create a book cover with spine, rear page and flaps

Question

I have just finished my thesis, and I want to ask if there is a way to create a front-title page with spine (I don't know if this is the right term for the area between front page and rear page)? I would also like to include a back page.

Some preliminary ideas are shown bellow

I found a package called zwpagelayout which allows somehow to create a spine and flaps as well. I tried to use it by

documentclass[11pt]{book}
usepackage[english,greek]{babel}
usepackage[iso-8859-7]{inputenc}
usepackage{kerkis}
usepackage[pdftex]{graphicx}
usepackage{colortbl}
usepackage{xcolor}
usepackage[papersize={,293mm}, topmargin=2mm, botmargin, strictheight, leftmargin=0mm, flap=50mm, textwidth=209mm, spine=13mm, cropmarks, cropframe, croptitle=Πρότυπο Εξωφύλλου]{zwpagelayout}
linespread{1}

begin{document}
 Εξώφυλλο
end{document}

Using this code produces an error that spine is not defined...
Any ideas?

I edited the previous code and the result is

Now I have to find a way to "move" around pages...
Any ideas will over-welcomed!!!

I also used this

documentclass[12pt,a4paper]{article}
usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
usepackage[latin1]{inputenc}
usepackage{pstricks}
pagestyle{empty}

makeatletter
 defLa{%
  Lkern-.36em{%
  setbox0hbox{T}%
  vbox toht0{%
    hbox{$m@th$%
      csname S@f@sizeendcsname
      fontsizesf@sizez@
      math@fontsfalseselectfont A}%
      vss%
    }%
  }%
}
defAllTeX{(Lakern-.075em)kern-.075emTeX}
makeatother

begin{document}
begin{titlepage}
psset{unit=1in,linewidth=2pt}%
psline(-0.75,2)(-0.75,-paperheight)%
psline(-0.25,2)(-0.25,-paperheight)%
rput[lb]{90}(-0.3,-0.75paperheight){redHugetextbf{Study}}%
rput[lb]{90}(-0.4,-0.1paperheight){redHugetextbf{MicroMEGAS}}%

vspace*{3cm}
centerline{Huge textbf{P}osttextbf{S}cript textbf{T}ricks}

vspace{2cm}
centerline{Large Athanasios Stamatopoulos}
end{titlepage}

end{document}

but my compiler cannot recognise commands like the following

psline(-0.75,2)(-0.75,-paperheight)%

The output from this code is

As you see no spine is produced. Instead spine is inserted in frontpage...

I have found a way to move around pads...
The complete and correct code is

documentclass[11pt]{book}
usepackage[english,greek]{babel}
usepackage[iso-8859-7]{inputenc}
usepackage{kerkis}
usepackage[pdftex]{graphicx}
usepackage{colortbl}
usepackage{xcolor}
usepackage[papersize={,293mm}, topmargin=2mm, botmargin, strictheight, leftmargin=0mm, flap=50mm, textwidth=209mm, spine=13mm, cropmarks, cropframe, croptitle=Πρότυπο Εξωφύλλου]{zwpagelayout}
linespread{1}

begin{document}
 hbox to textwidth{%
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap centering
Back flapvfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth centering
begin{tikzpicture}draw (0,0) --(5,5);end{tikzpicture}vfill leavevmode     ISBN+EAN}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropSpine centering
vfill
begin{sideways}Name Titleend{sideways}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth centering
Front covervfill LaTeX}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap centering
Front flapvfill}}
end{document}

Thanos · Answer

I have completed three covers. My code is

documentclass{article}
usepackage{pgfornament}
usepackage[english,greek]{babel}
usepackage[iso-8859-7]{inputenc}
usepackage{kerkis}
pagestyle{empty}
usepackage{tikz}
usetikzlibrary{decorations.fractals}
usepackage[papersize={,297mm}, strictheight=false,topmargin=0mm, botmargin, flap=50mm, textwidth=209mm, spine=13mm, cropmarks, cropframe, croptitle=Εξώφυλλο Διπλωματικής]{zwpagelayout}
usepackage{rotating}
linespread{1}
begin{document}
    hbox to textwidth{%
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap centering textcolor{white}{Front Flap}
}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vfill leavevmode textcolor{white}{ISBN+EAN}}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropSpine vfill
begin{sideways}hspace{-10cm}Αθανάσιος Ν. Σταματόπουλος hspace{5cm}{Large Μελέτη     Ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}  end{sideways}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vspace{1cm} 
setlength{unitlength}{1cm}
begin{picture}(20,27)

put(0.7,1){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,1){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,2){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,2){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,3){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,3){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,4){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,4){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,5){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,5){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,6){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,6){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,7){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,7){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,8){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,8){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,9){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,9){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,10){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,10){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,11){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,11){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,12){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,12){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,13){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,13){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,14){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,14){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,15){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,15){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,16){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,16){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,17){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,17){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,18){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,18){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,19){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,19){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,20){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,20){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,21){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,21){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,22){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,22){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,23){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,23){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,24){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,24){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,25){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,25){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,26){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,26){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
%-----------------------------------------------------------
put(3.4,23){includegraphics[width=3.3cm]{ntua-logo}}
put(7.1,25.4) {{Large Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο}}
put(7.1,24.9) {{Large Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών&Φυσικών Επιστημών}}
put(7.1,24.4) {{Large Τομέας Φυσικής}}
put(7.1,23.9) {{Large Εργαστήριο Πειραματικής Φυσικής Υψηλών Ενεργειών}}
put(6,14){{huge Μελέτη ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}}
put(7.5,7.5){{Large Σταματόπουλος Ν. Αθανάσιος}}
put(9,1.5){{Large Οκτώβριος 2012}}
end{picture}}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap textcolor{white}{Back Flap}
}}

newpage

hbox to textwidth{%
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap centering
textcolor{white}{Back flap}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vfill leavevmode textcolor{white}{ISBN+EAN}}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropSpine vfill
begin{sideways}hspace{-10cm}Αθανάσιος Ν. Σταματόπουλος hspace{5cm}{Large Μελέτη     Ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}  end{sideways}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vspace{1cm} 
setlength{unitlength}{1cm}
begin{picture}(20,27)

put(0.7,1){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,1){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,2){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,2){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,3){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,3){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,4){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,4){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,5){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,5){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,6){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,6){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,7){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,7){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,8){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,8){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,9){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,9){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,10){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,10){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,11){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,11){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,12){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,12){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,13){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,13){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,14){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,14){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,15){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,15){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,16){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,16){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,17){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,17){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,18){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,18){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,19){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,19){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,20){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,20){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,21){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,21){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,22){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,22){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,23){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,23){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,24){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,24){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,25){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,25){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(0.7,26){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
put(1.7,26){pgfornament[width=1cm]{25}}
%-----------------------------------------------------------
put(9.5,23){includegraphics[width=3.3cm]{ntua-logo}}
put(8,22) {{Large Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο}}
put(5,21.5) {{Large Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών&Φυσικών Επιστημών}}
put(9.5,21) {{Large Τομέας Φυσικής}}
put(5.5,20.5) {{Large Εργαστήριο Πειραματικής Φυσικής Υψηλών Ενεργειών}}
put(6,14){{huge Μελέτη ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}}
put(7.5,7.5){{Large Σταματόπουλος Ν. Αθανάσιος}}
put(9,1.5){{Large Οκτώβριος 2012}}
end{picture}}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap centering
textcolor{white}{Front flap}vfill}}

newpage

hbox to textwidth{%
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap 
vspace{20.5cm} begin{tikzpicture}draw[color=gray!50,fill=gray!50] (0,0) rectangle     (5,-2);end{tikzpicture}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vspace{20.5cm}     begin{tikzpicture}draw[color=gray!50,fill=gray!50] (-2,0) rectangle     (30,-2);end{tikzpicture}}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropSpine vfill
begin{sideways}hspace{-10cm}Αθανάσιος Ν. Σταματόπουλος  hspace{5cm}{Large Μελέτη     Ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}  end{sideways}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vspace{1cm} line(1,0){40}{} Large Σταματόπουλος     Ν. Αθανάσιος line(1,0){320} setlength{unitlength}{1cm}begin{picture}(27,17)
put(1,7){includegraphics[width=3.5cm]{ntua-logo}}
put (5.5,9.5){Large Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο}
put (5.5,9){Large Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών&Φυσικών Επιστημών}
put (5.5,8.5) {Large Τομέας Φυσικής}
put (5.5,8) {Large Εργαστήριο Πειραματικής Φυσικής Υψηλών Ενεργειών}
put (1,1) {huge Μελέτη ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}end{picture}
begin{tikzpicture}
draw[color=white,opacity=1] (0,2) -- (10,2);
draw[color=gray!50,fill=gray!50] (0,0) rectangle (25,-2);
node at (3,-6) {large Οκτώβριος 2012};
end{tikzpicture}
}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap vspace{20.5cm}     begin{tikzpicture}draw[color=gray!50,fill=gray!50] (0,0) rectangle     (4.5,-2);end{tikzpicture}vfill}}

end{document}

The output is

What do you guys think?Which is better for a thesis? Any other suggestions are welcomed!!!

**Edit:**I also added an alternative to the last cover in a color version.

The code is

hbox to textwidth{%
 vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap 
 vspace{20.5cm} begin{tikzpicture}draw[color=red,fill=red] (0,0) rectangle     (5,-2);end{tikzpicture}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vspace{20.5cm}     begin{tikzpicture}draw[color=red,fill=red] (-2,0) rectangle     (30,-2);end{tikzpicture}}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropSpine vfill
begin{sideways}hspace{-10cm}textcolor{blue}{Αθανάσιος Ν. Σταματόπουλος}  hspace{5cm}    {Large textcolor{blue}{Μελέτη Ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}}      end{sideways}vfill}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize UserWidth vspace{1cm} begin{tikzpicture}draw[red,very     thick] (0,0) --(3,0); node at (6.3,0) {Large Σταματόπουλος Ν. Αθανάσιος}; draw[red,very     thick] (9.6,0) -- (20,0); end{tikzpicture} setlength{unitlength}{1cm}begin{picture}    (27,17)
put(1,7){includegraphics[width=3.5cm]{ntua-logo}}
put (5.5,9.5){Large Εθνικό Μετσόβιο Πολυτεχνείο}
put (5.5,9){Large Σχολή Εφαρμοσμένων Μαθηματικών&Φυσικών Επιστημών}
put (5.5,8.5) {Large Τομέας Φυσικής}
put (5.5,8) {Large Εργαστήριο Πειραματικής Φυσικής Υψηλών Ενεργειών}
put (1,1) {huge Μελέτη ανιχνευτή latintext{MicroMEGAS}}end{picture}
begin{tikzpicture}
draw[color=white,opacity=1] (0,2) -- (10,2);
draw[color=red,fill=red] (0,0.2) rectangle (25,-1.8);
node at (3,-6) {large Οκτώβριος 2012};
end{tikzpicture}
}hss
vbox to textheight{hsize CropFlap vspace{20.5cm}     begin{tikzpicture}draw[color=red,fill=red] (0,0) rectangle     (4.5,-2);end{tikzpicture}vfill}}

The output of this code is as follows

What would you guys choose?

user26732 · Answer

Another option is to create the front and back cover artwork in a graphics program. This is the advice contained in the Koma-script manual if I remember correctly. Once you have the front and back cover, you can use the LaTeX bookcover package to properly generate a the cover.

I believe it's possible to use the bookcover package to impose graphics on the page as you wish, but I haven't used it for that purpose.

Samuel Marks · Answer

Just came across the bookcover package—from 2015, still updated in 2020—where you can do:
Dust cover

Two-sided book cover

Create a book cover with spine, rear page and flaps

3 Answers

Dust cover

Two-sided book cover

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question