arcanea-book-coverlisted

# Arcanea Book Cover Design Skill Generate premium book covers by thinking deeply about the book first, then translating that thinking into a precision image prompt. NB2 is default. NB Pro only when user specifies "premium" or "hero". ## The 5-Phase Method Do NOT skip phases. The thinking is the skill. The generation is the reward. ### Phase 1: READ THE BOOK (or its architecture) Before writing any prompt, you must understand: 1. **Central tension** — What does the protagonist fight against? What internal conflict mirrors the external? 2. **Emotional register** — Is this grief-heavy? Wonder-heavy? Dread-heavy? A dark comedy? Bittersweet? Name it precisely. 3. **Iconic image** — What ONE visual moment defines the book? The image a reader would tattoo on themselves. 4. **Genre expectations vs subversion** — What do readers of this genre expect? What should you give them, and what should you withhold? 5. **Color emotional key** — What color (singular) carries the book's feeling? If the book has a `book.yaml` or outline, read them. If the book has existing chapters, read at least one opening and one pivotal scene. ### Phase 2: PULL BEST PRACTICES Top book cover designers operate on these principles. Keep them active during prompt design: **Chip Kidd's Rules:** - One idea, one image, one emotion - The cover is a question, not an answer — it should make readers curious, not satisfied - Text and image are one unit — typography is 50% of the cover - Don't illustrate the plo