Even before generative AI exploded onto the scene late last year with the record-setting launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, simpler AI-powered automations were already changing the game for marketers. In addition to simplifying processes and streamlining workflows, AI art generators enable those with no design or creative skills to generate beautiful images and pieces of artwork from text prompts.
You can use these AI images to illustrate blogs and other stories, create advertisements, fuel social media and email campaigns, and more. With the emergence of AI art generators, marketers of every discipline – from content marketing and social media to SEO and PR – can create visually stunning images in seconds.
And already, the market is flooded with tools to try out. In this post, we’ll look at 7 AI image generators that have quickly become popular for different reasons, as well as what makes each one unique. You’ll also find tips and key considerations marketers need to consider when choosing an AI image generator and using machine-generated visuals in their campaigns.
(Pricing examples are current as of the publication date; please verify the current pricing with each tool.)
What is an AI art generator, and how do AI art generators work?
An AI image generator or art creator uses artificial intelligence algorithms to convert text instructions (prompts) into original images. These generators use various techniques, such as neural networks, to analyze patterns in existing images and generate new and unique ones based on those patterns.
To create an AI-generated image, input a text prompt describing your desired look. The AI art generator then uses algorithms to generate an image based on the input, incorporating learned patterns and styles from a dataset of images.
Here are seven AI generators you’ll want to check out!
1. NightCafe Studio
NightCafe Studio was founded in November 2019 by Angus Russell. This creative AI platform offers four algorithms to choose from. Next, you must input your text prompts, style, and the number of images, then sit tight for a high-quality image that suits your needs.
Recommended Reading: Creator’s Guide to NightCafe Studio for AI Image Generation
Key Features of NightCafe Studio
- NightCafe’s user-friendly interface makes it suitable for both novices and advanced artists.
- Offers a vast range of styles, including horror, Surreal, cosmic, cyberpunk, and 3D game.
- Available as a mobile app on both Android and iOS.
- Watermark-free images can be generated quickly.
- The randomizer button provides AI art inspiration for those in search of ideas.
NightCafe Pricing
Nightcafe uses a credit-based subscription system with monthly pricing ranging from $5.99 for 100 credits to $49.99 for 1400 credits and packs costing $7.99 to $299.99. As of the time of writing, there is a limited-time offer of 50% bonus credit for new subscribers.
2. DALL-E 2
DALL-E is an AI program developed by OpenAI in 2021. Its latest version, DALL-E 2, can produce realistic and original images based on your input text description. Using the algorithm is seamless; you only have to input a detailed description of the image you want and click “generate.”
Key Features of DALL-E 2
- DALL-E 2 can produce realistic digital art from natural language descriptions without requiring specific prompts
- The tool has an easy-to-use image model.
- It features a unique paintbrush tool allowing users to highlight an image section and make changes based on text descriptions.
- Users can generate various image variations inspired by the original, increasing flexibility.
- DALL-E 2 can expand images beyond their original canvas.
DALL-E 2 Pricing
Signing up is free, and credits cost $15 per 115.
3. Deep Dream
Deep Dream Generator is an online creative platform that utilizes the power of AI and art to help you bring your ideas to life. The underlying technology was created by Alexander Mordvintsev, a Google engineer, as part of a machine-learning effort to allow users to create images from text. It utilizes a “deep dreaming” method, where an image is fed into a neural network and modified repeatedly to magnify particular patterns. Google made Deep Dream open source, enabling users to create web services and apps incorporating its AI image generation technology.
Key Features of Deep Dream
- Deep Dream provides storage options from 20 to 200 GB, depending on the payment plan.
- The text-to-dream tool uses artificial intelligence, deep learning, stable diffusion, and text-to-image models to create photorealistic images from text prompts.
- The platform is easy to use, with no prior experience required.
- Images are transformed into artistic masterpieces using a deep neural network.
- Deep Dream offers various painting styles, including Renoir, Carina, and Graffiti, to give users the desired output.
Deep Dream Pricing
The Deep Dream subscription is an energy-based system with monthly pricing ranging from $19 – $99 with a 25% discount for yearly billing.
Recommended reading: Taking Gencraft AI Image & Video Creator for a Test Drive
4. Artbreeder
Artbreeder is a leading AI art generator worth checking out. With an intriguing interface, Artbreeder proves to be the best choice for art creators or anyone looking to repurpose existing images. After signing up for the platform, you can access hundreds of images to remix.
Key features of Artbreeder
- Artbreeder has a community where users can collaborate, follow each other, and share their creations.
- Custom gene editing provides greater control over your output.
- Unlimited slow render and splicer images can be generated for free.
- Upgraded plans allow for organizing images by syncing with Google Drive.
- Artbreeder’s remix function merges images, applies styles, and allows users to claim the output.
- The splicer feature lets users mix and adjust images to create original artwork.
Artbreeder Pricing
Artbreeder Pro subscriptions are billed monthly with a price ranging from $8.99 – $38.99. You can save 20% with the yearly billing.
5. Craiyon
Another fun text-to-image generator is Craiyon, formerly known as DALL-E Mini. This free image generator provides art, photo, and drawing options to meet your needs. To get started, input your text, click “draw,” and your art will be ready in a few seconds. Craiyon is free, so you have every reason to check it out.
Recommended reading: Craiyon: Test-Driving the Former DALL-E Mini AI Image Generator
Key Features of Craiyon
- No external ads.
- Text-to-image generation.
- Craiyon offers t-shirt print options for your favourite designs.
- Beginner-friendly interface for easy navigation.
Craiyon Pricing
Craiyon is free to use, unless you want faster image processing and the removal of the logo watermark.
6. Midjourney
Midjourney is an AI text-to-image generator tool operated independently by a self-funded team. You’ll need Discord to access it, so to begin using Midjourney, visit their website, create an account, and join the waitlist. After your application is approved, you will receive a notification to connect to a Discord server, granting you access to the tool.
Key Features of Midjourney
- Midjourney offers a beginner section for easy access to generating AI images.
- The “imagine” prompt in the Discord bot creates AI images based on text descriptions.
- The platform has an active community sharing prompts and works.
- Midjourney allows users to generate multiple variations of an image with a single click.
- Upscaling AI-generated images to 1664×1664 is possible on the platform.
Midjourney Pricing
Midjourney offers a monthly subscription ranging from $10 – $60 per month.
7. StarryAI
This AI generator offers artwork with a wide range of artistic styles and high-quality images tailored to your needs. StarryAI offers five free credits daily, allowing you to generate watermark-free artwork and photos. With no experience or design skill, you can enter a text prompt and customize your creation with any style and Canva size.
Key Features of StarryAI
- StarryAI app has a user-friendly interface suitable for all levels of users.
- Provides a range of image styles, including dream-like and artistic.
- The app is free for download on App Store and Google Play.
- Users have complete ownership of their creations, which they can print, use in future art projects, or share on social media platforms.
StarryAI Pricing
The StarryAI monthly pricing ranges from $11.99 – $79.99. You can get 20% off for an annual subscription, equivalent to 2 months free.
Finding the Right AI Art Generator for Your Marketing Needs
Whether you’re a professional artist or just starting out, these seven AI art generators provide a range of features and styles that can help you create unique and stunning images using AI algorithms.
Editor’s Note:
As with all AI tools, the adage “garbage in, garbage out” applies to any tool you may try. Work on honing your image prompts to give the tool enough creative license but also sufficient direction to generate a relevant image. Learn more about improving your image output in 10 AI Image Prompt Modifiers to Improve Your Pics.
Remember, too, that the field of generative AI is brand new and there are still many questions around image copyright. Use Google Image Search to reverse search your AI-generated images and make sure they aren’t too similar to existing images.
Be aware that even if you use the brand logo on an image, and it doesn’t appear in a tool’s image library, you may not necessarily own the copyright. Others may use the image; whether or not this is allowed is being tested in various court cases in different countries right now.
For these reasons, it may be wise to restrict your company’s use of AI images to use cases where images complement original content but are not proprietary. For example, you might use an AI image to add visual interest to a blog post, but using one on the corporate homepage as a core visual representation of your brand could be risky.
The debate goes on as to whether creators are ethically obligated to disclose when content is machine-generated. Consult with your legal team to see your legal requirements, then discuss how AI content will be managed and inventoried in your organization.
Right now, labeling content as AI-created is a personal preference; one day, it might become a requirement in some jurisdictions or it could become a consumer expectation.
If the situation changes in the future, a quick reference guide to which published assets were machine-generated and need identification or modification applied could save your team a lot of time and effort.
For now, experiment with the many tools available and see where your marketing team can find efficiencies and scale their content creation workflows with generative AI. Give your marketing professionals time and budget to experiment with a few premium tools.
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