Welcome to "An Author Asks!"
Inspired by the dozens of emails we get everyday from hopeful authors, this series attempts to answer your burning questions about writing and publishing children's books...and remind you that you aren't the only one wondering!
If you have a question you'd like us to answer, email us at hello@athomeauthor.com with the subject line: An Author Asks.
We'll let you know if we choose yours to answer in a future post!
Dear AHA,
I am a first time author who has decided after much thought to self publish. I thought the issue would just be finding an illustrator and securing the funds, but now that I have started the process I have so many other concerns.
How do I make sure that the illustrations sent to me are not AI generated?
And how does one normally contract/pay an illustrator? (I would assume not paying up front, but what are the normal customs to make sure I am not taken advantage of?)
-Fiscally Concerned First Time Author
Great questions, Fiscally Concerned!
Hiring an illustrator is usually the biggest expense involved in self-publishing a children’s picture book, so doing your homework is important!
I’ll answer your questions and then offer some general advice for researching and hiring illustrators.
How do you make sure that the illustrations sent to you are not AI generated?
Well, first of all, the fact that you are asking this question is GREAT! But, just in case there’s someone reading this who WANTS to use AI art….let’s review why you shouldn’t.
Ethically, AI programs use the work of talented human artists to train their models. The original artists don’t get any compensation for their work being used in this way, and every time AI is used, a real artist misses out on a job and potential income.
Basically, it’s just icky.
From a practical point of view, AI art is pretty recognizable and Amazon is being flooded with books made using it. If you want your book to stand out...AI is NOT the way to go.
In addition, legally, AI art can’t be copyrighted, so if you publish a book using it, you have no protection from someone stealing your book and republishing it as their own.
Now back to your question! How do you make sure that the illustrations sent to you are not AI generated? Well...
Study illustration styles
Spend time in Facebook groups where artists post work. When you see a post where most commenters agree, “That’s AI,” notice the overall style of that art. Eventually, you’ll start to recognize the characteristics. In general, AI generated illustrations are almost “too perfect” in terms of texture and light. They often have a “glowing” quality about them. Characters typically have large, luminous eyes. You might also notice small details that are inaccurate…a hand with 6 fingers, for example.
Take a look at this AI generated illustration. Notice anything a little bit...off?
Look closely at a potential illustrator’s portfolio.
An established illustrator should have a recognizable style that permeates their illustrations - not a bunch of random and very different styles.
Always pay for a sample illustration.
Ask to see both the black and white sketches and the finished version of that illustration. Once you have it, request at least one small change - like changing a character’s stance or expression. If the illustrator balks at the request, or does something you didn’t ask for, it could be because they can’t get their AI program to generate the change you requested.
A Note about clip art:You don’t mention this in your question, but in addition to AI art, you also need to keep your eyes open for clip art. With clipart, scammers use pre-existing images and position them on backgrounds to create scenes that look like illustrations, but are more like sticker art. Watch for the exact same expression on characters in multiple scenes, trees or bushes that look copied and pasted, and characters with very different styles (cartoonish and realistic, for example), incorporated into the same illustration. Clip art is also notoriously difficult to trace back to the original creator, so there’s a good chance you won’t be able to guarantee that you have commercial use rights. |
And how does one normally contract/pay an illustrator?
Keep in mind that illustrators are freelancers, so there’s no standard here. But, there are some things that are fairly typical in the self-publishing industry.
Typically, the illustrator provides a contract.
If they don’t have one, that likely means they haven’t been illustrating professionally for very long, and that’s NOT what you want, especially as a first time self-publisher.
Illustrators typically create a custom quote for each book they work on based on the number of illustrations needed and the level of detail needed for those illustrations.
For example, they might have a set price for a spot illustration, half-page illustration, full-page illustration, and double spread. Those prices might vary depending on whether full backgrounds are needed or whether there will be a faded effect, etc. There are SOME illustrators who provide package prices for a 32-page picture book, for example. But, be wary. Those packages often come with limited revisions and/or inconsistent turnaround times.
Every contract is different, so read thoroughly and ask questions.
Some things that might NOT be included in an initial estimate include:
Storyboarding
Multiple revisions
Cover design
Character design/development
Custom typography
Formatting
Typically, payment is made in installments.
The breakdown is different for everyone, but some common payment points are: upfront, when sketches are complete, when revisions are complete, when color is complete, when the final files are delivered.
The Bottom Line
As I said above, choosing an illustrator is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make on your self-publishing journey - so it’s critical to choose wisely!
General Tips For Hiring An illustrator:
In addition to the answers to your questions above, here are some general tips to help make sure your project goes smoothly.
⭐ Set deadlines for yourself to get a certain number of quotes, and/or to make a final decision and choose an illustrator. With so many talented illustrators out there, it’s easy to get stuck spinning your wheels, and having a date on your calendar will motivate you to get things done.
⭐ Don’t skimp! Illustrations sell books. Don’t hire an artsy friend or a local high school student if you can avoid it. Illustration is different than other art forms, and even a very talented artist may not have the skills needed to create engaging and dynamic page designs for a children's book.
⭐ Don’t be afraid to be clear about what you want. The first time I self-published, I wasted several rounds of revisions trying to be polite and just go along with the illustrator’s drafts because I was too afraid to hurt their feelings and say exactly what was important to me. I eventually got up the guts to say it…but I had wasted both my and the illustrator’s time. Don’t make that mistake! Be clear about your vision.
⭐ This might seem like it’s in direct contrast with #3, but also be open to ideas from the illustrator. Your vision might be beautiful…but they are specialists in their field. Allow them to share their own ideas for enhancing your story.
⭐ Ask other authors for recommendations! As with most things - whether you’re hiring a plumber or finding a new hairstylist - a recommendation from someone you know is the best way to ensure you’re making a good decision.
By the way...if you, like the author above, have lots of questions about self-publishing, come join our Profitable Picture Books program! With monthly Zoom sessions and a private FB group, there are plenty of opportunities to get those questions answered!
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