How to make a children’s book - PART 2
Welcome back to my behind-the-scenes journey of creating a children's book! In this post, I'll be diving into one of the most intricate and fascinating parts of the process: choosing colors and textures.
The Power of Color in Design
In the realms of advertising, graphic design, and any other form of design, an incredible amount of thought goes into selecting the right colors and textures. There are entire books dedicated to color theory and psychology, exploring how humans and even animals react to different hues. Ever noticed how many fast food chains use red and yellow? It's no coincidence—these colors are known to stimulate appetite and grab attention. Similarly, many banks and finance companies opt for blue logos to convey trust and stability.
Creating the Right Atmosphere
When it came to our children's book, we had to consider the atmosphere and energy we wanted to convey. Since our book is aimed at younger children and is mostly dynamic with no sad or scary images, a bright color palette was the obvious choice. But within that choice lay a multitude of decisions: Should we go with warm bright colors or cool bright colors? How do we ensure the colors complement each other and create the desired mood?
A part of my huge “Frog Rock” mood board
Experimenting with Colors
The only way to make these decisions was through experimentation. I spent days doing quick sketches, playing with different color combinations, and examining how they looked together. It was essential to consider contrast, hue, and lighting. The process was both challenging and enlightening, showing me just how much there is to learn about the art of color.
Testing out different color options
Deciding Against Texture
Given the constraints of time and budget, I decided against adding texture to the illustrations. Adding texture would have significantly increased the time required for coloring, potentially doubling or even tripling the workload. While texture can add depth and richness to illustrations, sometimes simplicity is key, especially when working with tight deadlines.
The Final Palette
In the end, we opted for a bright, cool-leaning jungle palette. This choice not only suited the energetic and playful nature of the book but also provided a visually appealing and cohesive look. The process was a great learning experience, and it reinforced how much thought and care goes into every aspect of book design.
A part of my page layout on a mural board
Reflections and Lessons Learned
Choosing colors for a children's book was, by far, one of the most challenging parts of the project. It required a delicate balance of intuition, experimentation, and theoretical knowledge.
Creating this children's book has been an incredible journey, and I hope sharing my experiences gives you a glimpse into the complexities and joys of the process. Stay tuned for the next part of my journey, where I'll delve into the final part of putting everything together.
Thank you for joining me on this colorful adventure!
