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Generative AI has made it possible to create entirely new images with only a few words. AI image generators have come a long way in a short amount of time. But if you’re expecting a Picasso-style masterpiece on your first attempt, you’ll need to think again.
I’ve spent too many hours of my life fighting with creative AI services, trying to get the AI model to bring to life my specific artistic vision. Some of them were silly, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper painting (pictured below). But AI image generators can create custom content for newsletters, presentations, marketing materials and social media. Getting the details right for those projects can be a challenge if you don’t know the best way to use your AI program.
Based on all my testing and reviewing, this is an expert guide to dealing with AI image services. For more, check out the best AI video generators and best chatbots.
You too can make images like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reimagined in the style of da Vinci’s Last Supper.
Step 1: Pick the best AI service for your project
The best program for you will depend on your project, budget and experience level. Experienced AI creators have started using different models for different tasks based on each AI’s “personality.” But the top AI image services are robust enough that you can do all your creations in one program. You can check out our full reviews and rankings, but these are my three program recommendations. Once you’ve picked your program, create an account and make your way to the prompt window.
What’s the best AI image generator for you?
CNET’s best overall pick for AI image generators is Google’s Nano Banana models. These Gemini AI models are scarily good at creating ultrarealistic images, as well as images featuring heavy swaths of text. They come prebaked with Google’s SynthID, an invisible watermark that proves it’s AI-generated. You can create for free in the Gemini chatbot, but upgrading to Google’s paid subscriptions gives you higher generation limits.
If you’re a regular ChatGPT user, you may be best off staying inside OpenAI’s ecosystem rather than pivoting to another service. The company’s latest model, ChatGPT Images 2, is a massive improvement over its previous models. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in 2025, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
If you’re really balling on a budget and have no creative experience, check out Canva’s Magic Media generator. It’s extremely intuitive and easy to navigate, making it great for beginners and noncreative users. Canva offers you a few free credits for image generation, but you’ll have to upgrade to the paid Pro plan after using up your free allowance. Canva automatically opts you out of training its AI on your content.
Step 2: Write your image prompt
Your best chance of success starts with a well-written prompt. Every prompt should include the basics of the characters, the setting, other elements and the image’s dimensions. But to really home in on the image you want, add descriptions of the artistic style you’re looking to mimic, the aesthetic, vibe and specific colors.
Leonardo might not understand a prompt that asks for “cottage core coastal grandma,” but it does understand “rustic feel with blues and warm light.”
AI image generators rightfully have limitations around what you can generate. This is to prevent people from abusing these services to create illegal, dangerous or abusive content. For example, ChatGPT will decline to generate images that request public figures by name, like Taylor Swift. Be sure to check out your service’s safety policies before generating.
Prompt engineering — the process of writing the right prompt to get your desired results — is something you get better at with practice. Image generators have also been upgraded to better understand your words and desired aesthetic. Playing around with your program is the best way to get to know it. When in doubt, err on the side of adding more detail. You can also check out my complete guide to image prompt engineering for more tips and tricks. Once you’ve got your best prompt, go ahead and generate.
Step 3: Edit your images as needed
Even with the best generator, you’ll likely need to edit your images after they’re created. Depending on the service you use, you may have access to editing tools or the ability to request changes. Be wary of overediting your images. I’ve found that services can only handle so many changes before the image becomes too wonky and ultimately unusable.
Take this image I made in Midjourney as a cautionary tale of what happens when you overedit. Sometimes it’s best to start anew.
Postgeneration editing tools are one area where AI services tend to shine or fall flat. If your service doesn’t offer them (or they don’t work very well), try editing your prompt rather than the picture. In my experience, that’s going to give you better odds of success rather than trying to incrementally edit existing images.
Step 4: Properly credit your images
It’s extremely important to label your images as AI-created content. As AI image services improve, it’s essential that all creators clearly identify the origins of an image, especially to distinguish it from human-created art and photography.
Meta AI watermarks all of its AI-generated images in the bottom-left corner.
Some services automatically add a watermark (visible and invisible) to indicate it’s AI-generated, but these aren’t always obvious. If you’re sharing your image online, be sure to include the AI service you used in the caption, credit or alt text. You can also add a disclaimer to your posts if you’re sharing on social media. Meta might flag them as containing AI content on Instagram and Facebook, but adding a line to your caption will help ensure there isn’t any confusion.
FAQ and other considerations
As of publication, the use of AI image generators is legal. But there are important legal and ethical considerations you should be aware of when creating AI images.
AI image services like Midjourney and ChatGPT Images rely on existing content to help them create pictures. This content, either in a database or on the open web, is typically created by humans. As such, some creators and artists have major concerns about how these programs are designed and trained. That’s led to uproar in the industry and a slew of lawsuits around copyright infringement concerns.
Be sure to take a look at your AI tool’s privacy policy and any disclosures about how the company trains its AI model. Some AI services rely on public databases, like Adobe Stock and Getty Images, where creators sign agreements with the companies to enter their work into those collections for specific uses. Adobe Firefly, for example, says content you create with its AI is commercially safe because it only uses training content from its Adobe Stock public databases and images whose copyrights have expired. It also won’t train on what you create.
As these AI services evolve, the legalities and ethics around them are poised to change as well. If you’re going to be a regular AI creator, make sure you stay up to date with the latest requirements, which we’ll cover in our AI Atlas guide.
