How to Use DALL-E 2 to Create AI Images From Text Descriptions

DALL-E 2 is one of the most popular AI platforms that offers users the ability to create amazing works of art using text prompts. In this article, we will show you how to create AI art from scratch and edit your own images on the platform.

What is DALL-E 2?

DALL-E 2 is an AI imaging platform that allows users to create images from scratch using text prompts. It runs on an artificial intelligence program called GPT-3, which takes natural language and turns it into images.

The platform also allows users to upload their own images and edit them using text prompts to create entirely new works of art. Additionally, variations can be created that can be edited for further improvement.

DALL-E 2 is currently in beta and requires a waitlist subscription to gain access. It’s not too dissimilar to Midjourney, another AI art generator. How to use Midjourney.

How to get access to DALL-E 2

To sign up for the waitlist, go to the Open AI website and fill in your details. Don’t expect an instant invitation. You may have to wait several weeks to gain access during the beta period as there are hundreds of thousands of users on the waiting list.

How much does DALL-E 2 cost?

DALL-E 2 runs on a credit system. Users will initially receive 50 free credits for the first month and 15 new credits each month on the same date as when they originally signed up. Additional credits can be purchased in bundles of 115 for $15.

A few things worth noting about credits:

• Free credits are only valid for the month they are issued; they don’t roll over.
• Purchased credits are valid for one year from the date of purchase.
• You own the images you create on the DALL-E 2 and you can use them for personal and commercial use only.
• Your ownership rights are the same for free and paid credits.

If you’re new to AI-generated art, be sure to check out tutorials on YouTube before you start experimenting with your free credits. They are extremely fast since each image generation or new variation costs one credit.

The DALL-E Content Policy

Before we start showing you the dashboard and how to create images with DALL-E 2, you might want to read the DALL-E Content Guidelines page.

There are restrictions on the types of images you can create, and there are very specific rules about working with recognizable people. Violating these rules may result in you being banned from the platform. So it pays to familiarize yourself with the rules to stay in good standing.

How to navigate in DALL-E 2

Let us show you how to navigate DALL-E 2 first. We’ll take a look at each section so you know where to go when it comes time to create your images.

The home page link

If you are editing an image or performing another function and want to quickly return to the home page, click DALL-E or the icon next to it in the top left corner of the page.

My collection

My collection is also located in the top left corner of the page. Here you will find all the artworks you have created, including variations.

Surprise me

When clicked Surprise me, a random prompt is generated. It’s a great way to try out DALL-E 2 when you’re running out of ideas. This doesn’t cost you any credit unless you decide to click to generate.

Otherwise, you can just keep clicking Surprise Me and it will quickly generate new prompts for you to try.

to generate

to generate is the main workhorse tool in DALL-E 2. Every time you click, an image is generated based on your entered text.

Upload an image for editing

Clicking on it below the bar where you type your command prompt will bring up a pop-up window from which you can upload a file. We’ll talk more about that later.

example Pictures

You can’t miss the pictures on the main page. These are all examples of images created from scratch on DALL-E 2. Hovering over an image displays the text prompt that was used to create it.

User Profile tab

You can find your user information in the top right corner of the page. From here you can buy credits and access other features.

Recent and new

Below the user profile is the history icon. Here you will find thumbnails of your most recent images. When you click Newall images will be deleted and a new session will be created in the history.

How to use DALL-E 2 to create original artworks

As mentioned, the Generate box is the main area for generating graphics in DALL-E 2. You simply describe what you want to generate and click on it to generate. DALL-E 2 then renders four square images based on the prompt you provide (at the cost of one credit, not four).

The more details you enter, the closer the results are to what you envisioned. In our first example, we create three images. Each prompt is more detailed than the last. In the first image we just type “a duck in a pond”.

Next we’ll add more to the description.

For the last image, we’ll add even more detail.

The bottom line is that the more detail you put in, the better and more accurate the image will be. If you have a specific vision in mind, there’s a good chance it will take you several tries to achieve it.

Suppose we are satisfied with one of the images we have created. Now we can download it or create variations. Let’s click on one of the images to do both.

To download this image just click on the arrow in the upper right corner. We also have options above: To edit, variations, Splitand favourite. Let’s click variations to see what we get.

We select one of them to edit.

Below are a few options. For this example we will use the eraser tool and replace the skyline.

We deleted the top part of the image. You will notice that a new text box will open with a Generate option. We enter “blue sky” in the text field and click to generate.

You’ll notice that we have some weird results with gibberish text in the sky. But there is one variation that looks good enough to keep. We can download it or save it as a favorite.

Even if you don’t get the results you want, there’s a good chance you’ll still get interesting results that you might enjoy just as much.

You can also use creative AI photo editing apps like Luminar Neo to enhance your images.

How to edit an uploaded image with DALL-E 2

The other main feature of DALL-E 2 is the ability to upload photos to edit and vary them. We will test this feature on the image above of a popular website in northern France.

When uploading an image, we must adhere to a square crop. This option may change in the future, but for now we’ll have to settle for this limitation.

Select the Edit image Possibility.

In edit mode we select the eraser tool again. But instead of replacing a sky, we use it to make room for a ship.

Now, as a prompt, we enter the text “a medieval ship sailing out to sea” and click to generate.

As before, we have four options to choose from. If you don’t like the result, just click Generate again (this will cost an extra credit). We had to click multiple times to get a nice looking ship.

This is our last picture. Note that we can still create variations and edit as much as we like.

It is also possible to import this image into Photoshop to continue creative editing. For example, you can use Adobe’s pick feature to select the sky and replace it with a different one.

Build anything you want with DALL-E 2

DALL-E 2 is one of the most well-known AI art platforms, making it easy for artists and non-artists alike to create spectacular works in just a few moments. Try DALL-E 2 yourself to create unique and exciting art.