Working with Free AI Image Generation Tools: A Specific Journey Coloring in progress ... This month, I tried using AI image generation tools to make a coloring page to give to a seven-year-old for her birthday. In case my journey helps you, h…

Coloring in progress ...

This month, I tried using AI image generation tools to make a coloring page to give to a seven-year-old for her birthday. In case my journey helps you, here is what I learned.

If you have something specific in mind, use Canva.

Almost any generative AI tool can do a good job if you don't need specific imagery. But this coloring page needed to depict my seven-year-old friend and me in a specific place, doing her favorite thing - being pushed on the swings. And there had to be a rainbow and a unicorn in this scene.

You can evaluate my results for yourself. I tried three different free tools using this highly specific prompt:

“A joyful scene featuring a 7-year-old black girl with box braids, wearing a stunning princess dress and holding a magic wand. She is being pushed on the swings in a park, surrounded by lush greenery. In the background, a rainbow arcs gracefully across the sky behind a mountain range. A white woman with short curly hair shaved on one side wearing cat-eye glasses, a comfortable t-shirt, and jeans, happily pushes the swing. Behind them, a happy unicorn prances on the grass excitedly.”

Color Bliss

Color Bliss is known for creating printable coloring pages, so I started there. You can definitely color these drawings. But I ran out of free credits and never got a child or adult that looked anything like my description of us. Also, what's with that floating swing with the rope attached to nothing?

Adobe Express

We can access Adobe Express through our YC Creative Cloud subscription, so I tried it. It rarely included me in the image, and when it did, not at all as described. This tool did not understand the hairstyle requests.

Canva

I selected the Sketch option under Magic Media (their generative AI) in Canva to get a line drawing. I had to edit my prompt down a bit (unfortunately, I don't remember what I trimmed out other than the unicorn). This tool understood the assignment. I got this image on the second try, including everything I requested!

I wish it had not colored in the rainbow, jeans, or skin color for me. But I printed it in black and white. My young friend is delighted because the result looks like us.

Proof of happiness!

Bonus!

While on this adventure, I found that I can sign up for Canva as an educator and receive access to at least some of the pro features. The website doesn't make this easy to find, but a good friend shared this sign up link that did the trick for me - please use it for yourself! Use your yc.edu email.