iStock's AI Generator user guide

Learn to master this powerful tool with guidance on building and refining prompts, how to get the most out of our latest features (Refine & Extend), and insightful tips to bring your creative vision to life.

Getting started

Building better prompts

Improving your results

Design & stylistic keywords

Getting started

Here's how to generate your first images:

 

1. Open the AI Generator from the main navigation. 
   Reminder: you need to be signed in and have at least 1 generation to access the image generator.  
2. Describe a scene using the prompt box. 
   For best results, include a main subject, what's happening, and where the action is taking place. Example: doorway glowing in the desert
   Note: the prompt fields have a limit of 50 words. 
3. When you're happy with your prompt, click "Generate." 
   You'll see four boxes with twinkling icons that indicate the AI Generator is working to create your prompt! This consumes 1 generation. You can see how many generations you have remaining beside the green button.

Now that you have your first generated image, you can download and license a Medium or Large* version as often as you need. Your generated images also comes with legal indemnification of up to $10,000 per image.

*Requires the use of 1 generation to upscale an image from Medium to Large.

 

 

The iStock AI Generator can also be used to: 

Upscale an image from Medium to Large

Generate 4 variations based on a previously generated image

Regenerate a new set of images based on an unaltered prompt

Add, replace, or remove individual elements with Refine

Make more space for copy and new elements with Extend

Building better prompts

Place the most important subjects of your desired output near the beginning of the prompt.

They will receive more importance and weight than the words at the end of the prompt.  

Build on the scene by including additional details and art direction.

Example: illuminated doorway in the desert, wide frame, natural light, dusk, cinematic, night, dunes in the background

For greater detail, add any of the following to your prompt:

high quality, high fidelity, detailed, intricate, sharp, proportional

More tips for generating one‑of‑a‑kind images

• Synonyms can help if you feel stuck while refining and improving your generation. For example, instead of big, try huge, gigantic, massive, etc. 
• Use the negative prompt field to define what you don’t want to see in your scene. And you don't have to include the word "no" in your description. 
• Need some inspiration to get started?  Click the Prompt Builder icon on the right side of the prompt box for more guided development of a strong prompt.

Improving your results

Try different generation strategies

1. Create very different looks by switching between Photos and Illustrations to change your image style.
2. Choose different aspect ratios to alter the dimensions of your generated imagery and achieve new results.
3. Use the Color & Mood filters to generate images with specific atmospheres or palettes.
4. Once satisfied with a generation result, consider swapping out words to create new concepts. Example: building made out of candy, city, multiple buildings, drone shot, looking down from above
5. You can also use a generation to iterate on the prompt or a specific image by clicking the "Regenerate" button, or selecting "Generate more” in your generation history. 
6. Hovering over an image reveals icons to "Refine" or "Extend" the image, generate 4 new "Variations" of it, or "Download" it.

Refining an AI image

1. This tool lets you add, replace, or remove elements from an image. First choose the action you wish to take 
   • "Replace" generates a new element to go into a specific space indicated
   • "Remove" automatically eliminates and fills in the indicated space using context cues from the background
2. Use your cursor as a paintbrush to cover the area or object you want to make changes to. 
3. Under Brush settings, you can adjust the size of the brush, "Hide selection" to see what you've painted over, "Undo" your last stroke, or "Clear" the entire painted area.
4. Type a description into the Prompt text box if you want a specific object generated when replacing an element or adding to an area, and click "Generate more" to bring it to life.
5. In the tray below the image, you can track your modification history, to see and interact with previous iterations.

Extending an AI image

1. Adjust the dimension of your AI generated image to create more space for copy, new elements, or to expand the scene to fit your needs.
2. Use the Freeform tool to drag the image edges to a new size or simply choose a new aspect ratio from the options provided. 
3. The "Zoom out" slider allows you to manipulate the size of the original image within the frame. 
4. A prompt is optional, but you can add one if there is a specific element or look you want included. Then click "Generate more" and iStock’s AI image generator will automatically fill in new areas based on the original background.
5. Extend also includes a modification history tray that allows you to select previous iterations.

Downloading and licensing

1. Like what you see?
   Download and license a Medium image as often as you like—it's free and you have unlimited downloads of any Medium image you generate.
2. Need to license a larger image size?
   You can use a generation to upscale a Medium image to a higher resolution Large version to then download and license.
3. Want to access previous generations?
   iStock's AI Generator saves up to six months of generation history for you to download, revise, or create new images using the prompt or a previously generated image as the foundation.

Want an authentic visual to match what you've made? 

Just click on a generated image and scroll down to find a selection of imagery from our creative library, provided using our AI‑driven reverse image search.

Design & stylistic keywords
To create even more unique imagery, you can include additional keywords at the end of your prompt, each separated by a comma.
We've provided a few artistic keywords below for inspiration, but don't be afraid to experiment!

Mood

Alluring
Brave
Caring
Confident
Empowered
Genuine
Mysterious
Serene
Smiling

Camera and lighting

Tilt‑shift
Soft focus
Sepia
Fish‑eye
Time‑lapse
Panorama
Zoom Blur
Distorted perspective
Mirror image
Butterfly lighting
Lens fog
Overexposure
Smoke painting
Bokeh
Film burn
Hard shadows
Candlelight

Style

Monochrome
Desaturated
Vintage
Pop art
Watercolor
Sketch
Sharpened
Vignette
Night vision
Color splash
1970s
Cinematic 
Minimal
Underwater
Noir
Renaissance
Fantasy

Portrait

Charcoal drawing style
Pointillism style
Doodle style
Baroque style
Steampunk style
Horror style
Film noir style
Double exposure style
Silhouette style
Editorial style
Candid style
Headshot

Looking for more specific information? Explore the AI Generator FAQ.