AI WORLDHow to create images with AI: a beginner's first try
Learn how to turn your words into beautiful, free images using simple AI generator tools.
Imagine typing a simple sentence and watching a brand-new, unique image appear on your screen in seconds. If you have ever wanted to design a custom greeting card, create a visual for a work presentation, or just bring a creative idea to life, AI image generators make it possible without needing any drawing skills.
By the end of this guide, you will know how to choose a free tool, write a description that the AI understands, and know what you can legally do with your new creations.
- A computer or smartphone with a web browser.
- A free account with a major platform. For this guide, we suggest using Microsoft Copilot or Canva, as both offer free ways to create images.
Choose a free tool
You do not need to spend money to try this out. Several trusted companies offer free web-based tools that house an AI image generator (a smart program that translates your written words into digital pictures).
Open your web browser and head to a free platform like Microsoft Copilot or Canva. Look for a button that says "Image Creator" or "Text to Image" to open the creation screen.
Write your first "prompt"
An image generator works by reading a prompt (the text instruction you write to tell the AI what you want to see). To get a great result, avoid writing just one or two words. Instead, think of a recipe with three ingredients:
- The subject (who or what is in the picture).
- The details (what they are doing, the colours, and the background).
- The style (do you want a realistic photo, a watercolour painting, or a 3D cartoon?).
"A fluffy ginger cat wearing a blue knitted jumper, sitting on a wooden park bench, bright sunny day, soft watercolour painting style."
Refine your image
Once you hit the generate button, the AI will usually give you three or four different options. Do not worry if they are not quite perfect yet. You can talk to the AI just like a helpful assistant to make changes.
Simply type a follow-up instruction in the chat box to adjust the scene.
"Change the jumper colour to yellow, and add a small friendly magpie sitting on the bench next to the cat."
Check for watermarks and usage rights
Before you download your masterpiece, it is important to understand two quick concepts:
- Watermarks: A watermark is a faint, semi-transparent logo or symbol placed in the corner of an image to show which tool created it. Many free tools include these automatically to keep the images easily recognisable as AI-made.
- Usage rights: As a general rule, images you make on free accounts are perfect for personal fun, sharing with friends, or school projects. However, if you plan to use them to make money (like on a commercial website or product packaging), you must check the tool's terms of service (their official list of rules) as some free tiers do not allow commercial use.
- Being too vague: Typing "a dog" gives the AI too much room to guess. You might end up with a cartoon pug when you wanted a realistic golden retriever. Be specific.
- Expecting perfect text spelling: AI image generators are brilliant with shapes and colours, but they often struggle to spell words inside images. If you ask for a sign that says "Welcome", the AI might print scrambled letters. It is usually best to keep text out of your image prompts.
- Forgetting that AI does not know real people: For safety and privacy reasons, free tools will not let you generate realistic images of real public figures, celebrities, or your friends. Stick to fictional characters and general subjects.
Let's get you started right now. Open Microsoft Copilot or Canva in a new tab, find the image generator, and type this simple prompt:
"A friendly koala wearing a green scarf, holding a warm mug of tea, soft digital art style."
Hit generate, and watch your very first AI image appear!
✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World Co.'s AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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