Your Guide to AI Illustrations
AI-generated art is magical, surprising, and sometimes a little quirky. Here's what to expect and how to get the best results.
What to Expect
AI is creative, not perfect
Think of our AI as a talented but slightly unpredictable artist. It creates beautiful, one-of-a-kind illustrations based on your story and characters — but just like any artist, it interprets things in its own way. The results are often delightful and surprising, but they won't look like a photograph or a pixel-perfect rendering of exactly what you imagined.
Every page is a brand-new creation
Each illustration is generated from scratch — not copied or traced from a template. This means your characters may look slightly different from page to page, just like how a human illustrator draws each scene fresh. Small artistic variations in hairstyles, expressions, or outfits are completely normal and part of what makes each book unique.
You're in control
Here's the best part: you don't have to keep anything you don't love. After generation, you can review every single page, edit the text, and regenerate any illustration that doesn't feel right. You get generous credits to experiment until your book feels just right. Nothing is final until you say so.
Common AI Quirks (Don't Panic!)
If you see something unexpected during generation, take a deep breath — it's totally normal. Here are the most common things people notice:
1Extra or duplicate characters
The AI might add an extra teddy bear, show two of the same child, or include a character that wasn't in your story. This is called a "hallucination" and is one of the most common AI quirks.
Quick fix: Regenerate the page with feedback like: "Only show [character name] once in this scene."
2Characters look different across pages
Hair might be curlier on one page, or a shirt might change color. Since each illustration is generated independently, small variations are expected.
Quick fix: If a character looks very different, regenerate with: "Make the characters look like the reference pictures provided."
3Extra fingers or unusual hands
AI famously struggles with hands and fingers. You might see six fingers, oddly shaped hands, or fingers that blend together.
Quick fix: Often the hands are small enough in the final print that it's not noticeable. If it bothers you, regenerate that page.
4Text or letters in the image
The AI sometimes adds decorative text, signs, or letter-like shapes to illustrations. These are usually gibberish.
Quick fix: Regenerate with: "Do not include any text, words, letters, or signs in the illustration."
5Unexpected background elements
A random object might appear in the background, or the setting might not match what you expected.
Quick fix: Regenerate with specific scene details: "Set this scene in a sunny park with green grass and tall trees."
6Faces don't match the photos
The AI uses your reference photos as inspiration but creates an illustrated interpretation, not a photo-realistic copy. Some pages capture the likeness better than others.
Quick fix: Regenerate with: "Make the people look more like the reference pictures provided. Focus on matching their face shape, hair, and skin tone."
Tips for Richer, More Detailed Stories
The more detail you give, the better
The AI builds your story and illustrations from the details you provide. The more specific you are about your characters, their personalities, and the setting, the richer and more personalized your book will be.
Instead of:
“My daughter likes her teddy bear.”
Try:
“My daughter Lily is 4 years old with curly brown hair and big brown eyes. Her favorite teddy bear is named Mr. Snuggles — he's a worn brown bear with a red bow tie that goes everywhere with her.”
Describe the world, not just the characters
Set the scene! Mention favorite places, seasons, colors, or activities. This gives the AI a much richer palette to work with when creating illustrations.
Great details to include: favorite colors, time of day, season, indoor vs outdoor settings, special objects or toys, family traditions, what your child loves to do, pets and their personalities.
Pick a theme that resonates
Choose a story template that matches something your child genuinely loves or is going through. A story about a kid who loves dinosaurs will feel more authentic than a generic adventure, and you'll naturally have more details to share, which makes the whole book richer.
Avoid copyrighted characters
Please do not use copyrighted characters in your stories — especially Disney, Marvel, Pixar, or other trademarked characters (Elsa, Spider-Man, Bluey, Paw Patrol, etc.).
If you upload a reference image of a copyrighted character, the AI will attempt to create a legally distinct, original interpretation inspired by your reference — it won't produce an exact copy. This protects both you and us from copyright issues.
Instead, try this: Describe what your child loves about the character. “A brave princess with ice powers and a sparkly blue dress” gives the AI plenty to work with while creating something entirely unique for your child's book.
How to Regenerate Like a Pro
Every page has a regenerate button. When you use it, you can add specific feedback to guide the AI. Here's how to write effective regeneration prompts:
Copy-paste regeneration prompts
Characters don't look like themselves
“Make the characters look like the reference pictures provided. Focus on matching their face, hair color, and skin tone.”
Too many characters in the scene
“Only show [character name] and [character name] in this scene. Remove any extra or duplicate characters.”
Background doesn't match the story
“Set this scene in [describe setting]. Make the environment bright and colorful.”
Characters are too small or hard to see
“Make the main characters larger and more prominent in the center of the illustration.”
Illustration feels too dark or scary
“Make this scene brighter, warmer, and more cheerful. Use soft, friendly lighting.”
Weird text or letters appeared in the image
“Do not include any text, words, letters, or signs in the illustration.”
Want a different art style feel
“Make this illustration feel more like a classic storybook with soft watercolor textures.”
Pro tips for regeneration
- Be specific. “Make the dog brown” works better than “fix the dog.”
- Say what you want, not just what you don't want. “Show them playing in a sunny meadow” is better than “don't make it dark.”
- One or two changes at a time. The AI handles focused feedback better than a long list of changes.
- Reference the photos. If characters look wrong, saying “match the reference pictures” reminds the AI to look at your uploaded photos.
- Try 2-3 times. Sometimes the AI needs a couple of attempts. Each regeneration is a fresh interpretation, so results can vary.
Getting the Best from Your Photos
What works well
- Clear, well-lit photos with the subject facing the camera
- Close-up shots where the face or toy is the main focus
- Simple backgrounds that don't distract
- Multiple reference photos from different angles (if available)
What to avoid
- ✗Blurry or very dark photos
- ✗Group photos where the subject is tiny
- ✗Heavy filters or unusual lighting
- ✗Photos where the face is partially hidden (sunglasses, hats covering eyes)
Remember: Photos are optional! If you prefer not to upload photos, you can describe your characters in detail and the AI will create them from your description. Many families prefer this approach for privacy reasons, and the results can be just as wonderful.
Embrace the Magic
We want to be completely honest with you: AI illustrations won't be perfect. They're not meant to be. What they are is something truly special — a one-of-a-kind book that features your child's actual toys, pets, and loved ones in a story made just for them.
No two Enchantably books are alike. The small imperfections and artistic surprises are part of what makes each book a genuine original. We've seen kids light up when they recognize their teddy bear on the page, completely unbothered by the fact that Teddy's bow is a slightly different shade of red than in real life.
That said, we give you all the tools to make your book as close to your vision as possible. Use your credits, regenerate pages, tweak the text, and make it yours. Most families find that after a few regenerations on the pages that matter most, they end up with a book they're genuinely proud of.
The goal isn't a perfect book — it's a book that makes your child smile and feel like the hero of their own story.
Want the longer version of why we embrace AI's quirks instead of hiding them? Read “Yes, These Books Are Made with AI. No, They’re Not Slop.”