Personalized books

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A personalized book is a book that is created specifically for someone, containing personalized text, illustrations, or variables, based on the characteristics of that person.

Types of Personalization

Text Variables

Some personalized book companies offer text only variables – that is, the purchaser can customize the text of the book only (such as the hero's name). Create-a-book was one of the first companies^[1] to do this on a large scale, founded in 1981 by John Hefty. He patented a binding machine that made it quick and easy to bind pre-printed illustrations with personalized text pages. Illustrations are created and sold in bulk, while the distributors print the personalized text pages and then bind them in with the pictures.

Illustration Variables

This approach allows the purchaser to not only customize the text, but the illustrated hero’s unique features and colorings as well. In the case of Champion Me Books, LLC,^[2] a character-creator software is incorporated into the website that allows the user to customize an avatar of their child by selecting between many different variables – name, hair, brows, eyes, nose, mouth, lips, hairstyles, hair color, skin tone, eye color, costume colors, etc. That avatar is then populated into the book illustrations as the hero, and their name is written into the story. These books are always printed on demand, as every single one is unique.

Photo Insertion/Photo Adaption

Another type of personalization is photo insertion/manipulation. A user-submitted photo of the “hero” is uploaded and inserted into the illustrations of the book, such as Pixel Pole,^[3] and Flatten Me,^[4] Inc, or in the case of Crayola’s new Lights, Camera, Color!,^[5] the user’s face from the photo is converted into simple line art that is then populated into the illustrations. Unlike text-only personalized illustration books, no pages of these books can be mass-produced as each illustration is unique.

Applications

Personalized books are an innovative and unique gift idea. Online purchasing of personalized books facilitates fast and convenient shopping for busy parents, family and friends who don’t have time to rummage through shelves in a bookstore.

Personalized books also promote reading, education, and literacy to children. Presenting children with a book about themselves will grab their attention and encourage them to read more often. This style of book can further boost self-confidence in children who read stories about their own courageous adventures.

References