Using AI to Create a Kids KDP Coloring Book From Scratch - MidJourney

Paul Marles
6 Apr 202322:35

TLDRThe video script outlines a step-by-step guide on utilizing artificial intelligence to create and publish a children's coloring book on Amazon KDP. It emphasizes the ease and efficiency of AI in generating high-quality images and the potential profitability of such books. The process involves creating the book's interior and cover using Canva and MidJourney, and then uploading the content to the KDP platform. The tutorial also includes tips on selecting categories, pricing, and ensuring worldwide distribution, highlighting the accessibility of self-publishing for beginners.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The video outlines a step-by-step process for creating and publishing a children's KDP coloring book using AI-generated images.
  • 📈 Coloring books are highlighted as fun to create and potentially profitable products, with examples of high-selling books on Amazon provided.
  • 📚 The book will be published through Amazon's KDP platform, with dimensions of 8.5 x 11 inches, 80 pages, and a selling price of $6.99.
  • 🖌️ Canva and MidJourney are the recommended tools for designing the book's interior and creating AI-generated images, respectively.
  • 📄 Instructions for MidJourney, including desired image style, detail, and aspect ratio, are detailed to guide users in creating suitable coloring pages.
  • 🖼️ A commercial license is necessary for selling the AI-generated images, which is available with the paid version of MidJourney.
  • 📂 The process of uploading the book's interior and cover to the KDP platform is explained, including the need for a PDF file and cover template.
  • 🎨 Tips for designing an appealing book cover are provided, including the use of vivid colors and the addition of text and age recommendations.
  • 📈 The importance of keywords and categories for discoverability on Amazon is emphasized, with a brief guide on selecting appropriate terms.
  • 📦 The final steps involve setting up the book on KDP, including details like ISBN, rights, description, and pricing before publishing.
  • ⏳ After publishing, it may take up to 72 hours for the book to appear on Amazon, with a confirmation email sent upon availability.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is how to create and publish a kid's KDP coloring book using artificial intelligence.

  • Why are coloring books a good choice for authors according to the video?

    -Coloring books are a good choice for authors because they are fun to create and they sell extremely well on platforms like Amazon.

  • Which platform is used for publishing the coloring book?

    -The coloring book is published on Amazon via the KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) platform.

  • What are the dimensions of the book being created?

    -The book being created has dimensions of 8.5 inches by 11 inches.

  • How many pages will the book have?

    -The book will have 80 pages.

  • What is the pricing strategy for the book?

    -The book is priced at $6.99.

  • What software is used to create the interior of the book?

    -Canva is used to create the interior of the book.

  • How is the coloring book's cover image created?

    -The cover image is created using MidJourney, an AI tool, with specific instructions or prompts to generate the desired image.

  • What is the significance of the aspect ratio in the image creation process?

    -The aspect ratio is important as it determines the proportions of the image. In the video, a 9:11 aspect ratio is used to match the book's dimensions.

  • How long does it typically take for a book to appear on Amazon after publishing?

    -It can take up to 72 hours for a book to appear on Amazon after it has been published.

  • What is the role of a commercial license in this process?

    -A commercial license is essential when using a paid plan like MidJourney because it allows the user to sell the products created with the AI-generated images.

  • What are some tips for ensuring the text on the book cover is not cut off during printing?

    -To ensure the text is not cut off, it's important to keep all vital text elements within the pink border provided in the KDP cover template, which indicates the safe zone for printing.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Creating a Kids' KDP Coloring Book with AI

The video begins by introducing the process of creating and publishing a children's coloring book using artificial intelligence. The creator emphasizes the high quality of AI-generated images and the efficiency of the process. The video will cover the entire process, from creating the interior pages to designing the cover, and finally uploading the book to the Amazon KDP platform for publication. The creator also discusses the commercial success of coloring books on Amazon and provides an example of a best-selling book, explaining the potential earnings. The chosen software for this project is Canva for design and MidJourney for image creation, with a focus on obtaining a commercial license for the AI-generated images.

05:03

🖼️ Designing the Interior Pages and Cover

In this segment, the creator explains how to design the interior pages of the coloring book using Canva and MidJourney. The process involves setting up the page size with bleed considerations, selecting images through MidJourney based on specific prompts, and downloading the images for use in Canva. The creator also details how to alternate between colored and blank pages to prevent bleed-through. After creating all 80 pages, the creator guides on downloading the design as a PDF file, ready for upload to KDP. The cover creation process is also discussed, including refining the prompt for a more vivid image and using Canva to assemble the cover with the downloaded image, text, and design elements.

10:04

📚 Finalizing the Book Cover and KDP Upload

The creator continues with the final steps of designing the book cover, including adding text, choosing fonts, and ensuring all elements fit within the template guidelines provided by KDP. The cover design process involves layering elements, adjusting colors, and ensuring the cover is visually appealing. After completing the cover, the creator instructs on downloading the cover as a PDF and preparing for KDP upload. The video then transitions to the KDP dashboard, where the creator walks through the process of creating a new paperback, entering metadata, selecting categories, and uploading the manuscript and cover. The creator emphasizes the importance of accurate information and proper formatting for successful book publication on Amazon.

15:08

🚀 Publishing and Launching the Coloring Book

The final part of the video focuses on the last steps of publishing the coloring book on Amazon KDP. The creator guides through the review process using the KDP Previewer tool to check for any errors or issues with the book's layout. Once satisfied with the preview, the creator explains how to approve the book for publication and move forward with setting pricing and choosing territories for distribution. The video concludes with the creator publishing the book and noting that it may take up to 72 hours for the book to appear on Amazon. The creator encourages beginners and provides additional resources for further learning, emphasizing the viewer's accomplishment in reaching this stage of publication.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡KDP

KDP stands for Kindle Direct Publishing, which is a platform by Amazon that allows authors and publishers to publish their books directly to the Kindle marketplace. In the video, the creator uses KDP to publish a coloring book for kids, highlighting its importance as a tool for self-publishing and distribution.

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think and learn like humans. In the context of the video, AI is used to create high-quality images for the coloring book, demonstrating its capability to assist in creative processes and enhance efficiency.

💡Canva

Canva is an online graphic design tool that allows users to create visual content easily, even without professional design skills. The video script mentions using Canva to design the interior pages and the cover of the coloring book, emphasizing its user-friendly interface and accessibility for DIY publishing projects.

💡MidJourney

MidJourney is a reference to a software or platform that the creator uses to generate images using AI. The creator inputs specific prompts into MidJourney to receive AI-generated images for the coloring book, showcasing the application of AI in content creation and the value of such tools in producing customized visual materials.

💡Bleed

In printing, bleed refers to the part of the artwork that extends beyond the trim area, ensuring that there is no white border around the final printed piece. The video script discusses setting up pages with bleed in Canva, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the design in the final printed coloring book.

💡Royalty

Royalty in the context of book publishing refers to the payment an author receives for each copy of their book sold. The video provides an example of a best-selling coloring book's royalty, illustrating the financial potential of successful publishing endeavors.

💡Commercial License

A commercial license grants the user the legal right to use a product, such as an AI-generated image, for commercial purposes, including selling it as part of a published work. The video emphasizes the importance of having a commercial license when using AI tools for creating content intended for sale.

💡Prompt

In the context of AI image generation, a prompt is a set of instructions or a description provided to the AI software to guide the creation of an image. The video script describes crafting prompts for MidJourney to generate specific types of coloring pages, demonstrating how critical clear communication with AI systems is for achieving desired outcomes.

💡Template

A template is a pre-designed layout or format that serves as a guide for creating new documents or designs. The video mentions downloading a cover template from the KDP platform, which is used to design the book cover with correct dimensions and bleed settings, ensuring a professional finish to the final product.

💡ISBN

An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique identifier for books, which is used for distribution and cataloging purposes. The video explains the process of obtaining a free ISBN through KDP, highlighting its necessity for publishing and selling books in the market.

💡Publishing Rights

Publishing rights pertain to the legal permissions required to publish and distribute literary works. The video script mentions claiming ownership of these rights when publishing on KDP, emphasizing the importance of securing the necessary permissions and rights before publishing.

Highlights

The video demonstrates the process of creating and publishing a children's KDP coloring book using AI technology.

AI-generated images are used to create high-quality coloring book pages quickly.

The coloring book is created to be sold on Amazon, with a focus on fun and commercial success.

The book's dimensions are 8.5 by 11 inches, with 80 pages and a target price of $6.99.

Canva and MidJourney are the main software tools used for designing the book and creating the images.

The process is split into three steps: creating the interior, designing the cover, and uploading to the KDP platform.

Instructions or 'prompts' are given to MidJourney to generate specific images for the coloring book.

The importance of choosing a paid plan for MidJourney is emphasized for commercial use of the images.

The tutorial covers how to set up the book's interior pages with bleed and correct dimensions in Canva.

The process of creating a book cover with vivid colors and a focus on the target audience is detailed.

A cover template is downloaded from the KDP platform to ensure correct dimensions for the book cover design.

The video explains how to add text, images, and design elements to the book cover in Canva.

The final steps include uploading the book's interior and cover to the KDP platform and publishing the book.

The importance of keywords, categories, and book description for discoverability on Amazon is discussed.

The video concludes with a preview of the published book and encouragement for new publishers.