AI PORTRAITS
Book cover art with a figure at the center
Many genres put a person on the cover: a lone silhouette for a thriller, a couple for a romance, a cloaked figure for fantasy, a child seen from behind for a family saga. The figure carries the genre, so pose, costume and light matter as much as the face. In ImageQuarry you describe the figure and scene, refine the pose, costume and light in words, and keep every version for the author and designer to compare.
Let the figure signal the genre and keep space for title and author name.
Last updated October 2026
How to make a figure-led cover with ImageQuarry
- 01
Describe the figure and the genre
Say who the figure is, what they wear, what they are doing and the genre of the book. Each prompt stays with the image it made.
- 02
Place the figure for the type
Ask for the figure placed so the title and author name have room, often with sky or a plain area above.
- 03
Refine pose, costume and light
Select the strongest version and ask for one change at a time: turn away from the viewer, darker coat, colder light.
- 04
Compare and hand off
Compare versions, choose one and download it for the cover designer.
Figure cover requests
Seen from behind
A figure facing away invites readers to imagine the face and is common in literary and historical fiction.
Silhouette
Silhouettes signal suspense and keep the cover simple.
Couple
Romance covers often show two figures close together.
Costume for the world
Costume places a story in time and place.
Small in the scene
A small figure in a big setting suggests adventure or isolation.
Hands and object
A close crop on hands and an object can replace a face entirely.
What a figure-led cover needs
Genre in the pose
Posture and framing signal genre as much as color does. Compare your versions with covers in the same category.
Faces are optional
Many covers avoid a clear face so readers can picture the character themselves.
Title space
The title and author name need clear space and contrast; plan it in the composition.
Print setup comes later
Trim size, spine width and bleed come from the printer and are handled in the final cover file.
Changes in words
Ask for a specific change in words on a selected version, such as different lighting or a changed composition.
Explore two directions
Branch from any earlier version to try a different direction while the other path stays in place.
Figures and the genres they signal
| Figure treatment | Genre signal | Ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Silhouette in doorway | Thriller, suspense | Dark figure against light |
| Couple close together | Romance | Two figures, warm light |
| Cloaked traveller | Fantasy | Hooded figure, lantern |
| Figure from behind | Literary, historical | Looking out over a landscape |
| Child in a garden | Family saga, coming of age | Small figure among tall flowers |
| Hands with object | Mystery, literary | Close crop, no face |
What is figure-led book cover art?
Figure-led book cover art is cover imagery built around a person or character, using pose, costume, framing and light to signal the book's genre and mood while leaving room for the title.
It is not a finished cover file. A designer sets the title and author name and prepares the print and ebook versions.
Figure cover questions
Can I start from a sketch of my character?
Yes. Upload the sketch and describe the cover image you want.
Can I keep the figure and change the setting?
List the figure, the pose and the coat as fixed and ask for the new setting around them; then check the new version against that list.
Should the character's face show?
Many covers avoid a clear face. Try a version from behind or in silhouette and compare.
Can I build covers for a series?
Branch from the first cover for each book, or add it as a reference. References guide the result. Review each version to see how closely it follows them.
Can I compare cover directions?
Compare versions side by side, choose one and download it.
Where are earlier drafts kept?
In the workspace with the prompts and references that made them.
Do I need the title in the image?
No. Leave space and have the title set by the designer so it is exact.
Related book cover pages
Create an image. Edit it with words. Keep refining.
Put the right figure on the cover
Describe the figure and the scene, refine pose and light in words, and compare the versions that signal your genre.
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