How to Use DALL-E 2 to Generate Images & A.I. Art

Aaron Rutten
19 Dec 202210:25

TLDRThis tutorial guides users on how to generate images using DALL-E 2, an AI image generator. It explains the process of signing up for a free account, managing credits for image generation, and the importance of being descriptive with text prompts while avoiding inappropriate content. The video also covers techniques to refine prompts for better results, the ability to choose art styles, and how to modify generated images using DALL-E's editing features. It highlights the limitations of AI-generated images, such as common mistakes in details, and suggests post-processing in software like Photoshop for commercial use. The tutorial concludes with legal considerations for using these images, emphasizing they are public domain but should be altered significantly for commercial purposes.

Takeaways

  • 📝 Sign up for a free account on DALL-E to generate images, which stores your creations and allows for credit purchases if needed.
  • 💳 DALL-E is free up to a certain number of images, after which you can either wait for a monthly reset or buy more credits.
  • 💡 Use descriptive yet succinct text prompts to generate images, being aware that certain types of images like graphic violence or pornography cannot be created.
  • 🚫 Copyrighted images cannot be directly generated, but you can get close representations without explicit logos.
  • 🎨 Add descriptors to your prompts to guide the style of the generated art, such as 'digital art' or specific artistic styles like 'Van Gogh'.
  • 🖌 You can refine and modify the results with different styles and properties like colors, lighting, and backgrounds.
  • 🖼 Generated images may contain mistakes, and photographs are particularly prone to errors in details.
  • 💾 Save your generated images to your computer for backup, as they are stored in your DALL-E account by default.
  • 🔄 Use the 'variations' button to get new iterations of an image based on your original prompt, which costs an additional credit.
  • 📚 Build a history of your generated images and organize them into collections for easier management and retrieval.
  • ✂️ Utilize the 'outpainting' feature to expand images and correct proportions, being cautious not to lose the concept's essence.
  • 🖥 For advanced editing, you can download images and use software like Photoshop to refine and remove unwanted elements.

Q & A

  • What is the first step to start using DALL-E 2?

    -The first step to start using DALL-E 2 is to sign up for a free account. This account will store the images you generate.

  • Do you need to provide payment information during the sign-up process for DALL-E 2?

    -No, you do not need to provide any payment information during the sign-up process unless you want to purchase credits.

  • What happens if you exhaust all your free credits on DALL-E 2?

    -If you exhaust all your free credits, you'll either need to wait for a month for them to replenish or purchase more credits.

  • How much does a credit cost on DALL-E 2 as of the video?

    -As of the video, a credit costs about 10 cents each, and you get a series of four images per credit.

  • What types of images cannot be generated on DALL-E 2?

    -DALL-E 2 cannot generate images that involve graphic violence, pornography, or other types of moderated content. Additionally, copyrighted images are also off limits.

  • How can you refine the text prompt to get better results in DALL-E 2?

    -You can refine the text prompt by being descriptive, succinct, and considering the scope of what can be generated. You can also add descriptors like 'digital art' to guide DALL-E 2 in the direction you want.

  • What is the 'outpainting' feature in DALL-E 2?

    -The 'outpainting' feature in DALL-E 2 allows you to expand your images by adding to the edges of the image or erasing and replacing areas. Each time you use this feature, it costs a credit.

  • How can you manage the large collection of images generated using DALL-E 2?

    -You can manage your generated images by adding them to collections, which can be organized into categories or favorites. This helps filter out rejects and makes it easier to locate good images.

  • What should you do with the images you want to keep from DALL-E 2?

    -You should download any images you want to keep to your computer as a backup. By default, the image will include the date and the text prompt, and the file format is PNG.

  • How can you use the generated images from DALL-E 2 legally?

    -According to the terms of service, generated images are in the public domain, and you are free to use them commercially or otherwise. However, you may not misrepresent that these images were made entirely by a human.

  • What is the recommended approach for using generated images from DALL-E 2 for commercial purposes?

    -For commercial use, it is recommended to clean up the images in a program like Photoshop to fix mistakes and potentially elaborate on the idea to complete it. Generated images are considered rough concepts rather than finished products.

  • What is the limitation of the editing process in DALL-E 2?

    -The limitation of the editing process in DALL-E 2 is that it does not save your progress. You must manually download the images or you'll lose them.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Generating Images with AI: An Introduction to Dolly

This paragraph introduces the viewer to an AI-powered image generator named Dolly. The narrator explains that Dolly is user-friendly and allows users to generate images by simply entering a text prompt. The video will guide viewers through the process, starting with signing up for a free account, which stores generated images. The narrator mentions that while the service is free for a limited number of images, purchasing credits is necessary for additional images. Each credit costs about 10 cents and provides a set of four images. The narrator also cautions viewers to use credits wisely, as generating the perfect image can be challenging and may require several attempts. The limitations of the technology are discussed, including the inability to generate inappropriate or copyrighted images. The importance of being descriptive and considering the scope of what can be generated is emphasized. The video also touches on the use of descriptors to guide the style of the generated images, such as 'digital art,' and the option to choose from various art styles and genres. The narrator shares their experience with generating images for YouTube videos and advises viewers to consult Dolly's documentation for further guidance.

05:00

📚 Managing and Editing Generated Images with Dolly

The second paragraph delves into managing and editing the images generated by Dolly. The narrator discusses the ability to organize images into collections and the option to use the 'outpainting' feature to expand images. This feature allows users to add to the edges of an image or erase and replace areas, with each modification costing a credit. The importance of preserving the original concept when expanding images is highlighted. The paragraph also covers the process of merging images and editing them in external applications like Photoshop CC 2023. The narrator demonstrates various editing techniques, such as object selection, cloning, and healing, to refine the generated image. The limitations of AI-generated images, such as anatomical inaccuracies and the need for manual refinement, are acknowledged. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the legal use of generated images, noting that they are considered public domain but should not be misrepresented as solely human-made. The narrator suggests using the images as a starting point for further artistic development rather than for direct commercial use without modification.

10:01

📣 Conclusion and Further Exploration of AI Art

In the final paragraph, the narrator wraps up the tutorial on using Dolly to generate AI art. They encourage viewers to explore more of their videos on the subject of AI art and express their hope that the viewers enjoyed the tutorial. The narrator thanks the audience for watching and looks forward to their next encounter, signaling the end of the video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡DALL-E 2

DALL-E 2 is an advanced AI image generator developed by OpenAI. It is capable of creating images from textual descriptions, offering users a powerful tool to generate unique visuals based on their prompts. In the video, DALL-E 2 is the central technology being discussed, with the tutorial focusing on how to use it to generate AI art.

💡Text Prompt

A text prompt is a descriptive input provided by the user to guide the AI in generating an image. It is a crucial part of the process as it directly influences the output. In the context of the video, the text prompt is used to instruct DALL-E 2 on the type of image to create, with the example given being 'anteater drinking a Pepsi through a straw'.

💡Credits

Credits in the context of using DALL-E 2 refer to the units of currency within the platform that allow users to generate a set number of images. The video mentions that while basic usage is free, additional credits may be purchased for continued use, with each credit yielding a series of four images.

💡Digital Art

Digital art is a form of artistic expression that uses digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process. The video discusses adding 'digital art' as a descriptor to the text prompt to guide DALL-E 2 towards generating images in an artistic style rather than a simple photograph.

💡Art Styles

Art styles refer to the visual language and typographical methods used in the creation of art. The video script mentions that DALL-E 2 can generate images in various art styles, including styles inspired by famous artists like Van Gogh or Salvador Dali, which can be specified in the text prompt to achieve a desired aesthetic.

💡Outpainting

Outpainting is a feature within DALL-E 2 that allows users to expand the edges of an image or replace certain areas. It is used when a generated image does not fully capture the intended scene, and the user needs to 'paint out' more of the scene. The video demonstrates how to use outpainting to extend the view of an object within the generated image.

💡Collections

Collections are a way for users to organize and categorize their generated images within their DALL-E 2 account. The video suggests adding images to collections to filter out the rejects and make it easier to locate the good images, which can be particularly useful when managing a large number of generated images.

💡Photoshop

Photoshop is a widely used image editing software that allows for advanced manipulation and enhancement of digital images. In the video, the presenter uses Photoshop to make further edits to the generated image, such as removing unwanted elements, correcting proportions, and adding details to refine the final artwork.

💡Public Domain

Public domain refers to creative works that are not protected by intellectual property laws and can be freely used by the public. The video mentions that the images generated by DALL-E 2 are considered to be in the public domain, which means they can be used without restriction. However, users are advised not to misrepresent that these images were created entirely by a human.

💡Commercial Use

Commercial use implies the utilization of a product, service, or content for monetary gain or business purposes. The video discusses the legal and practical considerations of using DALL-E 2 generated images for commercial purposes, suggesting that while the images are free to use, they may require further editing and refinement before being suitable for such use.

💡AI Art

AI art refers to artwork that is created or influenced by artificial intelligence. The entire video is centered around the creation of AI art using DALL-E 2, with the presenter providing a step-by-step guide on how to generate, refine, and legally use these images for various purposes, including personal projects and commercial applications.

Highlights

DALL-E 2 is an AI image generator that can create images from text prompts.

The service is easy to use and requires signing up for a free account.

Generated images are stored in your account and do not require payment unless purchasing credits.

Credits are used for image generation, with each credit yielding a set of four images.

The cost of credits is reasonable, at about 10 cents each as of the video's recording.

Free credits should be used carefully as they are limited.

Text prompts need to be descriptive yet succinct for the best image results.

DALL-E 2 cannot generate images of graphic violence, pornography, or copyrighted material.

Descriptive prompts can guide the AI in the desired direction without explicit instructions.

You can specify art styles and genres, including styles of famous artists in the public domain.

The AI can generate images with specified colors, lighting, and environments.

Generated images may contain mistakes and may require refinement.

Images can be saved, downloaded, or shared from your DALL-E 2 account.

Close but not perfect images can be resubmitted for further iterations.

DALL-E 2 provides a history page to manage and review all generated images.

Images can be organized into collections for easier management.

The outpainting feature allows users to expand images by adding to the edges or replacing areas.

Generated images are considered public domain but cannot be misrepresented as solely human-made.

For commercial use, it is recommended to clean up and refine the images to fix mistakes.

Generated images can serve as a rough concept or inspiration for creating unique handmade artwork.