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 exact art style. An ordinary new look costs 2 generations; reuse the chosen look in future books sharing that 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. Costs are shown before you start: an ordinary character look costs 2, while a single-page illustration or later redraw of the same angle costs 1.
- 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 project milestone with a cover illustration and readable story text. The project page shows whether monthly allowance or preview credit covers it, or whether checkout is needed.
- 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 pays for a specific illustration action. Every account starts with a one-time allowance of 5, and a pack adds 10. See /guide/generation-credits for current action costs.
- What's the difference between a preview and a generation credit?
- Preview access opens a project preview using the option shown on its project page. Generation credits pay for illustration actions such as a new character look or an extra preview page.
- What is a character look?
- A character look is an illustrated version of a saved character in one exact art style. An ordinary new look costs 2 generations and can be reused in another book using that style.
- 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?
- Use the character library at /characters to search, reuse, or delete saved characters and their looks. The People step connects a saved profile to a new book.
- 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.