Book Cover Illustration — "As-Sawāhil" (Historical Naval Fiction) - 06/07/2026 15:03 EDT

Pending

Prize:

$99 USD

Entries Received:

434

28 days, 18 hours to award

Overview

Entries

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I need a book cover illustration for my historical fiction novel "As-Sawāhil", set on the East African and Omani coast in the 1600s (17th century). The story follows the great sea wars between the Omani Arabs and the Portuguese Empire for control of the Swahili coast and the Indian Ocean trade. The cover must be rendered in a vintage antique-engraving style — an aged, hand-etched look like old 17th-century maritime maps and copperplate prints. Please study the attached reference image very carefully: this is exactly the mood, texture, and color palette I want. The scene to illustrate A dramatic naval battle / confrontation at sea between: Portuguese warships — tall, multi-masted carracks and galleons with full rigging and sails, and Omani / East African dhows — traditional Arab lateen-sail dhows of the Swahili coast. Show the ships facing off on the open sea, ideally with a coastline, fort, or harbor hinted in the background. The tone should feel epic, historical, and slightly weathered — like a scene lifted from an old sailor's logbook. Must-have text on the cover Title: As-Sawāhil Author line: Written by Mujahidul Islam (Title large and prominent at the top or center; author name smaller at the bottom, in a classic serif/engraved typeface — matching the antique feel.) Style & mood Old / vintage engraving and etching illustration (NOT modern digital-flat, NOT 3D, NOT cartoon). Sepia / warm brown / aged-gold color palette on an antique parchment paper texture. Fine cross-hatching and line-work like historical copperplate prints. A decorative hand-drawn border or cartouche frame around the edges (as in the reference) is welcome. Overall feeling: authentic 17th-century maritime document, weathered and timeless. Deliverables Full front cover in the style above. High-resolution print-ready file (300 DPI), size 6" × 9" with bleed. Editable source file (PSD / AI / layered) for the winner. Title and author text as editable / separate layers if possible. Please avoid Modern fonts, bright saturated colors, glossy/flat vector look. Cartoon or anime style. Copyrighted or stock characters. Any real modern branding. Reference image attached — please match this aesthetic closely. The more your entry captures that old, hand-engraved, sepia maritime feel, the higher it will rank. *** No AI entry please. You have to submit 100% EPS file, editable.

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Adobe Illustrator

Book Cover Design

Graphic Design

Illustration

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gif, jpeg, jpg, png

Clarification Board
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Ameur G.

@ssafa4591

1 day ago

#248

Md. D.

@EagleDesiznss

1 day ago

Please check....#463

Md. D.

@EagleDesiznss

1 day ago

Please check....#463

Md. D.

@EagleDesiznss

1 day ago

Please check....#463

Zarmina I.

@Zarminairshad

2 days ago

Please check #447

Md Hafizur Rahman U.

@mdhafiz013

2 days ago

Dear Respected Contest Holder Please take a moment to review all of my original works. Each design has been prepared as a fully editable vector file for your convenience. I would greatly appreciate your honest feedback on the designs. Your feedback will help me better understand your preferences and requirements, allowing me to improve my work and deliver designs that meet your expectations more closely.I am fully prepared and eager to continue working and provide additional designs if needed. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Fahima Khatun S.

@fahimakhatuns

2 days ago

#408

Ayesha W.

@ayeshaw89

3 days ago

#338 Plz check my entry.

Muhammad Zuraidi R.

@Zuraidiroslan9

5 days ago

Hi! Hope you're having a great day. ? Please take a moment to review and rate my entry #275. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and will help me further refine the design if needed. Thank you for your time and consideration! Entry #275