Answers to get the most out of Generative AI by iStock
Answers to get the most out of Generative AI by iStock

Answers to get the most out of Generative AI by iStock

Explore the most frequently asked questions by users like you.

How do I write a good prompt to generate or focus on creating an exact image/concept?
Leverage our prompt builder to generate the visuals closest to your vision. Start by entering a description of the visuals you wish to see in the prompt field. Use the blueprint below as a guide for creating effective prompts:  

[Main Subject]
[Action]
[Surroundings]
[Visual Aesthetics]  

The following are prompt suggestions to add to any query: high quality, high fidelity, detailed, intricate, sharp, proportional.   
 
Turn on negative prompt to specify what you don’t want to see in an image. For example, “clouds”, or “muted colors”.
How do I provide clear context or details that are important?
Focus on what you are looking to see in your generated visuals: Subject, Medium, Environment, Lighting, Color, Mood, Composition. Using the negative prompt to define what you don’t want to see will also help deliver the best final output.
Is there any overall guidance to prompt writing?
We suggest thinking of your positive prompt as two parts: natural language first, then comma separated keywords. Include keywords that will reinforce the concept described in your natural language phrase.  
 
Here’s an example:  
A white cat sleeps on a blue textured pillow, it is a wide angle shot and you can see the entire room. Cat, fluffy, pillow, texture, detail, interior, wide angle 
 
For your negative prompt, natural language is not recommended. Instead, provide a comma separated list of keywords you don’t want to see in the text‑to‑image render. Using the example above, consider writing the following negative prompt: dog, outdoors.  
 
Note that if you add “no” in front of a word in the negative prompt space, it will be read as a double negative and will instead include the phrase you meant to exclude. 
Is there any limit to how long my prompt can be?
Be descriptive, but concise. Try to keep your positive prompts and negative prompts to 250 words or less combined. If your prompt is too long, the AI Generator will let you know, so you can adjust your prompts. 
I lost my previous session. How can I recover the prompts I last used?
Your prompt history is retained for 6 months. Please use your prompt history to revisit prompts from a previous session. 
Can I save favorite prompts or frequently used prompts?
Please see your prompt history to access prompts you've used in previous sessions.  Prompt history is retained for 6 months. 
Do you support text prompts in languages other than English?
Yes, text prompt entry is available in 75 languages, empowering worldwide creativity. Supported languages include: Afrikaans, Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dari, Dutch, English, Estonian, Farsi (Persian), Filipino, Tagalog, Finnish, French, French (Canada), Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Kannada, Kazakh, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Malayalam, Maltese, Marathi, Mongolian, Norwegian (Bokmål), Pashto, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Sinhala, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Spanish (Mexico), Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Welsh 
How are these AI‑generated images made?
Generative AI by iStock is powered by NVIDIA Picasso, a custom machine learning model, trained exclusively using high‑quality content and proprietary data from iStock’s creative library. Customers then use text prompt‑to‑image generation to direct the model in fabricating imagery based on our content and data.
What is AI image generation?
AI image generation is the process of creating never‑before‑seen images using artificial intelligence (AI) technology trained on a large data set. iStock's AI Generator, powered by NVIDIA Picasso, was trained exclusively on our own creative image library and proprietary data, and allows customers to enter text prompts that the AI model then uses to generate four unique images that are commercially safe and ready to license.
What is text prompt‑to‑image generation?
Text prompt‑to‑image generation lets you create unique images in seconds by describing the image that you want to see. The AI Generator will then generate visuals relevant to those prompts that can be used across your creative process, from ideation to execution.
How do I use the AI Generator alongside the iStock creative pre‑shot library?
Like our pre‑shot library, the images created using our AI Generator are commercially safe and ready to license. These one‑of‑a‑kind, high‑quality images are perfect for ideation and visualizing highly creative concepts that are more difficult to capture by traditional techniques. Generated images can also be used to identify and find (via reverse image search) the pre‑shot visuals you need when the highest authenticity, realism, and resolution are required. Together, our pre‑shot library and Generative AI service offer powerful ways to discover the right visuals for your personal or commercial projects backed by our standard legal indemnification of up to $10,000 USD. 
How do I create an AI image prompt?  
To create a prompt to generate an AI image, open iStock's AI Generator (sign in and purchase required) and type a description of what you want to generate into the text field provided. Your prompt can be up to 250 words long. The more details you provide, the better your results will be. Need help constructing a prompt? Try our innovative prompt builder which guides you through the process by having you fill in specific fields. Once complete to your satisfaction, click "BUILD PROMPT" and the tool will transform the individual descriptions into a single prompt, ready to generate imagery. 
Can I generate AI images for free?
Currently, AI image generation on iStock is not free and each generation request a user submits uses 1 generation credit, which can be purchased in bundles from the iStock Pricing page. This ensures we can continue to support creators and artists on an ongoing basis by compensating them for allowing their work to be part of our AI model.
Are AI art generators illegal?
No, AI art or image generators are not illegal. However, how they are trained and in what context can determine if their output is legal. Questions to consider: Was the AI model trained on data that did not have the proper permissions or artists' consent? Do any of the AI‑generated images infringe on a copyright or contain harmful content? Some competitor AI image generators do, in fact, use data scrapped from the internet. The visuals they generate run the risk of violating the copyright of content creators and brand IPs, creating the risk of liability for anyone using them.  
 
That's why we are vigilant in ensuring our AI model is only trained on iStock's creative library and proprietary data and have safeguards in place to significantly decrease the risk of generating problematic visuals, so the images you generate are immediately safe and cleared for commercial use.
Can I sell AI‑generated art?
iStock AI‑generated images include the same standard licensing agreement offered with our pre‑shot content. It allows for usage in a wide variety of projects including social media, online promotions, print marketing, and more. However, the license does not permit the use of images created using iStock's image generator in products for resale, including print‑on‑demand products and electronic templates.
How do I report unsafe, inappropriate, or harmful images?
Working with NVIDIA, we made sure to include safeguards in training our model to avoid generating unsafe, inappropriate, or harmful images. That said, we are continuously training the model.  
 
If you feel the AI Generator produced unsafe, inappropriate, or harmful images, please use the Flag icon to report results that need our attention such as: trademark or copyright violation, authorship concerns, stereotypical/biased results, promotes violence or hatred, sexually explicit content, or other.
What is iStock’s approach to commercially safe, generative AI?
iStock has always been a trusted partner for commercially safe, impactful visual content that elevates creativity and helps our customers move the world. Through cost‑efficient and worry‑free products, along with best‑in‑class service, our mission is to meet your ever‑evolving needs. Our adoption and distribution of AI technologies trained on fully licensed creative content furthers that mission and expands our capabilities to deliver exactly what you're looking for—the right image.  
  
Whether you are looking for AI‑generated content for creative inspiration, or imagery to use commercially, our Generative AI services provide protection and indemnification to use in a rapidly changing legal and regulatory environment.

To learn more about our views on Generative AI, please check out our About Us page.
Will copies of my content ever become a part of the iStock Generative AI model?
Yes, your prompts, generated images, and feedback will all be used in retraining our model to become more effective for our customers. By allowing our model to learn and improve through retraining, we can provide you with an improved experience such as better understanding the intent of your prompt or reducing deformations in generated content.
What are iStock AI generations?
AI generations, or AI generation credits, grant you access to our AI Generator console for generating new AI images and modifying images (your generated images or stock images from iStock's creative library) using the Refine and Extend tools, the Background Removal tool, or for upscaling a generated image to 4K for download.
Can I use AI generations to license a pre‑shot stock image from iStock’s image library?
No, to license a stock image from iStock’s library, you will need to purchase credits or a subscription. To find the best plan with the right price for your needs, visit our Plans and Pricing page.
What counts towards my generation cap?
A generation counts each time you hit the “Generate” button or the “Remove Background” button. This could be to generate a new image, modify AI‑generated images and iStock creative images using the Refine, Extend or Background Removal tools, or upscaling a generated image to 4K for download.
 
The current count and total number you have available can be found next to the "Generate" button.  
I previously had free access to the Background Removal tool. Why is it now no longer available for free?
The Background Removal tool was initially offered for free to a limited number of users for testing purposes. Now it is available to all customers as part of the Generative AI by iStock service. Additionally, you can now remove the background from both images in our creative library and images generated using our AI Generator. To access all these benefits, you must purchase a Generative AI agreement and use your generation credits to remove the background from images.
Do my number of generations rollover?
There is no time limit with iStock generation credits, as long as your account is active. To avoid any remaining unused generations from expiring, you must sign into your account at least once a year. If you have concerns, please get in touch with our Customer Support team.
What is the difference between AI image generations and AI image modifications?
AI image generations refer to the process of creating images from scratch in our console, utilizing text‑to‑image prompting. These AI generated images can also undergo modification using our Refine and Extend tools or background removal which we call AI image modification. Modifications using our AI model can be applied to iStock’s creative image library and are likewise categorized as AI image modifications, as they utilize artificial intelligence to easily modify our stock images.
Do I need to provide an attribution line for the content I generate or modify with Generative AI by iStock?
For content generated with the iStock AI Generator used for editorial purposes, the Artist Member's Name included should be "iStock AI Generator." There is no need to give attribution for content generated with the iStock AI Generator used for commercial purposes, nor are there any credit requirements required with respect to the modifications of any of stock content modified with the Generative AI by iStock.  
 
Please refer to the iStock Content License Agreement for the attribution requirements that apply to our stock content, whether modified or not.
How do I cancel my Generative AI by iStock subscription?
If you have signed up for the iStock AI Generator, you may not cancel the subscription , unless local law requires us to give you the option to cancel.  
 
To determine if local law requires you to be entitled to such early cancellation, please make a request for cancellation in writing through our contact us email form.
The visuals generated don’t meet my expectations. How can I get a refund?
Our Generative AI service is non‑refundable.  
 
Generative AI technology is rapidly evolving, and results can sometimes be unexpected or imperfect. At times, it can take multiple prompts or image refinement to get to the precise image you need. We are improving the AI model and adding features on a regular basis, but some subjects can be tricky. Please see our User Guide for prompting tips and ways to improve results.  
 
You may also find that images from the iStock library better meet your needs. We have recently launched a new AI‑powered search that allows you to be more expressive in your search queries, to help you find the right visual more efficiently. You can also leverage the AI Advanced Control features to further refine the visual to create the specific image you need.  
What resolution and file format are supported?
We currently support JPG images across many aspect ratios and sizes, including Medium (1024x1024) and 4K. 
Can I preview or download an unwatermarked file for composite purposes only?
After hitting “Generate” to refine or extend the image, or to generate new images from a text prompt, the AI Generator will serve you 4 thumbnail images to preview the generated content.  Each image will be clickable, allowing you to open a larger, watermarked preview image. Your agreement includes unlimited downloads of unwatermarked Medium (1024x1024) images. Additionally, you can use one generation to download an unwatermarked 4K image.

Note: Upscaling an image to Large (4096x4096) for download requires 1 generation and will count towards your overall generation cap. 
I ran into an error downloading my generated image. Will I be charged again if I download the image a second time?
No, you will not be charged to download a generated Medium (1024x1024) size image a second time. Your agreement includes unlimited downloads of any Medium (1024x1024) size image you generate. For modifications from the stock images in our creative library, you can redownload images that were licensed using credits or an active subscription plan.
I hit “Generate” image by mistake. Can I get a refund on the generation? 
No, iStock does not offer customer refunds for generations used or upscaling requests as stipulated in your agreement. 
I hit “Remove Background” by mistake. Can I get a refund on the generation credit?
No, iStock does not offer customer refunds for generations, modifications, background removals, or upscaling requests as stipulated in your agreement.
I downloaded a generated image by mistake. Can I return the file?
There’s no need to return the file—as part of your agreement, you can download a generated image an unlimited number of times.
I downloaded a generated or modified image, but our client went in a different creative direction. Can I return the file? 
No, iStock does not offer customers refunds for generations used as stipulated in your agreement. As a reminder, you can download a generated or modified image an unlimited number of times. 
I reached my cap of generation prompts. How do I get more?
Once you reach 0 generations, your generation allotment credits will automatically refill by default, so that you can continue to enjoy our AI Generator, uninterrupted.  
 
You can turn off auto‑refill anytime from your Account Overview. Renewal Refill rates are subject to change, but we will always notify you of any rate change beforehand.  
 
If auto‑refill is off and your generations reach 0, you will need to purchase more generations from the Generative AI by iStock page.  
Where can I see how many generations I have left?
You can see how many generations you have left next to the “Generate” button on the AI Generator. 
How can I provide feedback on my generated images?
Your feedback is valuable and helps improve the user experience. There are two ways to provide feedback. When hovering over a generated image, you’ll see an option to “Rate this image”. After clicking the thumbs up or thumbs down icon, you’ll have the option to provide more details about your rating and can opt‑in to be contacted for more information. The flag icon can be used to report any harmful or offensive content. 
 
If you’d like to leave feedback about the AI Generator beyond individual images, click the “Give Feedback” tab in the bottom right corner of the page. You’ll be prompted to rate the product and provide additional information. 
How will my feedback be used?
We can use your feedback for our business purposes including improvements to the product itself, the underlying model, and the visual outputs of the service to become more effective for you, our customer.
Will visuals I have generated be offered as part of iStock's creative library?
No, we will not add visuals you generate to our creative library.
Are my prompts and generated visuals tracked or recorded by iStock?
Your generated or modified visuals will never be displayed publicly nor be seen by other customers. This is different from other AI generation services in the market which sometimes display content and prompts publicly. We save your prompts, generated and modified images in our secure data stores. This is necessary to provide you with prompt and generation history in your customer experience as well as provide legal protections over claims as part of our legal indemnification. We may also use your prompts (but not any of your generated visuals themselves) on an anonymized basis in order to improve the model. 
Will copies of my content ever become a part of the iStock Generative AI model?
Yes, your prompts, generated images, and feedback will all be used in aggregate to retrain our model to become more effective for you, our customer. By allowing our model to learn and improve through retraining, we can provide you with an improved experience such as better understanding the intent of your prompt or reducing deformations in generated content.
It looks like one of the generated images contains recognizable trademarks, logos, landmarks, or a public personality. Can I still use the image?
We’ve worked with NVIDIA to train a custom model exclusively on our creative visuals and proprietary data to create commercially safe outputs. This means we’ve taken care to block prompts that could generate problematic content including trademarks, logos, landmarks, or public personalities. You also agree not to use any prompts protected by third‑party IP rights (like trademarks, logos, or names) in generating your content (any questions about specific prompts should be discussed with your legal team). 
 
If you have concerns about whether the generated image might contain recognizable subjects, please use the Flag icon to report results that need our attention. While we are confident that Generative AI by iStock is commercially safe, if you are unsure if you can safely use a specific visual generated, please reach out to our Customer Service team in addition to selecting the Flag icon. 
Can I use the images I generate for my personal, commercial, or promotional project?
Yes! Content generated by the AI Generator grants you a fully licensed image with iStock’s standard legal indemnification.
Are there model releases for the people generated in the images?
Rest assured, the AI images you generate and license are backed by our standard legal indemnification. Our Generative AI model is trained exclusively on iStock’s exceptional creative content and data. The images of people may resemble real people, but they are generated likenesses rather than real people. If you require a visual with a model and/or property release, you should consider sourcing that visual from our high‑quality pre‑shot library.
What is AI stock image modification?
Modifications made using the Refine and Extend tools, or the Background Removal tool, leverage our AI solution and can be applied to iStock’s creative image library. They are categorized as AI stock image modifications since they utilize artificial intelligence to easily modify our creative images. 
Can I modify anything other than photos (i.e., videos, illustrations)?
Not at this time. Currently, our model allows for photo modifications only.
Which images can I modify with Generative AI by iStock?
You can modify the images you create using iStock’s AI Generator and you can also modify our creative stock images using the Refine and Extend tools, or the Background Removal tool.   
Can I upload my own images to modify with Generative AI by iStock?
No, you can use Generative AI by iStock solution only to modify the images you create using iStock’s AI Image Generator and to modify images from our creative library using the Refine and Extend tools, or the Background Removal tool. 
Can I modify an image before licensing it?
Yes, you can use your generation credits to modify images from our creative library using the Refine and Extend tools, or the Background Removal tool, before licensing them. As a reminder, to license an AI‑modified stock image, you will need to purchase one of our credit packs or a subscription (visit our Plans and Pricing page to learn more). Please be mindful that any modifications will count towards your generation's cap, even if you decide not to license the modified stock image afterward. Additionally, iStock does not offer customers refunds for generations used, as set forth in your agreement. 
Will images that I modified with AI be offered as part of iStock's creative library?
No, we will not be adding visuals you generate to our creative library. 
How are these AI images Refine and Extend modifications made?
Generative AI by iStock is powered by NVIDIA Picasso, a custom machine learning model, trained exclusively using high‑quality content and proprietary data from our creative library. Customers then use text prompt‑to‑image and our Refine and Extend tool to direct the model in fabricating imagery based on our content and data.
How is the AI image Background Removal made?
The background removal tool on the iStock website is an AI‑powered solution developed in partnership with Bria. The tool uses advanced artificial intelligence to automatically detect the focal point of the image, including people, objects, or any other subjects. Once the subject is detected, and the user clicks on 'Remove Background,' the tool automatically removes the background, leaving a transparent area around the main subject. This creates a cutout effect.
Do I have to select Remove Background after Refine and Extend?
If you’ve already removed the background of an image but would like to make more modifications, click Restore background and then make modifications. You can remove the background again when your modifications are complete.
Why do I need to restore the background to use other AI modification features?
For technical reasons, Refine and Extend modifications must be made with the background in place.  If you’ve already removed the background of an image but would like to make more modifications, click Restore background. You can remove the background again when your modifications are complete.
Does restoring the background count as one generation?
No, you will use your generation credits only to remove the background, refine or extend the image, generate new images, or for upscaling a generated image to 4K for download.
Can I use the AI image Background Removal on vector illustrations?
Not at this time. If you wish to remove the checkered background of an iStock Vector illustration, you will need image‑editing software like Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, CoreIDraw, Publisher, or Inkscape (free). Once you download the EPS file of the vector, open the file in one of the recommended image‑editing software programs and open your ‘Layer’ palette to make sure the layer you want to edit is unlocked so you can edit the shapes.
Can I modify images that I’ve already licensed in the past and are available in my account to download?
Yes, you may modify previously licensed images if they were licensed using credits or an active subscription.  Use the “Modify with AI” button or “Remove Background” when viewing the details page of a previously licensed image. After making modifications, you’ll be able to download the modified image without additional licensing.
Do I need to pay to modify and to download the image?
Yes, to license our stock images, you will need to purchase a credit pack or a subscription plan. To find the best plan with the right price for your needs, visit our Plans and Pricing page. Additionally, to modify our stock images using the Refine and Extend tools, or the Background Removal tool, you will need to purchase AI generations. Visit our Generative AI by iStock page to buy generations. Once you complete your purchase, information about the agreements will be available in your account.
How do I purchase AI modifications and stock images?
To use our AI modification tools you will first need to purchase iStock AI generations. Visit our Generative AI by iStock page to buy generations. To license our stock images, you will need to purchase a credit pack or a subscription plan. To find the best plan with the right price for your needs, visit our Plans and Pricing page.
What is the legal protection for my modified image?
Licensing visuals from the iStock creative library grants you a license backed by our standard legal indemnification up to $10,000 USD with each download under your agreement. Please see the iStock Content License Agreement for more details.
When licensing, can I download the original and the modified versions of the image?
Yes, when making modifications, you can download both the original, licensed image and the modified version.  You’ll find the modified version of the image in your generation history, and the licensed original in download history.
Can I return an image that I modified?
iStock does not offer refunds or re‑credits for downloaded files. File returns will only be considered based on technical issues with the file at the sole discretion of iStock.
Where can I find my download history for an image I previously modified?
To find the original image, go to your download history. To find your modified image, go to your generation history.
How can I tell which images in the iStock library are available to modify?
Creative images that can be modified will include the “Modify with AI” button or the “Remove Background” button above the image thumbnail. If this button is unavailable on the image, we do not currently offer the option to modify the image in the AI Generator. 
Why are some images in the iStock library available to modify and others not?
If the “Modify with AI” button, or the “Remove Background” button is unavailable on an image, we do not currently offer the option to modify the image in the AI Generator due to technical restrictions, subject matter, editorial designation, or other reasons.  
 
As Generative AI technology evolves, we will continue to expand the type of content available for modification within our image library. However, iStock editorial imagery will never be made available for AI modification.
I previously had free access to the Background Removal tool. Why is it now no longer available for free?
The Background Removal tool was initially offered for free to a limited number of users for testing purposes. Now it is available to all customers as part of the Generative AI by iStock service. Additionally, you can now remove the background from both images in our creative library and images generated using our AI Generator. To access all these benefits, you must purchase a Generative AI agreement and use your generation credits to remove the background from images.
Do I own the copyright to the images I modified?
While there are currently no ownership rights recognized in AI outputs, to the extent there is ownership in the output content, you own the output content.  Your use of the content generated by the service remains subject to the iStock Content License Agreement. Learn more here.