How to Create Beautiful, Copyright-Free Images with Leonardo AI (and a Few Expert Tricks)
Have you ever stumbled upon an image online that you’d love to use but held back because of copyright concerns? You’re not alone—but what if I told you that you can recreate similar, stunning images for free using a tool called Leonardo AI? This powerful platform simplifies the process of designing customised, high-quality visuals, making it feel like you’re running your own virtual creative studio. It’s time to embrace the magic of Leonardo AI for image creation and take your creativity to a whole new level. Watch the step-by-step guide in this video to get started:
What Is Leonardo AI?
Leonardo AI is revolutionising the way we create visuals. This user-friendly design tool allows anyone—whether you’re a content creator, small business owner, or hobbyist—to craft professional-grade images in moments. From building visuals for a website or marketing materials to producing unique artwork, Leonardo AI has got you covered.
The platform comes with a free tier, which includes 150 daily credits to use in your image creation journey, with each prompt requiring roughly 20 credits. While the free credits have their limitations, we’ll discuss ways to make the most out of them. Leonardo AI’s easy-to-navigate interface and flexible presets ensure that you can bring your vision to life with minimal hassle.
Getting Started with Leonardo AI
Successful image creation starts with the right setup, and Leonardo AI makes this process simple. The platform offers various presets that define the look and feel of your images, allowing you to customise every detail. Want a cinematic, movie-like vibe? Just select the “Cinematic Key” preset. Need an image for a specific format? Use the aspect ratio options, like 16×9 for widescreen visuals (perfect for YouTube) or 9×16 (ideal for TikTok).
If you’re aiming for an ultra-realistic design, the “Photoreal” preset is your go-to choice for avoiding overly artificial-looking results. These custom settings can significantly elevate the quality of your final output. Take a moment to experiment with different settings to find what works best for your vision.
How to Replicate an Existing Image
Ever seen an image you’d love to emulate? With Leonardo AI image creation, you can use an existing image as inspiration to replicate its style and elements. Start by uploading the source image you want to base your new design on. This reference helps Leonardo AI craft an artwork that mirrors the style and structure of the original.
Here are two important tools within the platform that you’ll find useful:
1. **Style Reference**: Perfect for matching the overall aesthetic of an image, whether it’s cinematic, anime, or another style entirely.
2. **Content Reference**: This ensures the layout and composition of the original image remain intact, regardless of the setting—be it an office, beach, or lush forest.
For example, imagine uploading a photo of a man standing on a beach. By adding prompts like “make the man wear yellow shorts and hold a green cocktail,” you can adjust specific elements while retaining the overall feel of the image. Generating such custom outputs costs around 20 credits but can produce surprisingly professional results.
Getting the Most Out of Free Credits
While the daily 150-credit limit on Leonardo AI may sound restrictive, here’s a trick to stretch them further: supplement your creative process with **Bing.com’s image generation tool**, powered by ChatGPT and the DALL·E model.
Let’s say you need an “ultra-realistic cinema shot of an explorer.” You can generate an image on Bing for free, download it, and then use it as a reference in Leonardo AI. This ingenious combination ensures you maximise your free credits while benefiting from Leonardo AI’s superior refinement tools.
**Pro Tip**: Use ChatGPT to refine your prompts before creating images. A well-structured prompt ensures that you generate the most precise visuals, saving you valuable credits.
Master Prompt Engineering
Want even better results? Tap into the power of prompt engineering. By analysing an existing image in ChatGPT and asking it to create a tailor-made prompt, you can refine your image creation even further. For instance, upload a reference image and provide this command: “Analyse the image and create a prompt to replicate it in an AI image generator.”
Run the generated prompt in Leonardo AI to replicate or even improve upon the original image—minus the need to spend credits on additional references. This approach adds a new layer of precision and creativity to your projects.
Add Personal Touches
Why stop with standard visuals when you can personalise your designs? With Leonardo AI image creation, you can insert yourself into the scene with a clever trick. Start by using ChatGPT to analyse an image and include a “trigger word” unique to you. For example, the word “connect free” could be tied to your likeness. Insert this into your prompt, and Leonardo AI will create stunning designs that include you—or someone who looks just like you—in any concept you can dream up. From dreamy landscapes to dynamic action shots, the possibilities are endless!
Wrapping It All Up
Leonardo AI image creation is a game-changer for anyone looking to produce exceptional, copyright-free visuals. Pairing it with resources like ChatGPT for crafting precise prompts, as well as Bing’s image generation tool for references, opens up endless opportunities for creativity without spending a penny.
Whether you’re a business owner wanting unique brand visuals or a content creator hoping to stand out online, Leonardo AI is your ultimate toolkit for producing high-quality, customised imagery. Ready to give it a try? Watch this comprehensive video for detailed steps and more creative hacks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf14QaUUGAk
Don’t forget to share your questions or tips in the comments—we’d love to hear your thoughts! Dive into Leonardo AI today, and let your creativity flourish like never before.