PROMPT GUIDE

How to make a cover for a doujinshi or self-published book with AI (all-ages, print-ready)

A cover decides whether people pick up your book. Unlike an illustration viewed on screen, print brings extra concerns such as bleed, resolution and where the title goes. This guide covers framing and prompts for all-ages doujinshi (self-published comics) and book covers made with AI, and how to prepare them for print.

Last updated: 2026-10-22 approx. 3 min read

日本語版

The short answer

When making a doujinshi or book cover with AI, generate a portrait image a size larger than the finished book, leave space for the title at the top or bottom, and keep important things away from the edges. Printing trims the edges slightly, so you need extra bleed outside the trim line. Print needs large images, so upscale before use. Always check the print shop's and sales platform's rules for AI works on their official pages.

How do you make a doujinshi cover with AI?

Make it portrait, a size larger than the book, leave space for the title and keep important things away from the edges.

Printed books are printed on slightly larger paper and then trimmed. So the cover art needs a few millimeters of extra image (bleed) beyond the finished size. The bleed width and the area where text must not be placed are set by each print shop, so check the guidelines of the shop you submit to. When generating with AI, asking it to keep the face and hands away from the edges is a safe habit.

Words that suit covers

Tag	Meaning	Note
`book cover illustration`	A book cover illustration	Tends to give a cover-like composition
`vertical composition`	Vertical composition	Matches the book's shape
`empty space at the top`	Empty space at the top	Where the title goes
`centered`	Centered	Safe even when edges are trimmed
`full body`	Full body	Shows the cover's main character clearly Details
`detailed background`	Detailed background	Conveys the world of the story Details
`no text`	No text	Add the title later

Vertical book cover style illustration of a girl in a library with space for a title — 上にタイトルの余白

Fantasy book cover style illustration of a girl in a white cloak centered in a forest — 上にタイトルの余白

Illustration usage rules

What are the steps to make a cover?

Steps to make a book cover with AI

Check the print shop's guidelines for book size, bleed width, text-free margins and recommended resolution
Decide whether the title goes at the top or bottom and keep that side empty
Ask for a portrait image with the person centered and the face and hands away from the edges, and make several
Upscale the chosen image to the size needed for print
Add the title and author name in an image editor and confirm the art continues into the bleed area
Save in the print shop's required format (color mode and file type) and submit

book cover illustration, 1girl, solo, standing, holding book, library, bookshelf, warm light, vertical composition, centered, empty space at the top, detailed background, no text

a book cover illustration of an anime girl with long hair and a red ribbon standing in a fantasy forest at dawn, centered in a tall vertical frame, plenty of open sky at the top for a title, her face and hands well away from the edges, no letters

What should you watch for print?

Three things: size (resolution), bleed and color. An image that looks fine on screen can blur or change color in print.

Issue	What happens	What to do
Not enough resolution	Blurry or jagged in print	Upscale to the print shop's recommended size
No bleed	White lines appear at the edges	Extend the art to the bleed width (outpainting can help)
A face or text near the edge	Cut off when trimmed	Keep important things inside
Wrong color mode	Colors look dull when printed	Save in the color mode the print shop specifies

Rinka's tips

AI images are usually screen-sized, so print almost always needs upscaling
Vivid colors can look a little calmer in print; check with a test print or the shop's samples
For a series, keeping the title position and the character's size consistent looks great side by side

How to upscale images for print: How to Upscale Images with AI (Enlarging Anime Art Cleanly) →

What are the common cover mistakes and fixes?

Problem	Cause	Fix
No room for the title	The person fills the frame	Add empty space at the top, or make the person a little smaller
Head or feet get cut off	No framing specified	Write full body, centered and generate in portrait
Meaningless text appears	Words like book or cover make it imagine text	Add no text and add the title later
Not enough bleed	Generated at exactly the finished size	Generate a size larger, or extend the edges
Blurry in print	The image is small	Upscale before submitting

What should you watch when distributing or selling with an AI cover?

Events, sales sites and print shops each have their own rules on AI works and labeling. These can change, so always check the latest official guidance.

Do not make a cover that imitates existing works or characters (for fan works, check the original's official guidelines)
Check the sales site's or event's rules on whether you must label the use of AI
Keep the original large image and the print file with text as separate files

To extend the edges of the art for bleed: How to Outpaint (Extend the Edges of an Image or Make It Wider) →

To add clean title text: How to Put Text in AI Images (Prompts That Avoid Garbled Text, and Adding It Later) →

Settings for posting your work to pixiv: How to Post AI Illustrations on pixiv: Settings and Tags →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How large should I make a doujinshi cover?

Decide from the print shop's recommended resolution and the book size. AI images are usually screen-sized, so upscale them to the size needed for print.

What is bleed?

It is the extra art extended beyond the finished size to allow for slight shifts when the printed paper is trimmed. The width is set by each print shop, so check its guidelines.

Can AI add the cover title too?

Text breaks easily, so adding the title and author name later in an image editor is recommended. Write no text in the prompt and let the AI make only the empty space.

Can I distribute or sell a book with an AI-made cover?

It depends on the rules of the event, sales site and print shop, and the terms of the generation service you used. These can change, so check the latest official guidance.