How to Make a Coloring Book to Sell

Learn how to make a coloring book to sell.

Creating a coloring book is easier than ever thanks to AI tools that handle art, layout, and even publishing. Here is a quick guide for beginners with 8 easy steps that you can follow to create a coloring book and sell it online.

Below is a list of everything you need, from supplies to tools, to make and sell a coloring book:

1. Computer or tablet
2. Drawing tablet or stylus (optional)
3. Graphic design software (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer, Inkscape, etc.)
4. AI art tools (e.g., Midjourney, DALL·E, Google Nano Banana, Ideogram, etc.)
5. Image editing tools (e.g., Photoshop, GIMP)
6. Font and design assets (royalty-free/commercial use)
7. PDF compiler or layout tool
8. Publishing platform account (e.g., Amazon KDP, Lulu, Etsy)
9. Marketing materials (social media accounts, mockups, ads)

Decide what your coloring book will focus on: animals, mandalas, affirmations, or fantasy scenes.

Then identify who it’s for: children, adults, or a niche group (e.g., pet lovers, mindfulness seekers). A clear theme and audience make your book more appealing and easier to market.

Look at successful coloring books on platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and Pinterest.

Note the popular styles, page counts, and pricing. Read customer reviews to understand what buyers love or dislike. This helps you design a book that stands out and fills a gap in the market.

To make coloring books you have multiple options:

1. Draw your own line art designs. If you draw them on paper you have to digitize your drawings.
2. Hire artists from platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, etc.
3. Use the AI to create the coloring page designs. You can create coloring page from text prompts or from images.
4. Choose commercial-use illustration packs from trusted sites (Pixabay is a decent source).

Make sure all drawings are clean, with bold outlines and no shading, so they print well for coloring.

Use AI image generators like Midjourney, DALL·E, Google Nano Banana or Leonardo AI to create line art.

A good AI coloring book generator gives access to a wide range of powerful AI models like Imagen, QWEN, Nano Banana, Flux, and Ideogram. This means you can create highly detailed coloring pages with text and intricate designs, not just simple illustrations for kids.

For best results, use prompts such as “black and white line drawing of a cute animal, coloring book style.” You can refine and upscale your images with tools like Photoshop or Inkscape for vector files.

Add Text to Your Coloring Pages

You can choose to add text with AI (write the text in the prompt) or, you can use a font for coloring which is more versatile and easy to edit, move, resize, etc.

Turning photos into coloring pages is a great way to personalize a coloring book and make it your own. Kids love these kings of coloring books especially for birthdays or festive events like Christmas.

To create coloring page from photo in just a few seconds use the AI. The results are quite amazing especially if you use the Google Nano Banana model. If you prefer a more "traditional" method, try this free line art Photoshop action.

Arrange your illustrations in a consistent layout.

Organize your images into pages using Affinity Publisher or Adobe InDesign.

Standard coloring book sizes are 8.5” × 11”. One-sided pages prevent bleed-through when users color with markers. Keep a balance of detail, not too simple or overly complex.

Your coloring book cover is your main marketing tool.

Include your title, subtitle, and an engaging image that reflects the theme. Use bright, contrasting colors to catch attention, and ensure text is readable at thumbnail size on online stores.

Combine all your interior pages and cover into a single, high-resolution (300 DPI) PDF file.

Check margins and alignment to meet print-on-demand standards. Review every page carefully for consistency and typos before exporting.

Once your coloring book PDF is ready, you can:

1. Sell physical copies: Upload to Amazon KDP, Lulu, or IngramSpark for print-on-demand sales.
2. Sell digital downloads: Use Etsy, Gumroad, or Ko-fi to sell printable PDFs.

Upload your interior and cover files, choose paper type (usually white), set pricing, and select relevant categories and keywords to help customers find your book.

Share your book on social media!

Create sample coloring pages for free download, and encourage user-generated posts. You can also run small ads, or collaborate with influencers in your niche to boost visibility and sales.

Show sample pages on Instagram, TikTok, or Pinterest to attract coloring enthusiasts. Use hashtags like #coloringbook and #aiart.

With creativity and the right AI tools, you can turn your ideas into a sellable coloring book in just a few days.