Cover Type

Cover type refers to the visual style applied to the front and back covers of a digital flipbook. The two main options are [hardcover](/glossary/hardcover) and [paperback](/glossary/paperback) (softcover). A hardcover style simulates a rigid, book-like binding with thicker edges, a visible spine, and a more substantial page-turn effect that conveys weight and permanence. A paperback style mimics a lighter, magazine-like publication with softer, more flexible covers that bend naturally during page turns. In digital flipbooks powered by Three.js rendering, cover type is not just a visual label — it changes the physics of the opening animation, the shadow casting on the first spread, and the overall three-dimensional feel of the publication.

The cover type sets the first visual impression before a reader turns a single page. That initial moment shapes how readers perceive the content inside. A hardcover look signals premium, high-value material — the kind of content that justifies a reader's time and attention. It works for annual reports, executive summaries, luxury product catalogs, and corporate publications where authority matters. A paperback style, on the other hand, feels approachable, casual, and quick to consume. It suits newsletters, employee handbooks, event programs, and informal guides where accessibility is more important than prestige. Choosing the wrong cover type creates a disconnect: a casual newsletter in hardcover feels overblown, while a luxury catalog in paperback undersells its content.

When creating a flipbook in FlipLink, you select the cover type in the publication settings. The choice directly affects how the Three.js rendering engine animates the cover during page turns. Hardcovers have a stiffer, weighted animation — the cover opens with visible resistance, casting a heavier shadow, and the spine remains visible as the reader flips through pages. Paperback covers bend more naturally with a lighter, faster animation that mimics flipping through a magazine. This setting applies to both the front cover and back cover, as well as the overall 3D depth and shadow profile of the flipbook. You can switch cover type at any time without re-uploading your PDF through the [branding and design](/features/branding-and-design) settings, and the change takes effect immediately for all viewers.