How it works
Words we use, defined.
From “generation” to “gift link,” here's what everything means — and where to go to use it.
- Character look
An illustrated version of a saved character in one specific art style. Designing a new look costs 1 generation; once you approve it, that look is yours to reuse in any future book sharing that exact style.
- Colouring book
Your book's illustrations turned into printable colouring pages — available as a digital download, with a printed colouring edition too.
- Dedication
A short personal note you can add to your book's opening page. It's free to add or change, right up until a hardcover order locks the book in.
- Digital PDF
The full personalized book as a downloadable PDF, ready once every page has finished illustrating. Buying it first credits its price toward a hardcover later.
- Facing-page text
A layout where the illustration fills its own page and the story's words are set in type on the page facing it. Text edits here are always free — no generation used.
- Generation
The unit spent on illustration work after your first preview — regenerating a page, re-rendering in-page text, or designing a new character look. Every account starts with 5 free generations.
- Generation credit
A generation you've earned or bought. Every account starts with 5, and a generation pack adds 10 more — purchased credits never expire.
- Gift link
An unlisted digital link to your finished book so loved ones can read it online without signing in. It never ships a printed copy, isn't listed in the story gallery, and you can revoke it any time.
- Hardcover
A premium casewrap hardcover, printed on demand and shipped once your book is fully generated. Ordering one locks that project's text and illustrations.
- In-page text
A layout where the story's words are illustrated directly into the artwork, like lettering in a classic picture book. Changing the words later re-renders the page and uses 1 generation.
- Preview
A free milestone showing your book's cover illustration and full story text — unlock more interior scenes with generation tokens before you pay for the full book. Every account gets 2 free previews each calendar month.
- Preview credit
A reusable credit that unlocks a project's first free preview once your monthly free previews are used up. A batch of 5 is granted automatically every 10th book you buy.
- Story template
The story a creator drafts once — plot, cast slots, art style, and layout — that becomes a one-of-a-kind book for every family who personalizes it.
Keep reading
Common questions
- What is a generation on Onceling?
- A generation is the unit that pays for illustration work after your first preview — regenerating a page, re-rendering in-page text, or designing a new character look. Every account starts with 5 free generations; a generation pack adds 10 more. See the generation credits guide at /guide/generation-credits.
- What's the difference between a preview and a generation credit?
- A preview is the free milestone that shows a book's cover illustration and full story text — every account gets 2 free previews each calendar month. A generation credit is spent on illustration work after that: unlocking more preview pages, regenerating a page, re-rendering in-page text, or designing a new character look. They're separate pools; see the generation credits guide at /guide/generation-credits.
- What is a character look?
- A character look is an illustrated version of a saved character in one specific art style. Designing a new look costs 1 generation; once approved, that look can be reused in any future book sharing that exact style. Manage looks in your character library at /characters, or read the character looks guide at /guide/character-development.
- What's the difference between in-page text and facing-page text?
- In-page text means the story's words are illustrated directly into the artwork; changing them later re-renders the page and uses 1 generation. Facing-page text means the words are set in type on the page beside a full illustration, and text edits there are always free. See the book layouts guide at /guide/book-layouts.
- What is a gift link?
- A gift link is an unlisted digital URL to your finished book, so loved ones can read it online without signing in. It never ships a printed copy, isn't listed in the story gallery or searchable on Onceling, and you can revoke it at any time. Read more in the buying your book guide at /guide/buy-a-book.
- Where do I manage my saved characters?
- Your character library at /characters is where you search, reuse, or delete saved characters and their looks — separate from the Cast & photos step used when starting a new book. See the characters guide at /guide/characters for how the two connect.
- Where can I look up other Onceling terms?
- The full glossary at /guide/glossary defines every term used across Onceling's guides and FAQ, including generation, preview, dedication, hardcover, digital PDF, colouring book, and story template.