How To Design A Simple Cover Page

In this tutorial, I am going to be showing you step by step on how to design a simple cover page. A cover page is usually the first page of any book, article or project. Making a nice simple cover page is very essential, especially for books (novels, notebooks etc).

If you have never designed something in Ms-word before, here is your chance follow the steps below and learn how to now!

HOW TO DESIGN A SIMPLE COVER PAGE
Step 1 - Open a blank page in your Ms-word and zoom out so that you can see the full size.

Step 2 - Click on the Insert tab, go to the Illustrations group. Click on the Shapes command which will open the dropdown list of shapes, then click on the Rectangle Shape.

Step 3 - Now place your mouse pointer at the top left edge of the document page (notice a plus sign), then hold down click button drawing the rectangle to cover the full size of the document page.

Step 4 - In the Format Shape tab, go to the Shape Styles group, click on the Shape Fill. From the shape fill dropdown menu list, click on the No Fill option.

Step 5 - In the Format Shape tab, go to the Shape Styles group, click on the Shape Outline. From the shape fill dropdown menu list, click on the No Outline option.

Step 6 - Click on the Insert tab, go to the Illustrations group. Click on the Shapes command which will open the dropdown list of shapes, then click on the Oval Shape.

Step 7 - Now, hold down the Shift key, the hold down the click button and draw a perfect circle.
After drawing the circle, position it as shown in the image below (let part of the circle be outside of the document to the right).

Step 8 - In the Shape Format tab, inside the Shape Styles group, click on the Shape Fill option. From the dropdown list, click on the Picture option.

Step 9 - A dialog box will display for you to choose the location that you want to get the picture from. In my own I have already downloaded the pictures into my computer system, so I am clicking From a File option.

NOTE:

You only need two images for this entire tutorial, if you want to use the exact images I used in this tutorial, download the file below.

DOWNLOAD FILE

Step 10 - Ms-word will open the File explorer. Go to where the picture is located, selected it and click on the Insert button.

Step 11 - Picture will be inserted inside the shape. After this, in the Shape Format tab, go to the Shape Styles group and click on the Shape Outline option. From the dropdown list click on the No Outline option to remove the outline from the shape.

Step 12 - Draw another smaller brown circle and position it as shown below (half of the circle should be outside the document to the right).
After this, in the Shape Format tab, go to the Shape Styles group and click on the Shape Outline option. From the dropdown list click on the No Outline option to remove the outline from the shape.

Step 13 - Right click on the small brown circle shape. From the dropdown list displayed, click on the Format Shape option.
From the Format Shape pane at the right side of the windows, click the Fill option, go to Transparency and reduce it to 60%. Then close the pane.

Step 14 - Draw another smaller white circle and position it as shown below (half of the circle should be outside the document to the right).
After this, in the Shape Format tab, go to the Shape Styles group and click on the Shape Outline option. From the dropdown list click on the No Outline option to remove the outline from the shape.

Step 15 - In the Shape Format tab, inside the Shape Styles group, click on the Shape Fill option. From the dropdown list, click on the Picture option.

Step 16 - A dialog box will display for you to choose the location that you want to get the picture from. In my own I have already downloaded the pictures into my computer system, so I am clicking From a File option.

Step 17 - Ms-word will open the File explorer. Go to where the picture is located, selected it and click on the Insert button.

Step 18 - Picture will be inserted inside the shape.

Step 19 - Now I want to add the title of the cover page. For you to do this, go to the Insert tab, in the Text group, click on the Text Box and from the dropdown move down and click on the Draw Text Box option.

Step 20 - Hold down click and mouse your mouse pointer to draw out the text box at the top of the document. Now add the text. In my own case I am going to be giving this cover page the title: BEHIND THE SUN

Step 21 - Select the text box again, go to the Shape Format tab, in the Shape Styles group click on the Shape Fill option. From the dropdown list, click on the No Fill option to remove the fill color in the text box.

Step 22 - Again, select the text box, go to the Shape Format tab, in the Shape Styles group click on the Shape Outline option. From the dropdown list, click on the No Outline option to remove the outline in the text box.

Step 23 - You can change the font type and font size of the text.

Step 24 - Most times, cover page usually have little sub-heading or detail below the main title. Draw another text box, add a little sub-heading, change the font type and size accordingly.

Step 25 - Cover page also have author name, draw another text box, then add the author's name at the bottom left side of the document as shown below.
Go to the Shape Format tab, in the Shape Styles group click on the Shape Fill option. From the dropdown list, click on the white color to add white background to the text box.

Step 26 - You can also add the year below the author's name. Draw anther text box, and type in the year. Increase the font size as shown below

Step 27 - Now what next, I am going to be adding that tiny margin line at the left side which is usually found in most cover page books.
Click on the Insert tab, inside the Illustrations group, click on the Shapes option. From the dropdown list, click on the line shape.

Step 28 - Place your mouse pointer at the top left side of the document page, with few margins space from the left. Hold down the click button and draw a straight line from top to bottom.

Step 29 - Kuddos! But you are not yet done. You can change the text color in the title to match the background and adjust the color text of the author's name.
DONE!