Once you've sorted the wording for your story it's time for a very exciting part to begin... the illustration process! It is absolutely crucial that you pick the perfect illustrations for your book - these are the pictures that will bring your story to life, make it jump off the shelf and capture the imaginations of your readers.
Tip #1: What you see is what you get
However, and this does sound stupid - once you have selected your illustrator - as you LOVE their work and that's the style you would like, they will illustrate in the style you see. If you ask for a dog on a skateboard, that is what they will draw - a dog on a skateboard in their style. This is what you should expect!
Tip #2: Pass over the info
This is where you match your wordings to future drawings. Using an A4 sheet of paper or a Word document, you copy the wording you want on that page, alongside a quick sketch, or description on what you want the drawing to portray. The more information you give, the better the brief for your illustrator.
You do this for page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4... you get the picture!
Tip #3: Deposit and contracts
With Fi & Books you pay a deposit to make sure that you and the illustrator are both are committed to the project and it also makes sure our illustrator doesn't get burnt - which happens a lot in the industry (not with us, we would like to add). The Illustrator then goes away and illustrates your first page. This is to make sure they are on the right track to creating what you had in mind.
We also send you contracts to make sure that you and the illustrators work is in safe hands.
Tip #4 - The process
You get the illustrations sent via email with your wording added to the page. Oooo so exciting! If you love it, great! The illustrator continues with the other pages. If it isn't quite right, you email what you do, and don't like about the drawing and the illustrator will revise the picture.
Once this is approved the illustrator continues with the rest of the book, alongside the working on the page. Once finished this gets emailed to you for approval. And that's it - your story artwork is complete and it is ready for printing!
Tip #5 - Pricing
We've have pre-agreed clear, simple and exclusive pricing with all of our illustrators so you know in advance what everything will cost. And you OWN the drawings, after all you have paid for them!