How to Create and Sell LINE Stickers Using AI Image Generation: Even Without Artistic Skills

In recent years, the advancement of AI technology has been remarkable, impacting every aspect of our lives. Image generation AI, in particular, has enabled general users without specialized skills to create surprisingly high-quality images, leading to its rapid adoption in creative fields. Among these applications, creating and selling original LINE stickers has emerged as a popular side hustle.

Even if you’ve thought, “I have no artistic talent, so it’s impossible…”, using the latest image generation AI allows you to easily create original LINE stickers and monetize them. This article provides a comprehensive and detailed explanation, from the basics of LINE sticker sales to the specific steps of creating stickers using image generation AI, how to sell them, and even tips for success, ensuring that even beginners can “fully understand just by reading this.”.

1. Basics of LINE Sticker Sales

Before diving into creating stickers with AI, let’s understand the fundamental mechanisms of selling LINE stickers.

1.1. What are LINE Stickers?

LINE stickers are image assets used within the LINE app during message exchanges to facilitate communication. They come in various themes and designs, such as characters, animals, food, and landscapes. Users can purchase them to use them. Creators can sell their self-made stickers through the LINE Creators Market and earn revenue.

1.2. Revenue Model for LINE Sticker Sales

LINE sticker prices can be set by creators, but typically range from ¥100 (50 coins) to ¥200 (100 coins). Revenue from sticker sales is shared between the creator and LINE Corporation, with the creator receiving a certain percentage (generally around 35%) of the sales. This percentage may vary depending on sales volume and campaigns.

For example, if 1,000 stickers priced at ¥120 (tax included) are sold, the creator’s revenue would be approximately as follows:

Revenue: ¥120 × 1,000 = ¥120,000
LINE Fees, etc.: ¥120,000 × (1 – 0.35) = ¥78,000
Creator Revenue: ¥120,000 × 0.35 = ¥42,000 (approximate)

※The above is an approximation, and the actual distribution rate may vary.

1.3. Basic Rules for LINE Sticker Review

To sell LINE stickers, they must pass a review by LINE Corporation. The review process adheres to basic rules, including:

Prohibition of Copyright/Trademark Infringement: Designs that infringe on the rights of others are not allowed.
Adherence to Public Order and Morals: Excessive sexual content, discriminatory expressions, violent expressions, etc., are prohibited.
Legibility of Text: Text within stickers must be clear and easily readable, not too small.
Image Size and Format: Must adhere to specified dimensions (e.g., under 1MB, 320×270 pixels or larger) and format (PNG).
Sticker Duplication: Designs that are too similar to existing stickers are not allowed.
Adherence to Guidelines: Must comply with the detailed guidelines set by the LINE Creators Market.

It is crucial to review these rules in advance and comply with them. Especially with AI-generated images, there’s a possibility of unintentionally including infringing content, so caution is advised.

2. How to Create LINE Stickers with Image Generation AI

This is the core of our topic. Let’s break down the specific steps for creating LINE stickers using image generation AI.

2.1. Selecting an Image Generation AI Tool

Numerous image generation AI tools are currently available, each with its own characteristics and strengths in terms of style and functionality. Here are some recommended tools for creating LINE stickers:

Midjourney: Excels at generating high-quality, artistic images. Suitable for creating stickers with a unique worldview. Accessed via Discord.
Stable Diffusion: Open-source, usable on local environments or via web services. Highly customizable, allowing for fine-grained adjustments.
NovelAI: Specializes in generating anime-style illustrations, strong in character design.
Canva: Well-known as a design tool, it now also features AI image generation capabilities. Intuitive for beginners and easily integrates with design templates.
Microsoft Copilot (Designer): Free to use, allowing for easy experimentation with image generation.

It’s best to start by trying out free or trial versions of tools to find one that matches your desired sticker aesthetic.

2.2. Creating Prompts and Generating Images

Image generation AI creates images based on the “prompts” (instructions) entered by the user. To generate images suitable for LINE stickers, it’s essential to create specific and clear prompts.

2.2.1. Tips for Creating Prompts

Clarify Theme/Character: Specify the theme or character, such as “a cute cat,” “an angry salaryman,” or “a surprised panda.”
Specify Expression/Pose: Instruct the desired expression and pose, like “smiling,” “crying,” “waving,” or “giving a thumbs-up.”
Specify Style/Artistic Medium: Indicate the desired style, such as “anime style,” “watercolor style,” “cartoonish,” “simple,” or “flat design.”
Specify Background: Request a background suitable for LINE stickers, such as “white background,” “transparent background,” or “simple solid color background.” Transparent backgrounds are important for usability. Some AIs may not directly generate transparent backgrounds.
Specify Color Palette/Mood: Adjust the overall impression with terms like “bright colors,” “pastel colors,” or “pop mood.”
Utilize Negative Prompts: Specify elements you don’t want to see, such as “low quality,” “blurry,” or “text included.”

2.2.2. Example Prompt

Example: “A cute fluffy cat, smiling, waving, anime style, white background, high quality.”

Using this prompt, generate images with your AI tool. Don’t expect perfect results on the first try; you’ll likely need to refine prompts or generate multiple images to find ones that closely match your vision.

2.3. Image Editing and Processing

Images generated by AI may not be ready for use as LINE stickers as-is. Often, editing and processing are required.

Background Removal: Stickers are more user-friendly with only the character cut out (transparent background). While some AIs can generate transparent images, if not, use background removal tools (e.g., background eraser apps, Photoshop, GIMP) to delete the background.
Resizing and Cropping: Resize and crop images to meet LINE sticker specifications (e.g., under 1MB, 320×270 pixels or larger).
Removing/Correcting Unwanted Elements: Fix AI-generated noise or unintended artifacts (e.g., incorrect number of fingers).
Adding Text (if necessary): If you want to add dialogue or captions to the sticker, use image editing software for text insertion.

Design tools like Canva can make these editing tasks relatively easy.

2.4. Creating Sticker Sets

LINE stickers are typically sold in sets of 8, 16, 24, 32, or 40. Create multiple stickers with various expressions and poses for a single theme and compile them into a set.

Key Points for Creation:

Consistent Design: Maintain consistency in the character’s appearance, color scheme, and art style.
Varied Expressions: Cover a range of emotions and situations useful in daily conversation, such as joy, anger, sadness, surprise, greetings, and affirmations.
Usability: Create with the user in mind, considering readability of text and clarity of the character.

To generate images of the same character with different expressions or poses using AI, you can add terms like “happy face,” “sad face,” or “thinking pose” to your prompts. You can also edit generated images to change only the facial expressions.

3. How to Sell LINE Stickers

Once your sticker set is complete, it’s time to apply for review.

3.1. Registering with LINE Creators Market

First, visit the LINE Creators Market website and register for a creator account. Account registration requires an email address or social media account.

3.2. Uploading Stickers and Inputting Information

From your registered account, upload your created sticker images. You will need to enter the following information:

Sticker Title: A title that represents the entire sticker set.
Sticker Description: Text describing the features and usage of the stickers.
Creator Name: The name displayed as the seller.
Category: Select the category that best fits the sticker theme.
Target Age: Whether it’s for all ages or has age restrictions.
Reviewer Comments: A message for the reviewer. Clearly stating that the images are AI-generated and detailing the editing process can help expedite the review.

3.3. Submission for Review and Sales Start

After completing all information input and image uploads, submit your application for review. The review typically takes several days to a week (subject to change based on workload). You will be notified of the review result via email. Once approved, your stickers will be available for sale on the LINE Creators Market.

3.4. Promotion Activities

Simply launching your stickers won’t guarantee visibility. Actively promoting them on social media (X/Twitter, Instagram, etc.), introducing their usage, or announcing them on blogs is key to increasing sales.

4. Case Study: Examples of Unique LINE Stickers Created with AI

Here are some examples of unique and popular LINE stickers created using image generation AI:

4.1. “Cute & Relaxed Animals” Series

Overview: Using tools like Midjourney or NovelAI, creators have produced sticker sets themed around “cute and relaxed” animals. Examples include “unmotivated hamster,” “Shiba Inu munching on a rice ball,” or “sleeping cat,” expressing everyday emotions. The unique touch and slightly surreal expressions characteristic of AI have gained popularity.
Example Prompt: “A lazy hamster, eating a rice ball, chibi anime style, soft colors, white background.”

4.2. “Expressive Food” Series

Overview: Leveraging tools like Stable Diffusion, creators have designed expressive food characters. Sushi, ramen, and sweets are popular as stickers conveying various emotions like joy, anger, sadness, and surprise. The anthropomorphized food characters acting out emotions create a unique appeal that is hard to achieve otherwise.
Example Prompt: “A sushi roll character, crying, anime style, simple background.”

4.3. “AI Avatars for Business” Series

Overview: Simple avatar characters suitable for business contexts are generated using AI. By embracing the “AI-like” or “futuristic” aesthetic, creators differentiate their work. Examples include “AI robot nodding during a meeting” or “cyberpunk-style avatar working on a PC.”
Example Prompt: “A futuristic robot avatar, nodding, in a business meeting, flat design, blue and white color scheme, transparent background.”

As these examples show, by combining AI’s expressive capabilities with unconventional ideas, truly original stickers are born.

5. Pros and Cons of Creating LINE Stickers with Image Generation AI

While image generation AI offers numerous benefits for sticker creation, there are also drawbacks to consider.

5.1. Pros

No Specialized Skills Required: High-quality stickers can be created without artistic or design expertise.
Rapid Creation of Numerous Stickers: AI can generate many variations of images in a short time.
Easy Idea Realization: Easily bring imagined concepts to life through prompts.
Low Barrier to Entry: Can start with free or affordable tools, minimizing initial investment.
Pursuit of Originality: Create unique stickers with AI’s distinctive expressions and custom prompts.

5.2. Cons

Difficulty in Prompt Creation: Iterative prompt refinement is needed to generate desired images.
Copyright and Terms of Use Issues: It’s crucial to review the terms of use for AI tools and the copyright status of generated images. LINE Creators Market’s policies on AI-generated images may also change.
Time-Consuming Editing: AI-generated images often require background removal and detailed corrections.
Inconsistent Quality: AI output can vary, leading to inconsistent image quality.
Risk of Rejection: AI-generated peculiarities or unintentional guideline violations can lead to review rejection.

6. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q1: Is it okay to sell LINE stickers generated by AI?

A1: Yes, most AI image generation tools permit commercial use of generated images. However, always check the terms of use for the specific tool. Additionally, LINE Creators Market has policies regarding AI-generated images, so it’s important to stay updated on the latest information.

Q2: I’m concerned about copyright. What is the copyright status of AI-generated images?

A2: The copyright status of AI-generated images varies by country and tool. Generally, the AI itself does not hold copyright; instead, users obtain the right to use, modify, and commercially exploit the images they generate based on the terms of use. If you are concerned, consider using tools that allow for free use as copyright-free material or significantly modify the images yourself.

Q3: What kind of sticker themes tend to sell well?

A3: Themes that are relatable and useful in daily conversation (e.g., greetings, thanks, apologies, encouragement, emotional expressions) and niche themes catering to specific hobbies or interests (e.g., particular animals, foods, professions, dialects) tend to be popular. Original and humorous stickers also tend to attract attention.

Q4: Is it okay to add my own touches to AI-generated images?

A4: Absolutely. By adding your own edits, collages, text, etc., to AI-generated images, you can enhance originality and increase the likelihood of passing LINE’s review criteria. Manual additions can also help mitigate AI-generated unnaturalness.

Q5: What should I do if my stickers are rejected during review?

A5: If your stickers are rejected, review the feedback provided by LINE and make corrections. For AI-generated images, reasons for rejection might include unintentionally violating guidelines, image blurriness, or illegible text. Modify the images based on the feedback and resubmit.

7. Conclusion

With the advent of image generation AI, creating and selling LINE stickers, once thought impossible without artistic skills, is now accessible to everyone. AI enables the creation of unique and appealing stickers in a short time, even without specialized skills, opening avenues for monetization.

This article has provided a detailed guide covering everything from the basics of LINE sticker sales to the specific processes of creation, editing, and selling using image generation AI, along with tips for success. The key is to view AI not as a magic wand but as a powerful assistant, combining prompt ingenuity, careful editing, and an understanding of LINE’s review standards.

Start by trying out free AI tools and bring your ideas to life. By leveraging image generation AI, you can launch your own original LINE stickers, expanding your income sources and opportunities for self-expression.

#LINEスタンプ #AI #画像生成AI #副業 #クリエイター