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AuthorCat / Illustration styles

Illustrations · visual style

Twenty built-in illustration styles for your novel

AuthorCat draws the illustrations of a novel in one style that you choose. Here are all 20 built-in styles, each drawn on the same four tasks: the heroine in full length, a sunny morning on the quay, dusk on a pier and an empty harbor town. The tasks never change, so you compare the manner, not the content.

These are the samples AuthorCat shows when you choose a style. Each style was run once; nothing was picked out.

Start free Download all 20 styles as one image (JPG)

One story in every style

In every row: heroine · daytime · scene · location. Open a picture to see it larger.

  1. 1

    Cinematic realism

    Painterly photorealism and cinematic light — the “selling” cover look.

    Cinematic realism — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    1. Cinematic realism — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Cinematic realism — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    1. Cinematic realism — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Cinematic realism — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    1. Cinematic realism — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Cinematic realism — an empty harbor town at dusk
    1. Cinematic realism — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  2. 2

    Anime · warm

    Clean lines, pastel colours, a bright mood — young-adult and romantic prose.

    Anime · warm — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    2. Anime · warm — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Anime · warm — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    2. Anime · warm — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Anime · warm — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    2. Anime · warm — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Anime · warm — an empty harbor town at dusk
    2. Anime · warm — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  3. 3

    Anime · dark

    Hard contrast and deep shadows — dark fantasy, drama, action.

    Anime · dark — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    3. Anime · dark — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Anime · dark — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    3. Anime · dark — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Anime · dark — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    3. Anime · dark — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Anime · dark — an empty harbor town at dusk
    3. Anime · dark — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  4. 4

    Storybook watercolour

    Soft watercolour illustration with a warm palette — children’s and lyrical prose.

    Storybook watercolour — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    4. Storybook watercolour — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Storybook watercolour — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    4. Storybook watercolour — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Storybook watercolour — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    4. Storybook watercolour — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Storybook watercolour — an empty harbor town at dusk
    4. Storybook watercolour — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  5. 5

    Graphic novel

    Ink, contrast, a limited palette — detective stories, noir, comics.

    Graphic novel — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    5. Graphic novel — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Graphic novel — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    5. Graphic novel — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Graphic novel — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    5. Graphic novel — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Graphic novel — an empty harbor town at dusk
    5. Graphic novel — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  6. 6

    Painterly study

    Paint over a visible sketch, a light warm palette, edges fading into white — contemporary and psychological fiction.

    Painterly study — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    6. Painterly study — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Painterly study — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    6. Painterly study — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Painterly study — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    6. Painterly study — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Painterly study — an empty harbor town at dusk
    6. Painterly study — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  7. 7

    CG · key art

    Fully rendered digital painting, rim light, deep atmosphere — fantasy, science fiction, adventure.

    CG · key art — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    7. CG · key art — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · key art — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    7. CG · key art — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · key art — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    7. CG · key art — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · key art — an empty harbor town at dusk
    7. CG · key art — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  8. 8

    CG · stylized hand-painted

    Simplified shapes, chunky brushwork, vivid colour — fairy-tale fantasy and adventure.

    CG · stylized hand-painted — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    8. CG · stylized hand-painted — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · stylized hand-painted — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    8. CG · stylized hand-painted — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · stylized hand-painted — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    8. CG · stylized hand-painted — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · stylized hand-painted — an empty harbor town at dusk
    8. CG · stylized hand-painted — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  9. 9

    CG · 3D render

    The look of an animated feature: lifelike materials, soft light, blurred background — family and adventure stories.

    CG · 3D render — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    9. CG · 3D render — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · 3D render — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    9. CG · 3D render — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · 3D render — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    9. CG · 3D render — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · 3D render — an empty harbor town at dusk
    9. CG · 3D render — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  10. 10

    CG · concept art

    Big masses, fog, a muted palette with a single accent of light — epics, dark science fiction.

    CG · concept art — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    10. CG · concept art — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · concept art — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    10. CG · concept art — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · concept art — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    10. CG · concept art — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    CG · concept art — an empty harbor town at dusk
    10. CG · concept art — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  11. 11

    Retro US · magazine realism

    A 1950s weekly cover: warm everyday realism, oil and gouache, a light clear palette.

    Retro US · magazine realism — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    11. Retro US · magazine realism — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro US · magazine realism — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    11. Retro US · magazine realism — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro US · magazine realism — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    11. Retro US · magazine realism — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro US · magazine realism — an empty harbor town at dusk
    11. Retro US · magazine realism — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  12. 12

    Retro US · glossy gouache

    A 1950s magazine story illustration: elegant figures, a clean flat background, pastels and one bold accent.

    Retro US · glossy gouache — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    12. Retro US · glossy gouache — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro US · glossy gouache — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    12. Retro US · glossy gouache — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro US · glossy gouache — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    12. Retro US · glossy gouache — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro US · glossy gouache — an empty harbor town at dusk
    12. Retro US · glossy gouache — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  13. 13

    Retro USSR · sunlit painting

    1950s painting: sunny plein air, broad oil brushwork, fresh clean colours.

    Retro USSR · sunlit painting — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    13. Retro USSR · sunlit painting — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro USSR · sunlit painting — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    13. Retro USSR · sunlit painting — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro USSR · sunlit painting — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    13. Retro USSR · sunlit painting — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro USSR · sunlit painting — an empty harbor town at dusk
    13. Retro USSR · sunlit painting — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  14. 14

    Retro USSR · book illustration

    Early-1960s book illustration: a lively line, watercolour and gouache, plenty of white paper.

    Retro USSR · book illustration — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    14. Retro USSR · book illustration — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro USSR · book illustration — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    14. Retro USSR · book illustration — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro USSR · book illustration — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    14. Retro USSR · book illustration — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Retro USSR · book illustration — an empty harbor town at dusk
    14. Retro USSR · book illustration — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  15. 15

    Classics · salon morning

    French salon painting of the early 1900s: pearly haze, melting contours, opalescent skin, soft diffused light.

    Classics · salon morning — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    15. Classics · salon morning — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · salon morning — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    15. Classics · salon morning — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · salon morning — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    15. Classics · salon morning — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · salon morning — an empty harbor town at dusk
    15. Classics · salon morning — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  16. 16

    Classics · anecdote cover

    Mid-century American magazine cover: a bare backdrop, one to three figures, the whole story told in a gesture and a face.

    Classics · anecdote cover — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    16. Classics · anecdote cover — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · anecdote cover — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    16. Classics · anecdote cover — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · anecdote cover — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    16. Classics · anecdote cover — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · anecdote cover — an empty harbor town at dusk
    16. Classics · anecdote cover — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  17. 17

    Classics · narrative scene

    A fully built world in oil: a room or street full of everyday detail, a few characterful faces at the peak of an incident.

    Classics · narrative scene — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    17. Classics · narrative scene — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · narrative scene — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    17. Classics · narrative scene — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · narrative scene — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    17. Classics · narrative scene — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · narrative scene — an empty harbor town at dusk
    17. Classics · narrative scene — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  18. 18

    Classics · illustrator’s oil study

    Freer than the finished cover: visible brushwork, underpainting showing through, a warm limited palette, detail only in faces and hands.

    Classics · illustrator’s oil study — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    18. Classics · illustrator’s oil study — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · illustrator’s oil study — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    18. Classics · illustrator’s oil study — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · illustrator’s oil study — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    18. Classics · illustrator’s oil study — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · illustrator’s oil study — an empty harbor town at dusk
    18. Classics · illustrator’s oil study — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  19. 19

    Classics · golden-age book art

    Illustration for an adventure classic: thick oil, broad planes of brushwork, storm light, a heroic low angle.

    Classics · golden-age book art — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    19. Classics · golden-age book art — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · golden-age book art — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    19. Classics · golden-age book art — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · golden-age book art — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    19. Classics · golden-age book art — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · golden-age book art — an empty harbor town at dusk
    19. Classics · golden-age book art — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
  20. 20

    Classics · quiet realism

    Twentieth-century American realism: geometric walls, hard raking light, wide empty spaces, a lone figure in a pause.

    Classics · quiet realism — the heroine in full length on a neutral backdrop
    20. Classics · quiet realism — Heroine Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · quiet realism — a sunny morning on the quay: the heroine, a market woman and a boy
    20. Classics · quiet realism — Daytime Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · quiet realism — the heroine with a lantern on the pier at dusk
    20. Classics · quiet realism — Scene Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file
    Classics · quiet realism — an empty harbor town at dusk
    20. Classics · quiet realism — Location Swipe across the picture to look closer Open the full-size file

Every picture on this page was drawn in AuthorCat.

How you choose a style in AuthorCat

  1. Pick a style. In the illustrations of your novel, open “Visual style”. The library holds these 20 styles with the same samples.

  2. Assign it to the novel. One click on “Assign to the novel”. The description of the style goes into every picture request word for word, so the whole book is drawn in one manner, along with the same faces.

  3. Test it on your model. “Style test” draws the same four frames with your own image model, so you see the result before the first scene.

  4. Or make your own. “Make it your own” copies a built-in style for editing; “New style” starts from a blank description. The description for the image model is written in English, and you can run the test before you save.

Pictures are drawn on your ChatGPT subscription through the Codex app, or with an OpenAI key. AuthorCat adds no markup. AI book illustration with consistent characters →

Questions about styles

How many illustration styles does AuthorCat have?

Twenty built-in styles: cinematic realism, two anime styles, storybook watercolour, graphic novel, a painterly study, four kinds of CG, retro American and Soviet illustration, and six classic oil manners. You can also describe your own.

Can I create my own style?

“Make it your own” copies a built-in style for editing, and “New style” starts from a blank description. “Style test” draws the same four frames with your style before you save it.

Can I change the style of a novel later?

Yes. Pictures drawn before the switch stay in the old style, and AuthorCat shows how many of them there are.

What does it cost?

AuthorCat is free while the beta runs. Pictures are drawn on your ChatGPT subscription through the Codex app, or with an OpenAI key billed by OpenAI. AuthorCat adds no markup.

Read next

Try the styles on your novel

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Windows 10/11 (64-bit) and Macs with Apple silicon (M1 or later).