PRICE QUOTATIONS: Price quotes are ONLY good for THIRTY(30) Days, after which time quotes are subject to change/review.
INITIAL: When making a booking, please note that a 50% retainer is due and is non-refundable. The remaining balance doesn't need to be paid until the cover is approved. The final files will ONLY be sent once payment is done. Failure to pay your deposit means your date is not secured and we may assign it to someone else.
FINAL PAYMENT: You must make final payments within 72 hours of approving the final cover file. All payments are invoiced via PayPal, or Venmo. International clients are responsible for currency conversion costs, bank charges, or transfer fees.
LATE PAYMENTS: If the remaining balance is not paid within 48 hours then it is subject to late fees. Payments NOT received within SEVENTY-TWO (72) Hours of the due date will be considered late and subject to a 10% interest charge on the outstanding balance. If payment remains unpaid for 7 Days following the due date, all services will be suspended, and the project may be discarded and closed without further obligation to resume work. If you give Darkly Designs by Kaay prior notice of your delay, the fee can be waived in exceptional circumstances.
RUSH ORDERS: Despite offering rush orders, Darkly Designs by Kaay has the final say on whether they can accommodate the services requested. Rush orders are subject to additional charges. Rush orders are charged at $80 USD for within a week, and $150 USD for a rush order within a day.
CANCELLATIONS: Clients can cancel their bookings if needed, however;
Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Clients have until a month before their booking to cancel their booking without incurring additional fees.
If cancelling during your booking month, there will be a cancellation fee due to short notice.
If a client cancels their booking after the scheduled booking period has begun, the full cost of services remains due and payable.
ALL services booked with Darkly Designs by Kaay are final. Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable, whether or not the client utilizes the service.
PREMADES: All premade sales are final,with no refunds or exchanges once payment is received. Invoices must be paid within 24 hours, or the premade will be made available again. Please allow up to 14 days for delivery of final files from Darkly Designs by Kaay.
ALTERNATIONS: Darkly Designs by Kaay includes up to four major alterations during the design process. Major alterations include changes to images, themes, new font, or the size of design elements. New font color, or title are not considered revisions and are included at no additional cost. The Client acknowledges that all and any cover changes must be completed by Darkly Designs by Kaay. Any alterations requested after approval or after final files have been delivered may be subject to additional fees. Revisions to final files begin at $40 USD and may increase depending on the number of files or requested changes. Post-delivery alterations are available for up to six months following the release of the original final files.
CHANGES TO IMAGE: Any changes to the main theme after work has started will incur a $40 USD fee per image change, regardless of where the image is sourced from.
DEADLINE: Darkly Designs by Kaay operates on a first-come, first-served basis.
Clients are encouraged to book cover services as early as possible, ideally well in advance of any scheduled deadlines. Please note that additional modifications may extend the project completion timeline. Darkly Designs by Kaay is not responsible for missed deadlines resulting from late bookings or client-requested changes.Once your appointment is confirmed, Darkly Designs by Kaay will reach out during your designated design week. If you have any Pinterest boards or mood boards, please email them at that time, as they are essential in ensuring both the designer and client are aligned with the project’s vision.
DESIGN SERVICES: Prices are subject to change at any time without prior notice and are only guaranteed once the retainer has been received. Each package includes one distributor print file (for example, KDP). Additional print files for Ingram, Barnes & Noble, 48 Hour Books, or any other printer will incur an additional charge.
STOCK IMAGES: If the Client provides a cover image, they retain rights only to the image they supply. Design elements such as flourishes, additional imagery, and select back-cover elements are included in the cover design package and are not the Client’s responsibility. The Client is responsible for securing all necessary rights and permissions for any images they provide and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Darkly Designs by Kaay from any claims related to copyright or permission infringement arising from client-supplied materials.
AI USAGE: AI imagery is NOT used by Darkly Designs by Kaay. Despite the possibility of occasional errors and instances where reputable websites may not properly tag AI content, I am committed to exercising due diligence to minimize the risk of such errors. Should I mistakenly use an artificially generated image in the design, Any such issues will be promptly corrected by removing the material from the cover. While every effort is made to properly source and verify all assets, the Client acknowledges that inadvertent errors may occur. Darkly Designs by Kaay and or Kassandra Ballesteros shall NOT be held liable for any fines, penalties, claims, or legal action arising from such errors, provided corrective action is taken. By engaging services, the Client agrees to release, indemnify, and hold harmless Darkly Designs by Kaay from any resulting claims. However, any identified issues will be promptly remedied through removal from the cover. I am committed to resolving them in a timely and professional manner, at no extra cost.
The Client is expressly prohibited from uploading, submitting, training, or otherwise using any work created by Darkly Designs by Kaay in connection with artificial intelligence technologies or automated systems. This prohibition includes, but is not limited to, the use of AI to modify, replicate, reproduce, replace, adapt, analyze, or generate derivative works from any concepts, drafts, revisions, source files, or final deliverables. Any unauthorized use constitutes a material breach of this agreement and may result in termination of services and additional remedies available under applicable intellectual property law. If the client is found to have used AI on the files created by Darkly Designs by Kaay, Kassandra is entitled to compensation up to the value of 100%.
IMAGE LICENSING & IMAGE RIGHTS: Darkly Designs by Kaay retains full ownership and licensing rights to all images provided as part of the design process. The Client acknowledges that other authors or designers may license or use the same or similar images or models, and Darkly Designs by Kaay WILL NOT be held liable for the presence of similar imagery on other covers.
Permitted Use
The image may be used only for the following purposes:
The associated eBook and print book
Standard online promotional use related to the book, including social media, websites, and marketing graphics
Prohibited Use
The image may not be:
Sold, resold, sub-licensed, or redistributed
Reused for other projects or publications
Used on merchandise or resale products of any kind
Altered or used outside the scope of the agreed-upon book project
Use is strictly limited to the specified book and related promotion. The image may not be used for any commercial resale items beyond the eBook and print editions.
EXTENDED RIGHTS: If the Client wishes to create additional sale items or commercial products using the image, extended usage rights must be purchased. Any unauthorized use constitutes a material breach of this agreement and may result in termination of services and pursuit of available legal remedies. Photo may not be used on any other printed work by alternate designers unless otherwise discussed. Darkly Designs by Kaay maintains the rights to the specified photo. Under any circumstances, Each image shall not be altered without Darkly Designs by Kaay prior permission.
CANCELLATION: In the event of a cancellation prior to the start of work, no additional charges will be incurred beyond any amounts already paid. If work has commenced, the remaining project balance will be due. Once a project is booked and work has begun, all payments are non-refundable.
DESIGN RIGHTS: Darkly Designs by Kaay retains full rights to all designs. This includes, but is not limited to, the overall concept, layout, image style, color palette, placement, and font usage. Designs may not be recreated, replicated, modified, or altered by any other individual or designer. The Client acknowledges that no one other than Darkly Designs by Kaay is authorized to modify any design files or images. Any alterations requested after approval and/or after final files have been delivered may be subject to additional charges. Darkly Designs by Kaay retains the right to use completed designs for self-promotion, portfolio display, marketing, and client viewing purposes. If the Client wishes to work with another designer for the continuation or completion of a book series, prior written consent must be obtained from Darkly Designs by Kaay.
LICENSE: The cost of cover design includes a standard image license. This license permits use of the cover design and associated imagery for the specific eBook and print book, as well as standard online promotional use related to the book (including websites and social media). Under standard licensing terms, printed copies are limited to a maximum of 500,000 total units across all print formats. If the book exceeds 500,000 printed copies, the Client is required to purchase extended usage rights prior to any additional printing. Standard licensing does not permit use of the cover design or associated imagery on merchandise or resale products, including but not limited to: apparel, mugs, stickers, magnets, bookmarks, art prints, boxed sets, special editions, or other commercial goods. Any use of the cover design or imagery beyond the scope of the standard license—including but not limited to print runs exceeding 500,000 copies, merchandise, resale items, or additional commercial products—requires the purchase of extended usage rights. The Client is solely responsible for monitoring print quantities and ensuring licensing compliance. Darkly Designs by Kaay shall not be held liable for any licensing violations, fines, penalties, or claims resulting from use beyond standard licensing limitations.
FILE DELIVERY: All deliverables will be provided to the email address supplied by the Client, either directly via email or through a shared Google Drive folder. Access to the shared folder will remain available for six (6) months from the date of delivery, after which the files may be permanently removed. It is the Client’s responsibility to download, store, and back up all deliverables once received. Requests for redelivery of files after the initial delivery period may be subject to additional fees per file, except in cases of extenuating circumstances.
ATTRIBUTION: The Client agrees to include credit for Darkly Designs by Kaay within the book on the copyright page. Proper credit shall be displayed as:
[Service] by Kassandra Ballesteros, Darkly Designs by Kaay
LIABILITY: Darkly Designs by Kaay shall not be liable for any damages of any kind, including but not limited to loss of revenue, profits, business opportunities, reputation, or data, arising from or related to the graphic design services provided. Darkly Designs by Kaay is not responsible for any claims, losses, or damages resulting from errors, omissions, or inaccuracies on its website or within client-provided content once the cover has been approved. In the event that project completion extends beyond the originally estimated timeframe due to unforeseen circumstances, including but not limited to family emergencies, acts of nature, or events beyond reasonable control, the Client will be notified via email to establish a revised completion date. Should the Client wish to pursue an alternative solution, such options will be discussed in good faith.
CODE OF FAIR PRACTICE: Darkly Designs by Kaay represents that, to the best of its knowledge, all work created is original and has not been previously published, or that appropriate permissions and licenses have been obtained for its use. The work will not knowingly contain any scandalous, libelous, or unlawful material. The Client, and any third parties, agree not to use Darkly Designs by Kaay’s work in any manner that infringes upon the rights of others or violates applicable laws or regulations.
CONFIDENTIALITY: All personal and identifying information of both the Client and the Designer shall be treated as confidential. Such information will not be disclosed to third parties except as required to perform services, comply with applicable laws, or with the express consent of the parties involved.
NON-DISPARAGEMENT & DISPUTE RESOLUTION: By engaging the services of Darkly Designs by Kaay, the Client agrees not to publish, post, or disseminate any false, misleading, defamatory, or malicious statements regarding Darkly Designs by Kaay on social media, review platforms, or any third-party websites that could reasonably harm the Designer’s reputation or business. Any concerns, complaints, or disputes must be communicated directly to Darkly Designs by Kaay to allow for resolution in good faith prior to any public commentary. Statements made with malicious intent or that are defamatory may result in legal action under applicable defamation and civil liability laws, and the Client may be held responsible for resulting damages, legal costs, and other remedies available by law. This provision does not restrict either party from making truthful statements, participating in legal proceedings, or complying with legal obligations where required by law. This obligation survives completion or termination of services.
CHANGES TO TERMS OF SERVICE: The most current version of the Terms of Service may be reviewed at any time on this page. Darkly Designs by Kaay reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to update, modify, or replace any portion of these Terms of Service by posting revisions to the website. It is the Client’s responsibility to review the Terms periodically for updates. Continued use of the website or services following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.
ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AGREEMENT: By engaging the services of Darkly Designs by Kaay, both Darkly Designs by Kaay and the Client acknowledge and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. The Client agrees to release, indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Darkly Designs by Kaay from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, expenses, or causes of action, including financial liability, arising out of or related to the services provided, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. These Terms and Conditions are non-negotiable. Use of Darkly Designs by Kaay’s services, submission of payment, or acceptance of deliverables constitutes the Client’s full and informed acceptance of all terms contained herein. This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes any prior discussions, representations, or agreements, whether written or oral. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable under applicable law, such provision shall be severed, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Darkly Designs by Kaay reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of services following the posting of updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. These Terms shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles. Electronic acknowledgment, digital acceptance, or continued use of services shall be deemed valid and binding acceptance of this agreement.