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One picture says a thousand words—but with AI, a few words can create a thousand pictures.
As a marketer, I’ve spent years creating content, but let’s face it—visual design has never been my strong suit. I’ve always struggled with getting the perfect image or graphic to match my ideas.
My attempts often ended up looking, well, a bit... off. Finding the right visuals was time-consuming and frustrating, and I couldn’t always afford to hire a designer.
That’s where AI image generators changed the game. Now, with just a few simple prompts, I can create the visuals I want, whether it's a stunning graphic for a campaign or an eye-catching image for social media.
No design experience needed.
With so many AI tools popping up, I decided to test out the most popular ones to see which ones truly help marketers like me—and can help you too. Here’s what I discovered.
So, how do these AI image generators work? It’s pretty fascinating when you break it down.
At the core, AI image generators are like supercharged artists, but instead of drawing or painting, they’re pulling from a massive library of images, descriptions, and captions from all over the internet.
The AI “learns” from millions of existing visuals, understanding what things look like and how they’re described.
When you enter a prompt, the AI taps into all that knowledge and creates an image based on what it thinks fits your request. It’s like a remix of all the things it has “seen” before.
Just like how a musician might sample an old song and put their unique spin on it—nothing is directly copied, but you can still spot the influence of the original.
The best part? The more you experiment with prompts, the more the AI learns to get closer to the visuals you need, making it an even more powerful tool for marketers like us.
AI image generation is a bit like a creative playground—you can generate just about anything, from surreal to practical, all with a simple text prompt.
For example, I tried creating an image of "a futuristic city skyline at sunset with flying cars zooming past." The result? A visually striking image that felt like it could be straight out of a sci-fi movie.
Then, I switched it up a bit and asked for “a tranquil beach at sunrise with crystal clear water and a lone surfer riding the waves.” The AI delivered a completely different vibe—peaceful and serene, perfect for a wellness blog.
Why the random examples? Honestly, because the possibilities are endless, and I wanted to push the boundaries of what these AI tools could do!
But for this article, I focused on something more useful for marketers: generating an original image for a blog post.
I used the prompt: “Generate an image that vividly portrays the seamless partnership between marketing professionals and AI technology. Showcase a scenario where a group of marketers and AI algorithms are gathered around a digital workspace, exchanging ideas and insights.”
Here’s what I found.
Midjourney is a powerful AI image generator that can help you create captivating, artistic visuals quickly, using just text prompts.
By typing commands like “/imagine” in Discord, you can generate up to four distinct images in seconds—perfect for eye-catching social media posts, ads, or website content.
The tool gives you the ability to refine your results with features like upscaling and remixing, putting creative control in your hands
Its ability to produce stylized and imaginative visuals makes it an excellent choice for campaigns that require unique, attention-grabbing imagery.
However, the learning curve for new users can be steep due to the Discord interface, and images are publicly accessible unless you opt for a premium plan.
Despite these challenges, Midjourney remains a favorite for marketers looking to level up their visuals with a creative edge.
Strengths:
Learning Curve & Usability:
User Feedback:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
DALL-E 3, developed by OpenAI, is a powerful and user-friendly text-to-image generator that seamlessly integrates with ChatGPT.
As a marketer, you'll find it incredibly easy to use—simply log in to your OpenAI account, input your prompt in the chat, and get a single image generated within seconds.
You can refine the image by regenerating it or editing specific details with the brush tool, giving you control over the final result.
Unlike other AI generators, DALL-E ensures privacy for your creations, with no public sharing unless you choose to share it yourself.
This makes DALL-E a solid choice for marketers who need fast, customizable, and private image generation for campaigns, social media posts, and more.
Features & Capabilities:
Usability for Marketers:
User Feedback:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
Google's ImageFX, powered by Imagen 3, is a powerful AI image generator designed to produce high-quality, realistic images, even of complex subjects like hands.
As a marketer, you'll appreciate its impressive performance and ease of use—simply sign in with your Google account, input your prompt, and let the AI work its magic.
One standout feature is the ability to refine prompts with "expressive chips," allowing for even more customization and helping you create highly specific visuals that align perfectly with your marketing goals.
Whether you're creating images for ads, social media, or website content, ImageFX delivers results that are both realistic and visually compelling.
User Interface & Experience:
Image Quality & Consistency:
Unique Features:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
Adobe Firefly is a game-changer for marketers looking to improve their visual content.
Leveraging Adobe’s decades of experience in image editing, Firefly offers unique features that many other AI image generators lack.
With Firefly, you can upload reference images, adjust stylistic elements, and fine-tune lighting or camera angles before even generating the image—giving you full control over the creative process.
Integration & Workflow:
Artistic Styles & Customization:
Commercial Licensing & Usage:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
Canva’s AI image generator, Magic Media, is a game-changer for marketers looking to streamline content creation.
If you’re already familiar with Canva, Magic Media integrates seamlessly into your workflow, making it even easier to generate stunning visuals.
With just a simple prompt, you can create high-quality images in seconds—perfect for social media posts, blogs, ads, or any content that needs eye-catching visuals.
Since Magic Media is part of Canva’s free plan, you don’t have to worry about additional costs to access this powerful tool. It’s perfect for marketers who need a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to produce compelling imagery without compromising on quality.
Ease of Use:
Image Quality & Limitations:
Integration with Canva:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
Stability AI's DreamStudio is a fantastic tool for marketers looking to leverage AI-generated images.
It offers a range of customization options, allowing you to refine your images to fit your specific brand needs.
Whether you're creating visuals for social media, websites, or advertisements, DreamStudio provides an intuitive platform to generate high-quality content quickly and efficiently.
Flexibility & Control:
Advanced Features:
Community & Resources:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
Craiyon is a simple, free, web-based AI image generator that requires no sign-up. It produces a grid of 9 images per prompt, making it ideal for quick, casual use.
While it excels at simple concepts, its low-resolution images and lack of customization make it less suitable for professional purposes.
Simplicity & Accessibility:
Image Quality & Limitations:
User Feedback:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
Leonardo AI is an affordable, budget-friendly AI image generator that offers a solid balance of simplicity and customization, making it ideal for marketers on a budget.
Leonardo AI provides a free tier that allows 50 image generations per month, with paid plans starting at just $9 for unlimited access.
The platform offers a variety of customization options, including style and composition adjustments, the ability to upload reference images, and a built-in image editor for post-generation tweaks.
This flexibility makes Leonardo AI a great choice for creating tailored visuals for marketing campaigns without breaking the bank.
Pricing & Value:
Features & Capabilities:
User Experience:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
Deep AI is a versatile tool for both text and image generation, ideal for marketers with specific creative needs. The image generator offers over 100 styles, allowing you to experiment with diverse visual aesthetics.
You can choose from three image quality options—Standard, HD, and Genius—providing flexibility depending on your project's requirements.
However, Deep AI lacks negative prompts, which could limit precise control over your images.
Despite this, its user-friendly image editor and AI characters offer solid customization, making it a valuable option for marketers looking for easy-to-use tools with a decent range of features.
Key features:
Limitations:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
PicLumen is a powerful AI image generator that excels at transforming text prompts into high-quality visuals, making it an excellent tool for marketers, creators, and designers.
With a variety of artistic styles to choose from—such as hyper-realistic, surreal, and abstract—it delivers detailed, visually appealing images that can improve your content creation process.
While the platform is great for creating unique and compelling visuals, users may find that it lacks advanced customization options compared to other tools.
Despite this, PicLumen remains a solid choice for those seeking quick and stunning imagery for social media, ads, or websites.
Pros of PicLumen:
Limitations of PicLumen:
I tested it with our original prompt and here’s what it came up with.
After trying numerous AI image generators, the best one is truly the tool that maximizes your creative process.
For me personally, Canva's Magic Tools, including AI, Magic Erase, and Magic Grab, are the perfect fit. These tools allow for effortless design and editing, making the creative process both fun and efficient.
That said, for marketers who need more advanced features, Stability’s DreamStudio offers excellent and high-quality results. Adobe Firefly shines when integrated with other Adobe apps, while MidJourney remains the top choice for professional-level work.
Ultimately, the key is finding the platform that best aligns with your needs, workflow, and creative goals. Happy designing!
To generate an AI image, simply input a detailed text prompt into an AI image generator like DALL-E or Midjourney. The AI will process your description and create an image based on the keywords and style you've provided.
Many AI image generators offer free trials or limited free usage, but most require a subscription or payment for full access. Free versions typically come with restrictions on the number of images you can generate or their resolution.
Yes, ChatGPT can generate images through integration with DALL·E. By providing a detailed prompt, you can create images based on your description.
Empower Your Digital Story