Designed by developer Boris Dayma as a free text-to-image AI tool, Craiyon advanced not only through internal improvements but through contributions from the open-source community. Beyond generating new images, Craiyon contains a library of existing images that you can access to help with your queries. Previously known as DALL-E mini, the site changed its name upon a request from OpenAI, which felt that the former name was too close to its own DALL-E image generator.

How to get started with Craiyon AI

1. Go to the Craiyon website

To get started, browse to the Craiyon website. You can sign up for a free account, but you may want to first try the site without an account.

2. Describe your image

Type a description of the image you want generated. You can also add negative words to specify any items you want excluded in your query. Choose the type of image you’d like to see — art, drawing, or photo.

Take a moment before you submit your query. Trying to describe the image you want can be challenging. How you phrase it and what words you include will determine the accuracy and quality of the results.

Craiyon reminds you to select the style that interests you the most. But you’re also able to play around with different keywords, such as “illustration,” “photorealistic,” and “high definition.” Plus, consider joining the Craiyon community on Discord to chat with other users and search for previous images requested by others.

3. Generate results

After you’ve entered your description and chosen a style, click the Draw button. With the free tier, you’ll have to wait a minute or longer for the image to appear. In response, Craiyon displays several images in their own thumbnails.

4. Select an image

Click an image you like, and it appears larger. From there, click the Upscale button to try to improve the resolution and quality. Click the Screenshot button to save it as a PNG file.

5. Try another prompt

Click the image to return to the set of thumbnails of all the results. Below the images, Craiyon may suggest another prompt to fine-tune or modify the results. 

If you think the new prompt is worth a shot, click the button to Try this one. Modify the prompt if necessary and then click the Draw button.

6. View new results

A new set of thumbnails is generated, allowing you to pick one you like and then upscale or save it. A new prompt will also be suggested, which you can modify and try again.

7. View your favorite images

To keep track of the generated images, sign up for a free account by clicking the Sign-up button at the top. To save an image, click its heart icon. After you’ve saved one or more images, click the Account button at the top and select the option for My Collection.

8. Buy a t-shirt with your favorite image (optional)

To help earn money and provide you with some cool swag, Craiyon will sell you a $26 t-shirt with your favorite image printed on it. For this, open an image and click the button for Print on a t-shirt. Confirm the image, choose the theme of light or dark, and then click Buy. Confirm your size and place your order.

 How to use the Android app

Beyond the website, you’re able to take Craiyon for a spin on an Android device. Download and install the app from Google Play. Sign into your account if you’ve created one. From there, the app works the same as the website. Type a description of the image you want, choose a style, and then tap Draw. Among the results, tap an image to see a larger version of it. From there, you can upscale it, download it to your device, or try a different prompt.

Disclaimer: You should consider the legal consequences (e.g. copyright) of using AI-generated images before implementing them into your work.

The post How to use Craiyon AI (formerly known as DALL-E mini) appeared first on GRAPHICERS.

1 – Photo Editors Will Want to Create Their Styles

I’ve edited photos for five years at the time of writing this article, and I started in the same way as many others. I had no idea how to use tools like Lightroom, so I used the Auto tools much more than I should have. This was good for learning how to use the software, but eventually, I wanted to make my pictures look like they were mine.

Since I wanted to make my images look more unique, I learned how to use Lightroom and Photoshop. Yes, AI is still part of my editing process (e.g. straightening and healing my pictures). However, I’d now say that 90% of my edits are my own work.

2 – Not All AI Editing Is Created Equally

Almost every piece of software proudly flaunts its AI features these days. But in my opinion, a good chunk of these tools are simply marketed well. Just because something uses AI doesn’t mean it’s good, it’s the buzzword right now, just like “low-fat” has been overused in the food industry.

Some AI photo editing tools are fantastic. For example, the Noise Reduction feature in Lightroom is well worth learning how to use. However, I think that some tools are a waste of time. I’d recommend trying each AI tool that your preferred editing software has, but at the same time, you should take what’s good and leave the rest.

3 – AI Can Look Obvious if It’s Overdone

If you’re editing photos, you probably want them to look like yours. One of the biggest problems with AI is that many people overdo their edits, and it becomes obvious that they’ve used AI.

A few months ago I used the Denoise tool in Lightroom to get rid of grain in one of my images but synchronized it with another picture that I had taken. However, because I didn’t do my due diligence, parts of the picture became distorted. I then had to restart my edits altogether and spend more time than if I’d adjusted everything manually.

AI editing is fine if done in moderation, but I still think that you shouldn’t rely on it entirely.

4 – AI Editing Is Only a Supplement to Manual Editing

One of the most frequently overlooked points in the AI discussion is that AI is supposed to be a tool, not a replacement. Too many people have drawn the conclusion that throwing AI at anything will solve the problem, but that isn’t true in any field—including photo editing. Human input is still necessary, and manual editing absolutely has its place.

Anyone who takes photo editing seriously will look at AI neutrally. This means that they might use more AI than human editing in some pictures, but they may employ all manual editing and no AI in others. There isn’t a hard-and-fast rule about how much you should use, and even as AI evolves, this will remain true. By adopting this mindset, you can benefit from generative AI as an artist.

AI is one of many tools that you can use to make your images look better, but manual photo editing still has its place and always will. You should master your preferred photo editing software’s manual and AI features to give yourself the best opportunity to create amazing pictures.

The post Will Manual Photo Editing Become Obsolete as AI Advances? Here’s Why I Think It Won’t appeared first on GRAPHICERS.