AI image generation puts pro quality visuals within reach. With a clear prompt and the right tool you can make artwork, product shots, thumbnails, and illustrations in minutes. This guide goes beyond basics with starter projects, style recipes, lighting and lens tips, a troubleshooting matrix, and a practical export workflow for web and ecommerce.
Use this page as your quick start. When you are ready to go deeper, browse image tools, explore video tools, and see all AI tools. To improve prompts, check writing and productivity for workflows.
What Is AI Image Generation
AI image generators turn text instructions into pictures. Most modern engines use diffusion, a process that starts from noise and gradually forms an image that matches your prompt and settings. Platforms add tools like inpainting, outpainting, background removal, upscaling, face restoration, and style reference so you can finish a visual without leaving the app.
How Diffusion Works in Four Steps
- Noise start. The model begins with random pixels.
- Guided denoise. It removes noise step by step according to your prompt.
- Detail refinement. Edges, materials, and lighting are clarified.
- Finalization. Optional upscaling and local edits raise publish quality.
Quick Glossary
- Prompt. Your instructions to the model.
- Negative prompt. What to avoid, for example watermark, blur, extra fingers.
- Seed. A number that fixes randomness so looks are reproducible.
- Guidance / CFG. How strongly the engine follows your text.
- Control tools. Pose, depth, or sketch guides for structure.
Choosing Your Platform
Pick one creative leader for exploration and one production safe option for brand work. If you need words inside images, favor engines known for typography.
Midjourney
- Best for, artistic and stylized images with rich composition
- Why users like it, strong aesthetics, fast iteration, active inspiration feed
- Tip, explore looks here then rebuild final frames in a brand safe tool if needed
DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT
- Best for, natural prompt control and balanced photoreal output
- Why users like it, easy re-generation and edits inside chat
- Tip, use short edits to converge quickly and watch credit usage
Stable Diffusion
- Best for, customization, control nets, and local or cloud setups
- Why users like it, fine tuning with LoRA, broad community tools
- Tip, quality depends on checkpoint choice and parameters
Adobe Firefly
- Best for, brand deliverables with licensing clarity
- Why users like it, Photoshop and Express integration, content credentials
- Tip, plan selection matters for credits and resolution
Ideogram
- Best for, readable typography in posters, signage, and packaging
- Why users like it, reliable lettering
- Tip, pair with another engine for alternate styles
Canva Image Generator
- Best for, social layouts and quick campaign sets
- Why users like it, brand kits, templates, easy exports
- Tip, finish typography and spacing in Canva after generation
Beginner Comparison Snapshot
| Tool | Best for | Ease | Text in images | Editing depth | Licensing | Good first project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midjourney | Stylized art and concepts | Easy | Moderate | Good | Standard terms | Social banner set |
| DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT | Balanced photoreal | Easy | Good | Good in chat edits | Standard terms | Blog hero image |
| Stable Diffusion | Customization and control | Intermediate | Varies by model | Extensive via community | Ecommerce product set | |
| Adobe Firefly | Brand safe deliverables | Easy | Good | Deep via Photoshop | High clarity | Ad creative refresh |
| Ideogram | Posters and typography | Easy | Excellent | Solid variants | Standard terms | Event poster set |
Use the table to pick your first tool, then see all AI tools or use compare for side by side specs.
Prompt Fundamentals for Beginners
The Five Elements of a Strong Prompt
- Subject, the main thing, for example ceramic coffee mug
- Style, photoreal, studio product, watercolor, vector
- Lighting, soft morning light, rim light, neon, golden hour
- Composition, 85mm lens, 3/4 angle, top-down, rule of thirds
- Quality cues, clean edges, sharp focus, shallow depth of field
Starter Prompt, Product on White
studio photo of stainless steel water bottle on white sweep, softbox lighting, product centered, 3/4 angle, crisp reflections, clean shadow, high resolution
negative prompt, watermark, dust, scratches, heavy blurStarter Prompt, Poster With Text
bold poster design, headline "Weekend Market", clean typography, central layout, flat illustration style, limited color palette, vector look, high contrast, balanced spacing
negative prompt, clutter, photo texture, low contrastStarter Prompt, Cinematic Scene
cinematic still of a city street in soft rain, 35mm lens, shallow depth of field, reflections on wet asphalt, practical lights, teal and orange color grade, dramatic atmosphere
negative prompt, oversaturated colors, heavy noise, distorted facesStyle Recipe Cards
Use these as templates. Swap the subject and keep lens, lighting, and composition stable for consistency across a set.
Photoreal Product
studio photo of [product] on seamless white, 85mm lens, diffused softbox, subtle gradient background, clean rim light, sharp focus, high detail
negative prompt, watermark, banding, harsh glare, color castEditorial Portrait
editorial portrait of [subject], Rembrandt lighting, 85mm lens, neutral backdrop, soft shadows, natural skin texture, clean color, minimal retouch
negative prompt, plastic skin, over-sharpen, extreme makeupFlat Vector Illustration
flat vector illustration of [scene], bold shapes, limited palette, clean outlines, balanced negative space, scalable, SVG look
negative prompt, gradients, photo texture, noisy detailIsometric 3D
isometric illustration of [topic], soft shadows, precise geometry, subtle ambient occlusion, pastel palette, minimal labels
negative prompt, warped perspective, harsh outlinesWatercolor
watercolor painting of [subject], soft washes, loose brushwork, paper texture, gentle bleed, light contrast, airy mood
negative prompt, heavy outline, posterized colorsRetro Pixel Art
pixel art scene of [subject], 32x32 or 64x64 grid, limited NES palette, crisp pixels, clear silhouette, simple shading
negative prompt, anti-alias, gradient banding, photoreal texturesLighting and Lens Cheat Sheet
Lighting Recipes
- Golden hour, warm low sun, long soft shadows, outdoor lifestyle
- Rembrandt, triangle of light on the cheek, dramatic portraits
- High key, bright low contrast look, product and beauty
- Rim light, bright outline on edges for separation from background
- Neon, saturated colored lights, nightlife and cyberpunk looks
Lens Language
- 35mm, environmental scenes and street
- 50mm, natural perspective portraits
- 85mm, flattering portraits and product angles
- Macro, extreme detail for textures and small items
- Top-down, flat lay scenes for food and objects
Three Starter Projects
1. Blog Hero Image Set
Goal, one concept in 16:9, 4:3, and 1:1. Pick DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT or Midjourney.
- Use the Cinematic Scene starter prompt. Generate 4 options.
- Pick one, vary aspect ratio inside the tool, keep color grade stable.
- Upscale and export as WebP for web use.
2. Product On White for a Store
Goal, consistent product angles for 6 items. Stable Diffusion or Firefly.
- Use the Product recipe. Fix angle and lens in the prompt.
- Batch generate, check shadows and reflections, inpaint defects.
- Name files consistently and export PNG for marketplaces, WebP for site.
3. Event Poster With Readable Text
Goal, a clean poster with a headline and date. Ideogram or Canva.
- Use the Poster recipe. Specify central layout and clean typography.
- Generate variants, pick the most legible, refine kerning if available.
- Export SVG or high res PNG and finalize in a design app.
Troubleshooting Matrix
| Problem | Why it happens | Quick fix | Tool tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft or blurry edges | Low detail settings or vague lens info | Add lens and focus terms, then upscale | Use built-in upscaler or external |
| Hands or props look odd | Difficult anatomy | Inpaint region, simplify pose | Use a control pose tool |
| Text in image is unreadable | Typography is hard for many models | Switch to a text friendly engine | Try Ideogram or add text in design |
| Color cast or banding | Lighting conflict or gradient limits | Neutralize lighting, adjust grade | Retouch gradient in editor |
| Inconsistent set looks | Prompt varies per item | Lock seed and style terms | Save a reference prompt |
Export Workflow and Web Performance
File Types and When to Use Them
- WebP, best default for sites, good quality at small size
- PNG, transparency or marketplace needs
- JPG, legacy or email compatibility
- SVG, vector icons and flat illustrations
Recommended Targets
- Blog heroes, 1600–1920 px wide, WebP, target 180–300 KB
- Thumbnails, 1280×720 or 1200×1200, WebP, target 80–140 KB
- Ecommerce, 1500–2000 px longest side, PNG for marketplaces, WebP for site
- Color, sRGB profile for consistent browser output
Use lazy loading, descriptive file names, and alt text for accessibility and SEO. For a bigger catalog, store prompts and seeds together with filenames for audit and reuse.
Legal and Ethical Basics
- Review terms, confirm personal vs commercial use rules
- Respect privacy, avoid generating real people without consent
- Attribution, follow platform guidance where required
- Content credentials, prefer exports with provenance where offered
- Record keeping, save prompts and seeds with project files
For brand deliverables, engines with clear licensing can reduce approval cycles. Explore image tools for options.
30-Day Skill Plan
Week 1, Foundations
- Learn the Five Elements and negative prompts
- Finish Starter Projects 1 and 2
Week 2, Styles and Lighting
- Practice three Style Recipes and two Lighting Recipes
- Create a mini brand board for consistency
Week 3, Editing and Export
- Inpaint defects and upscale cleanly
- Export WebP, PNG, and SVG sets with alt text
Week 4, Portfolio and Workflow
- Produce one cohesive gallery of 12 images
- Document prompts, seeds, and settings for future reuse
Conclusion
Start simple, add detail, iterate, and document your best prompts and seeds. Choose one tool for exploration and one for production. When you are ready to expand your stack, browse image tools, explore video tools, and see all AI tools for next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest AI image tool for beginners?
Start with DALL-E 3 in ChatGPT or Canva Image Generator. They’re simple and give solid first results. Browse image tools and use compare for side-by-side choices.
How do I write a good prompt without design skills?
Use five elements: subject, style, lighting, composition, and quality cues, plus a short negative prompt. See more in prompt engineering and practice with writing tools.
Can I use AI generated images for commercial projects?
Usually yes if the platform allows it. Check licensing before ads or packaging. Explore brand-friendly options in image and find alternatives in see all ai tools.
How do I keep a consistent look across many images?
Lock seed, lens, lighting, and palette. Reuse a saved style prompt and a small reference board. For workflow templates, browse productivity.
What file formats and sizes should I export?
Use WebP for web heroes and thumbnails, PNG for transparency or marketplaces, JPG for legacy needs, and SVG for vectors. See recommended targets in this guide and explore tooling in image tools.
