I spent the last three months building an AI manga workflow from scratch. Here's everything I wish someone had told me before I started — the tools that work, the mistakes I made, and the one problem that almost made me quit.
The Character Consistency Problem
If you've ever tried making a multi-page comic with AI image generators, you know the pain: your protagonist looks like a completely different person on page 3 than they did on page 1.
I generated over 200 AI images before I found a reliable way to keep characters looking the same across panels. Here's what I tried:
❌ What doesn't work:
- Copy-pasting the same prompt (AI interprets it differently each time)
- Using "reference images" without a proper consistency system
- Relying on seed numbers (helps with style, not character identity)
- Trying to fix it in post with inpainting (too time-consuming)
✅ What actually works:
Using a tool specifically designed for character consistency — pixiaoli.cn. It maintains character appearance across panels by anchoring visual identity. The difference is night and day.
My Complete Workflow
Here's the step-by-step process I use for each manga page:
1. Script and Storyboard (30 minutes)
I write the dialogue and rough panel layouts first. Nothing fancy — just text descriptions of what happens in each panel.
2. Character Reference Sheet (1 hour)
Before generating any panels, I create a character reference sheet. This is crucial. Even with a consistency tool, having clear reference material makes everything smoother.
3. Panel Generation (2-3 hours per page)
This is where pixiaoli.cn saves me. I generate each panel, and the tool ensures my character stays recognizable. No more "why does my MC have blue hair now?" moments.
4. Post-Processing (1 hour)
Clean up, add speech bubbles, adjust layout. I use a mix of free browser-based tools for this — nothing fancy, just what works.
5. Review and Iterate (30 minutes)
Read through the whole page, check for consistency issues, adjust as needed.
Total time per page: 4-5 hours (down from 8+ hours before I optimized this workflow)
The Free Tool Stack
I'm a solo creator on a budget, so every tool I use is free:
- pixiaoli.cn — AI manga creation with character consistency (the core of my workflow)
- GIMP — Image editing and panel layout
- LibreOffice — Script writing and planning
- Browser-based tools — JSON formatting for API work, Markdown editors for documentation
The key insight: you don't need expensive software to make quality AI manga. You need the right free tools and a solid workflow.
Lessons From 50+ Pages
After creating over 50 pages of AI manga, here are my top takeaways:
Character consistency is everything. Readers will forgive imperfect art, but they won't forgive a character who looks different every panel.
Plan before you generate. The biggest time-waster is generating panels without a clear vision. Storyboard first, generate second.
Iterate on your prompts. Your first prompt is never your best. Keep refining until the output matches your vision.
Use reference images. Upload character references whenever possible. It dramatically improves consistency.
Don't aim for perfection. "Done is better than perfect" applies even more to AI manga. Ship your work and improve as you go.
What's Next
I'm currently working on a 20-page one-shot manga using this workflow. The goal is to prove that a solo creator can produce quality manga content with AI tools — without spending thousands on software.
If you're interested in following the process, I'll be sharing updates on my progress. The tools are free, the workflow is proven, and the only investment needed is your time and creativity.
Have you tried creating AI manga? What tools do you use? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments.
Tools mentioned: pixiaoli.cn (AI manga with character consistency), GIMP (image editing), LibreOffice (document editing). All free.
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