The advancement of artificial intelligence technology is surpassing our imagination and steadily growing. In particular, recent attention has been focused on the use of AI to generate pictures based on text or images. These technologies are enhancing our creativity and expanding the possibilities of artistic expression. In this article, we will introduce four notable AI picture generation services, exploring their features, advantages and disadvantages, pricing information, and copyright policies in detail.
1. Midjourney
Midjourney gained recognition for winning international art competitions with images created by AI. The service operates by allowing users to input text through Discord, and in response, AI generates images based on the provided text. Midjourney excels in various art styles, especially in realistic scenes, backgrounds, and classical art.
Key Features of Midjourney:
- AI-generated images that won international art competitions.
- Text-based image generation through Discord chat.
- Specialization in various art styles, including realism, backgrounds, and classical art.
Free Usage: Midjourney offers both a free trial and paid plans. The free trial has limitations on features and usage rights.
Pricing Information (Monthly Subscription):
| Plan | Free Trial | Basic | Standard | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription Cost | – | $10 | $30 | $60 |
| Annual Subscription Cost | – | $96 ($8 / month) | $288 ($24 / month) | $576 ($48 / month) |
| Fast GPU Time | 0.4 hours/lifetime | 3.3 hours/month | 15 hours/month | 30 hours/month |
| Monthly GPU Time Relief | – | – | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Additional GPU Time Purchase | – | $4/hour | $4/hour | $4/hour |
| Solo Work in Direct Messages | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stealth Mode | – | – | – | ✓ |
| Maximum Queue | 3 concurrent jobs in a queue with 10 waiting jobs | 3 concurrent jobs in a queue with 10 waiting jobs | 3 concurrent jobs in a queue with 10 waiting jobs | 12 concurrent fast jobs and 3 concurrent comfortable jobs in a queue with 10 waiting jobs |
| Earn Free GPU Time by Rating Images | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| License | CC BY-NC 4.0 | General Commercial Terms | General Commercial Terms | General Commercial Terms |
Copyright and Commercial Use: Commercial use is allowed for paid plans, while the free version prohibits commercial use.
Midjourney Official Website: Midjourney Official Website
Explore various images created by Midjourney on their official Instagram: @midjourneyartwork
2. Novel AI
Originally a service for writing novels, Novel AI has recently gained attention for its image generation capabilities. The service excels in creating images with a cartoon or animation style and offers various monthly subscription plans.
Key Features of Novel AI:
- Image generation added to the original novel-writing service.
- Proficiency in creating cartoon and animation-style images.
- Various monthly subscription plans.
Pricing Information (Monthly Subscription):
Free Usage: Novel AI provides a free Paper plan with limitations, allowing 100 free text generations.
Copyright and Commercial Use: Commercial use of Novel AI requires sharing and approval with the company.
Novel AI Official Website: Novel AI Official Website
Explore the differences between Novel AI’s free and paid plans on their Wiki page.
3. Stable Diffusion WebUI
Stable Diffusion specializes in high-resolution image generation and operates as an installable service for local use. It is an open-source service available for free, known for enabling users to easily generate images using AI at home. While it requires installation, some online communities in Korea also offer free image generation services using Stable Diffusion.
Key Features of Stable Diffusion:
- Specialization in high-resolution image generation.
- Installable service for local use.
- Free and open-source.
Free Usage: Stable Diffusion is freely available as an open-source service. However, users should be cautious about the distribution and licensing of generated images.
Website: Stable Diffusion WebUI Official Website
Stable Diffusion, while installable, also offers a web service. New users receive 100 free DreamStudio credits for creating 500 standard images.
4. DALL-E 2 (OpenAI)
DALL-E 2, developed by OpenAI, is an image generation service offering four times higher resolution than its predecessor. While providing high-quality images through OpenAI’s advanced technology, it slightly lags in user preference compared to other services.
Key Features of DALL-E 2:
- Image generation service developed by OpenAI.
- Second version of DALL-E with four times higher resolution.
- Free credits provided and available for paid image generation.
Free Usage: DALL-E 2 allows free image generation initially, providing 50 free credits in the first month and 15 free credits monthly thereafter.
Website: DALL-E 2 Official Website
Copyright and Commercial Use: Images generated by DALL-E 2 cannot be used for commercial purposes, and the copyright belongs to OpenAI.
Conclusion
AI picture generation software represents the convergence of art and technology, evolving to meet various user needs. Each service comes with unique features, pricing policies, and copyright considerations, enabling users to choose based on their intended purpose and expectations. As these services continue to develop, it will be interesting to see how they shape the future of creative work. Any new information will be updated accordingly.
Top 10 Recommended and Compared Best Free Image Sites