How to Make a Coloring Book with FREE Art - KDP Self Publishing
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- čas přidán 3. 07. 2024
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Creative Fabrica Special Deal: bit.ly/3XLaKoc
Gumroad Store for KDP Interiors and Keywords: bit.ly/3byyGTX
KDP Coloring books sell extremely well on the Amazon KDP platform but the biggest problem to overcome when self publishing these types of books is creating the interiors unless you're an illustrator or artist. The illustrations can be outsourced on sites like Fiverr and Upwork or bought ready made on sites like Creative Fabrica. However, there is a way to create the interiors for these types of coloring books using free public domain artwork, available on the internet. I show you how to take a piece of art, turn it into a vector illustration and then turn it into a coloring book page. I then briefly show you how to collate these images into a pdf file ready to upload to the Amazon KDP platform which form the interior of your self published book. If you're looking to make money online publishing, creating coloring books is a way to achieve your goals and even turn it into a passive income.
Tools and Resources I use:
Gumroad Shop for Keywords and Interiors: paulmarles.gumroad.com
Creative Fabrica: bit.ly/3XLaKoc
Canva: bit.ly/paulcanva
Publisher Rocket: bit.ly/2ThC390
Helium 10 (50% off and 10% off Deals): bit.ly/334S3A3
Book Bolt (Use paul20 to get 20% OFF): bit.ly/3jY7K2L
Vecteezy: bit.ly/3z6AApA
Tubebuddy: www.Tubebuddy.com/paultube
00:00 Introduction
00:46 KDP Coloring Books
03:12 Public Domain Images
05:00 William Morris Coloring Page
07:48 Vectorizing Images
08:17 vectorizer.io
09:30 Creating KDP Coloring Pages
12:09 Hokusai Coloring Page
13:55 Van Gogh Coloring Page
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On this channel I have many free videos on how to create and publish KDP Amazon books and build an online passive income using your computer from home to create a second or full online income. Check out the New to KDP Publishing playlist here: bit.ly/3i3f78K
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support! The examples in this video are for illustration purposes only. It is your responsibility to check the terms and conditions and license agreement of any software or graphical element you use or download from third party vendors.
EARNINGS DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only. There is no guarantee that you will earn money using the techniques and ideas in this video. This is not financial advice or investment advice. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. I am merely sharing my opinion with no guarantee of gains or losses on investments. Your level of success in attaining the results claimed in this video will require commitment, hard-work, experience and knowledge. We have taken reasonable steps to ensure that the information in this video is accurate but we cannot represent that the website(s) mentioned in this video are free from errors. You expressly agree not to rely upon any information contained in this video.
About this video - In this video I show you how to create the interior of a KDP coloring book using freely available public domain art images to create an online publishing business.
Instagram: / paulmarles
Twitter: / paulmarles
Website: paulmarles.com
I recently made a book using an image from Raw Pixel. Before I submitted the book I sent an email to Raw Pixel to ask if I could use the image. They replied, saying "create away". I also downloaded the artist's bio which gave the date of death and the Creative Commons text. My submission was flagged by KDP and I was able to provide the necessary authentication and my book was published.
That's good to know. Well done for keeping that information and thank you for sharing.
Just a note to let you know that I watch almost all your videos. Not only do you present good information without a lot of fluff, but you have a personal style and presence that's quite relatable. At least, I find it so. Thanks for your work.
🤧
Thank you. 🙏
I agree 🙏🏾
I wish he talked about selling content books as well.
Great instructions
Paul Marles is a living legend. I am happy you always share vital tips to us. Thanks Sir.
Very kind of you to say.
Thank you so much for your videos! You taught me how to make a notebook…I followed your easy, concise instructions and was very surprised! Thank you so much 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Thank you for yet another great video Paul! There’s a goldmine of information in every single video that you do!
Thank you. Glad you find them useful.
With the help of your videos, I have finally published several coloring books on Amazon!
That's nice! Have you used free art or commissioned someone? perhaps made the art yourself? I am curious to see your books!
I have published two coloring books myself with original art I drew myself :D
@@MariJadeWrites I haven't sold any yet, mostly just my notebooks are selling.
@@jazeldarae my notebooks are the ones that sell a bit too and I sold one coloring book myself. Just curious to see your coloring book, could you link it? 😊 I can link mine too if you want to check it out 😉
@@MariJadeWrites we can't link it, those kinds of comments aren't allowed. But, I'll tell you where I get my interiors. I get them from creative fabrica mostly
@@jazeldarae Oh okay. I see, I create my interiors myself. Can you tell me your pen name on KDP then? I want to see your coloring book(s) :D
The best teacher !!
Thank you!
Wow here so quickly not trying to miss your videos
I’m a beginner, ive been going through a lot of your videos and you’ve been so helpful❤️
Thank you. Glad you’ve found them useful. 👍
I am making a third coloring book, I am about to publish it in the next couple of days, about to finish the last piece of lineart for it :D I am drawing the illustrations myself, it's so fun. :) Thank you for an interesting video!
Congratulations, I'm glad for you and I wish you well. I would like to draw my own illustrations for coloring books too. I just have to look up how to get my art to my computer since I don't use an I pad...yet... : )
did you make any sales ???
@@leendz2023 I sold some lined notebooks, and sold one coloring book online. I ordered some author copies of my coloring books and sold those to friends and family, so I suppose that counts as sales too, those were about 30. ☺️
@@KarenAllisonrc you can probably scan it with a printer
@@MariJadeWrites which software do you use to create your own illustrations
This is a great tip for Affinity Designer. Thank you!
Awesome Paul, thanks, especially for your style. I can't stop watching you, I feel like I' m on Netflix , can not stop the "next episode" from auto play.....:)
Thank you!
Wonderful video. So clear and concise. It has reignited my love of art 🙏🏻👍🏻
Thank you. Glad it has inspired you.
Wonderful!
I’m in on this
How to keep it, make it and grow it, and that's your money am talking about. This intro is lit
Pretty genius content Paul ! Love that game, thank you so much !
You're welcome.
I just happened upon your channel about a week ago, and I am VERY impressed and eating up every bit of it that I can! I've published 6 journals and another low content notebook and I am chomping at the bit to make more. Love your content and very very appreciative of your videos. It shows that you were a trainer before because you have a natural knack for it.
I do want to say on a side note that you remind me very much of an actor I saw in Doc Martin, John Alderton, in the show title "Of All The Harbours In All The Towns". He's a captain!
Anyways, thanks again and I'll be around to watch all of your stuff!!
Thank you. Much appreciated. 👍
Thanks so much for sharing!
You're welcome. 👍
Thank you sir, I have learned a lot pls keep it coming🖤😊
You’re welcome.
Thank you! Your videos are very helpful.
You’re welcome.
wow 🤩 thanks for sharing these tutorials 👍🏻😊
My pleasure 😊
Thank you so much!
Always cool. Thx
Thanks Paul, i would love to see some tutorials on the software you use. You are an excellent presenter!
Thank you SO much!
You're welcome. Thank you for watching.
Just stumbled on your channel. Thank you so much for these videos! They are so informative and helpful. I'm a stay at home mom trying to earn my own money at home and I am going to try making coloring books and journals to sell on Amazon.
You're welcome. I'm glad you've found the content useful.
Thank you so much paul 😙
You’re welcome. 👍
This is gold, especially for someone ancient who knows nothing about file types, 🧐🙂
Glad you find it useful. 👍
Such an excellent video,thank you! I enjoyed the designing advice. If you could, I'd love for you to do a tutorial on how to convert an imperfect hand drawn line drawing into a digital format with smoothed and perfected lines that can be used for colouring books etc.
YES PLEASE!!!
Thanks for working for progress in my money 🤠
You're welcome.
Your videos are so great...would be absolutely wonderful if you could put all those websites you are using in the description as well...that would save your viewers from searching the video again. Thank you very much 🌹💚
Thank you very much 💕🥰💕🥰💕🥰
You're welcome.
thanks ☝🙃
Just in case someone hasn't told you recently, you are awesome.
Thank you!
Never in my life, have I Heard anyone say it as "Van Goff" It's "Van Go" The G and the H are silent. Anywho!
I Can't stop watching your videos, and bookmarking the sites you suggested!
You're gonna make my bookmarks congested! Thanks for making me addicted, while I Get inspired!!! 🥳🤪🤩😎
Erm, in the UK it’s Goff.
thank you!
You're welcome.
You never disappoint, Paul! Thank you so much for your videos. Could you also use these images on the cover of notebooks/journals?
Yes, you could. Would make for good covers.
Nice one Sir thank you so much
You're welcome. Thank you too for watching.
Thank you
Thank you! 👍😊🇭🇺
You're welcome.
you are the best
Thank you 🙏
Thank you very much 😊Moroccan🇲🇦 living in Italy 🇮🇹
great
You're welcome.
I was brushing my teeth this morning, and thinking 'hmmm how can I include real art like Monet into colouring books without having problems?". The I open CZcams with my breakfast and see this as the first suggestion. More anxiety about CZcams tracking my life, but also more gratitude to Paul for answering my 'prayers' 😁
I know, that happens to me as well and nobody believes me!! 😂 Glad the video found you!
Sorry ignore my question, I decided not to be lazy and found the answer myself,
to any others out there the answer is Yes but not before the publishing process has been completed. By the way i find your content very inspiring Thanks
Thank you 👍
excellent video
Your funny! That's nonsense! 😆 Thanks for the great video as usual!
You're welcome.
Thanks from Morocco
You're welcome.
Thank you, Paul. Love the new information.
You’re welcome. 👍
Love it! I'm watching most of your videos, and I don't even have a KDP account... 😅
This is funny 😁
😆 Thank you.
Great vid! Bonus material: impression of publishing professionals. :} One thing I came across re open licensing. An image might be in public domain but some commercial sites take the image and 'enhance' it. Meaning they change some characteristics of the image, at that point it is their own copyright and no longer in public domain unless they expressly give permission. However the image might be available on another site, like your example of the Met Museum's site that lists free, open licensing, and that image, because not altered by some imaging software and by specific permission of the Met is free to use commercially. Of course it's good to research because even the Met could be wrong, I suppose. Seems to me the commercial for-profit photo sites are always a risky gamble.
Yes, always good to do a bit of research just to make sure.
Very interesting video
Thank you.
thanks
You're welcome!
Thanks for sharing all these useful information Paul.
How many books do you publish per for low content book niche, i.e. 2-3 or 10-20+ with different covers?
Usually in the 2-3 range.
love the content, really helpful.
just a question is there a way to edit the description for your book after it's been published.
I've only been at this for a week and am making a few silly mistakes, mostly i think
from rushing thru the actual publishing setup.
Any help would be much appreciated Cheers
Yes, just go in and edit it and re-publish.
Awesome video. Thank you. Would this process work on say, my own photographs?
You could try. It may do. It depends on the contrast really.
🙇♀️😂😂 I’m an artist and thank you 🎉🎉 I never thought about using my own art work and turn them into a coloring book 🤣🤣🤣
Go for it! If you can create the interiors yourself you are at a big advantage.
@@paulmarles Thank You, and I am going to go for gold… plus love all your information , sometimes that part of my brain just misfires 😂.. thanks for keeping me in check… and just keep saying Amazon 🤣💗 I love it…. As well as niche 🎉🎉
I was wondering about making the postcard style color books. I personally love them. Any pointers?
That's not an option on KDP. So you would need to find an independent publisher that creates those types of books.
Love your videos. Great job.
One question: can I make colouring books' interiors on my own?
Yes, you can.
Hi Paul! Love your videos. Do you know how I would do this in Photopea? I was trying to follow along but using Photopea and I didn't see a Stroke tab, so I'm stuck. I've downloaded Inkscape, but I haven't gotten used to it yet. Maybe I'll try there.
I’m afraid I’ve never used photopea. Have you tried googling or searching on CZcams?
Care este softul pe care faceți tutorialul?Cum se traduce in 41 de limbi de circulație?
Vectornator can now auto-trace raster to vector.
Good to know.
I had a handful of coloring books on KDP a few years ago but took them down and deleted all my files after they went a year with no sales. Getting back into it on faith-based themes as it seems that Christian coloring books have low competition and I can advertise them on my own website. Working on a horses coloring book right now.
Best of luck with your new plans. 👍
@@paulmarles Thanks! Uploaded my first journal yesterday! I'll publish it after I see the proof.
Hey Paul, I had a question or suggestion for a video....do you have a plan for Q4? I see so many videos out there of KDP low-content authors who are disclosing their plan of attack for Q4. Do you have a plan or schedule or routine that you follow that would be helpful for the rest of us? I am creating books and following your wonderful advice. But I'm not cranking out a 100 at a time. With my niche research I'm making sure that my books have good quality content that people will want to buy. Is there an amount of books that you suggest I should be creating at this time? I'm also doing keyword research, but I haven't gotten a sale yet. I started November 2020, but I was just wondering if you have a routine that you follow in Q4 to get the most out of this profitable time for KDP authors. Love your videos and all your suggestions.
I don’t have a specific routine. I target books that are given more as gifts and look at Halloween and Christmas themed books.
👍👍👍
Thanks for all of your videos, I’m a regular viewer and find your videos the easiest to understand and follow, so thank you again. I am curious about one aspect of keywords that after watching all of your videos I’m still unclear. Theoretically speaking, do you need to use the full short tail/long tail keyword phrases when filling in your keywords? For example, do you need to repeatedly put “gifts for mom, gifts for friends, gifts for dad, gifts for…” each time you intend to use that type of keyword or is having “gifts for…” once allow you to just add the other keywords to follow such as, “gifts for mom dad friends coworkers…” etc? So so you have to put the phrase together to be indexed or do they index by combining all the individual words and piece them together? I hope that question is clear. Thank you!!
I don’t know but I’ve heard AMZ frowns on using gifts at all in the tee shirt sales at least.
This video explains how I fill out my 7 keyword boxes: czcams.com/video/Tqr0A9QP8Yo/video.html
Can we use freepik pic for colouring book ??
How would you do your settings on PowerPoint to fit the template of kdp? I’ve worked directly on kdp templates to write workbooks and I noticed that the margins in the right and left pages are different. How do you set the margins when not using kdp templates?
You can still use the templates in powerpoint. I use the free templates I give away in my Gumroad shop for the margins.
Hello Paul. I love watching your tutorials and learn so much from them. However, this one has me stumped! I followed all of the steps as you did them, but when I get to the stroke stage in Affinity designer the image doesn't come through. Am I missing something? Thanks.
It's difficult to tell without knowing all the steps you;ve taken up until that point. Did you set the stroke to black?
awesome video as usual paul!
can one create a coloring book names like van gouh?
That should be ok.
as an artist let me tell you that there is a brand called van gough that makes brushes for painting. idk if that may become an copyright issue
What are the dimensions you use for the paperback cover?
8.5x11"
Thanks for the video. Presentation of information very good and easy to follow. One thing I would like to know- when we save the image in either png or jpg, the saved image is highly pixellated. How to avoid it? Can you please help me?
That doesn't happen if you use vectors and go through the process I show you.
@@paulmarles I am using vectors, but still, the problem persists.
Can you make a video on how much of a passive income KDP NC/LC is after you've quit the business. Would be interesting to know if books will make organic sales after 5, 10 or more years!
Indon't think he has been doing KDP for 10 years, or even 5. And passive income would depend completely upon how well everything was selling when you stopped doing KDP but that could easily change at anytime if things change as to what is popular as far as themes go, colors, etc.
I haven't quit the business!
@@paulmarles sorry it was meant as a theoretical question. Grammar mistake
Hi Paul, I found a good image but after doing a reverse search, I found it on Alamy, Shutterstock and Etsy, do you think I should use it or not?
Please how can I add 0.125 to my book width and 0.25 to the hight
You create a file in the correct size. So, instead of a file 8.5 x 11" it would be 8.625 x 11.25"
My affinity designer screen doesn't look anything like yours. Let me run around youtube and find out how to use this program
Great video like always! I have a question about copyright and coloring books. I've noticed so many Disney, Horror and Cartoon coloring books that use copyright characters seamlessly without any consequence. Coloring Book Cafe just put out a book called Classic Horror Coloring Book filled with copyright movie horror characters. Can you possibly make a video explaining how they are allowed to get away with it? Maybe characters in black/white aren't in violation of copyright? Thanks a lot.
If they don't have a license then they are not getting away with it as such, they are just lucky.... for the moment. But risk legal action etc.
@@paulmarles Thanks for the reply sir. I'm still curious about the gray line involving parody and copyright characters. For example this trading card company has been putting out cards called "Garbage Pail Kids" and always draws movie character in a cartoonish/doll way and they have been doing it since the 80's. I'm assuming if I make a cute/kawaii horror coloring book and don't reference their names I should be fine? Thanks.
I WAS looking for HOW TO ADD BLANK PAGES so colorers would not bleed through. This video did not answer my question. Gezz.
Please I have a question ? I want to create my own book and interior on amozon Kdp , a coloring book I have my own sketch they don’t look like fine lines and so cuz I use dry ink brush to draw on procreate but they look create as some coloring pages . My question here can put these , knowing that I used some reference to draw some . And is it okey to create a coloring book using my own drawings and if Amazon asked me about the lisence of my owns sketches how can provide one. Thanks in advance
Hi. The way I understand it - if you're copying or outlining someone elses image or photograph then you don't own the copyright unless the reference image is copyright free or you have the commercial license to use it.
Thank you so much i just wanna clarify some points here .Actually i’ m not copying them . I’m drawing them my own way . So it is the same thing here but as you said i’m using some photographs to get inspired.And in some of my drawings i use some cuptures from some videos they are not even photographs or images in this case too , is it okey or not and how can i know that the photo reference is copyrighted free
Hey Paul, Really enjoy your channel. Im about to publish my first book on KDP. Its a coloring book. It was created jointly with Fiver with full commercial rights. Do I need to copyright?
You automatically own the copyright to any original works you create.
Can a customer paint using watercolors on amazons self published KDP that we upload as coloring books? Thanks!
The paper is probably not suitable for watercolor paints.
I am currently using the picture download from the web and i am published around 3 4 book is there any issue i faced in future solve my issue i am from india and i am regularly watching your videos
2. Is it issue for me
Can anyone recommend a tutorial for doing the line art in Inkacape? Or maybe Paul can do one.
Thank you for the video. Great content!
I think I'll attempt my first coloring book soon!
Yes, I too would be interested to learn this new software!!
Paul has one. Search his name and see all his videos. You will see it.
@@patnichol1275 Thank you!
Quick question- Are you importing these pages in PNG or JPEG... or PDF? I have images in both PNG and JPEG (same images) and I wonder if makes any difference which one I use. I'd like to delete one or the other... memory is getting full. :-)
Importing to where? Vectoriser? If so .jpg or .png to convert to raster images.
@@paulmarles Thanks.
Thank you for your videos, how do find the kdp paper quality. Is it good enough for some different mediums, like gauche or h2o colors?
I don't think the paper woould be thick enough for those, unfortunately.
@@paulmarles Thank you
May I ask how often you use the keyword 'gift' in your title or subtitle? Or do you only put it in the 7 keyword brackets?
I tend to only put it in the 7 keyword boxes.
@@paulmarles Thank you!
good vido
Thank you.
How do you rin a picture through Google images?
Go to Google image search, click on images and upload b
and it's fine using famous paintings?
Is it anything wrong to put a sign with copyright inside of these coloring books made with images from Public Domain website ?
What exactly are you copyrighting?
how do you do this in adobe illustrator
It’s very similar. If you’re familiar with Adobe Illustrator you should be able to follow the exact steps. The only difference is the buttons and tabs are in different places.
@@paulmarles thanks
Can someone tell me why we should insert a blank page between each page please?
Because some pens can bleed through the paper to the other side.
Hello sir, I want to publish no content book in kdp. Do we need to get copyright for the cover designed or how to know if that design is already copyrighted…? @Paul
You don’t need to get copyright but you need to make sure you have the license to use the graphics on your cover.
I wonder... Would there be a market for a coloring book of Renaissance butts? Because I really think that while very few people would search for that specifically, if you could get it in front of the right people, many would impulse purchase it
Sounds like a great idea!
I have doodles I've created and want to us them in a coloring book
Publishing books on kdp is awesome, but my goodness waiting for them to get published can take forever!!! I have 6 still publishing.
It takes exactly 5 days for each one for me. Kinda weird as it's exactly 5 days. always. How long do you have to wait?
@@CreativePublisher its been 3 weeks, but I submitted one after these and it was approved in 2 days.
Mine take like three days
@@perxian1893 ughhh! Thats awesome. I wish there was an option to delete and reupload to see if that makes a difference.
Did u see the “tech glitch” discussion in kdp community? Apparently thousands of no/low content are in queue to be published and this is happening to newer publishers. Kdp aren’t meant to be oversaturated with journals and notebooks so they are pushed at the back of the line.
for some reason, KDP is not showing the inside of my journals.
It takes time to appear but Amazon has bern having technical difficulties with it.
Hello Paul, I purchased a colouring and cursive hand writing book from Creative Fabrica. Will Amazon KDP accept if I upload as it is? Kindly advise.
I have no idea. It might be a problem if you’re using as is and it’s already been uploaded by another publisher.
@@paulmarles Thanks Paul for quick reply. Is it possible for you to give some input how to ammend a bit before I upload?
@@financialadvisor2035 cursive hand writing shouldn't be much of a problem. As for the colouring book I'd suggest to mix the interioir with several other templates and mix it all together so you dont have the same order like other people
@@CreativePublisher Thanks for advise
Why not remove the colours and increase the contrast in Gimp or Photoshop?
I thought about it too, there are several ways to go about this :D but I draw the interiors myself so I don't need to remove colors or anything like that. Was just curious to see the video :D
Illustrator has an image trace function, it will redraw any image within seconds
Edit: Holy sh*t I didn't know he was gonna mention it
That sounds easier. I'll remember that.
HI PAUL, my book was approved in the same email they said I had to link my book via my bookshelf this is not working are you familiar with this process?
I’ve not heard of that. Are you talking about Amazon author central?
Paul Marles my mistake it was automated message from Amazon on the assumption I had multiple books which I may want to link however I only had one book so therefore there was no need to link anything they weren’t very specific so it was very confusing but I figured it out eventually LOVE YOUR VIDEOS!
Can i to do this with gimp? Thank you so much
No. You need to use vector editing software. A free software would be Inkscape.
@@paulmarles thank you paul! 🙏👍
@@paulmarles i look another your video for inkscape! 🙋♀️