DALL-E, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion basics
What are AI image generation tools?
AI image generation tools create pictures from text descriptions. You type what you want to see (like "a sunset over mountains with a lake in the foreground"), and the AI generates an image based on your description. These tools use advanced machine learning to understand your words and produce original artwork.
The three most popular tools are DALL-E (by OpenAI), Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. Each has different strengths, interfaces, and pricing models.
DALL-E
DALL-E is made by OpenAI, the same company behind ChatGPT. It's integrated directly into ChatGPT Plus and available through a standalone website.
What it's good at: Photorealistic images, following specific instructions, and understanding complex prompts. DALL-E handles text within images better than most competitors.
How to use it: If you have ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), you can generate images directly in ChatGPT. Just describe what you want. Alternatively, use the standalone DALL-E site at OpenAI DALL-E, where you buy credits.
AI prompt: "A cozy coffee shop interior with bookshelves, warm lighting, and a cat sleeping on a windowsill, photorealistic style"
Pricing: Included with ChatGPT Plus, or buy credits separately (around $15 for 115 credits).
Midjourney
Midjourney is known for producing highly artistic, stylized images. It's popular among artists and designers.
What it's good at: Artistic and imaginative images with strong aesthetic appeal. Midjourney often produces more "beautiful" results than strictly realistic ones.
How to use it: Midjourney operates through Discord. You join their Discord server, use slash commands to generate images, and the bot replies with results. It has a learning curve but offers a lot of control once you're familiar with it.
Pricing: Subscription starts at $10/month for basic access. Free trials are occasionally available but not guaranteed.
Visit Midjourney to get started.
Stable Diffusion
Stable Diffusion is an open-source image generation tool. You can run it on your own computer or use it through various online services.
What it's good at: Flexibility and customization. Since it's open-source, many tools and interfaces have been built around it. It's also free if you run it yourself.
How to use it: The easiest way is through online services like DreamStudio (by Stability AI) or other Stable Diffusion-powered sites. Advanced users can download and run it locally.
Pricing: Free if you run it yourself (requires a decent GPU). Online services like DreamStudio charge per image or offer subscriptions.
Try DreamStudio at DreamStudio.
How to write good image prompts
Getting good results from AI image tools requires clear, descriptive prompts:
Be specific: Instead of "a dog," try "a golden retriever puppy playing in a grassy field on a sunny day."
Include style details: Mention the artistic style you want, like "watercolor painting," "photorealistic," "digital art," or "pencil sketch."
Describe composition: Specify perspective, lighting, and mood. For example, "wide-angle view, warm sunset lighting, peaceful mood."
Iterate: If the first result isn't quite right, refine your prompt. Add or remove details until you get closer to your vision.
AI prompt: "A futuristic city skyline at night, neon lights, cyberpunk style, viewed from street level, rainy reflections on the pavement"
What these tools can and can't do
What they're good at:
- Creating unique artwork and illustrations
- Generating placeholder images for projects
- Exploring visual ideas quickly
- Producing variations on a theme
What they struggle with:
- Fine details like hands, fingers, and text
- Exact replication of real people or copyrighted characters
- Highly technical or precise diagrams
- Consistency across multiple images
Always review generated images carefully. You may need to generate several variations or manually edit results to get exactly what you need.
Ethical and legal considerations
Copyright: AI-generated images exist in a legal gray area. Some platforms grant you ownership, while others retain rights. Check the terms of service.
Training data concerns: These tools were trained on vast amounts of images from the internet, raising questions about artist consent and attribution.
Misuse risks: Be mindful of creating misleading or harmful content. Don't generate images of real people without consent or create deceptive images.
Related resources
Want to know which image tools are free and which require payment? See Free vs paid image generation tools.