Custom Covers Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: September 10, 2026

By submitting a custom cover request to InkVault Publishing, the prospective client (“Client”) acknowledges and agrees to the following terms and conditions. Submission of a request does not guarantee acceptance of a project.

1. Custom Cover Requests & Project Acceptance

All custom cover projects begin with submission of InkVault Publishing's custom cover request form.

InkVault Publishing will review the information provided to determine whether the requested project is a suitable fit based on the project's requirements, scope, and InkVault Publishing's ability to complete the requested work.

Submission of a custom cover request does not create an obligation for InkVault Publishing to accept the project.

If the project is accepted, InkVault Publishing will notify the Client and provide instructions for payment of the required deposit.

A project is not considered booked until InkVault Publishing has accepted the project and the required deposit has been paid.

2. Deposit

A $20 non-refundable deposit is required to secure an accepted custom cover project.

The deposit is paid only after InkVault Publishing has reviewed and accepted the Client's request. Clients should not submit payment before receiving confirmation that their project has been accepted.

The deposit will be applied toward the final cost of the applicable custom cover project.

Payment of the deposit secures the project under the pricing and service terms provided at the time of acceptance.

If the Client chooses not to proceed after paying the deposit, the deposit will not be refunded.

3. Custom Design Process

Custom covers are created specifically for the Client based on the information, preferences, references, genre expectations, and other materials supplied through the custom cover process.

The Client agrees to provide sufficient and accurate information regarding the requested design.

While InkVault Publishing will make reasonable efforts to create a cover consistent with the Client's requested direction, custom design is a creative service. Submission of inspiration images, comparable covers, mood boards, colors, concepts, or other references does not guarantee an exact reproduction of those materials.

InkVault Publishing will not knowingly reproduce or copy another designer's completed cover.

4. Client Communication and Cooperation

The Client is responsible for providing information and feedback reasonably necessary to complete the project.

Delays in providing requested materials, specifications, approvals, or other information may delay completion of the project.

If project specifications or publishing information change during or after the design process, additional work resulting from those changes may incur additional charges.

InkVault Publishing reserves the right to pause or close projects that cannot reasonably proceed because required information or communication has not been provided.

5. Payment

Pricing will be based on InkVault Publishing's rates applicable to the project at the time it is accepted, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The $20 deposit will be credited toward the total project price.

Any remaining balance must be paid before final, unwatermarked files are delivered unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Additional services or work requested outside the originally agreed project scope may be priced separately.

6. Cancellations and Refunds

The $20 project deposit is non-refundable.

If the Client cancels the project after work has begun, InkVault Publishing may retain payment for work already completed and is not obligated to provide unfinished or working design files.

Payments made for completed design work are non-refundable.

If InkVault Publishing is unable to complete an accepted project, any payment for services that have not been performed will be refunded as appropriate.

Nothing in these terms limits any rights that cannot legally be waived under applicable law.

7. Client-Supplied Information and Materials

The Client is responsible for ensuring that all information submitted to InkVault Publishing is accurate and final, including:

• Book title and subtitle

• Author or pen name

• Series information

• Taglines

• Back-cover copy

• Page count

• Trim size

• Paper specifications

• ISBN or barcode instructions

• Publisher or imprint information

• Logos

• Any other Client-supplied text, images, or materials

The Client represents that they have the necessary rights or permission to use any materials supplied to InkVault Publishing.

InkVault Publishing is not responsible for errors contained in information supplied or approved by the Client.

Changes requested because Client-supplied information has changed after design work has been completed may incur an additional fee.

8. Print Covers and Additional Formats

When paperback, hardcover, large-print, audiobook, or other formats are included in the purchased service or ordered separately, the Client must provide all specifications necessary to create those files.

Print specifications may include final page count, trim size, paper type or color, publishing platform or printer, back-cover copy, ISBN/barcode instructions, and other applicable information.

The Client is responsible for providing accurate specifications generated or required by their chosen publishing platform or printer.

If specifications change after a print cover has been created, additional resizing or reconstruction may incur an additional fee.

For custom cover projects purchased under a service package that includes a limited service window, eligible personalization, print wraps, resizing, or other included formats must be requested within the service period disclosed at the time of purchase.

For custom cover purchases subject to InkVault Publishing's twelve-month service window, all eligible print wraps and included formats must be requested within twelve (12) months of the original project booking date.

After the applicable service period expires, additional work may be purchased, when available, at InkVault Publishing's then-current rates.

Expiration of a service period does not affect the Client's right to continue using files previously delivered.

9. Final Approval and File Delivery

The Client is responsible for reviewing the design and all included text before final approval.

Once a design has been approved and final files have been delivered, changes requested because the Client later changes a title, subtitle, author name, series information, blurb, page count, trim size, or other specification may incur an additional fee.

InkVault Publishing will correct errors introduced by InkVault Publishing without charge.

Final files will be delivered digitally in the formats included with the purchased service.

The Client is responsible for downloading and safely storing all delivered files. InkVault Publishing does not guarantee indefinite storage or replacement of previously delivered files.

10. Rights and Permitted Use

Upon full payment, the Client receives the right to use the completed custom cover for the book or series for which it was commissioned, including applicable ebook, print, promotional, advertising, and marketing uses.

The Client may not resell, redistribute, sublicense, give away, or make InkVault Publishing's editable working files, source files, templates, or individual design assets available to third parties as standalone products.

Unless expressly included in the purchased service, editable source files are not provided.

InkVault Publishing retains ownership of its underlying working files, templates, design methods, and other proprietary materials used in creating the final design.

11. Third-Party Assets and Fonts

Custom covers may incorporate fonts, licensed assets, stock elements, generated or digitally created imagery, and other design resources.

Any third-party elements remain subject to their applicable licenses and are not transferred to the Client as independently owned assets.

Purchase of a custom cover grants rights to use the completed design as provided under these terms and does not grant independent ownership of third-party assets incorporated into that design.

12. AI-Assisted Design

InkVault Publishing may use artificial intelligence-assisted tools as part of its creative and editing workflow. AI-assisted elements may be edited, composited, retouched, manipulated, or otherwise incorporated into finished designs using programs such as Adobe Photoshop and other design software.

By commissioning a custom cover, the Client acknowledges that AI-assisted tools may be used during the creation or editing process.

Publishing platforms may maintain their own rules regarding disclosure of AI-generated or AI-assisted content, and those requirements may change over time. The Client is responsible for reviewing and complying with the current requirements of the platforms through which they choose to publish.

InkVault Publishing does not guarantee how a third-party publishing platform will classify a particular cover or what disclosures that platform may require.

13. Portfolio and Promotional Use

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, InkVault Publishing may display completed custom cover designs in its portfolio, website, social media, advertisements, or other promotional materials.

Portfolio display does not grant another party the right to purchase or use the Client's completed custom cover.

InkVault Publishing may wait until a cover has been publicly revealed or published before displaying it when such an arrangement has been agreed upon with the Client.

14. Turnaround and Scheduling

Project scheduling begins after InkVault Publishing has accepted the project, received the required deposit, and received the information necessary to begin work.

Any estimated completion dates provided during the project are estimates unless expressly agreed otherwise.

Delays caused by incomplete information, changed specifications, delayed Client responses, or circumstances outside InkVault Publishing's reasonable control may affect project scheduling.

15. Project Scope

Acceptance of a custom cover project applies only to the services agreed upon for that project.

It does not obligate InkVault Publishing to provide additional formats, promotional materials, character artwork, future series covers, formatting, marketing services, or other work that was not included in the accepted project.

Additional services may be available separately at InkVault Publishing's current rates and availability.

16. Changes to These Terms

InkVault Publishing may update these terms from time to time.

The terms applicable to a custom cover project are the terms in effect when the project is booked through payment of the required deposit.

Changes made to these terms after a project has been booked will not retroactively reduce services or rights already included with that project unless required by law.

17. Acceptance of Terms

By submitting the custom cover request form and selecting the required acknowledgment, the Client confirms that they have read, understood, and agreed to these Custom Cover Terms & Conditions.

Submission of the request does not guarantee project acceptance.

If InkVault Publishing accepts the requested project, payment of the required deposit confirms the Client's booking and continued agreement to the terms applicable to that project.