Welcome to our exploration of the fascinating world of AI image generators! These amazing ‘picture-making robots’ are revolutionizing the way we create and understand images. Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, they can generate new, unique pictures after learning from a large collection of images. But how do they really work? How can a robot learn to be creative? Let’s first dive into the intriguing process behind these AI image generators before we unveil some of the best in the business. This will give you a solid understanding of the technology that drives these tools and help you appreciate their capabilities even more! Stay tuned as we unveil the magic of AI and the world of endless possibilities it opens for image generation.
Imagine AI image generators, or let’s call them “picture-making robots”, like special artists who can create brand new pictures. They learn to make these pictures by looking at a lot of different images, just like how you learn by looking and observing. Let’s break down how these picture-making robots work:
Gathering Images: Just like a painter gathers inspiration from looking at different things, our picture-making robot collects lots of pictures to learn from. These can be photos, paintings, or even drawings!
Teaching the Artist Robot: The picture-making robot has a part called the “generator”. The generator starts by making a picture out of random scribbles. It’s just like how you might scribble randomly on a paper first and then try to make a picture out of it.
Teaching the Judge Robot: Along with the artist robot, there’s a judge robot called the “discriminator”. The job of the discriminator is to tell whether a picture is one of the original pictures the robot learned from or a new one made by the generator.
Playing a Game: The generator and discriminator play a game. The generator tries to make pictures that can trick the discriminator into thinking they’re real. The discriminator tries to get better at telling which pictures are real and which are made by the generator.
Learning from Mistakes: While they’re playing this game, the discriminator tells the generator how far off its picture was from a real one. The generator uses this feedback to learn and get better at making pictures.
Creating New Pictures: After lots of practice, the generator can make brand new pictures! It starts with random scribbles and transforms them into a picture. You can even tell the generator what kind of picture you want it to make!
Remember, this game between the generator and discriminator needs a lot of computer power and a big collection of images to learn from. The pictures that the generator makes depend on the images it learned from and how it was taught to make pictures.
Table of Contents
1) Midjouney
Midjourney stands out as a unique AI image generator due to its seamless integration within Discord, a widely used instant messaging application. Below you can find Midjourney’s features and benefits, showcasing its ability to generate captivating artwork.
Seamless Integration with Discord
Midjourney’s standout feature is its complete integration with Discord, allowing users to access all its functionalities within the platform. While this may initially confuse Discord newcomers, the instructions on the Midjourney website provide clear guidance, enabling users to get started within just 20 minutes.
Effortless Image Generation
Generating art with Midjourney is incredibly simple. Once inside Discord, users only need to type “/imagine” to trigger the image generation prompt. By entering a phrase or input, users are presented with four unique images and various enhancement options. Midjourney’s user-friendly interface makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a straightforward AI art generator.
Free Trial and Subscription Plans
Midjourney offers a generous free trial of 25 requests, allowing users to experience its AI capabilities. Subsequently, users can choose from three subscription plans tailored to their needs:
- Basic Plan: For $10 per month, users gain access to 200 GPU minutes for image generation.
- Standard Plan: Priced at $30 per month, this plan provides 15 hours of GPU usage.
- Corporate Plan: For $600 per year, users have access to 120 hours of GPU time annually.
Notable Features
Midjourney comes with several noteworthy features that enhance the user experience:
- The free trial period enables users to explore the AI capabilities before committing to a subscription.
- The affordable Basic Plan, priced at $10 per month, makes Midjourney accessible to a wide range of users.
- Each search request generates four images, providing users with multiple artistic possibilities.
- Users have the option to enhance or vary the generated images, allowing for further customization.
- Midjourney facilitates the delivery of generated images directly to users’ Discord direct message inboxes for safekeeping.
- The platform’s user-friendly interface ensures a straightforward and enjoyable experience.
- Midjourney’s focus on creating a child-friendly environment by strictly prohibiting explicit content is commendable.
- Users can engage with the vibrant Discord community, fostering interaction and sharing of their artistic creations.
Considerations:
It is important to note that images generated through Midjourney within Discord are publicly accessible. To ensure privacy, users can upgrade to the Corporate Plan, where their generated images remain private. Personally, I found Midjourney’s execution of my instructions to be exceptional, capturing the ethereal and dream-like qualities I desired in the generated images.
Conclusion:
Midjourney’s integration with Discord and its remarkable features make it an excellent AI image generator. Its user-friendly approach, coupled with affordable subscription plans, ensures accessibility for both novice and experienced users. Whether for personal enjoyment or creative projects, Midjourney provides a convenient and captivating tool for unleashing artistic expression.
2) Dall-E
DALL-E2 utilizes GPT-3, one of the most advanced machine learning algorithms available, along with CLIP (Contrastive Language-Image Pretraining), which empowers the AI to provide accurate results based on text prompts.
Realistic Results:
While many AI art generators often produce bizarre and unrealistic outcomes, DALL-E2 stands apart. Users report that it offers the most realistic results among all available generators. Its ability to generate lifelike images sets it apart from the rest.
Getting Started:
To begin using DALL-E2, users must first create an account at OpenAI. It is worth mentioning that providing a phone number is required, which may seem unusual. However, it is reassuring to note that no unwanted phone calls have been received thus far.
Generous Free Credits and Pricing:
Upon activating an account, users receive a substantial 50 free credits during the first month, with an additional 15 free credits replenished each subsequent month. This ensures that, with moderate usage, there is no need to pay for the service.
Payment and Credits:
DALL-E2 operates on a credit-based system for additional usage. Presently, $15 provides 115 credits, with each credit equivalent to generating four images based on a given prompt.
Notable Features:
- 50 free credits to start, with an additional 15 free credits each month.
- $15 for 115 extra credits.
- Quick and easy account setup to get users up and running in no time.
- User-friendly interface, allowing users to input text prompts or upload their own images for generating art.
- Each request generates four images, providing a range of options.
- Dedicated Discord server for users to discuss and share their artwork.
- A “Surprise Me” button generates random results for users lacking specific ideas.
- Utilizes advanced AI algorithms, GPT-3 and CLIP, to produce realistic outcomes.
- The brush feature enables users to add additional details such as highlights and shadows.
- Advanced users can utilize the brush tool to create multi-layered images.
Varied Results:
The outcomes based on my two prompts were quite different. On one hand, the images of pugs were highly detailed and could easily pass as artistic prints. However, the dream images were peculiar and somewhat strange. It appears that while DALL-E2 can produce impressive results, it requires detailed and specific prompts to generate satisfactory images.
Conclusion:
DALL-E2, powered by advanced AI algorithms, offers an impressive AI art generation experience. With its realistic results and user-friendly features, it is a valuable tool for unleashing artistic creativity. The generous free credits, along with affordable pricing for additional usage, make it accessible to a wide range of users. While it may require precise prompts for optimal outcomes, DALL-E2 stands as a remarkable choice for those seeking realistic and visually captivating AI-generated artwork.
3) StabilityAI DreamStudio
StabilityAI DreamStudio utilizes the Stable Diffusion learning model to generate top-tier images based on user prompts, with some claiming it surpasses even DALL-E 2 in quality. Let’s highlight the features and benefits of DreamStudio as an AI art generator.
Simple Setup:
To get started, users only need to log in with their Google account credentials, eliminating the need for additional account creation.
User-Friendly Interface:
DreamStudio’s interface is basic but functional. It offers sliders that allow users to adjust image quality, choose dimensions, and determine the number of images to be generated. Other sliders provide control over the level of creative freedom given to the AI and the desired level of image detail.
Affordability:
DreamStudio stands out as one of the most cost-effective AI art generators available. Users pay $10 for a set of credits, with each image generation in basic settings costing only a cent. Additional costs apply for scaling improvements and larger images.
Free Credits and Pricing:
Upon registration, users receive $2 worth of free credits, equivalent to generating up to 200 images.
Notable Features of StabilityAI DreamStudio:
- Instant access using Google account credentials.
- $2 worth of free credits (up to 200 images).
- $10 per credit set (up to 1,000 images).
- Clean and straightforward interface with sliders for size, quality, and quantity adjustments.
- The CFG scaling slider provides precise guidance to the AI, allowing for more uniform results when increased or granting more creative freedom when decreased.
- The steps slider controls the number of steps taken by the AI to create the image, with more steps resulting in greater complexity and detail.
- Quick guide to assist users in navigating the process and achieving accurate results.
- Convenient image storage in the history folder for easy access at any time.
- Personal experience generating a single image for each prompt, resulting in excellent outcomes.
Results:
The generated image of the pug is clear and detailed, capturing the essence of the subject accurately. While the dream image has a caricature-like quality, it represents the most precise interpretation obtained so far.
Conclusion:
StabilityAI DreamStudio, powered by the Stable Diffusion model, offers high-quality AI image generation. With its user-friendly interface, affordability, and impressive results, it proves to be a valuable tool for artistic expression. The availability of free credits upon registration and the low cost per image make it an attractive choice for users seeking an accessible AI art generator. The generated images reflect the capabilities of DreamStudio, delivering detailed and accurate representations.
4) NightCafé
If you’ve heard of just one AI art generator, it’s likely NightCafé. Its standout feature is the ability to choose from a selection of algorithms when generating your artwork. In addition to DALL-E 2 and Stable Diffusion, NightCafé offers Guided Diffusion by CLIP and VQGAN + CLIP algorithms. Users can also upload their own images to transform into art.
User-Friendly Experience:
NightCafé is beginner-friendly, despite offering various customization options. Users can easily navigate through the process of choosing an algorithm, artistic styles, and resolution quality.
No Account Required:
No account creation is necessary to start using NightCafé. Upon initiation, users receive five free credits. Each credit corresponds to one image generation, but discounted rates are available for generating multiple images with the same prompt.
Credit Packages:
NightCafé offers a range of credit packages for purchase. The cheapest option is 40 credits for $7.99, while the highest package costs $469.99 for 10,000 credits. The more credits you purchase, the lower the cost per image.
Notable Features of NightCafé:
- Instant access without the need to create an account.
- Five free credits provided upon starting.
- Additional credit packages available for purchase, starting from $7.99.
- Certain tasks, such as creating and publishing images, can earn users additional free credits.
- Choose from four different algorithms to generate your artwork.
- Upload your own images to transform into art.
- Select from a variety of art styles, including photography, epic, pop art, and CGI.
- Advanced features allow users to control image quality, size, and aspect ratio.
- Bulk download function for downloading all your images at once.
- Create both art images and art videos.
- Engage in daily challenges to enhance creativity.
- Purchase prints of your artwork.
- Join the active Discord community to engage in discussions related to NightCafé.
Personal Experience:
I used the Stable Diffusion algorithm and NightCafé to generate my images. The pugs appeared more dynamic compared to previous results, although one image was missing the head. The dream images turned out to be the most visually appealing of the entire batch, exuding a whimsical quality.
Conclusion:
NightCafé stands out as an AI art generator that offers versatility and customization options through multiple algorithms and art styles. Its user-friendly interface and the absence of account requirements make it accessible to all users. The provision of free credits and the availability of credit packages at various price points enhance the affordability and flexibility of NightCafé. Whether you seek dynamic or imaginative results, NightCafé provides an engaging platform for unleashing your creativity and exploring the world of AI-generated art.
5) Starry AI
Starry AI is another art generator primarily used for creating NFTs and, like Wombo, it is available as an application. Once you create your images, you have full control over their usage, including commercial projects.
Choice of Three AI Models:
The platform offers three different AI models to choose from. Altair is used for creating dreamy and abstract images, Orion for realistic images, and Argo for artistic styles and product representation.
Text Prompts and Image Upload:
You can create images using text prompts, upload a photo, or even combine both methods to guide the AI in generating the desired output.
Easy Access with Google Credentials:
Starry AI allows you to log in using your Google account credentials. Upon accessing the platform, you are given five free credits, with each image generation costing one credit.
Daily Free Credits:
You also receive five free credits every day as long as you remember to log in and claim them. This means you can use the platform entirely for free.
Pricing Plans:
Starry AI offers various pricing plans, starting from $15.99 for 40 credits up to $149.99 for 1,000 credits.
Notable Features of Starry AI:
- Five free credits upon starting, plus five additional free credits per day.
- Ability to use the platform for free.
- Pricing plans starting from $15.99.
- Full commercial rights for all generated images.
- Three different AI models to choose from based on the desired outcome.
- Option to use text prompts or upload an image.
- Wide selection of art styles to enhance your image.
- Ability to resize the canvas to suit your needs.
- Increase the number of iterations for more detailed results.
- Effective NFT generator.
- Option to generate a single image or multiple images.
Personal Experience:
I must say that Starry AI was the only art generator that successfully incorporated Salvador Dali’s style into the pug design. The dream images were a bit more abstract, as I chose Altair AI for these prompts, so an abstract outcome was expected.
Conclusion:
Starry AI presents itself as an art generator with NFT capabilities. With its various AI models, ease of access, and the ability to use text prompts or image uploads, it offers flexibility in creating artistic outputs. The combination of free credits, daily credits, and affordable pricing plans enhances accessibility and affordability. Whether you’re seeking realistic or abstract results, Starry AI provides a platform to unleash your creativity and explore the world of AI-generated art, including the potential for NFT creation.
In essence..
In conclusion, the world of AI image generators offers a vast range of possibilities for artistic expression and creativity. The fascinating process behind these “picture-making robots” involves gathering a large collection of images, teaching the generator and discriminator robots, and playing a game to improve the generator’s skills. Through learning from mistakes and feedback, these AI image generators can create brand new pictures that capture the imagination. T
he featured AI image generators, including Midjourney, DALL-E, StabilityAI DreamStudio, NightCafé, and Starry AI, each bring unique features and benefits to the table. From seamless integration with popular messaging platforms to realistic and visually captivating results, these tools provide user-friendly experiences and a wide range of customization options. Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a creative enthusiast, or a professional designer, the AI image generators showcased here offer incredible opportunities to explore and push the boundaries of art and image generation.
