How to Choose the Best AI Image Generator for Your Creative Needs

by | Jan 22, 2024 | Blog

How to Choose the Best AI Image Generator for Your Creative Needs

Disclaimer: the following post has been republished with permission from its original author Sky Ether

Did you know that you can create beautiful images from text using AI? It sounds like magic, but it’s actually possible with AI image generators. These are powerful tools that can transform your words into visuals in seconds. But how do you choose the best one for your creative needs? That’s what I’m going to show you in this post.

Midjourney: The Magician of Visual Aesthetics

 

I discovered Midjourney when I saw a breathtaking piece of art on Reddit, which was made by Midjourney. It was October 2022, and I had no idea what Midjourney was or what AI art was, but I was so fascinated and curious that I decided to check it out.

Midjourney is an AI image generator that uses a Discord server as its interface. You can simply type in a few words and get images generated in seconds.

With 20 free image credits, I started creating my own images with Midjourney. I made sky castles, and a person with a universe inside of them. The person had some deer horns, which was not what I expected, but I still loved the image. It was my first piece of AI art that I shared on my social media. Since then, I was hooked on the magic of AI art.

Pros:

  • Visual Quality: Stunning and rich imagery

  • Ease of Use: Accessible to beginners with simple prompts.

Cons:

  • Cost: Potential high recurring expenses.

  • Customization: Struggles with complex instructions.

Midjourney is great for those who want to create visually appealing images with minimal knowledge of art prompts. However, if you are looking for more affordability or control over your output, you might want to explore other AI image generators.

Leornado AI: Custom AI Model Tailored to Your Needs

 

I found out about Leornado AI, another image generation tool, when I was looking for a cheaper alternative to Midjourney. I heard that it was free and some called it the “Midjourney Killer”, so I decided to give it a try despite my loyalty to Midjourney.

Leornado AI is an AI image generator that lets you train your own custom AI models and fine-tune the image generation process. You can also edit your images after they are generated, such as expanding the canvas or moving the elements around.

I got 150 free credits to use every day with Leornado AI. I experimented with it and also used it for a client project. Although the image quality was not as good as Midjourney, my client still liked the images I generated for her. So I decided to stick with it.

Pros:

  • Customization: Custom AI models for different image styles.

  • Creative Control: Custom parameters and enhanced editing tools post-generation.

Cons:

  • Image Quality: Slightly less visually appealing

  • Complexity: Steeper learning curves with advanced features

Leornado AI is a good choice for those who want a free image generation tool or more control over the image creation process. However, the image quality of the free version may not be as impressive and some features may have a steeper learning curve.

Adobe Firefly: The AI-Powered Photoshop

 

Adobe Firefly is a tool that I have been eagerly waiting for since its announcement. I signed up for their waiting list and hoped to get access to their amazing features. One of the features that impressed me the most was generative fill.

Generative fill allows you to modify or add elements to an image in a realistic way. For example, if you have a person in the image, you could change their outfit to suit the occasion, or add an accessory. If they are in their house, you could change the background to a different location. This feature makes Adobe Firefly like Photoshop, but Photoshop on steroids powered by AI.

Another feature that I like about Adobe Firefly is that it simplifies the image generation process by providing pre-defined artistic styles to choose from. For instance, you can select whether you want a realistic photo or a creative art, and then pick a style such as “digital art, hyperrealistic, golden hour lighting, anime, minimalist, wide shot, etc”1. You don’t have to write a detailed prompt, just select the style you want and get the image you want.

Pros:

  • Innovative Features: Unique functions like generative fill.

  • Artistic Personality: Easy selection of desired artistic styles.

Cons:

  • Image Quality: Initial low-quality images, though recent updates are improving.

  • Limited Diversity: Uniformity in outputs despite varied prompts.

I must admit that the quality of the images was not very good at first, but they have improved a lot with Firefly 2. The images are more realistic and follow the prompts better. I use it often since it’s free and convenient.

However, sometimes the images you generate are quite similar to each other even when you change your prompts slightly for different styles. It seems like it follows a structure of preset images to generate. For example, for people, I would get a black woman, a white man, another white man, and an Asian man or something. And it’s always similar like that even when you change your prompts. So if you are looking for something completely different by changing your prompts, good luck with that.

Dall-E 3: the Future of AI Art

 

Last but not least, let’s talk about Dall-E 3, the latest sensation in the AI world. Many people have hailed it as the best, the ultimate image generator, the Midjourney killer, and the end of all other image generation tools. I cannot say for sure, because I have yet to explore Dalle-3’s full potential.

Dall-E 3 is available on both Microsoft Bing or Bing Creator and OpenAI, where it is integrated with GPT-4. It is an OpenAI product that can create stunning images from complex prompts. For example, it can generate a complex image of a spoon giving therapy to an avocado, as shown below.

What makes Dall-E 3 stand out from other image generation tools is its advanced prompt understanding and its ability to create legible texts within the images. It can also handle multiple subjects and elements in the prompts and generate coherent and relevant images. This means that Dall-E 3 can give you what you want more accurately and efficiently than other tools, which often require a lot of tweaking and trial and error.

Pros:

  • Advanced Prompt Understanding: Exceptional at handling complex prompts and ability to generate legible texts.

  • Integration with GPT-4: Simplified prompting process with GPT-4.

Cons:

  • Content Restrictions: Stringent policies inhibit the generation of copyrighted or inappropriate content.

  • Paywall: Full features require a GPT-Plus subscription.

You can get a glimpse of the power of Dall-E 3 through Bing image creator or chat. However, the real power lies behind OpenAI’s paid subscription model, where you can unleash your creativity and imagination with Dall-E 3 and GPT-4. With these tools, you can create the vision of your dreams, even if you have no prior knowledge of AI art.

So which AI-Image Generation Tool Is the Best?

 

The best AI image generation tool for you depends on what you want to achieve with your creativity. Each tool has something different to offer, and you may find that some tools work better for some situations than others.

If you are mainly concerned with the aesthetics of your images, Midjourney is still the top choice. It can create breathtaking images from simple prompts, but it can also be pricey and limited.

If you are more interested in customization and flexibility, Leonardo AI is the way to go. It lets you create your own AI models and adjust the image generation process, but it may also have lower quality and higher complexity.

If you are a fan of Adobe products and want to use an AI-powered version of Photoshop, Adobe Firefly is the tool for you. It has innovative features like generative fill and artistic styles, but it may also have lower quality and limited diversity.

If you are curious about the latest and most advanced AI image generation tool, Dall-E 3 is the tool for you. It can understand complex prompts and generate relevant images, and it is integrated with GPT-4. However, it may also have content restrictions and a paywall.

There is no single “winner” among these tools, as they all have different strengths and weaknesses. You may want to try them out and see which one works best for you.

One thing is certain – these tools are only the beginning of a colorful future for AI and art I hope you enjoyed reading about my experience with these AI image generation tools. What do you think? Which AI image generator aligns with your creative vision? I’m excited to see the wonders you’ll create!

Bonus Tools:

  • Ideogram: Specializes in text-heavy images with satisfactory quality.

  • SeaArt: Offers unique AI models and fewer content restrictions, catering to a niche audience.