Custom Illustrations
Bespoke artwork tailored to your genre, from character design to full page spreads.
Overview
**Q: How does your Custom Illustrations service work?**
Our illustrators start with your manuscript, genre, and target audience to develop a visual style and character designs before any full-page work begins. From there, we produce full page spreads, spot illustrations, or chapter header art depending on your book's needs, keeping character appearance and style consistent from the first illustration to the last, then deliver print-ready and digital-optimized files matched to your publishing formats.
Illustrated books live or die on visual consistency and tone match. A children's book with artwork that doesn't match its reading level, or a graphic novel where a character looks different from chapter to chapter, breaks reader trust immediately, especially with young readers, who notice inconsistency faster than adults do. Illustrations aren't decoration in these formats, they're doing as much storytelling work as the text itself.
Illustration work needs to be finalized before [interior formatting](https://www.kandledirectpublishing.com/services/interior-formatting) begins, since page layout has to be built around where the artwork sits on each spread. For books where a character design might extend to the cover, we also coordinate directly with our [cover design](https://www.kandledirectpublishing.com/services/book-cover-design) team so the visual identity stays consistent from cover to interior.
Illustrations need to work as a cohesive set, not as individual pieces. Our objective is a visual world that holds together from the first page to the last. That means:
* **Locking character designs early** so consistency holds across every spread the character appears in * **Matching art style to reading level and genre** so the artwork reinforces the book's tone rather than working against it * **Coordinating timing with formatting** so illustrations are finished and approved before layout begins * **Extending visual identity to the cover** when appropriate, so the book feels like one cohesive product
Why Authors Choose This Service
Genre & Age-Appropriate Style
artwork matched to your specific readership, not a generic house style
Character Consistency
designs locked early and checked throughout so characters stay recognizable
Format-Ready Delivery
print and digital files delivered ready for your production timeline
Full-Service Publisher
illustration work connects directly into our interior formatting and cover design services
What's Included
- Original character designs that stay consistent across every page they appear on
- Full page spreads built for children's books, graphic novels, and illustrated fiction
- Spot illustrations and chapter header art for novels and nonfiction
- Artwork matched to your book's tone, genre, and target reader age group
- Print-ready and digital-optimized files delivered for every format you're publishing
- Style consistency maintained across every illustration in the book
How It Works
Manuscript & style consultation
we review your manuscript, genre, and target audience to establish the right visual style and tone.
Character & concept design
for books with recurring characters, we develop and lock in character designs before full illustration work begins.
Illustration production
full page spreads, spot illustrations, or chapter header art are produced in stages for your review.
Consistency review
every illustration is checked against established character designs and style guidelines before finalizing.
File delivery
print-ready and digital-optimized illustration files are delivered, coordinated with your interior formatting timeline.
Who It's For
- Children's book authors who need character-consistent illustrations throughout
- Graphic novel creators who need full page spreads produced professionally
- Fiction or nonfiction authors who want spot illustrations or chapter header art
- Authors publishing a series who need a consistent visual style across multiple books
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of illustration do you offer?
Character design, full page spreads, and spot illustrations or chapter header art, depending on what your book needs.
How long does it take?
Timelines vary significantly by scope, a full children's picture book typically takes 6-10 weeks, while spot illustrations for a novel take considerably less.
Can you match an existing character design?
Yes, if you have existing character art or a previous book in a series, we can match that established style.
Do you illustrate for adult fiction and nonfiction, not just children's books?
Yes, we produce spot illustrations and chapter header art for adult fiction and nonfiction as well as full illustration work for children's books and graphic novels.
Should illustrations happen before or after formatting?
Before. Interior formatting is built around where the artwork sits on the page, so illustrations need to be finalized first.
Ready to get started?
Speak with a publishing consultant today about your custom illustrations needs.
Get a Free QuoteCall +44 7922 656521