DALL-E 2 is a type of generative artificial intelligence (AI) that produces images from text. These generated images can look like drawings, paintings, and photos created by humans.
To use DALL-E 2, a user types in a sentence (a text prompt) describing a visual scene. Then the software creates a relevant graphic instantly.
For example, the tool generated four images for the prompt “3D render a diver meeting a sea turtle in the ocean.”
Fun fact: The name of DALL-E is a mix of Pixar’s WALL-E movie and artist Salvador Dali.
When its creators updated the way the software generates images, they changed its name to DALL-E 2.
How Does DALL-E 2 Work?
DALL-E 2’s trainers “showed” the software millions of images (all with associated meanings) from all over the web.
The art generator refers to this dataset when given a prompt and then uses statistical patterns to create its own.
For example, DALL-E has analyzed thousands of images of cats and birds. Which is why it recognizes that cats have pointy ears and whiskers while birds have beaks and wings.
So if a user asks for AI art that includes a cat, DALL-E can replicate what it thinks a cat looks like.
For example, here are the results for the prompt, “A realistic photo of a cat with a bird’s wings.”
How to Use OpenAI’s DALL-E 2 to Generate Compelling Digital Art
To use DALL-E 2’s image creator, set up an account on OpenAI and generate your first graphic.
Set Up an Account on OpenAI
With the original DALL-E, new users got 50 free credits when they set up a new account. Plus an extra 15 to use every month.
Unfortunately, those perks only apply to users who signed up for the AI system before April 6, 2023.
Take Note of DALL-E 2’s Image Generation Guidelines
OpenAI also encourages users to share that AI was involved in your work. You can remove the DALL-E signature, but you can’t say it was entirely human-generated.
Find Out What Content You Need for Your Marketing
Look at your website, blog posts, and social media platforms. Then decide which kind of images will help to promote different aspects.
You may have landing pages that categorize different types of candy you sell. For example, chocolate, fudge, gummies, and vegan candy.
You already have your product shots for these. But they don’t stand out from any other candy shop.
Note your channels and which upcoming pages you need images for. Including older posts you want to refresh with new content .
Pro tip: If you need to create social media content (images or videos with a caption), then check out Semrush’s AI Social Content Generator .
And the tool will generate entire social media posts for you. Including the caption, image, carousel, or video.
Generate Your First Generated Image (+ Prompts)
Head to DALL-E 2’s landing page. Then type a detailed description (a prompt) into the text box and click “ Generate .”
Then the software will generate several variations of AI images that it thinks match your prompt.
Let’s try to create an image to promote your candy store’s new “Day at the Fairground” treats on social media.
Here are four generated images for the prompt, “A blue elephant made of candy floss flying above a fairground.”
Not exactly how you pictured? Add a few more details to the prompt box and click “Generate.”
The fairground is now more accurate. But the candy floss texture of the elephant is gone.
Keep tweaking your prompt until you get the results you want. After all, more detail usually means more accurate graphics.
For example, DALL-E 2 suggests that you can get more specific by adding an artistic style or your favorite artist.
Here are a few variations of “An oil painting of a single coconut tree on an island surrounded by water:”
Here were two variations for “A tiger climbing a tree in the jungle with a monkey sitting on a branch eating an apple, pixel art:”
DALL-E 2 got the style and the subjects right. But the tiger isn’t climbing the tree and the monkey isn’t eating an apple.
Simply type in your sentence and click “ Paraphrase .” And the tool will come up with three versions of your sentence.
When you’re happy with the rephrased version, click “ Copy ” and paste the text into your content.
Download Your First Generated Image
Once you’re happy with one of the generated images, click on it to view a larger size.
Note: The image will shrink slightly when you hover over it, so you know which image you’re selecting.
You can also “ Share ” it to a public page. Or “ Save ” it to a customized collection:
Recent variations are available in a toolbar on the right side of the DALL-E 2 dashboard.
Edit Your Graphics In-App or with a Third-Party Tool
You can use DALL-E 2’s inpainting and outpainting features to tweak your images in the app. Or download them and use a third-party tool like Adobe Photoshop for editing.
Here are two examples of inpainting where the user asked DALL-E 2 to “ add a flamingo ” and specified where:
Choose an area outside the image (in this case, it overlapped) and add a new prompt:
You still get four variations to choose from. So scroll through and click “ Accept ” when you’re satisfied:
You can use these features for images you generate within the tool. Or you can upload your own and edit it in-app.
Be aware that each generation will use a credit. Even if you don’t pick any of the variations.
Because of that, a third-party tool like Photoshop might be a better option. Since it gives you more options and could be more cost-effective in the long run.
Use Your Graphics in Your Content
When you’re happy with all of your DALL-E images, use them in your content. For example, share them as social media posts, videos, or blogs.
So it created a clever YouTube video and used a variety of DALL-E 2 images to “prove” that even AI prefers Heinz.
For example, Semrush’s AI Social Content Generator can help you generate the copy and design parts of your social posts.
Instead of using stock images, you can start with one of your DALL-E 2 creations. Or have the tool suggest a post idea and go back to DALL-E to create a relevant image.
The tool allows you to pick options from stock photography site Unsplash . But you can get more creative with your DALL-E images instead.
Once you fill your blogs with eye-catching AI imagery, try Instant Video Creator to turn your posts into videos.
Bonus: Be Aware of DALL-E 2’s Limitations
At the time of writing, here are some of the main elements that DALL-E 2 has trouble with:
Here’s what “A female gangster in a fedora hat talking to a cat wearing sunglasses around a poker table” produced:
The prompt specifies that the cat should be the one wearing sunglasses. But DALL-E 2 misunderstood.
So try being more specific: “A female gangster wears a fedora, a cat wears sunglasses, they talk around a poker table.”
Luckily, the tech is always learning despite these limitations. And something DALL-E 2 struggles with today may not be an issue tomorrow.
Use DALL-E 2 to Enhance Your Content Creation Efforts
As a result, those with little artistic ability can now create original graphics from a line of text.
Once you have your images, head to Semrush’s AI Social Content Generator to get help with your captions and hashtags. Or start with a banner using Instant Banner Generator .
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