What is a book illustration agreement?
A book illustration agreement is the contract between an author or small publisher and the illustrator who creates the artwork for a book. It pins down what is being drawn, how the sketch and revision process works, when each stage is due, how the illustrator is paid, and — most importantly — what rights the client gets in the artwork and for how long.
This template covers the scope (cover and interior, front cover, wraparound, interior only, or spot art), the number of illustrations, the specification and file formats, permissions for real people or characters, sketch and final deadlines with a feedback window, included revision rounds and a rate for extras, a flat fee or an advance plus royalty paid in stages, what is owed if the project is cancelled, an exclusive licence for the book or a full copyright assignment, the physical originals, the illustration credit, portfolio use after the cover reveal, a no-generative-AI promise, late delivery, rights returning if a licensed book isn't published in time, and free copies.
- Best for
- Self-publishing authors and small presses commissioning picture books, covers and interior art
- Signed by
- The client (author or publisher) and the illustrator
- Rights
- An exclusive licence for the book, or full copyright assignment
- Length
- 3 pages, initialled on every page
When to use a book illustration agreement
- A self-publishing author hiring an illustrator for a 32-page picture book
- A small press commissioning a wraparound cover for a novel
- A non-fiction author commissioning chapter-head and spot illustrations
- A children's author paying an advance plus royalty instead of a flat fee
- A publisher buying full copyright in a series' cover art
What you fill in
31 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: client, illustrator.
1 The parties
- Agreement date*
- Client's legal name (author or publisher)*
- Client's address
- Illustrator's legal name*
- Illustrator's name for the credit*
- Illustrator's address
2 The book
- Book title (working title)*
- Author
- Illustrations needed* the cover and all interior illustrations · the front cover only · the full wraparound cover (front, spine and back) · interior illustrations only · spot illustrations and chapter headings
- Number of illustrations*
- Specification*
- Final files delivered as*
3 Schedule and revisions
- Sketches or storyboard by*
- Final artwork by*
- Client gives feedback within (days)*
- Rounds of sketch revisions included*
- Rounds of final-art revisions included*
- Rate for extra revisions
4 Payment
- Currency*
- Payment model* A flat fee · An advance plus a royalty
- Flat fee or advance*
- Royalty (if any)
- Fee paid* one third on signing, one third on approval of sketches and one third on delivery of final artwork · half on signing and half on delivery of final artwork · in full on delivery of final artwork
- Invoices paid within (days)*
5 Rights and credit
- Rights the Client gets* An exclusive licence for the book · Full ownership of copyright (assignment)
- Licence covers
- Physical original artwork* stays with the Illustrator · belongs to the Client once paid · not applicable (digital artwork)
6 Schedule and revisions
- Client may end if final art is late by more than (days)*
7 Rights and credit
- Book to be published within (months of final art)*
- Free copies for the Illustrator*
- Governing law*
8 Who signs
- Client signature and date, initials on every page · The author or publisher commissioning the illustrations. For a company, an authorised person signs.
- Illustrator signature and date, initials on every page · The illustrator, or the illustrator's studio.
What the book illustration agreement covers
- The book and the illustrations
- Schedule, sketches and revisions
- Payment
- Rights
- Credit, portfolio and promotion
- Promises
- Working together, delays and publication
- Copies
- General
Using the book illustration agreement, step by step
1 Describe the book and the art
Enter the book title (and author, if you are the publisher), choose the scope, and describe the number of illustrations and the specification — trim size, colour, style and who places the text.
2 Set the schedule and revisions
Choose the sketch and final artwork dates, how many days you have to give feedback, how many rounds of sketch and final revisions are included, and the rate for extra changes.
3 Agree the money
Pick a flat fee or an advance plus royalty, and how it is paid — in thirds, halves, or on delivery. The template sets out what is owed if you cancel part-way through.
4 Choose the rights
Choose an exclusive licence for the book (describe the editions and uses it covers) or full copyright assignment, who keeps physical originals, the publication deadline, and how many free copies the illustrator gets.
5 Send for signature
Send it to the illustrator. Once signed, the agreement is filed in your vault — useful when a printer, distributor or publisher asks you to show you hold the rights.
Tips before you send it
- A licence is usually cheaper than buying copyright. Merchandise, animation and other spin-offs are excluded unless you list them in the licence.
- Give one set of consolidated feedback per stage. The template asks the client to name one person for approvals.
- Approve sketches carefully. Changes to final art that depart from approved sketches count as extra revisions.
- Agree on generative AI up front. The template says the illustrator won't use it unless the client agrees in writing.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Book illustration agreement: frequently asked questions
Who owns the illustrations?
That depends on the option you choose. With an exclusive licence the illustrator keeps the copyright and the client may use the art in the editions and uses listed. With an assignment the client owns the copyright in the final illustrations once they are paid for in full. Either way, no rights pass in work that hasn't been paid for.
What if the client cancels the book?
The client pays all instalments already due plus a fair proportion of the next instalment for work in progress, and gets rights only in illustrations it has paid for.
What if the book is never published?
Under a licence, if the book isn't published within the number of months you set after the final art is accepted, the illustrator may ask for it to be published, and if it still isn't within 90 days, all rights return to the illustrator. Under an assignment the client doesn't have to publish, but the illustrator may then show the work in its portfolio.
Can a book illustration agreement be signed electronically?
In most countries, including the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada, an electronic signature is generally valid for an ordinary commercial contract like this one. FileIt keeps an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion with the signed PDF as evidence of who signed and when.
Is this template free?
Yes. The template is free to use with the eSignature app in FileIt, and the people you send it to don't need a FileIt account to sign.