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Make Money Selling AI-Generated Coloring Books: A Complete Guide to a Creative Passive Income Stream


Coloring books have been a source of entertainment and relaxation for decades. From children scribbling with crayons to adults finding stress relief in intricate mandalas, coloring books never go out of style. What has changed, however, is the way these books are created. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), it is now possible to design professional-quality coloring pages in minutes without any prior drawing or design skills.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about making money with AI-generated coloring books. You’ll discover how to create them, which tools to use, where to sell them, and how to turn this into a passive income stream that continues to grow over time.

1. What Are AI-Generated Coloring Books?

AI-generated coloring books are exactly what they sound like: books filled with coloring pages created using artificial intelligence tools. Instead of hand-drawing each page, creators use AI image generation platforms to produce black-and-white line art that’s perfect for coloring.

Types of AI coloring books include:

  • Children’s coloring books: Simple illustrations of animals, vehicles, or everyday objects.

  • Adult coloring books: Intricate mandalas, floral patterns, fantasy art, or abstract designs.

  • Seasonal/holiday themes: Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter.

  • Niche hobbies: Yoga poses, famous landmarks, space exploration, or motivational quotes.

By focusing on niches, you can target very specific audiences who are actively searching for unique coloring experiences.

2. Why Coloring Books Are a Perfect Side Hustle

  • Evergreen demand: Coloring books are popular with both children and adults.

  • Low production cost: With AI tools, you don’t need to hire illustrators.

  • Scalable: Once you learn the process, you can produce new books quickly.

  • Multiple income streams: Sell on Amazon KDP, Etsy, Gumroad, or even bundle them into digital products.

For anyone looking for a passive income side hustle, AI coloring books check all the boxes: low barrier to entry, global demand, and potential for consistent earnings.

3. Tools You Can Use to Create AI Coloring Books

AI Image Generators

  • MidJourney – Great for generating detailed line art and stylized illustrations.

  • Stable Diffusion – Open-source option with customization potential.

  • Leonardo.ai – Beginner-friendly with pre-set coloring styles.

Post-Processing Tools

  • Adobe Photoshop – Convert AI images into clean black-and-white outlines.

  • GIMP (free) – A free alternative to Photoshop.

  • Canva – Useful for arranging pages and designing covers.

Formatting & Publishing Tools

  • Affinity Publisher – Professional layout design.

  • Amazon KDP templates – Ensure your files meet publishing requirements.

  • PDF converters – Export your books in print-ready formats.

4. Step-by-Step: How to Create Your First AI Coloring Book

Step 1: Choose a theme and audience

  • Kids (animals, dinosaurs, vehicles).

  • Adults (mandalas, nature, abstract designs).

  • Seasonal (Christmas ornaments, Halloween pumpkins).

Step 2: Generate images with AI

  • Use prompts like: “black and white outline of a cute cartoon cat for coloring book” or “intricate mandala line art for adult coloring”.

  • Adjust styles until you get clean outlines.

Step 3: Edit and format

  • Convert to pure black-and-white using Photoshop or GIMP.

  • Clean up messy lines, adjust contrast, and remove shading.

Step 4: Compile pages

  • Aim for 30–60 coloring pages per book.

  • Keep a consistent theme to appeal to buyers.

Step 5: Design the cover

  • Covers sell books. Make them colorful and engaging.

  • Include keywords like “Coloring Book for Kids Ages 4-8” or “Relaxing Mandalas for Stress Relief.”

Step 6: Export and publish

  • Export as PDF for digital downloads.

  • Use print-ready formats for Amazon KDP or print-on-demand.

5. Where to Sell AI Coloring Books

1. Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)
The largest self-publishing platform. You can sell paperback coloring books with global distribution.

2. Etsy
Best for digital downloads. Customers can instantly purchase and print at home.

3. Gumroad & Payhip
Great for creators who want to control pricing and keep higher profits.

4. Print-on-Demand services
Websites like Lulu or IngramSpark let you sell physical books without holding inventory.

5. Niche marketplaces
Creative Fabrica, Design Bundles, or niche parenting/educational sites.

6. Pricing and Marketing Strategies

Pricing your books:

  • Digital coloring books: $2.99–$7.99.

  • Print coloring books: $5.99–$12.99.

  • Bundles: Offer discounts for multi-book packages.

Marketing tips:

  • SEO keywords: Include “coloring book,” “mandala,” “stress relief,” or “kids ages 4-8” in titles.

  • Pinterest marketing: Upload sample pages with attractive pins.

  • TikTok & Instagram Reels: Showcase time-lapse coloring videos.

  • Build a series: Readers are more likely to buy multiple books in a collection.

7. Passive Income Potential & Case Studies

  • Example 1: A seller on KDP published over 100 coloring books. Each book only makes $20–$50/month, but collectively, the income reaches $1,500–$2,000/month.

  • Example 2: An Etsy seller focuses on adult mandala coloring pages. Their store averages $1,000/month in sales with digital downloads only.

  • Example 3: A teacher creates educational coloring books (alphabet, math) and sells them on both KDP and Gumroad, earning $500/month in passive income.

The key is volume + niche focus. One book might not make you rich, but a portfolio of 20–50 books can create steady cash flow.

8. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

❌ Mistake 1: Publishing low-quality art
Solution: Always clean up AI-generated images and make sure lines are clear.

❌ Mistake 2: Ignoring formatting
Solution: Use KDP templates to avoid issues with page sizes or margins.

❌ Mistake 3: Too broad audience
Solution: Target specific niches like “Farm Animal Coloring Book for Kids Ages 3–5” instead of just “Animal Coloring Book.”

❌ Mistake 4: Depending on one platform
Solution: Sell across Amazon, Etsy, and Gumroad to maximize reach.

9. The Future of AI in Coloring Books

  • Personalized coloring books: Customers can order books with their child’s name or favorite character.

  • Subscription services: Monthly coloring page packs delivered via email.

  • Mobile apps: Turning AI coloring pages into digital coloring apps.

  • Cross-media expansion: Using coloring books as content for YouTube channels, courses, or merchandise.

AI is only getting better, which means the opportunities will continue to expand.

10. Conclusion

AI-generated coloring books are an exciting way to enter the self-publishing and digital product world without needing advanced artistic skills. With the right tools, a bit of creativity, and a focus on specific niches, anyone can build a portfolio of books that generate steady passive income.

The demand for coloring books is not going away, and AI makes it easier than ever to meet that demand. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle to earn extra cash or a scalable online business, selling AI coloring books could be your next big step.

So why not start today? Choose a theme, open an AI tool, and create your first page. The sooner you begin, the faster you can build a passive income stream that keeps paying you month after month.

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