What is DALL-E?

You've likely seen the word DALL-E floating around. Let's take a quick look at precisely what DALL-E is, how to use it, and how much it might end up costing you.

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In short, DALL-E is a generative AI model developed by OpenAI that can create images from lines of text. These lines of text are also known as "prompts."

This means you describe using natural language exactly what you want DALL-E to make, and it will generate a new image based on that description.

DALL-E was first released in January 2021 and is currently in its second version, known as DALL-E 2. DALL-E 2 is open to the public and does not require an invitation to join.

How Does DALL-E Work?

DALL-E is a deep learning model trained on millions of images and texts from across the internet. It uses this massive database to make connections and recognize an object or scene. It's important to note that DALL-E is not searching and pulling from an existing photo database but instead creating new, unique images.

This is where DALL-E and other AI image generators can come into trouble, with several debates surrounding art theft, copyright infringement, and the unethical use of data.

How to Use DALL-E

How to Get Access to DALL-E

To sign up for DALL-E, head over to OpenAI's sign-up page, enter your email and password, and verify your email address. Once that is completed, you can input your prompts and generate images.

How to Generate DALL-E AI Images

Generating DALL-E AI images is very simple. Just input your description and hit Generate. DALL-E will take about ten seconds to create several images from your text.

You can select the variation you like best and download it from here. All unedited DALL-E AI images are in a lower resolution and 1:1 ratio.

How to Write Good DALL-E Image Prompts

Using DALL-E comes down to knowing how to write good prompts. DALL-E can render images in specific styles, such as digital art, watercolor, or vaporwave.

It can also detect emotional words like "sad" or "happy" and include background detail, scenery, and color. Because of this, the more descriptive your prompt, the better.

If you input something generic, like "cat," you'll likely be given a more photo-realistic image. Below I have three prompts, with each prompt adding an extra detail. DALL-E automatically saves your results and their prompts, allowing you to revisit and revise them anytime.

general prompts in DALL-E will create photo realistic results — Prompt: Cat

you can add more description including art style like pixel art — Prompt: pixel cat

you can also add extra details like "a red hat" — Prompt: pixel cat with a red hat in a city

How Much Does DALL-E 2 Cost

DALL-E is not free, but instead of a subscription model, it works on a credit system. Using one prompt will cost you one credit.

For your first month, you will receive 50 free credits, and then you'll get 15 free credits every month after that. Be warned, free credits are only good for the month they're issued, and they do not roll over.

Do You Own DALL-E AI Images?

As per OpenAI's current terms and conditions, you do have ownership over generated images, and you can use them for both personal and commercial use. This applies to images generated using both free and paid credits. Check out the terms of use for more details.

That's It!

That's the short and simple of DALL-E, what it is, and how to use it. AI is a fast-growing technology that is constantly changing and evolving. And with it comes a mix of both serious ethical debates and excitement about its potential.

If DALL-E ends up being a tool you'd like to use, then learning how to write effective prompts is your best place to start. And remember, DALL-E doesn't have to be the end; just bring your image into your favorite image editor and make it your own.

In the meantime, check out some of these other helpful photo-editing tutorials: