You have a cover direction you like, but one part needs work. Before asking for another version, write a clear edit request: what should stay, what should change and how you will judge the result.

This method helps you make a specific request. It does not guarantee that a generated edit will preserve every detail or produce the exact change you describe.

Save the original before changing it

Download a copy of the image you are reviewing and keep it beside the next result. Use clear filenames, such as last-train-original and last-train-lighting-edit. Do not depend on an assumed undo or version-history feature.

Check your displayed credit balance and the cost of the action before starting. Covermatic currently lists 5 credits for an edit, separately from the 5 credits used for a generation attempt. Further edits are additional paid actions. Review the current credit-pack page before purchasing.

Use three lines: keep, change, check

• Keep: name the composition, subject or treatment you already like.
• Change: describe one priority clearly enough to review.
• Check: write the things you must inspect in the returned image.

The first two lines form your request. The last line is your review checklist. A request can describe what you want preserved; only inspecting the output tells you whether it was preserved.

A fictional lighting example

Imagine a cover called Last Train Home, with a single figure on a dark platform and a title in the upper-left corner. You like the composition, but the figure blends into the background.

Keep: the single figure, platform composition, dark mood and title position.

Change: add a restrained warm edge light to separate the figure from the background. Keep the surrounding platform dark.

Check: compare the subject, hands, face, title spelling and layout with the original. View both images small to see whether the figure is easier to distinguish.

This is an example brief, not a demonstrated Covermatic result. Avoid adding a new setting, outfit and type style to the same request unless those are changes you actually want.

Turn vague feedback into something reviewable

Instead of make it more professional, identify what you see: the title is difficult to read, the background competes with the subject or the palette does not fit the brief.

• For lettering: request a specific placement, size or contrast change. Check the returned spelling and characters yourself.
• For color: name the area and the intended change, such as shifting the background toward muted violet while retaining warm light on the subject.
• For clutter: identify the elements to remove rather than asking for a completely different image.

If the entire concept is wrong, write a fresh brief before deciding whether another edit or a new direction is worth your budget. Neither route guarantees a suitable result.

Compare before spending on another attempt

1. Place the original and edited files side by side at the same size.
2. Check whether your priority changed as requested.
3. Inspect the details you wanted retained, including faces, hands and lettering.
4. Review the image small using the thumbnail-check method.
5. Choose which file better fits your brief. Do not assume the newer file is the better one.

Set your own spending limit before making repeated changes. If a result introduces new problems, pause and reassess the request instead of automatically buying another attempt.

Copy this edit-request template

Keep: [subject, composition and details I want retained]

Change: [one priority and the intended result]

Check afterward: [spelling, important details, small-size readability and fit with the brief]

When the visual is settled, inspect the downloaded file against your distributor's current requirements. The release artwork checklist covers that separate step.

To explore the workflow, open Covermatic Studio, review your current artwork and check the action cost before editing.