How I Published My Coloring Book on KDP with $0
A Step-by-Step Guide on How I Published My First Coloring Book Using MidJourney, Canva, and KDP With $0”
Have you ever dreamed of creating your own coloring book but thought it was too expensive and complex? Join me as I share my experience of bringing my artistic vision to life using MidJourney and Canva with 0$.
If I can do it, so can you!
We all have that one creative dream we tuck away, thinking it’s beyond our reach. For me, it was publishing my very own coloring book, filled with intricate designs and captivating scenes.
The idea seemed daunting, both artistically and financially. For a long time, I was also thinking I wouldn’t be able to make it.
But then, a lightbulb moment struck — why not utilize the power of the latest technology and creativity to make this dream a reality? It’s much easier than you think.
Here is the link to my book so that you know that I actually have published it, and of course, you can support me in buying one below is the link for the US (for the remaining regions I have posted links at the end)
Here is how I did it.
Step 1.
Unveiling the Magic of MidJourney
MidJourney, a hidden gem in the realm of digital artistry, proved to be my ultimate companion on this creative escapade. Unlike other platforms that demand hefty sums, MidJourney welcomed me with open arms, offering a range of tools and features at no cost. With MidJourney, my budget worries were instantly put to rest.
If you don’t know how to use mid-journey, then I recommend watching some videos on YouTube on mid-journey and choosing the proper prompt to generate the images.
Here is the Prompt I used.
Children coloring books, “cute cat playing with a small pumpkin” coloring page, white page, no shading, no grey, thin lines.
You just need to change “cute cat playing with a small pumpkin” to this part depending will be theme of the book, like animals, princes, flowers, fruits, humans, unicorns, etc.
If you are not well versed with mid-journey refer Youtube video at the bottom for more details.
2. KDP
I created a KDp account by providing all the required details.
Once you sign up to KDP then
1. Click “Help” on the home page (at the top of the page)
2. Click “Format your paperback (on the left side)
3. Click “Download the cover template”
4. After that you need to put the below details:
a. Binding Type: paper back
b. Interior type: back & White
c. Paper type: White paper
d. Page turn direction: Left to right
e. Measurement Units: Inches
f. Interior trim size: 8.5x11.00 inches
g. page count: Mention the number of pages of your book (normally double the number of images you will be adding to the book, as normally the back side of the image is left blank to avoid overlaying of colors)
5. Click Calculate dimensions. KDP will display an image with the dimensions
6. Click download template. Both the PNG image and PDF of the template will be downloaded.
7. Click the PNG image downloaded. There is information called “Overall dimensions”
Step 3.
A. Book Cover
Open Canva (if you do not have an account create one with the free version)
1. Click “Create a design” at right top corner and
2. Mention the dimensions mentioned in point 7 (“Overall dimensions”) make sure you select inch as the measuring unit
3. Click Design
4. Click “Uploads” on the left side and upload the PNG image of point 7 drag that image to the canvas created and adjust it to the dimension of the canvas.
5. Click on elements and search square share select the square same and add to the canvas
5. Drag to the left top corner and drag to adjust to the middle “dotted black line”
5. Click on color and make it black color (this will be the back side of the book)
6. Upload the cover image (color image) generated from mid-journey drag it to the top right corner and draft to fill till the bottom and middle dotted line
7. Click on “Text” then add a heading, and drag to place when you want the heading. You can change the font (use the free ones without the crown on top)
8. Click on text then add a subheading and drag to place it when you want to play
9. Select the color of the heading and subheading as you need
10. Your book cover is finished and download the pdf. Hit “share” at the top and then “download” select “pdf print” select “CMYK” (RBG is also fine) then click download.
B: Inside pages
1. 1. Click “Create a design” at right top corner and
2. Mention the dimensions: 8.625" x 11.25" make sure you select inch as the measuring unit
3. Click Design
4. Upload all the downloaded images from mid-journey and add one by one image to different pages (you can click the “+” button in Canva to add a new page)
5. Make sure you add the images in od pages only and keep the even pages blank (this will serve as blank behind the page)
6. Once you create all pages down as PDF as mentioned above (A. Book Cover: point 10)
7. The contents of the book are ready.
Step 4: Uploading to KDP
1. Open the KDP dashboard and click “Create+”
2. Select “create paperback” and add the below details
a. Book Title: Add the book title (refer to Amazon to check some good titles and check which ones are most selling) I have kept my book title as: Princess Coloring Book: Magical Adventures for Kids
b. Add a subtitle (refer to Amazon for good keywords or you can also ask chatGPT) I kept the subtitle as: Spark Your Child’s Creativity & Imagination with Princess Colors
c. Choose the author’s name (you can keep your real name or a pen name)
d. Contributors: Leave blank
e. Description: Add the details of the book details (refer to Amazon for some good ones and then create your own accordingly) I don’t mention the description here as it is a bit lengthy (you can refer to my Amazon account for details: Description
f. Publishing rights: Select “I own the copyright…”
g. Carefully select and write the keywords related to your book.
h. Primary marketplace: Amazon.com
i. Choose categories: Books › Children’s Books › Activities, Crafts & Games › Activity Books › Coloring Books › Nonfiction
j. Do not select the “low content… and large print book…)
k. adult content: No
l. Click “save and continue”
m. Click on print-free ISBN (KDP will generate a free ISBN for your book)
n. Print options: Black and white interior with white paper
o. Trim size: Select 8.5" x 11"
p. Bleed settings: Select Bleed-pdf only
q. Paperback cover finish: Matte / glossy Select the one you want — mine is Matte
r. Manuscript: Click on upload paperback and upload the interior pdf file downloaded from Canva ( this will take a few seconds to minutes depending on your internet speed)
s. Book cover: “Click on upload a cover you already have” and upload the cover pdf downloaded from Canva.
t. Launch preview: Click and check each page of the book that it’s aligned correctly, if not not down the changes required and make necessary changes in Canva.
u. Normally all errors are listed on the left-hand side of the preview and the black dotted line will turn to red when there are any errors.
v. Once everything is okay click “Approve”
w. Amazon will tell the printing cost, click “save and continue”
That will open the final page of set-up
a. Teriteris: All tereteries
b. Primary marketplace: Amazon.com
c. Pricing: Put the price of your book in the “Amazon.com” option and Amazon will calculate the pricing for all other territories. If you want to change any price you can change the same.
d. Scroll down to the bottom and click: “Publish your paperback book”
There it is your book is published.
Congratulations on your first coloring book. Below are the links for my coloring books on Amazon in different regions, would be a great support if you could buy one. Also if you face any queries pls ask I would love to help.
US, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, PL, CA, JP, SE, AU
Here is the YouTube video I recommend to watch, I am very sure it will help you in publishing your book.
