Key takeaways
- Crafting Effective AI Prompts Requires Skill and Alignment with Your Brand: While generating AI images is simple, creating visuals that truly align with your brand takes careful prompt crafting.
- Don’t Over-Rely on AI for Prompts—Inject Your Own Creativity: Using AI tools like ChatGPT for brainstorming is helpful, but over-reliance can result in repetitive or uninspired prompts, potentially leading to generic or even plagiarised images.
- Mastering AI Image Generation Saves Time and Elevates Your Visual Content: Once you’ve developed your own style and mastered prompt creation, generating AI images can save time and effort compared to sourcing stock images.
AI image creation can help enhance your brand
Sometimes, it feels like we’re all products, navigating the world with a singular focus: to brand ourselves in the best possible way. Reading LinkedIn updates from senior executives, fluent in corporate jargon and skilled at turning even the smallest task into a career milestone, can leave anyone feeling unaccomplished.
Scrolling through Instagram doesn’t help either. Everyone seems to be on glamorous vacations with their perpetually smiling, well-behaved children, or they’re busy training for marathons, complaining about their “slow” 10k time of 45 minutes—because they weren’t feeling their best that day.
With AI rapidly infiltrating our lives, it seems unlikely that things will change for the better anytime soon. In fact, there’s now another way to showcase your accomplishments: an easy one. With the click of a button, you can illustrate to the world that you ‘understand’ AI. Corporate PowerPoint presentations are now filled with stunning AI-generated images that you’ve created.
But hold on—is it really that simple? Why do these images look so obviously AI-generated, cartoon-like, and completely misaligned with your brand? And why do they all seem so familiar, as if you’ve seen them a thousand times before?
Like any new tool, it’s not just about clicking a button and expecting brilliance. AI images are no different. To make a real impact and leave a lasting impression, you need to know how to use them properly. That’s what truly sets you apart today and as AI shapes the next decade of search.
How to generate AI images for free
AI is changing SEO and over the next five years, AI will increase in importance. The ability to generate any image with the click of a button is exciting. While AI content may harm your search rankings, Google has not banned the use of AI. Instead, they want SEOs to focus on adding value.
So, it’s important to focus on creating images that reflect your creative talents. However, you don’t need to be Leonardo DiVinci to bring your vision to life. Your imagination is the only limit. There are many tools available that can create AI images, so it’s easier than ever to explore this creative freedom. If you want to give it a try without paying, Microsoft’s AI Image Generator offers 10 free images a day. You just need to log in. However, there is an issue. How do you get the pictures to look the way you want? The key lies in crafting the perfect prompt.
Start by aligning your AI images with your brand
Before, creating your AI images you need a cohesive digital marketing strategy. What impression do you want your images to give about you and your brand? If you aim to position yourself as a premium brand, your visuals should reflect that. Do you want to be seen as a reliable, traditional company, or perhaps more futuristic and trendy? Whatever your choice, your images need to communicate that identity.
One way to determine your visual style is by articulating your “why.” Furthermore, explore different design trends across centuries that reflect your mission. A minimalist approach will evoke a very different mood than, say, the ornate grandeur of the Empire style. Identify which aesthetic resonates with your brand, and use that as inspiration when crafting your prompts.
Another crucial element in creating a cohesive look is the colour palette you choose. While your brand might primarily use orange, that doesn’t mean every person in your AI images has to be orange. You can incorporate other colours, but it’s important to limit the variety and stick with a consistent palette.
Moreover, remember, each colour has various shades—rather than just asking for ‘red,’ opt for a specific tone like ‘plum red.’ This helps make your images feel more tailored and less generic.
Even with all these considerations, some images may still appear obviously AI-generated or slightly odd. This is often due to the way AI handles smaller details like teeth, ears, hands, and fingers—features that, in real photography, aren’t the main focus. However, with practice and skill in prompt creation, you can usually find ways to avoid these common issues.
Avoid relying on AI to instruct AI: Why you should not use ChatGPT to create prompts for you
While the freedom to create anything you want is exciting, it comes with some challenges. Where do you begin? Simple prompts like ‘create an image of a man writing on a computer in an office in London’ might not always deliver the exact look you’re after. Sure, the iconic red buses of London are familiar, and some may overlook the fact that the man typing has only three fingers. But if you want images that truly align with your brand, crafting better prompts is essential.
It may be tempting to turn to ChatGPT for help, and it’s a great tool for brainstorming. However, it’s crucial not to become overly reliant on AI. When creating AI images It is important to add your thoughts and creativity.
Relying solely on ChatGPT to generate prompts can result in images that lack uniqueness, as its suggestions are based on existing content. In the worst-case scenario, you might even face accusations of plagiarism and questions over the legality of your content and the copyright status of your AI images.
Furthermore, a great prompt alone doesn’t guarantee success. It might result in strong standalone images, but when creating AI-generated visuals, you need to consider a holistic approach. For instance, if you’re writing an article, it won’t look cohesive if the first image showcases your new health clinic and the second features ‘Steve’ presenting at a corporate event. You need to think about the overall message you want to convey. Additionally, ensure that the colours and visuals align with your brand image.”
How to make an AI photo look more realistic
Many people want their images to avoid the revealing signs of being AI-generated. While they may still appear a bit too polished, like perfectly symmetrical humans or an office that seems a little too glamorous, this can also happen when real people use heavy filters.
On the other hand, sometimes you might want a more futuristic look, which may not feel entirely authentic, but that’s perfectly fine if it fits your vision.
What most people aim to avoid are AI images that resemble cartoons, with unnatural lighting and shadows, misspelt words, or an extra finger or two. To help you elevate your image creation, here are some tips to take things to the next level:
- Craft highly detailed prompts: Instead of saying “Ensure there is light coming from the windows,” try something like, “Ensure it looks like an early afternoon with natural lighting in sharp focus, coming through the right window, with reflections visible on the office floor.”
- Use descriptive terms: Incorporate phrases like “highly detailed,” “realistic,” or “lifelike” in your prompts. For example, rather than saying “a cat,” try “a realistic, lifelike image of a Birman cat with fluffy fur and expressive eyes.”
- Describe lighting and environment in detail: Capture the atmosphere by specifying lighting and mood. For example, “dimmed indoor lighting creating a relaxed atmosphere” will give your image a more authentic feel.
- Compare the scene to real-life settings: Adding realism can be as simple as saying, “A busy street in London, full of black cabs and people walking briskly at sunset, with realistic shadows and reflections on the pavement.”
- Enhance the realism of people: To make human subjects look more lifelike, use descriptors like “realistic,” “proportional features,” or “true-to-life expressions.
Pro tip: Always prioritise what matters most to you in the first sentence of your prompt. For instance, if you find that the AI image creator often struggles to use a specific colour, make sure to mention your colour requirement right at the beginning.
Mastering crafting AI images aligned with your brand image can save you a lot of time
AI image creation becomes truly enjoyable when you can bring your vision to life just as you picture it. Once you’ve discovered your own style, chosen the right colours, and mastered the art of crafting precise prompts, it can save you a lot of time and effort. Not all of us are expert photographers, and finding free, high-quality images that align with your brand can be challenging. However, by creating unique visuals, you can make it your own art. Like anything, it just takes time and practice to master.
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