OpenAI recently upgraded ChatGPT to make it more creative, and while the main benefit is in the text generation, it has also made its image creation capabilities more impressive.
ChatGPT is a platform rather than a specific AI model. Within it you can use the o1 reasoning models, Canvas, Advanced Voice and the all-rounder GPT-4o family. You also have access to web search, data analysis, GPTs and the AI image generator DALL-E.
When you create an image with ChatGPT you’re using GPT-4o (or a similar model) to refine the prompt, it then sends the refined prompt off to DALL-E which creates the image and sends it back to show you. The more creative GPT-4o is, the better the overall image will be, and GPT-4o just got more creative.
You only get a limited number of image generations with the free ChatGPT plan but if you are on the $20 per month pro account you can use it more or less as much as you like. ChatGPT is on our list of best AI image generators.
Creating the prompts
I’ve come up with a series of prompts that are relatively vague you can try with ChatGPT. These will force it to do more work in refining the prompt to create the ideal image. You can use each as a kick off point, following up with refinement suggestions and ideas. You can even edit the image in ChatGPT itself.
1. Dreamy Countryside
First up we're going to generate a photograph of a countryside scene. This isn't as good as the types of images you'd get from Flux or Midjourney but it has an ethereal appeal.
The prompt: "Create a 16:9 iPhone photograph of a quiet countryside at sunrise, with rolling green hills, a small cobblestone path, and an old wooden bridge crossing a crystal-clear stream.."
2. Mythical Underwater World
This came out somewhat cluttered for my taste but I enjoyed the look and of course, it is ChatGPT, so just ask it to change the image after it is made. You can even ask it to keep specific elements you like.
The prompt: "Draw a 16:9 highly detailed illustration of a vibrant underwater kingdom. The colour palette should feature bright blues, greens, and hints of golden light filtering through the water from above."
3. Abstract Cosmic Landscape
I took a few attempts to get this one. I wanted something I wouldn't mind putting on my wall. An iconic scene that draws you from multiple directions.
The prompt: “Design a 16:9 abstract digital artwork of a cosmic landscape. The scene features swirling galaxies, vibrant nebulae in pinks and purples. In the foreground, depict a lone figure standing on an alien cliff overlooking the cosmic expanse, silhouetted against the brilliant, surreal sky."
4. 'The Alchemist's Heir'
For some reason ChatGPT defaults to showing a book on a table if you generate it in widescreen. If you want just the book change the orientation to 9:16 or 1:1.
The prompt: "Create a 16:9 book cover for a fantasy novel titled 'The Alchemist's Heir.' The title 'The Alchemist's Heir' appears in ornate, metallic gold text at the top, and the author’s name, 'Elena Mortain,' is at the bottom."
5. A Child’s Imagination Come to Life
The first version of this image was like something out of a children's book, in an oblong on a white background. The final version was a full page image.
The prompt: "Draw a 16:9 whimsical illustration of a child sitting in a messy bedroom filled with toys. A toy dragon has come to life and is breathing small, friendly flames, while toy soldiers march across the floor. The child’s bed has turned into a pirate ship sailing on an imaginary sea made of blankets."
6. Floating City at Sunset
Time to go into the future and a floating city. I wanted this to be more of a piece of art than a sketch or painting and while it looks good, doesn't capture what I was looking for. Improve it by asking for a specific art style.
The prompt: "Create a 16:9 detailed artwork of a futuristic floating city, with towering skyscrapers suspended on massive anti-gravity platforms above a shimmering ocean. The scene is bathed in warm orange and pink hues of sunset, with smaller flying vehicles weaving between the buildings."
7. Action-Packed Spy Thriller
For our final prompt we are going to create a poster for a new spy thriller called "Agent Zero" in which a man in a black suit is holding a futuristic gadget. I was watching Kings Men when I came up with this idea.
The prompt: "Design a 16:9 movie poster for a spy thriller titled 'Agent Zero.' The poster features a suave secret agent in a sleek black suit holding a futuristic gadget, standing dramatically in front of a fiery explosion. Behind him, a high-tech cityscape fades into shadows. Bold metallic text at the top reads 'Agent Zero,' with smaller tagline text underneath: 'No Name. No Past. No Mercy.' The overall style should be bold and cinematic."
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