How to use DALL•E 2 AI image generator

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Learn how to use DALL•E 2 AI image generator to create art and AI-edited photos

An image created by DALL. E 2 AI
(Image credit: DALL.E 2)

Once you know how to use DALL•E 2 AI image generator, nothing will hold your imagination back again. This AI software from Open AI, the team behind Chat GPT, can generate images from text prompts like other AI tools, but most excitingly (or scarily) you can edit real photos and blend AI-generated images in, blurring the lines between reality and creativity.

To get started, you’ll need to create an account on the Open AI website. It’s quick and free, although you will need to pay after your first 50 or so creations. Here’s a guide on how to use DALL•E 2 to create an image from a text prompt, and to edit your own pre-existing images. 

How to use DALL•E 2

Just a quick note before we get started: it's worth remembering that DALL•E 2 is currently in beta. It's usable, but you can expect some features to not work perfectly just yet. With that out of the way, assuming you've created your OpenAI account, here's how to use DALL•E 2.

How to use DALL•E 2 to generate an image from text

1. Log into your account and then select the search bar. 

(Image credit: Future)

2. Type in a prompt. The more detail here, the better you can go granular and specify a specific style or artistic genre. When you're done, select Generate.  

(Image credit: Future)

3. Wait for the AI to work and then choose from four different variations. 

(Image credit: DALL.E 2)

4. On a variation, you have two choices: you can either click Save to export the image and end the process, or you can click Edit to tweak the image — which we'll cover in the section below.

(Image credit: DALL.E 2)

How to use DALL•E 2 to edit a photo

DALL•E 2 allows you to take existing imagery, whether that's a real photo or an AI generated image from the section above, and augment it with further AI generated content. Here's how.

1. If you aren't editing an image you just generated, log into your account and then select upload an image. 

(Image credit: Future)

2. Select an image, you'll then be given the option to crop it and focus on one element, if you'd like.

(Image credit: Future)

3. To start editing, select Edit image or to generate AI variations of the image, select Generate variations.

(Image credit: Future)

4. To add a new AI generated image to the photo, select Add generation frame.

(Image credit: DALL. E 2)

5. Position the square where you want it, then type in a prompt (as with the generation section above) and select Generate. To blend the two images make sure the square overlaps your original image before you generate a prompt. 

(Image credit: DALL.E 2)

There you go, that’s just the beginning of your AI art adventures. If you're curious about Open AI's work, check out our interview with Chat GPT, it certainly has a lot to say.  

If you’re excited by AI, why not try how to use Chat GPT or continue your artistic exploration with how to use Midjourney.  Take your imagination to your iPhone and try how to use Starry AI on your iPhone.

Andy Sansom

Andy is a freelance writer with a passion for streaming and VPNs. Based in the U.K., he originally cut his teeth at Tom's Guide as a Trainee Writer before moving to cover all things tech and streaming at T3. Outside of work, his passions are movies, football (soccer) and Formula 1. He is also something of an amateur screenwriter having studied creative writing at university.