Introduction
If you’re on the hunt for AI-powered design tools, you’ve likely encountered Microsoft Designer’s Image Creator. It’s a fantastic free tool, but it’s not the only game in town. Today, we’re exploring some top alternatives that offer unique features and capabilities that might better suit your creative needs.
Content
- A Quick Look at Alternatives to Image Creator
- What Does an AI Photo Editor Do?
- Criteria for Good AI Photo Editors
- Detailed Review: Top AI Photo Editors
- Which AI Photo Editor Should You Use?
- Conclusion
A Quick Look at Alternatives to Image Creator
When it comes to AI photo editors, the landscape is diverse and rich with options. Here are five notable alternatives to Microsoft Designer’s Image Creator:
| Tool | Key Features | Target Users | Pricing |
| Stylar | Layer-based composition, AI photo filters, generative fill, background removal | Graphic designers, illustrators, marketers | Free, $8/month (Standard), $25/month (Pro), $50/month (Business) |
| Fotor | Versatile editing tools, cloud-based, cross-platform, advanced retouching | Social media influencers, content creators | Free, $9/month (Pro), $20/month (Pro+) |
| Craiyon | Intuitive text prompt interface, free usage, safe filtering | Artists, designers, students, AI enthusiasts | Free |
| Midjourney | High-quality image generation, advanced control options, artistic focus | Professional artists, advanced users | $$10/month (Basic),$$30/month (Standard), $60/month (Pro) |
| Leonardo AI | Diverse artistic models, community-driven, user-friendly, no coding required | Novices, professionals, collaborative artists | Free, $9/month (Basic), $49/month (Standard), $299/month (Pro) |
What Does an AI Photo Editor Do?
AI photo editors use advanced algorithms and machine learning techniques to enhance and manipulate images in ways that traditional photo editing software cannot. These tools are designed to simplify the editing process, making it accessible to both novice users and professional designers. Here’s a closer look at what AI photo editors can do:
1. Automatic Enhancements
AI photo editors can automatically enhance images by adjusting brightness, contrast, saturation, and sharpness. They analyze the image and apply the best possible settings to improve overall quality without user intervention.
2. Background Removal
One of the most popular features of AI photo editors is background removal. The AI can accurately detect and isolate the subject from the background, allowing users to replace or remove the background with a single click. This is particularly useful for creating product photos, social media posts, and marketing materials.
3. Generative Fill and Object Addition
AI tools can add new elements to an image or fill in missing parts. For example, if you want to add an object to a photo or extend the background, AI can generate these elements in a way that blends seamlessly with the existing image. This feature is great for creative projects, advertisements, and enhancing visual storytelling.
4. Style Transfer and Filters
AI photo editors offer a variety of filters and style transfer options. Users can transform their photos into different artistic styles, such as turning a photo into a painting, sketch, or applying vintage effects. The AI analyzes the desired style and applies it to the image while maintaining important details and characteristics.
5. Text-to-Image Generation
Some AI photo editors, like Craiyon and Midjourney, can generate images from text descriptions. Users input a textual prompt, and the AI creates a new image based on the description. This feature opens up endless possibilities for creating unique art, visualizing concepts, and generating creative content.
Criteria for Good AI Photo Editors
When evaluating AI photo editors, consider the following criteria:
- Ease of Use: How user-friendly is the interface?
- Features: What capabilities does the tool offer?
- Customization: Can users fine-tune their edits?
- Speed: How quickly does the tool process images?
- Cost: Is there a free version, and what are the costs for premium features?
Detailed Review: Top AI Photo Editors
Stylar
Stylar is a highly controllable AI photo editor that combines powerful AI capabilities with classic image editing functionalities. It stands out for its ease of use and robust features, making it suitable for users of all skill levels.
- Pros:
- Layer-Based Composition Board: This feature enables direct control and precise adjustments of images. It’s perfect for creating complex compositions.
- AI Photo Filters: Stylar offers a variety of styles to transform your photos into artistic works with just a click.
- Generative Fill: This tool enhances images by adding and altering objects naturally and affordably, outshining similar features in Adobe.
- Cons:
- Highly Customizable: The extensive options for customization might seem overwhelming at first, but they ensure that you can achieve exactly the look you want.
- Frequent Updates: Stylar is constantly evolving with new features and improvements, which might require users to keep up with the latest updates.
- Pricing:
- Free version available.
- Standard Plan: $8/month includes 2000 credits, fast queue access, watermark removal, and high-resolution exports.
- Pro Plan: $25/month offers 6000 credits and all Standard benefits.
- Business Plan: $50/month provides 12000 credits, all Pro benefits, and early access to premium features.
Fotor
Fotor is an all-in-one photo editing and graphic design tool, often referred to as “Photoshop Lite.” It is trusted by over 300 million users worldwide for its flexibility and extensive features.
- Pros:
- Versatile Editing Tools: Fotor offers a range of tools for cropping, rotating, cloning, and applying filters. It also has advanced retouching features like blemish removal and skin smoothing.
- Cloud-Based: Fotor provides cloud-based synchronization and storage options, allowing users to access and edit their photos from any device.
- User-Friendly Interface: Its clean and organized interface is accessible to users of all skill levels.
- Integration with Popular Platforms: Fotor integrates easily with social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, making it simple to share edited images.
- Cons:
- Ads: The presence of ads in the free version can be annoying.
- Deep Image Retouching: Fotor lacks some of the more advanced retouching capabilities found in professional software.
- Pricing:
- Free with ads.
- Fotor Pro: $9/month includes exclusive effects, filters, and tools.
- Fotor Pro+: $20/month offers the same tools as Pro, plus access to millions of photos.
Craiyon
Craiyon, powered by DALL-E 2, is a free AI art generator that creates unique images from text prompts. It’s an intuitive tool that’s perfect for users who want to experiment with AI-generated art.
- Pros:
- Free to Use: Craiyon is entirely free and doesn’t require a signup.
- Intuitive Interface: Its text prompt interface is easy to navigate.
- Creative High-Quality Art: Craiyon can generate drawings, digital art, paintings, and photorealistic images.
- Safe Filtering: The tool has safe filtering to avoid generating inappropriate content.
- Cons:
- Control Over Fine Details: Users have limited control over the finer details of the generated images.
- Pricing:
- Completely free to use.
Midjourney
Midjourney is a powerful AI image generator known for its ability to create stunning, high-quality images from text prompts. It operates within the popular Discord platform, offering a unique user experience.
- Pros:
- High-Quality Image Generation: Midjourney excels at producing coherent, realistic images that flow together naturally.
- Extensive Control Options: Users can control aspect ratios, styles, resolutions, and more using advanced prompt parameters.
- Artistic Focus: Midjourney specializes in creating visually pleasing, painterly images that stand out for their artistic appeal.
- Cons:
- Requires Discord: Users need a Discord account to use Midjourney, which might be a barrier for some.
- Steeper Learning Curve: The tool’s advanced features and Discord integration require some time to get used to.
- Pricing:
- Basic Plan: $10/month.
- Standard Plan: $30/month.
- Pro Plan: $60/month.
- Discounts available for yearly subscriptions.
Leonardo AI
Leonardo AI is a comprehensive AI art generator that caters to both novices and professionals. It offers a wide selection of models and tools for creating stunning visual art.
- Pros:
- Diverse Models for Artistic Creation: Leonardo AI provides models for photorealistic images, vintage photography, character portraits, and more.
- Community and Collaboration: The platform hosts a vibrant community of over 3 million members, offering forums, competitions, and events.
- Accessibility and Ease of Use: Designed to be user-friendly, Leonardo AI requires no coding and offers both free and paid subscriptions.
- Cons:
- Learning Curve for Advanced Features: While user-friendly, mastering the advanced tools can take some time.
- Noisy Channels on Discord: Interaction via Discord channels can be noisy, making it challenging to focus.
- Pricing:
- Free version available.
- Basic Plan: $9/month.
- Standard Plan: $49/month.
- Pro Plan: $299/month.
Which AI Photo Editor Should You Use?
Choosing the right AI photo editor depends on your specific needs, skill level, and the type of projects you typically work on. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide which AI photo editor is the best fit for you:
For Beginners and Casual Users
If you’re new to photo editing or just need a tool for quick, everyday edits, you’ll want something user-friendly and intuitive.
- Fotor: With its versatile editing tools and easy-to-navigate interface, Fotor is perfect for beginners. It offers a range of filters and presets that can instantly enhance your photos, making it ideal for social media posts, personal projects, and quick edits. The cloud-based functionality means you can work on your projects from any device, whether it’s a desktop or mobile.
- Stylar: Stylar combines simplicity with powerful features. Its layer-based composition and auto-generated prompts make it easy to create complex designs without a steep learning curve. It’s great for casual users who want to explore more advanced editing options without feeling overwhelmed.
For Advanced Users and Professionals
Professional designers, photographers, and artists often need more control and advanced features to achieve their creative vision.
- Midjourney: Midjourney excels in producing high-quality, coherent images from text prompts. It’s ideal for artists and designers who want extensive control over their projects. The ability to customize aspect ratios, styles, and resolutions ensures that you can create exactly what you envision. However, be prepared to spend some time learning its Discord-based interface and advanced settings.
- Leonardo AI: Leonardo AI is perfect for professionals looking for a comprehensive tool that offers a wide range of artistic models and community support. It’s designed to cater to both novices and experts, providing user-friendly access while also offering sophisticated tools for detailed artistic creation. The vibrant community is an added bonus, providing opportunities for collaboration and learning.
For Budget-Conscious Users
If you’re looking for powerful editing tools without breaking the bank, there are excellent free or low-cost options available.
- Craiyon: Craiyon, powered by DALL-E 2, is entirely free and perfect for users who want to experiment with AI-generated art without any cost. It’s an excellent choice for students, hobbyists, and anyone interested in exploring the capabilities of AI art generation. The intuitive interface and creative high-quality output make it a great tool for experimenting and learning.
- Stylar: Stylar’s free version offers a lot of powerful features, making it a great choice for budget-conscious users. Its various plans are reasonably priced, and the features provided in the free version are sufficient for many basic and intermediate editing tasks.
For Social Media Influencers and Content Creators
Creating eye-catching visuals for social media requires tools that are quick, efficient, and easy to use.
- Fotor: Fotor is tailored for social media influencers and content creators. Its integration with social media platforms allows for seamless sharing of edited images. The wide range of templates, filters, and effects makes it easy to create professional-looking visuals for Instagram, Facebook, and other social media channels.
- Stylar: With features like AI photo filters, background removal, and auto-generated prompts, Stylar is excellent for creating complex social media graphics quickly. Its user-friendly interface ensures that even those with minimal design experience can produce stunning results.
For Collaborative Projects
If you work in a team or enjoy collaborating with other creatives, you’ll need a tool that supports easy sharing and collaboration.
- Leonardo AI: Leonardo AI shines in collaborative environments. Its community-driven approach and vibrant forums, competitions, and events make it easy to share ideas and get feedback from other creators. The platform is designed to facilitate learning and collaboration, making it ideal for projects that involve multiple contributors.
Conclusion
AI photo editors are revolutionizing the way we create and edit images. Each tool has its strengths, and the best choice depends on your needs. Give these editors a try and see which one fits your workflow best. I’d love to hear about your experiences, so feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to check out the links for trials or demos—hands-on exploration is the best way to find your perfect match. Happy designing!