Titelbild

Titelbild is a term used in German-speaking media to denote the main image displayed on the cover of a publication or the header image of a digital product. It functions as a visual anchor intended to reflect the content, genre, or mood of the work, attract attention, and influence a reader’s or viewer’s initial impression.

In print publishing, the titelbild appears on book jackets, magazines, newspapers’ front pages, and catalogs. It is typically a selection from photography, illustration, or typography and is designed to harmonize with the overall cover layout. For books, the titelbild often includes or complements the title and author name; for magazines, it usually represents the lead story or the issue’s central theme.

In digital media, the concept persists as hero images, feature images, or thumbnails. Webseiten headers, social media cards, and app covers function as titelbilder, commonly optimized for specific aspect ratios and responsive display. Accessibility considerations include providing descriptive alt text and ensuring legibility.

Historically, titelbilder evolved from illustrated title pages and decorative frontispieces in early print culture to contemporary photographic and CGI imagery. The choice of titelbild can influence perceived quality, genre cues, and consumer interest, and licensing and rights management are important due to copyright and usage permissions.

See also: cover (book), front page, title page, cover art.