Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutbyte Driver Updater · freeOne free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.
Scan My Drivers Free →ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Canva is the best all-in-one choice for most self-published authors. It combines AI image generation, editable typography, templates, and export tools in one interface. For more distinctive fantasy, science-fiction, horror, or painterly artwork, choose Midjourney and finish the cover in Canva, Photoshop, Affinity, or another layout tool. Adobe Firefly is the strongest fit for Adobe users who prioritize commercial-use clarity, while Ideogram is useful for typography-led concepts.
The important distinction is that most AI image generators create cover art, not a finished, publication-ready book cover. A sellable cover still needs genre-appropriate typography, thumbnail testing, correct dimensions, and— for print—bleed, spine, back-cover layout, and printer-compliant export.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Text handling | Layout capability | Separate design tool? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canva Magic Media | Beginners and complete workflows | Editable text added manually | Strong | Usually no |
| Midjourney | Artistic, cinematic cover art | Unreliable for final text | Limited | Yes |
| Adobe Firefly | Adobe users and commercially cautious workflows | Use manual typesetting | Strong with Adobe tools | Often |
| Ideogram | Text-heavy concepts | Relatively strong, but needs checking | Limited | Usually yes |
| ChatGPT image generation | Conversational brainstorming | Do not rely on it for final type | Limited | Yes |
| BookBrush | Book templates, mockups, and series assets | Manual layout tools | Book-focused | Sometimes |
There is no universal winner. The right choice depends on whether you need artwork, typography, a print file, series consistency, or all four.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →What makes an AI tool suitable for a book cover?
Generic image quality is only one part of the decision. Evaluate each tool against the publishing job it must perform.
#1 Best Overall
- Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet: Enjoy industry leading tablet performance in superior control and precision with Wacom's EMR, battery free technology that feels like pen on paper
- Works With All Software: Wacom Intuos tablet can be used in any software program to explore new facets of digital creativity; draw, paint, edit photos/videos, create designs, and mark up documents
- What the Professionals Use: Wacom's industry leading pen technology and pen to paper feeling makes it the preferred drawing tablet of professional graphic designers
- Software and Training Included: Only Wacom gives you software with every purchase. Register your Intuos tablet and gain access to some of the best creative software and Wacom's online training
- Wacom is the Global Leader in Drawing Tablet and Displays: For over 40 years in pen display and tablet market, you can trust that Wacom to help you bring your vision, ideas and creativity to life
- Genre fit: Fantasy may benefit from atmospheric illustration; romance needs coherent, attractive people; thrillers often depend on high-contrast photographic composition; nonfiction usually needs clean hierarchy; children’s books need consistent, age-appropriate characters.
- Composition: Can you reserve empty space for the title and author name? Can the image be reframed into a tall cover without hiding the focal point?
- Typography: Can it render words accurately, and—more importantly—can you edit the title, subtitle, and author name afterward?
- Resolution and export: Check actual pixel dimensions, file format, bleed, color requirements, and whether the file can support an ebook front cover or a complete print wrap.
- Commercial rights: Review the exact plan and model terms. A platform’s general policy may not apply identically to free tiers, partner models, stock assets, or fonts.
- Consistency: For a series, test recurring characters, palettes, costumes, emblems, lighting, and composition.
- Editing: The ability to retouch artifacts and extend an image can matter more than one impressive generation.
- Real cost: Include failed generations, credits, upscaling, design software, cleanup, and your time—not just the subscription.
1. Canva Magic Media: best overall for beginners
Canva is the most practical one-tool option for a first-time self-publisher. Its AI image generation sits alongside editable text, templates, design elements, resizing, and export tools. That combination is more useful for a finished ebook cover than superior raw image quality alone.
Best for
- First-time self-publishers
- Nonfiction, business, self-help, and how-to books
- Authors who need cover art plus launch graphics, ads, or mockups
- Authors who want to add the title manually
Strengths and limitations
Canva has a short learning curve and makes it easy to reuse a visual system across a series or promotional campaign. Its weakness is that template-led designs can look generic, and its AI imagery may be less distinctive than Midjourney’s for complex fantasy or cinematic scenes. A design can also look polished at full size yet fail at online-store thumbnail size. Check the licensing of individual stock elements rather than assuming every asset has identical terms. See Canva’s terms.
Verdict: The best overall choice when “usable cover” matters more than the most ambitious artwork. Comparison coverage has reported Canva Pro at approximately $13–$15 per month, but price varies by geography and billing cycle; confirm the live price before subscribing. (comparison source)
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
2. Midjourney: best for artistic cover art
Midjourney is the strongest artistic choice in this shortlist for many fantasy, science-fiction, horror, historical-fiction, and literary-fiction concepts. It is particularly useful for atmosphere, symbolic imagery, creatures, environments, and painterly or cinematic directions.
It is not a complete cover-production system. Reliable title and author text should not be expected, and it does not calculate spine width or create a complete print wrap. Beginners may also find its image-feed workflow less direct than a conventional design application. Series consistency can require reference images, careful prompting, and substantial curation.
Rank #2
- Word-first 16K Pressure Levels: The upgraded stylus features 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and supports up to 60 degrees of tilt, delivering smoother lines and shading for a natural drawing experience. With no battery or charging needed, it operates like a real pen, making it easy for beginners to create effortlessly. This functionality helps novice artists develop their skills and explore their creativity without the intimidation of complex tools
- Designed for Beginners: This drawing pad desinged with 8 customizable shortcuts for both right and left-hand users, express keys create a highly ergonomic and convenient work platform
- Perfectly Adapted for Android: The XPPen Deco 01 V3 art tablet supports connections with Android devices running version 10.0 and above. It is recommended to download the XPPen Tools Android application, which adapts to your smartphone's screen aspect ratio, ensuring accurate mapping. It also supports mapping on Android screens with different aspect ratios in portrait mode
- Large Drawing Space, Bigger Bold Inspiration: This expansive drawing pad has10 x 6.25-inch helps you break through the limit between shortcut keys and drawing area
- Easy Connectivity for Beginners: The Deco 01 V3 offers USB-C to USB-C connectivity, plus adapters for USB C. This ensures easy connection to various devices, allowing beginner artists to set up quickly and focus on their creativity without compatibility concerns. Whether using a laptop, tablet, or desktop, the Deco 01 V3 provides a seamless experience, making it an ideal choice for those just starting their digital art journey
The most effective workflow is to generate artwork only, request a vertical composition with negative space, select the strongest direction, inspect and upscale it, then complete the typography in Canva, Photoshop, Affinity, or another layout tool. Current comparison coverage has reported paid plans beginning around $10 per month, with higher tiers around $30 and $60; verify the current structure on the official plans page. (comparison source)
Verdict: Best raw-image choice for visually ambitious fiction covers, but not the best one-tool solution.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
3. Adobe Firefly: best for an Adobe workflow
Adobe Firefly suits authors and designers who already work in Photoshop, Adobe Express, or the wider Adobe ecosystem. Its strengths include generative fill, image expansion, editing controls, and a more integrated finishing workflow.
Adobe states that outputs from its own Firefly models are safe for commercial use and that those models are trained on licensed and public-domain content. That statement should not be broadened to every model available through Adobe: Adobe also distinguishes partner-model outputs and says users remain responsible for deciding whether that content is appropriate.
Firefly may be less visually adventurous than Midjourney for highly imaginative genres, and generated lettering still needs manual checking. As seen on Adobe’s U.S. pricing page on August 18, 2026, Firefly Standard was listed at $9.99 per month, Pro at $19.99, Pro Plus at $49.99 regular price, and Premium at $199.99 regular price, alongside credit allocations and promotional pricing. Prices can change. Review Adobe’s terms as well as the plan details.
Rank #3
- Customize Your Workflow: The 6 customizable press keys on Huion H640P drawing tablet for pc let you assign your most-used commands—like undo, zoom, brush switch, or save—so you can keep your hands on the tablet and your mind on the art. Whether you're a digital painter switching brushes, or a comic artist zooming in and out, these keys keep your workflow smooth and uninterrupted. Plus, the Huion driver lets you save different shortcut profiles for different apps, so you never have to reconfigure when switching software.
- Professional Pen Performance: Huion H640P drawing pad for computer comes with the battery-free PW100 stylus that's always ready when inspiration strikes. With 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, every light sketch, or bold stroke responds naturally to your hand—just like a real pen. The 5080 LPI resolution and 233 PPS report rate deliver lag-free, precise strokes, so you can draw confidently without second-guessing your cursor. The pen side buttons help you switch between pen and eraser instantly.
- Compact and Portable: Huion H640P computer graphics tablet features a compact, ultra-portable design at just 0.3 inches thin and 0.61 lbs light, so it slides easily into your backpack—perfect for sketching in coffee shops, taking notes in class, or editing on the go between home and studio. The 6x4 inch active area offers enough room for natural pen movements while fitting comfortably on crowded desks, or lecture hall seats.
- Stable Compatibility: Huion H640P graphic drawing tablet works seamlessly with Mac, Windows, Linux PCs, and Android smartphones/tablets (OS version 6.0 or later). Left-handed friendly, and you just need to flip the tablet and adjust the settings in the driver. Please note: H640P does NOT support iPhone/iPad.
- Move Beyond the Mouse: Huion Inspiroy H640P is a pen tablet that replaces your mouse for more natural, precise control. Freehand draw, take notes, or even play OSU—everything you do with a mouse, you can do better with a pen. The precise tip makes it ideal for detailed photo editing, graphic design, or signing PDF. Meanwhile, the ergonomic pen grip helps you avoid the strain that comes from hours of using a mouse.
Verdict: The best fit when editing control, Adobe integration, and licensing clarity matter more than maximum visual novelty.
4. Ideogram: best for text-led concepts
Ideogram is useful when lettering is part of the initial visual idea. It is generally regarded as stronger at rendering in-image text than most general-purpose generators, making it relevant to minimalist literary, business, self-help, nonfiction, poster-like, and graphic concepts.
It is not perfectly accurate. Spelling, punctuation, subtitles, author names, and letterforms still require inspection. Generated words are also not as editable as text added in a layout application, and complex scenes may be less visually compelling than Midjourney’s.
Verdict: A strong concept generator for typography-forward covers, not a replacement for editable professional typesetting. Free and paid plans are available; consult the current terms and pricing rather than relying on an old price table.
5. ChatGPT image generation: best for conversational art direction
ChatGPT is especially useful during the thinking stage. You can describe a synopsis, audience, genre, mood, symbolism, and desired composition in ordinary language, then iterate on the direction conversationally. The official pricing page lists limited and slower image generation on Free, more complex and accurate image creation on Plus, and unlimited and faster image creation on Pro subject to guardrails.
Rank #4
- 4 Pack for More Fun: Apply the newest flexible liquid crystal technology, brighter and clearer than most LCD writing tablet. Take pressure-sensitive technology, you can draw lines of different thicknesses through different pressure levels. Package includes 4 pack lcd writing tablet (Blue, Light blue, Green and Pink), free children's imagination and creativity.
- 8.5 Inch Colorful Lcd writing Tablet: TQU kids LCD doodle board is a creative education and learning toy, perfect support for drawing, writing, spelling, math, remark, and notes which can let your kids freely release their natural instincts. With erase button on the front and lock switch. You can draw and erase easily by pressing the button on the front of the board. The pen fits snug on top of tablet and it will not come loose.
- Easy to use and Durable: The LCD writing tablet for kids is easy to use, just use the stylus to write, draw, scribble, doodle anything you want. Press the erase button to clear the screen in one second. Or press the lock key to save the screen contents. Our magic reusable drawing tablet is built in a button battery.
- Safe & Portable Toddler Travel Toys: Great for quiet, take-along entertainment. It’s an easy way to color on the go without lugging a bunch of stuff in the car or to a restaurant or church.
- Perfect Gift Idea: The multi-functional LCD writing tablet is a great gift choice for kids. It can be an educational toy for preschoolers. A perfect parent-pick gift for 3 4 5 6 7 8 year old girls and boys on back to school, homeschool, birthday, Easter, Children's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and any occasion.
It is not a dedicated book-cover layout environment. Check dimensions, resolution, and file suitability for the intended retailer or printer, and add final title and author typography elsewhere. Availability and limits vary by plan. OpenAI’s Terms of Use govern outputs, but commercial usability is not the same as guaranteed copyright ownership, exclusivity, or freedom from third-party claims.
Verdict: The best option for natural-language brainstorming and iterative visual art direction.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. BookBrush: best for book-specific templates and mockups
BookBrush is built around author workflows rather than maximum general-purpose image quality. Its book-shaped templates, cover layouts, 3D mockups, and promotional graphics can be valuable when you are producing several books or a series.
Its raw artwork may be less distinctive than Midjourney or Firefly, and its design flexibility may be narrower than Canva’s. Exact trim, bleed, and spine requirements still need to be checked against the destination printer. Comparison coverage has reported indicative plans around $10–$20 per month, but verify the current price directly because the official pricing page may change.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchVerdict: Best for authors who need book-production utilities and marketing mockups, rather than the most advanced image model.
Best Value
- PLEASE NOTE：XPPen Artist13.3 Pro drawing tablet Need to connect with computer,you need to use it with your computer or laptop, the 3 in 1 cable is included
- Drawing Tablet with Screen: Tilt Function- XPPen Artist 13.3 Pro supports up to 60 degrees of tilt function, so now you don't need to adjust the brush direction in the software again and again. Simply tilt to add shading to your creation and enjoy smoother and more natural transitions between lines and strokes
- Graphics Tablets: High Color Gamut- The 13.3 inch fully-laminated FHD Display pairs a superb color accuracy of 88% NTSC (Adobe RGB≧91%，sRGB≧123%) with a 178-degree viewing angle and delivers rich colors, vivid images, and dazzling details in a wider view. Your creative world is now as powerful as it is colorful
- Drawing Pad: One is enough- The sleek Red Dial on the display is expertly designed with creators in mind, its strategic placement allows for natural drawing postures. With just one wheel, you can effortlessly zoom in and out, adjust brush sizes, and flip the canvas—all tailored to suit the habits of everyday artists. The 8 customizable shortcut keys allow you to personalize your setup, streamlining your workflow and enhancing creative efficiency
- Universal Compatibility & Software Support：supports Windows 7 (or later), Mac OS X 10.10 (or later), Chrome OS 88 (or later), and Linux systems. Fully compatible with major creative software including Photoshop, Illustrator, SAI, and Blender 3D. Register your device to access additional programs like ArtRage 5 and openCanvas for expanded creative possibilities.
Best tool by genre and goal
| Need | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| Fantasy or painterly fiction | Midjourney for artwork, then Canva, Photoshop, or Affinity for type |
| Science fiction or horror | Midjourney for cinematic atmosphere; finish manually |
| Romance | Choose a tool that can produce coherent people, then inspect faces and anatomy carefully; manual layout remains essential |
| Thriller | Use high-contrast, immediately legible imagery and test the thumbnail before polishing |
| Literary fiction | Firefly, Midjourney, or Ideogram depending on whether mood or typography leads |
| Nonfiction, business, or self-help | Canva for editable hierarchy, or Ideogram for initial text-led concepts |
| Children’s books | Prioritize character consistency, age-appropriate visual language, and human review |
| Series production and mockups | BookBrush or Canva for reusable templates and promotional assets |
| Commercially important title | Use AI for concepts and hire a professional designer for the final cover |
A practical AI-assisted cover workflow
- Study the category. Review successful books in the exact genre, subgenre, audience, format, and retailer category. Your cover should signal its genre immediately without becoming indistinguishable from competitors.
- Generate artwork separately from typography. Use a prompt such as: Create cover artwork only. Do not include words, letters, logos, or typography. Use a vertical composition with clear negative space in the upper third for the title and lower third for the author name.
- Explore several directions. Try a wide scene, close-up object, character concept, symbolic image, and contrasting palette before investing time in one.
- Inspect artifacts. Check hands, eyes, teeth, jewelry, weapons, machinery, architecture, reflections, clothing seams, animals, duplicate figures, signs, logos, and background lettering.
- Extend or reframe properly. Use outpainting or generative expansion for a tall cover. Do not stretch a square image vertically.
- Add all final text manually. Title, subtitle, author name, series label, and any small print should remain editable and carefully aligned.
- Test the thumbnail. Reduce the cover to approximately its online-store display size. Ask whether the title is readable, the central image is recognizable, and the design looks like a finished book rather than an AI illustration.
- Prepare the correct file. An ebook generally needs a single front-cover image. A print book needs a full wrap with front, spine, back, bleed, correct trim, page-count-dependent spine width, and printer-specific export requirements.
Do not use one universal pixel size for every retailer. Check the current destination requirements and calculator—for example, Amazon KDP’s cover guidance—before uploading.
Commercial-use and publishing checklist
- Confirm the terms for the exact plan used to generate the final image.
- Check whether free-tier outputs have commercial-use, watermark, attribution, resolution, or download restrictions.
- Identify which model made the image, especially when a platform offers partner models.
- Do not confuse commercial-use permission with copyright protection, exclusivity, or indemnification.
- Review separate licenses for stock images, fonts, textures, logos, and other third-party elements.
- Obtain permission before using a real person’s likeness, celebrity likeness, trademark, or recognizable protected character.
- Verify the retailer’s current cover rules and the printer’s trim, bleed, color, PDF, and spine specifications.
- Keep the original prompts, source files, licenses, and manually edited layout so you can document the production process.
AI-generated output may be commercially usable while receiving limited or uncertain copyright protection, depending on the jurisdiction and the amount of human creative contribution. Treat rights review as part of production, not as an assumption made from the tool’s marketing page.
When to hire a human cover designer
Professional help is usually worth considering when the book is central to your income, the genre is highly competitive, the cover requires complex typography or a full print wrap, the title belongs to a large series, or repeated AI revisions still look “almost right.” A designer can use AI for mood boards and concept exploration while handling hierarchy, retouching, genre conventions, licensing, and production files.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The most credible commercial workflow is often a combination: use Midjourney, Firefly, Ideogram, or ChatGPT to explore art direction; use Canva, Photoshop, Affinity, or BookBrush to build the cover; and bring in a professional when the sales importance or production complexity justifies it.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
