Unlocking the Power of Words to Paint Virtual Worlds

One of the fun tools with AI is using text-to-image AI generators. AI image generators have made it possible to create imaginative concepts in seconds, without any design skills. With nothing more than a handful of well-chosen words, you can easily see your text prompts turn into an image. These tools invite users of all skill levels to step into the role of an artist, where intuition, curiosity, and playfulness are all that are needed to begin creating. The key to bringing your text to life is in the prompts.

This blog post will compare different free AI image generators, and show you the exact prompt I used and its results. You can easily compare one AI tool to another and determine which one fits your needs.

Why Prompts Matter in Image Generation

A well-crafted prompt is like a brush in the artist’s hand: it determines the composition, mood, and detail of the final image. Whether you desire photorealism or whimsical fantasy, mastering the art of prompting is essential to getting the results you envision. Depending on the image generator you use, you can be guided throughout the whole process.

Best Practices for Writing Prompts

• Be Specific: Describe the subject, setting, mood, and style you want. Instead of “a cat,” try “a majestic black cat with emerald eyes perched on a windowsill at sunrise, in the style of a photorealistic painting.”
• Use Artistic Styles: Reference artists, art movements, or mediums to shape the image’s aesthetic. For example, “in the style of Van Gogh,” or “digital watercolor.”
• Include Desired Details: Think about colors, lighting, atmosphere, and perspective. “Warm golden hour light, dramatic shadows, vibrant autumn colors.”
• Set the Mood: Adjectives like “dreamlike,” “mysterious,” or “whimsical” help convey the desired atmosphere.
• Experiment with Composition: Specify angles or arrangements, such as “overhead view,” “close-up portrait,” or “wide landscape view.”
• Iterate and Refine: Begin with a simple approach, then add or remove elements based on the results to refine the image.

Examples of Detailed Prompts

• “A futuristic cityscape at dusk, neon lights reflecting on wet pavement, flying cars in the sky, in the style of Syd Mead, ultra high definition.”
• “A cabin near a serene mountain lake surrounded by pine forests, mist rising from the water, soft pastel colors, minimalist art style.”
• “Portrait of a young scientist in a cluttered laboratory, steampunk fashion, intricate clockwork machinery, warm candlelight, hyper-realistic.”
• “Fantasy castle perched on a floating island, waterfalls spilling into the clouds below, sunlight breaking through mist, concept art style.”

Tips for Creating the Best AI-Generated Images

• Research Similar Images: Browse galleries or prompt sharing communities to see what works and draw inspiration for your own prompts.
• Use Reference Images: If the platform allows upload reference images to further guide the AI’s interpretation.
• Leverage Negative Prompts: Some generators support specifying what you don’t want in an image (e.g., “no text, no watermarks, no blurriness”).
• Understand the AI’s Limitations: Some details may be challenging for the AI; adjust your expectations and adapt your prompts accordingly.
• Embrace Happy Accidents: AI sometimes surprises with unexpected results—use these as creative opportunities!

Using a Prompt to Create a Text to Image Generator

Detailed Prompt

My first experiment involved using one of the detailed prompt examples from above. The one I chose was “A cabin near a serene mountain lake surrounded by pine forests, mist rising from the water, soft pastel colors, minimalist art style.”

See the results below

Dall-E

Meta-AI

Imagine Art

OpenArt.AI

Stable Diffusion

Less Detailed Human Prompt

Next, I wanted to try a less detailed prompt and see what each AI image generator would do with a human in the image.

The prompt I used was, “A woman sitting on a front porch reading a book surrounded by trees and grass”.

Dall-E

Meta-AI

Imagine Art

OpenArt.AI

Stable Diffusion

Overview

Dall-E: Dall-E’s free plan includes two generations per month and one image request per day. If you only intend to use the free plan, it is very limited, but you cannot deny the detail of the image request, as well as the options (style and orientation) on the side, which help you fine-tune the exact image you need.

Meta-AI: This is a completely free plan that does a decent job of creating images almost exactly as you ask. 4 Options on the side make prompting easy to do. You can choose from Style, Mood, Lighting, and Colors. It is quite easy to experiment with the styles, and generating an image displays four quick renderings. While the image of a woman on the porch was not as detailed as Dall-E, it still did a decent job for a less detailed description.

Imagine Art: Their free plan is easy to use, and what I appreciate is that credits replenish every 12 hours. An image uses 3 credits. General settings include models, aspect ratio, style, lighting and camera. You can upload an image and use that image to direct the AI tool. Overall, a good choice, and free options can be used once image credits are recharged.

OpenArt.AI: You start with 40 trial credits, which allow you to use all premium features. Each image costs 10 credits. I wasn’t crazy about the chalet scene, and the woman on her porch had some details that needed correcting on her face. Before generating, you can also choose custom settings; however, any additional options will incur extra credits.

Stable Diffusion: Another AI tool that works with credits, but the credits reset daily. This is one of the more popular tools, but there are fewer prompting options on the side menu. If you have experience with image prompts, Stable Diffusion can be a great option, as it can render images of high quality and is highly customizable.

Conclusion

The best images emerge from experimentation and thoughtful prompting. The more you practice specifying your vision through vivid language, artistic references, and clear details, the closer you’ll come to generating images that astonish and inspire. Let your imagination lead, and let your prompts be your palette.