October 23, 2024
Coloring book publishing has exploded in recent years. If you plan to publish a coloring book, you will find enthusiastic readers who are ready to buy your book. A well-drawn coloring book with a compelling theme will always be welcome in the world of coloring book publishing. It’s an excellent way to express your creativity, and it could be a money-making sideline.
If you’re an artist, it can be an excellent way to share your work—and get paid for it. If you’re a writer, you can make some money from your coloring book publishing efforts by hiring an artist to create the pictures you want to sell.
Since 2015, adult coloring books have exploded in the publishing world. In that year, sales jumped from 1 million to 12 million units. The increase led to more sales of art supplies, including colored pencils, paints, and colored ink pens.
While sales have dipped in the last two years, they continue to be a strong seller and an enormously popular category. Industry experts say it’s hard to pin down exact sales numbers because most coloring books are sold by self-published authors and small publishing companies, who don’t report numbers as often as major publishers.
Coloring books take readers back to one of their favorite childhood activities. For many people, coloring is a way to relax and let go. It’s an easy hobby that doesn’t require any skills and isn’t competitive in any way.
Many users say they like coloring because it gets them away from staring at a TV or phone screen for hours. Coloring is a desirable alternative to digital devices. It requires no electricity, is portable, and it can be done anywhere, at any time.
If you want engage in coloring book publishing, you are entering a market with a solid, loyal customer base.
According to Barnes & Noble, these are the top selling coloring books. Note that there are dozens of subcategories in this genre, and there are top sellers in each.
For adults:
For children:
Coloring book publishing is an open field. You can find books that deal with any topic you can think of, and if you produce a high-quality book, you are certain to find buyers. If you study the top sellers in this category, you will see some qualities they share.
Artwork is everything in coloring book publishing. Readers want beautiful, original artwork that is detailed enough to be absorbing without becoming difficult to color. That balance is hard to get correctly, but most readers appreciate a fair amount of detail because it keeps them focused.
When you engage in coloring book publishing, you must provide top-quality drawings. If you’re an artist, here’s your chance to share your work with buyers who can’t wait to see it. If they like one book you publish, they’ll be eager to buy others.
If you’re not an artist, you must find a talented illustrator to create the pictures. Find someone who understands your concept for the book.
As far as artificial intelligence (AI), some publishers have used it to quickly create coloring books, hoping to jump on the trend. However, buyers are quick to spot AI-produced artwork and prefer original drawings. Don’t shortchange them with inferior work.
Nature, animals, and landscapes are always top sellers. So are tie-ins to popular movie and TV shows. There is a steady market for coloring book publishing about a particular season or ongoing event, like autumn, the holidays, or the Olympics.
Mandalas, dreamcatchers, and other abstract shapes are still popular. People like these because they induce mindfulness and allow users to enter a calm, meditative state while they color.
People turn to coloring for fun and relaxation. Illustrations on topics they enjoy will induce them to pick up the book. You can focus on detailed drawings that take hours to complete, simple designs that can finish quickly, or a mix of both.
Most coloring books have 30 to 50 illustrations. Some coloring books are smaller, but they make up for it by using high-quality paper or a lower price.
Many coloring book buyers use paints instead of colored pencils. They appreciate paper that is thick enough to take the use of paints, inks, and pencils without bleeding through or creating a mess on the following page. For the same reason, it’s best to create a book that is single-sided, with one illustration on each page.
Interested in creating a coloring book? Here are some tips to ensure your book is a success.
Get high-quality drawings. If you’re the artist, begin making a collection of your most appealing drawings. If you’re not, you must find an illustrator who will bring your coloring book vision to life.
Choose a topic. The most successful coloring books feature a topic that unites the drawings. There is a huge variety of genres available in coloring book publishing. Popular topics are landscapes, seasonal scenes, history, humor, mandalas, spirituality, and mythical scenes.
Focus on fun. Coloring book buyers want to relax and reduce their stress. They use these books as an escape from their daily stress. Create a book that’s lighthearted,
Offer excellent value. Like all book buyers, coloring book users expect good value for their money. Use good paper, high-quality graphics, and price your books to sell.
Choose professional printing Coloring book buyers want to buy physical books. They want to hold, use, and work with these books. Professional printing gives your book the high quality these customers want. It ensures your binding, paper, and artwork all look their best.
If you’re a writer, coloring book publishing can be a good way to publish without the pressure of having to write. It can also be a profitable sideline to your income. Despite a slowdown in sales, it’s one of the top-selling categories in publishing, and most users are regular, frequent buyers. If you offer fair value and beautiful pictures, you will find a welcoming audience.
At Publishing Xpress, we are proud to have worked with many writers whose books require high-quality paper and excellent image resolution, including authors of children’s books, comic book writers, and coloring book authors. We want to be your publishing partner, and we will help you create a book you can be proud of. Contact us today to learn more.
© 2024 Publishing Xpress. All Rights Reserved.
