Illustrating figures for a book is very devoted work. But it needs strong dedication, hard work, and a few basic drawing skills. The process I used to illustrate for my book Necessary Words - A Vocabulary Book will hopefully be helpful for you. I have written a few steps that might fulfil your requirements.
Visualize the image.
Draw roughly
Get help from a pro
Software and procedure
Visualize the image
Whatever the figure you want to depict in your book. Visualize the appropriate picture according to your story, poem, or academic writing, related to its genre, such as fiction, non-fiction, technical, or science. Be sure that your image is perfect for your story.
Draw roughly
Once you visualize it, draw it immediately. Draw its basic structure first. Do not be afraid if you have not done painting before. Try to be dynamic and learn this beautiful skill. As the keynote is practice, practice and practice, every artist is well aware of it. So, no need to be afraid to try.
If you are not able to draw, then take professional help.
Get help from a pro
If you are a full-time writer, I suggest you take a few classes in fine art. So, enrol for a couple of weeks and sharpen your skills instead of purchasing illustrations from any professional. You will need these skills for your future books, even to get work from professionals. You need to depict the picture or describe it through expressions.
But be true to yourself. Fine art requires a lot of practice and patience. But I assure you that good practice of fine art will give you more than you deserve.
Software and procedure
After a successful line drawing of the figure on paper, take an HD snapshot of your work and then use its soft copy to trace. I traced the figures in Adobe Photoshop. So, the explanation is according to this. You can choose another software which is compatible with your computer.
Follow the procedure
Open photoshop and select New File
Select the size for the file
Set it as a Background copy and lock it
Open the file that be traced
Decrease its opacity up to 50%.
Select the pen and begin tracing
Hide original picture
Save as image
Use these illustrations in your book, and It would be interesting to be heard, as you are the illustrator of your book too.
1. Open photoshop - select New File
Scale your file according to the requirement. Remember to keep 300 DPI and a bit large for HD print Quality.
3. Set the scaled file as a Background copy and lock it.
As the tracing completed, hide the original picture.
8. Save the file in JPG Format.
