Creating images with AI: possibilities and pitfalls

With AI image tools you can create an illustration for a post, presentation or newsletter in a few minutes. It's handy, but there are clear limits.

Where it works well

• Illustrations and mood images for a blog, post or presentation.
• Variations on an idea to choose a direction.
• Backgrounds and simple visuals with no real person or real product.
• A consistent style: if you describe your style well (colours, type of illustration), your visuals become recognisable.

Where it goes wrong

• Text in images is often unreadable or misspelt. Add text yourself afterwards.
• Hands, faces and details sometimes look odd. Check every image carefully.
• Your own products: an AI image of "your" product isn't a photo of your product. Use real photos for products.

Rights and honesty

• No brands, logos or well-known characters belonging to others. Even if the tool allows it, you could get into trouble.
• No recognisable real people without their consent.
• No misleading: don't present a realistic AI image of a team, workshop or customer that doesn't exist as real. Make it clear when a realistic image was created with AI.
• The tool's terms: check that your plan allows commercial use of the images.

A good image prompt

Describe: subject, style (photo, flat illustration, watercolour), colours, composition, mood and what must not appear. For example: "flat illustration of a baker filling the shop window in the morning, warm colours in blue and sand, no text, no logos".

Test yourself

Prompt to copy