Fableself
Create your book

CHOOSING A STYLE

Which style should your book be drawn in?

Twenty-four is a lot to hold in your head at once. This page sorts them into five families, says plainly what each family is good at, and shows which occasions tend to call for which style. Read it end to end, or jump to the table.

Three questions that settle it

Most people arrive with a feeling rather than a style name. These three questions turn the feeling into a shortlist, usually of two or three.

  1. Who opens the book most?

    A four year old and a grandparent are not looking at the same picture. Bright, rounded art holds a small child's attention. Softer, quieter art is what an adult keeps on a shelf. If the book is for a couple, think about whose taste is louder.

  2. Where will it sit?

    A book that lives on a coffee table gets looked at by visitors. One that lives by a bed gets looked at by one person, at night, for years. Bold styles carry a room. Muted ones age better in a quiet corner.

  3. What are the photos like?

    The illustrations are generated from the photos you send, so the source matters. Clear, well lit faces give every style something to work with. Older, grainy or low light photos suit the painted and sketched styles better than crisp 3D or flat vector, where a face has nowhere to hide.

The five families

Every style sits in at least one of these, and several sit in two. The family tells you the register: how loudly the book speaks, and who it is speaking to.

Romantic

Warm light, soft edges, faces treated kindly. These are what people pick for anniversaries, weddings, and the books they are slightly nervous about giving.

For children

Rounded shapes and strong colour, the kind of page a small child points at. Built to survive being read out loud forty times.

3D Animation

3D Animation

Polished 3D-film charm, expressive faces, soft skin and warm cinematic light.

Often chosen for: Birthday

Classic

Restrained, closer to an illustrated book than a cartoon. These age well, and they are the safest choice when you do not know the recipient's taste.

Bold

High contrast, flat colour, graphic confidence. They make a small moment look like an event, and they photograph well.

Risograph

Risograph

Grainy inks and electric spot colours with an indie-print, zine-shelf charm.

Often chosen for: Best friend

Manga (B&W)

Manga (B&W)

Classic black-and-white manga, expressive linework and screentone shading.

Often chosen for: Graduation

Cinematic

Deep shadow, wide framing, the look of a film still. Best when the story has real stakes in it, and usually the wrong call for a baby book.

Manga (B&W)

Manga (B&W)

Classic black-and-white manga, expressive linework and screentone shading.

Often chosen for: Graduation

All 24 at a glance

The same information in one scan. Family tells you the register; occasions are the gift pages that currently recommend that style.

All 24 at a glance
StyleFamilyRecommended for
Watercolour StorybookRomantic, Children, ClassicBirthday, Anniversary, New baby, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Grandparents, Wedding, Memorial
Ghibli InspiredChildren, ClassicNew year & holidays, Young readers
Dark FantasyCinematicYoung readers
Vintage EngravingClassicAnniversary, Father's Day, Grandparents, Memorial
Modern FlatBold, ChildrenYoung readers
ImpressionistRomantic, ClassicAnniversary, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Grandparents, Wedding, Memorial
Japanese WoodblockClassic, BoldGrandparents
Pencil SketchClassic, RomanticMemorial, Young readers
RisographBoldBest friend
Art NouveauClassic, RomanticMother's Day, Wedding
Folk TaleChildren, BoldNew year & holidays
CinematicCinematicAnniversary, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Graduation
3D AnimationChildrenBirthday
Comic BookBold, CinematicBirthday, Father's Day, Graduation, Best friend
Pop ArtBoldGraduation, Best friend
Gothic StorybookCinematic, ChildrenNew year & holidays
Manga (B&W)Bold, CinematicGraduation
Cartoon SitcomChildren, BoldBirthday, Best friend
Chalk PastelChildren, RomanticNew baby, Mother's Day
Retro Mid-CenturyClassic, BoldFather's Day
Anime ShoujoRomantic, ChildrenNew baby, Valentine's Day
Scandinavian MinimalClassicNew baby
Minimalist Line ArtClassic, RomanticWedding
Low PolyBoldNew year & holidays

Still torn?

Two ways forward. The quiz asks four questions and names one style, which is quicker than deciding. The gallery shows real spreads, which is more convincing than any description, including this one.

Take the style quizBrowse all stylesSee real books

Questions people ask before choosing

How many styles can one book use?

One. A book is illustrated in a single style from the cover to the last page, so it reads as one object rather than a folder of pictures. If you want two styles, that is two books.

What if I pick the wrong one?

You see a proof before you pay. If the style is not doing what you hoped, say so at that point and we redo it in another one. Nothing is printed until you have approved it.

Can you match a style I saw somewhere else?

Not a particular artist's work, no. We work in the 24 styles on this page. If what you liked is close to one of them, say which in your order notes and we will lean that way within it.

How many photos does a style need?

One clear photo per person is enough to start. More helps, especially from different angles. What matters more than the count is that the face is lit and in focus.

Does the list of 24 change?

New styles get added now and then. Your order is fixed to the style you chose when you placed it, and that does not change afterwards.

The story already happened. Let's put it on paper.

Five short chapters and a few photos, we'll take it from there.

Create your book

Not sure which world fits? Take the style quiz