I used Leonardo AI to create stunning children's book illustrations | ChatGPT, Canva, Amazon KDP

Sara's Canva Studio
31 Aug 202328:29

TLDRIn this engaging video, the host guides viewers through the process of creating a children's book with a focus on environmental awareness. Utilizing Chat GPT for generating book themes and poems, Leonardo AI for stunning image creation from text prompts, and Canva for layout and design, the video provides a step-by-step tutorial. The host also covers uploading the finished book to Amazon KDP, including tips for creating an appealing Amazon listing and marketing strategies. The summary emphasizes the ease of use of these free tools and the creative potential they offer for aspiring authors and illustrators, encouraging viewers to explore their own storytelling and artistic skills.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Use Chat GPT to generate themes and content for a children's book.
  • 🎨 Utilize Leonardo AI to create stunning images from text prompts for the book illustrations.
  • 🖼️ Assemble the book's layout with Canva, adjusting for bleed and sizing to meet Amazon KDP requirements.
  • 🌐 Upload the completed book to Amazon KDP for publishing and potential sales.
  • 📈 Consider creating a sellable Amazon listing with marketing tips to increase book discoverability.
  • 📝 Write a poem or story with a structure that suits preschoolers, using rhymes and simple language.
  • 🔄 Take advantage of the free tokens provided by Leonardo AI for image generation, with the option to purchase more if needed.
  • 📐 Ensure images are high resolution and consider upscaling for better quality, especially for illustrated images.
  • 🖊️ Customize the book's cover with a title generated by Chat GPT and an image created by Leonardo AI.
  • 📉 Add keywords and a description to the Amazon KDP listing to optimize searchability and appeal to the target audience.
  • 📦 Select the appropriate book size, paper quality, and finish for the children's book format on Amazon KDP.
  • 🔍 Use Chat GPT to generate seven key phrases that could be used by potential buyers to search for the book on Amazon.

Q & A

  • What are the three tools mentioned in the video for creating a children's book?

    -The three tools mentioned in the video are Chat GPT for generating book themes and content, Leonardo AI for creating images from text prompts, and Canva for designing and compiling the book.

  • What is the purpose of using Chat GPT to generate a theme for the children's book?

    -Chat GPT is used to generate a theme for the children's book to help decide on a topic that is both interesting and educational for young readers.

  • How does Leonardo AI assist in the creation of the children's book?

    -Leonardo AI assists by creating stunning images from text prompts, which can be used to illustrate the scenes described in the book's poem or story.

  • What is the significance of choosing a theme like environmental awareness for a children's book?

    -Choosing a theme like environmental awareness is significant because it addresses a critical issue that is relevant to the current global context, and it helps educate children about the importance of protecting the environment from an early age.

  • Why does the video suggest not having a specific character in the book when using AI for image generation?

    -The suggestion to avoid having a specific character is to prevent the need for consistency in image generation. Since AI can generate different images for the same prompt each time, not having a specific character simplifies the process and reduces the hassle of maintaining consistency.

  • What is the benefit of using Canva to put together the children's book?

    -Canva is beneficial for putting together the children's book because it offers a user-friendly platform for designing and arranging the book's layout, allowing for easy integration of text and images, as well as providing various customization options.

  • How does Amazon KDP come into play in the process of creating and selling the children's book?

    -Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is used to upload the completed book, create a sellable listing, and make the book available for sale on Amazon's platform, with the potential to generate sales for the author.

  • What are tokens in the context of using Leonardo AI?

    -In the context of Leonardo AI, tokens are the units that represent the daily limit of image generation capabilities. Users get a certain number of tokens each day, which reset after a specific period, to create images without incurring costs.

  • What is the bleed in the context of book publishing and why is it important?

    -Bleed in book publishing refers to the extension of images, colors, or background that goes beyond the trim size of the book. It is important because it ensures that when the book is cut and bound, there are no white edges visible, especially for images that cover the entire page.

  • What is the recommended trim size for a book to be sold on Amazon KDP?

    -The recommended trim size for a book to be sold on Amazon KDP, as mentioned in the video, is 8.5 inches by 8.5 inches, which is a standard large trim size for books.

  • Why is it suggested to add keywords and a description when publishing a book on Amazon KDP?

    -Adding keywords and a description is suggested because it helps potential readers find the book when searching on Amazon. It also provides information about the book's content, theme, and target audience, which can enhance the book's discoverability and appeal to readers.

  • What is the minimum page requirement for a book with a 'Standard Color Interior' on Amazon KDP?

    -The minimum page requirement for a book with a 'Standard Color Interior' on Amazon KDP is 72 pages, as mentioned in the video.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Creating a Children's Book

The video begins with the host, Sarah, welcoming viewers to her channel, Canva Studio. She expresses gratitude for the positive response to her recent videos and encourages new viewers to subscribe. The main topic of the video is creating a children's book, which will be done using three tools: Chat GPT for generating themes, Leonardo AI for image iteration, and Canva for compiling the final product. The book's content will focus on environmental awareness, a theme chosen for its relevance to both children and parents. The host also mentions plans to create a video on crafting a marketable Amazon listing and asks for feedback in the comments.

05:03

🌿 Using AI to Generate Book Content

The host demonstrates how to use Chat GPT to generate themes for a children's book and selects environmental awareness as the theme. She instructs Chat GPT to write a poem suitable for a preschool audience, emphasizing no specific characters to allow for diverse image generation by AI. The next step involves using Leonardo AI to create images from text prompts. The host explains the process of using the tool, including how to navigate the interface, select models, and adjust settings like Alchemy for higher quality images. She also discusses the token system and how to work within the daily limit.

10:09

🎨 Designing the Book Layout with Canva

After generating images, the host moves on to Canva to design the book layout. She details the process of setting up the correct dimensions, including bleed for full-page images, and uploading the images to Canva. The host then walks through the process of arranging the images and text from the poem across the pages, ensuring that each page is visually appealing and the text is easily readable. She also discusses saving the work as a PNG file and preparing for the next steps in the book creation process.

15:24

📖 Compiling the Book and Creating a Title

The host continues with the book creation process by compiling the images and text into a cohesive layout. She emphasizes the importance of the book's title and asks Chat GPT to generate a title for the book. The chosen title is 'Nature's Guardians: A Rousing Tale of Earth's Beauty'. The host then shows how to adjust the title's font, size, and spacing to fit the book's aesthetic. She proceeds to add the book's title to the first page and begins the process of adding the rest of the poem across subsequent pages.

20:27

🖌️ Designing the Book Cover and Finalizing the Manuscript

The host discusses creating the book cover using the same dimensions as the book's interior but doubled in width. She uses Leonardo AI to generate an image for the cover, making sure it conveys the right message. After selecting the final cover image, she adds the book's title, author name, and back cover text, which is also generated by Chat GPT. The host then guides viewers on how to save the cover and manuscript as PDFs, ready for uploading to Amazon KDP.

25:29

🛠️ Uploading and Publishing the Book on Amazon KDP

The host explains the process of uploading the book to Amazon KDP, including selecting the book format (paperback or hardcover), entering the book's details such as title, author name, and description. She also covers selecting appropriate categories and keywords to help the book appear in relevant Amazon searches. After addressing an issue with the cover size, the host corrects it and re-uploads the cover. She then discusses pricing strategy, ensuring the book price allows for a profit while adhering to Amazon's minimum price requirements. Finally, the host celebrates the completion of the book creation process and encourages viewers to share their experiences and subscribe to her channel.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Leonardo AI

Leonardo AI is a free tool that creates stunning images from text prompts. It is used in the video to generate illustrations for the children's book based on the environmental awareness theme provided by the user. The tool is highlighted for its ability to offer a certain number of tokens per day for image creation, which is beneficial for creators on a budget.

💡Amazon KDP

Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is a platform used in the video to publish the created children's book. It is a service that allows authors and publishers to make their books available for sale in the Amazon bookstore. In the context of the video, the presenter guides viewers through the process of uploading and formatting their book for publication on Amazon KDP.

💡Canva

Canva is an online design tool used to put together the book's layout. In the video, it is utilized to design the book's pages by uploading the AI-generated images and arranging them alongside the text of the poem. Canva is chosen for its user-friendly interface and the ability to create professional-looking designs with ease.

💡Environmental Awareness

Environmental awareness is the central theme of the children's book being created. It refers to the knowledge and understanding of environmental issues and the importance of sustainable practices. In the video, the presenter chooses this theme because it is a topic that many parents want their children to learn about, aiming to instill a sense of responsibility towards the planet from a young age.

💡Illustrations

Illustrations are the visual representations used in the children's book to complement the text. They are generated using Leonardo AI and are based on the prompts given by the user. The illustrations are crucial in capturing the attention of the young readers and enhancing the storytelling experience.

💡Tokens

Tokens, in the context of Leonardo AI, are the units used to create images. The tool provides a daily allowance of tokens, which resets after a certain period. Tokens are essential for users to generate multiple images without incurring costs, making it a valuable resource for creators, especially those who are just starting out.

💡Alchemy

Alchemy, within the Leonardo AI tool, refers to an advanced feature that allows for more detailed and higher-quality image generation. It is an option that can be toggled on or off depending on the user's preference for image quality. In the video, the presenter initially turns off Alchemy to generate more images but later turns it on for the book cover to achieve a higher resolution.

💡Bleed

Bleed in book design is the area of the page that extends beyond the trim size, ensuring that any full-page images or colors continue to the edge of the book after it is bound. In the video, the presenter adds bleed to the book's dimensions in Canva to account for this, which is a standard practice in print media to avoid white edges on the final product.

💡GPT

GPT, or Generative Pre-trained Transformer, is an AI language model used in the video to generate themes and text for the children's book. The presenter uses GPT to come up with ideas for the book's theme and to write a poem that will be included in the book. GPT's role is to assist in the creative writing process by generating content based on the prompts given by the user.

💡Royalties

Royalties in the context of book publishing refer to the payment an author receives for each copy of their book sold. In the video, the presenter calculates the book's pricing on Amazon KDP to ensure there is a profit margin after Amazon's cut. The royalty rate is a percentage of the book's selling price that the author retains as profit.

💡Print Ready

Print ready refers to a document or design that is prepared and meets all the necessary specifications for printing. In the video, the book's pages are designed in Canva and saved as images to be print ready. The presenter ensures that the book's layout, images, and text meet Amazon KDP's requirements for uploading and publishing.

Highlights

Using three tools - Chat GPT, Leonardo AI, and Canva - to create a children's book.

Chat GPT is used for generating book themes and writing a poem with environmental awareness as the central topic.

Leonardo AI generates stunning images from text prompts without the need for specific characters.

Canva is utilized to compile images and text into a cohesive children's book layout.

Amazon KDP is the platform for uploading and selling the completed children's book.

The process includes creating high-resolution images suitable for a children's book.

Canva is used with specific dimensions, including bleed for full-page images.

The book's title, 'Nature's Guardians: A Rousing Tale of Earth's Beauty', is generated with the help of Chat GPT.

A custom size of 8.625 x 8.75 inches is used for the book's pages to accommodate bleed and layout.

The book cover is created with a focus on conveying the environmental theme effectively.

Negative prompts are used in Leonardo AI to avoid common AI-generated image errors, such as extra fingers.

The book is priced at $12 to ensure a profit margin after Amazon's share.

The book's content is divided into two lines per page, making it easily understandable for preschoolers.

A video on creating a sellable Amazon listing and marketing tips for Amazon Books is considered for future content.

The importance of selecting the right categories and keywords on Amazon KDP for discoverability is emphasized.

The book's interior is designed with a premium color interior on white paper, suitable for children's books.

Glossy finish is chosen for the book cover to enhance visual appeal for the target audience.

A step-by-step guide is provided for troubleshooting and correcting issues during the Amazon KDP upload process.