Since the August 2024 update, both free users and ChatGPT Plus subscribers can now generate images with ChatGPT—though free users have a (highly) limited usage cap. This is great news as it opens up creative possibilities for more users, allowing more people to experiment with AI-driven image creation.
If you’re keen to explore how you can use ChatGPT to create images, this article is for you. We provide a step-by-step guide on generating images with ChatGPT and share tips for crafting the best prompts. There’s also a brief discussion on essential considerations, like legalities, to help you use this tool effectively and responsibly.
Table Of Content
Advantages of Generating Images with ChatGPT
The general consensus in the market is that AI tools specializing in image generation, such as MidJourney and Ideogram, generally produce better images than ChatGPT—at least in terms of artistic quality and level of detail.
But there are strong reasons why using ChatGPT to create images remains a popular choice today:
• Ease of Use: ChatGPT allows you to create images simply by typing descriptions in a conversational style, i.e. the same way you would prompt ChatGPT for any other purposes. This is straightforward and intuitive compared to most other AI image generators, especially for users who are already familiar with ChatGPT.
• Seamless Iteration on Prompts: You can refine prompts in real time, adjusting details to better match your expectations, all in a conversational manner. After issuing your main image generation prompt, you can provide feedback in subsequent prompts to ask ChatGPT to tweak the images without having to start over. This offers a more flexible and interactive experience compared to other tools.
• No Extra Cost for Plus Subscribers: For users who’re already subscribed to ChatGPT Plus, image generation comes at no additional cost. This is a significant benefit over other AI tools like MidJourney or Ideogram, which often (eventually) require subscriptions or per-image fees. ChatGPT is a more budget-friendly solution this way. (Free users also have access to image creation, but with highly limited usage.)
• Image Quality: Although typically not on par with specialized AI image generators, the quality of images produced by ChatGPT, which is powered by OpenAI’s high-end “image machine” DALL-E, is pretty impressive too. The images are not only visually appealing but also easily adaptable across various styles, thanks to ChatGPT’s superb ability to interpret user prompts. This makes it a strong competitor in the AI art landscape for both casual and professional applications.

Steps to Use ChatGPT to Generate Images
Basically, this process can be summarized in two words: “Just Prompt!”
However, to make this guide complete, here are the detailed steps:
Step 1: Access ChatGPT – Log into ChatGPT and ensure your subscription level allows for image generation.
Step 2: Write Your Image Prompt – Construct a prompt that provides a clear and specific description of the image you want. More about this in the next section.
Step 3: Review and Feedback – ChatGPT will generate the images. Review them, provide feedback, and ask ChatGPT to adjust if necessary. Repeat this until you’re happy with the results.
It’s that simple!
How to Write the Best Image Generation Prompts
Creating good prompts to generate images with ChatGPT follows the same basic principles of prompt engineering: clarity and specificity are key.
The more detailed your prompt, the better the AI understands your requirements, and the more likely it is to produce images that match your expectations. Effective prompts minimize guesswork and save you from rounds of back-and-forth regeneration with ChatGPT.
In addition, there are key elements to include when building a good prompt for image generation:
Subject and Details: Clearly describe the main focus of your image, with specific features like color, size, or any distinguishing traits included. For instance, instead of just saying “cat,” describe it as “a cat with blue eyes and fluffy fur.”
Style: Define the artistic style you’re looking for, such as watercolor, realism, cartoon, or digital art. Specifying the style helps the AI match the aesthetic you desire.
Colors and Lighting: Mention the color scheme, mood, and lighting conditions. Whether you want bright daylight or soft, moody shadows. These elements set the tone of the image.
Aspect Ratio: Indicate your preferred aspect ratios. Currently DALL-E, the ‘engine’ behind ChatGPT’s image generation, primarily supports square (1:1), landscape (16:9), and portrait (9:16).
Background and Setting: Describe the environment or context, such as a beach, forest, or bustling city. This helps create a coherent and visually appealing scene around your subject.
Examples of Prompts and Generated Images
Let us show you a few examples of prompts and images generated from them. We would like you to analyze the prompts to see how the above key elements are included, and how clearly and specifically we have described what we want.
Example 1:
“A fluffy white cat with blue eyes and soft fur is lying on a plush, dark green velvet sofa in a dimly lit living room. The room has a cozy, photorealistic style with warm, low lighting from a vintage floor lamp in the corner, casting soft shadows. The cat is curled up comfortably, its eyes half-closed, giving a relaxed and serene expression. The background includes a large window with sheer curtains, slightly blurred, suggesting an overcast day outside. The aspect ratio is landscape (16:9), creating a wide view that captures the peaceful ambiance of the living room setting, complete with a few scattered books on the coffee table and a framed painting on the wall.”

Example 2:
“A group of cat students, each wearing colorful kids’ basketball attire, are playing an energetic game of basketball on an outdoor court. The cats have a variety of fur colors—orange, gray, black, white, and calico—with distinct features like whiskers, tails, and expressive cartoonish eyes. They are animatedly jumping, dribbling, and passing the basketball, with one cat mid-air attempting a slam dunk. The court is surrounded by a fence, and in the background, a vibrant city skyline with tall buildings, streetlights, and billboards can be seen, adding to the lively urban atmosphere. The style is cartoonish, with exaggerated expressions and playful action lines to enhance movement. The scene captures the fun and excitement of a street basketball game.”

Example 3:
“A Chinese painting of a scholar cat with a human-like, slender build, dressed in a flowing white traditional Chinese robe. The cat stands gracefully before a group of towering, mist-covered mountains, reminiscent of classic Chinese landscape paintings. The robe gently flows in the breeze, with intricate ink brush details highlighting the folds and texture. The cat has an elegant, serene expression, with subtle whiskers and feline features blended with human-like qualities. In the background, traditional Chinese elements such as pine trees, distant waterfalls, and soft, drifting clouds add depth and tranquility to the scene. The painting style is classic, with soft ink wash techniques, delicate brush strokes, and muted earthy tones, creating a peaceful and scholarly ambiance.”

Pretty impressive, don’t you agree?
Legalities of Using AI-Generated Images
While creating images with AI offers exciting creative opportunities, there are legal considerations to be mindful of.
Issues like copyright and intellectual property rights can be complex. For example, it’s often unclear who holds the rights to AI-generated images—whether it’s the user, the tool provider, or no one at all
There’s also a risk that generated images might unintentionally include elements that are copyrighted or trademarked, leading to potential legal troubles, especially if the images are used commercially. Furthermore, whether legal disputes will arise from using AI-generated images that resemble other people’s works (possibly due to similarities with data used in the ChatGPT’s training) remains a heated discussion.

What we’ve mentioned above is by no means exhaustive. We’re just trying to bring this to your attention but not attempting to dive deep into legal issues—they are beyond the scope of this article or this website.
It’s important to exercise caution and due diligence when using AI-generated works. Review OpenAI’s terms of use and relevant content guidelines to better understand usage rights. When in doubt, seek legal advice.
Conclusion
Be it for personal use, content creation, or professional projects, ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities offer an easy, and cost-effective way to bring your creative ideas to life.
Try out our image-generation prompt suggestions, refine your approach, and explore the full potential of generating images with ChatGPT. Have fun!
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