There is a unique kind of magic that happens when you see an illustrated book with yourself as the main character. It triggers your curiosity, in a story you could be anything. What will it be? Most Bandigon characters are inspired by real-world loved ones, often starting with a photo you upload. It’s not just about capturing their looks, it's about making it fun and special. Here is a practical guide on how to create a character for a picture book and turn your child into a courageous space explorer, your partner into a crazy pirate, or your cheeky dog into a loyal sidekick. 1. Explore Different Art Styles The style of your illustration sets the emotional tone of your entire story. When you begin designing your characters, our AI character-design companion (Pip) will present you with three illustration styles. Those will look great, but they are also starting points; the canvas of your imagination is entirely open. Do not be afraid to explore other aesthetics. One of my favourites is “claymation”. It makes the illustrations look as though they were sculpted by hand. You can also ask Pip to draw inspiration from a movie you like. Like the spooky style of The Nightmare Before Christmas , or the comic-book energy of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse . The technology understands these rich visual worlds, and will try to weave that specific aesthetic into your book scenes. 2. The Magic is in the Specifics When designing your characters, you have the freedom to refine and adjust them until they look like you pictured. The secret lies in being specific. The more descriptive you are, the better the results: • Instead of saying "make her hair shorter" , try "give her shoulder-length auburn hair" or "style her hair into a neat, short bob" . • Instead of saying "try different shoes" , specify the exact style and colour. You could say "he is wearing bright yellow gumboots" or "she wears brown Blundstone boots" . Being specific gives the AI companion the details it needs to illustrate your loved one’s likeness. Saying this, here is another tip: don’t aim for perfection. AI illustration is amazing, but it doesn’t match the pixel perfect instructions a human illustrator would follow. It’s easy to get frustrated when you ask for a change, the AI renders a completely new image, and something else no longer matches. In an illustrated book you don’t need detailed perfection, you need illustrations that resemble the people you love so they feel identified when reading the story. 3. Plan Ahead for Character Transformations A common theme in storytelling is growth and transformation. Perhaps your main character starts as a curious girl and transforms into a beautiful mermaid, or an ugly monster changes into a majestic prince. While these transformations are part of a single character's journey, it is always best to create distinct reference designs for both versions right at the beginning. When Pip presents the cast for your book, you can the AI companion to create two versions for the same character, like Sarah-girl and Sarah-mermaid, which will ensure both versions of the character remain consistent throughout the book. Same happens with different outfits. If your story is about your wedding day, you may want to illustrate yourself with your casual attire and a separate version with a detailed description of your wedding dress so it looks stunning on every scene. 4. Embrace the Wacky and the Playful A picture book is a playground for your imagination. Feel free to fill it with details that will make your reader giggle! You could give your hero a fun companion, like a fish cruising on a skateboard, or dress the people you love in funny costumes. Imagine seeing your grandfather illustrated as a space-faring astronaut, or your partner dressed as a pirate captain. These playful details elevate your narrative and can reflect the inside jokes in your relationships. Besides, it’s just fun! Extra tip: Keep Your Characters Alive for New Adventures Once you have successfully crafted a character for your story, you don’t have to recreate them from scratch on your next book. With Bandigon, you can easily carry your characters over into sequels or entirely new stories. Simply let Pip know that you would like to reuse a character. Easy as that! Ready to play with characters? Jump in to write your story to get started.
