Six years ago, when I first ventured into publishing, commissioning an illustrator for a children's book set me back at least $600. Fast forward to today, and I find myself comfortably crafting illustrations from the comfort of my own home within minutes. The landscape has transformed, opening up endless possibilities for anyone to dive into publishing and make money online.
The Evolution of DIY Illustration:
In the early days, reliance on illustrators meant projects waited in line, and changes involved back-and-forths. Today, with tools like GPT-4, the game has changed. I can now create and modify characters swiftly, eliminating the need for external illustrators. In this blog, I'll share how I turned my ideas into vibrant characters using AI and free tools.
Creating Characters with GPT-4:
I start by conceptualizing my characters. Using GPT-4, I navigate to "Explore GPT" and input "consistent characters." The tool then guides me through questions about the character's gender, name, description, and illustration style. I'm presented with a sample character that I can modify until satisfied.
Tailoring Characters to Your Story:
I've discovered a trick that works wonders for me—create characters first. With these characters in hand, crafting a story becomes a seamless process. The AI tool allows me to adjust expressions, actions, and poses, ensuring my characters align perfectly with my narrative.
DIY Illustration Process:
In a step-by-step guide, I demonstrate how to use GPT-4 to design characters. From commanding specific actions to requesting various poses, the tool provides a plethora of options. If a defect arises, don't worry—corrections are just a command away.
Creating characters individually allows for better quality, avoiding competition with backgrounds when using GPT-4. I apply the same process to each character, ensuring they can seamlessly engage in shared actions and experiences.
Enhancing Image Quality:
After downloading the images, I take them to an upscaler for higher quality. This step ensures that the illustrations maintain their clarity and detail when incorporated into the final design.
Bringing it All Together with Canva:
Canva becomes the canvas for my creative vision. I use the platform to design the book layout, placing the characters in various scenes. The blog provides a link to a previous tutorial on using Canva for book design.
Conclusion:
The era of DIY illustration has dawned, empowering storytellers to bring their narratives to life without the need for external artists. With the right tools and a creative mindset, publishing and making money online have become more accessible than ever. The blog captures the essence of this transformation, offering a glimpse into a seamless process that combines technology, creativity, and storytelling prowess.
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