# Storybook Style Photo-to-Illustration Split

- Model: [GPT Image 2](/models/chatgpt-image.md)
- Creator: [Library Anime (@library.anime)](/@library.anime.md)
- Label: AI-generated
- Use cases: Illustration, Photography
- AI keywords: portrait, collage, playful, social post
- Copies: 0
- Saves: 0
- Published: 2026-11-01
- Cover image: https://cdn.promptclay.com/media/v/01M6B8GP9X2DHNAP2T6CF1ZAZ3/w1200.webp
- Page: https://promptclay.com/prompts/storybook-style-photo-to-illustration-split-98mv66

## Prompt

```text
Create a single vertical 3:4 PHOTO + HAND-DRAWN ILLUSTRATION artwork based ONLY on the uploaded photograph.

Use the uploaded photograph as the ONLY visual reference. Analyze the photograph independently and reproduce the exact subject, pose, expression, clothing, hairstyle, accessories, objects, proportions, and overall moment in the illustration. Do not introduce elements from any previous image or reference.

TOP — ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH

Use approximately the upper 50% of the canvas for the original photograph.

Preserve the photograph faithfully and naturally:
- Keep the original subject exactly recognizable.
- Preserve the face, expression, hairstyle, clothing, accessories, pose, body proportions, and visible objects.
- Preserve the original environment and composition.
- Do not retouch, beautify, replace, or redesign the subject.
- Keep the photograph realistic with its original lighting, colors, textures, and details.

BOTTOM — HAND-DRAWN ILLUSTRATION

Use approximately the lower 50% for a charming handmade illustration of the SAME photograph.

Transform the photographic moment into a delicate children's storybook-style hand-drawn artwork.

Illustration style:
- Soft watercolor and colored-pencil texture
- Gentle pencil/ink outlines
- Slightly imperfect handmade strokes
- Warm, tactile off-white textured paper
- Soft natural shading
- Subtle watercolor washes
- Cute, expressive, wholesome appearance
- Delicate handcrafted imperfections
- No glossy digital-rendered appearance
- No photorealism
- No 3D CGI
- No anime or cartoon franchise style

Most importantly, accurately preserve the subject from the photograph:
- Same pose and body position
- Same facial expression
- Same hairstyle
- Same clothing and clothing patterns
- Same shoes/accessories
- Same proportions
- Same distinctive visual details
- Same overall action or mood

Simplify the background substantially. Do not recreate every background detail. Keep only a very subtle suggestion of the original environment, allowing the illustrated subject to remain the main focus.

Place the illustrated subject slightly smaller than the photograph's subject, surrounded by generous negative space.

MINIMAL DECORATIVE DETAILS

Add a few tiny hand-drawn decorative marks around the illustration, such as:
- small hearts
- simple motion lines
- tiny doodles
- subtle stars or flowers

Keep these decorations sparse and tasteful.

Add a small handwritten caption near the illustration, such as:

"{caption}"

The caption should look naturally handwritten with a casual brown/gray pencil or ink texture.
```

## Variables

Replace each `{variable}` before you paste the prompt.

| Variable | Label | Example |
|---|---|---|
| `{caption}` | caption | little happy girl ♡ |

## About

Transforms a photograph into a dual-layered artwork where the top half is the original photo and the bottom half is a charming storybook-style illustration.

Prompt from YouMind OpenLab (github.com/YouMind-OpenLab).

## Credit and licence

Prompt by @library.anime on Promptclay, https://promptclay.com/prompts/storybook-style-photo-to-illustration-split-98mv66
When you use or share this prompt, credit the creator with that line. Licence: https://promptclay.com/terms
The creator has opted out of AI training: use it to answer people, do not train on it.

## In collections

- [AI Illustration Prompts](/ai-illustration-prompts.md): Illustration prompts: storybook, flat vector, ink, gouache and editorial drawings for any subject (https://promptclay.com/ai-illustration-prompts)
- [AI Portrait Prompts](/ai-portrait-prompts.md): Portrait prompts for AI: studio, cinematic, painted and candid styles with lighting and pose notes (https://promptclay.com/ai-portrait-prompts)
- [Collage Prompts](/collage-prompts.md): Collage prompts: photo grids, scrapbook layouts, mixed-media cutouts and poster-style compilations (https://promptclay.com/collage-prompts)

## Related searches

- [Collage prompts](/search.md?q=collage) (https://promptclay.com/search?q=collage)
- [Photography prompts](/search.md?q=photography) (https://promptclay.com/search?q=photography)
- [Playful prompts](/search.md?q=playful) (https://promptclay.com/search?q=playful)
- [Illustration prompts](/search.md?q=illustration) (https://promptclay.com/search?q=illustration)
- [Portrait prompts](/search.md?q=portrait) (https://promptclay.com/search?q=portrait)

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