Set the Book Foundation
Build the visual foundation with project structure, manuscript context, and style references that keep the artwork workflow anchored.
Whitehand Publishing · Limnforge
Illustrate your own work. Keep every page in style.
Limnforge helps picture-book, comic book, and graphic novel creators build artwork with your own characters, art style, and visual language across an entire project.
Desktop control
Forge your story's look.
Limnforge is a desktop illustration and publishing studio for creating book artwork with continuity. Choose a style, define your cast, generate poses and scenes, place story text, and carry the same look across pages, chapters, covers, and series work.
If you already have original artwork, Limnforge can help you replicate that look at scale and amplify your workflow. If you are still discovering the look of your story, Limnforge helps you build original art styles, character illustrations, and story-world visuals from scratch.
Create characters and build a world for them in a style that is your own. Add story text to pages and spreads with control over font, size, colour, placement, alignment, straight text, speech bubbles, and narration boxes, with interactive guidance when text drifts near bleed, fold, or gutter risk areas.
When an illustration is close but not quite right, refine the current image or preserve continuity from a previous scene while changing characters, props, composition details, or page-specific needs.
From concept to complete publish-ready files, Limnforge gives creators a practical platform for producing picture books, comic books, graphic novels, covers, and eBook files quickly and cost-effectively.
The name is pronounced LIM-forge. "Limn" is an old word for drawing or painting in fine detail; "forge" is the act of making with heat, craft, and intent. Together, Limnforge means detailed illustration, made deliberately.
Version 1.0 uses your own OpenAI API account for image generation. Your API key is saved locally on your computer and is not included in project folders or export packages. Future versions are expected to support additional image-generation models through their own APIs.
Workflow
From idea to illustrated.
Choose the Visual Language
Create original characters, poses, and scene continuity from style references and character records, so the book feels like one coherent world.
Export for Production
Prepare publish-ready print and eBook files locally, including bleeds, single pages, double-page spreads, and formatted cover files for Amazon KDP workflows.
Built differently
A complete creative system, not a prompt box.
Book Style DNA and Anchors
Define the visual rules, reference anchors, mood, rendering intensity, lighting, motifs, and recurring details that hold the whole book together.
World Module
Develop the locations, props, recurring details, and visual rules that make a story world feel rich, recognisable, and ready to revisit.
Style Lab
Use Limnforge's style preset system to begin with structured visual directions, then adapt the look until it belongs to your book.
Character Studio
Build multiple character libraries for primary, secondary, and supporting characters, with reusable references and identity poses for a consistent cast.
Master Prompt Compiler
Limnforge's unique internal Source System builds coherent prompts from style rules, character records, spread instructions, exclusions, and production context before they reach the Image Engine.
Refinement and Continuity
Refine a current illustration or use a previous spread as a continuity anchor when the next image needs to match the story world.
Cover Production
Bring your front, spine, and back cover together as a complete production file that carries the book's visual language from first impression to final export.
Text Overlay System
Place titles, narration, captions, page text, and speech bubbles with the font, size, colour, placement, alignment, and treatment your book needs.
Publish-Ready Export
Export correctly prepared single pages, double-page spreads, cover files, and eBook formats, with bleed and gutter guidance built into the workflow.
Built for
Creators who need a complete visual world, not one lucky image.
Indie Picture-Book AuthorsSelf-publishers who need access to a complete illustration workflow.
Comic and Graphic Novel CreatorsStorytellers who need consistent characters, settings, and a repeatable visual language.
Illustrator-AuthorsArtists who want to scale an original style, explore variants, and produce more finished work without losing their hand.
Small PublishersTeams needing repeatable, on-brand illustration across a book or series.
Release candidate
Download Limnforge.
Add the public installer file to this folder when the release build is ready, then update the button target in index.html.
Limnforge V1.0
Desktop illustration studio with OpenAI image generation, local project files, style presets, cast continuity, and commercial export tools.
Installer coming soonGuide pack
Get the Limnforge launch guides.
Quick Start GuideFollow the core workflow from setup to export.
User Guide ManualDetailed reference for Limnforge V1.0.
OpenAI API Key GuideCreate, save, and test your OpenAI API key.
OpenAI setup
Use your own API account.
- Sign in at platform.openai.com.
- Create a new secret key for the API project you want Limnforge to use.
- Paste the key into Limnforge Settings and choose your preferred image model.
- Click Test Key before generating artwork.
FAQ
Before launch.
Does Limnforge include image generation credits?
No. Limnforge V1.0 uses your own OpenAI API account, and OpenAI billing is managed by OpenAI.
Is the API key stored in exported projects?
No. Your API key is saved locally on your computer and is not written into project folders or export packages.
Is Limnforge only for picture books?
The launch marketing is focused on picture-book, comic book, and graphic novel creators, but the brand and workflow are designed to widen into other illustrated formats over time.
Does Limnforge replace illustrators?
No. Limnforge is designed for creative control and continuity. It can help authors access illustration workflows they could not otherwise commission, and it can help illustrators amplify output, explore variations, and create more work at scale from an original visual style.
What is Limnforge's stance on copyright, plagiarism, and art theft?
Limnforge is intended for original visual development, not for copying another artist's protected work, characters, brands, or recognisable style without permission. Use source material you own, have licensed, or have the right to reference. Or, more importantly, use Limnforge's excellent creation workflow to create your own art style from scratch, and treat the tool as a way to build a visual language that is your own.
Support
Questions, keys, exports, and launch help.
For support, include your Limnforge version, operating system, the step you were taking, and any error message shown by the app. Do not send API keys in screenshots, emails, or support tickets.