AI Image Generators in Plain English
What AI image generators are, how to try one for free, and what to realistically expect from them.
4 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Go to Microsoft Designer's free image creator
Open your web browser and go to designer.microsoft.com/image-creator. This tool is free and works well for beginners. Click Sign in and use a Microsoft account (Outlook or Hotmail email) — or create a free one if you do not have one.
Quick Tip
If you use Bing, the image creator is also available directly at bing.com/images/create.
Step 2. Type a description of the image you want
In the text box, describe the picture you want in plain English. Be specific about the subject, the setting, the mood, and any important details. For example: "A peaceful mountain lake at sunrise with pine trees reflected in the water, painted in watercolor style."
Step 3. Click Create and wait
Press the Create button. The AI will generate four different versions of your image, which usually takes about 15 to 30 seconds. You will see all four options appear on the screen.
Step 4. Download or share the image you like
Click on the image you like best to open it larger. You will see options to download it to your computer or phone, or to share it directly. Click Download to save it.
Quick Tip
Quick Tip: If none of the four images is quite right, adjust your description and click Create again. Try adding or changing a detail — like the lighting, the art style, or the setting.
Step 5. Understand what AI images can and cannot do
AI-generated images are good for decorative, creative, and fun purposes. They are not real photographs and should not be presented as real photos of people or places. Text inside AI images often comes out scrambled or misspelled. For images involving real people's faces, be cautious and respectful.
Warning
Do not use AI-generated images to create misleading content or fake photos of real people. Use them only for personal, creative, or clearly labeled illustrative purposes.
AI image generators are programs that can create pictures based on a written description you type. You describe an image in words — for example, "a golden retriever sitting in a field of sunflowers at sunset" — and the AI produces a brand new picture that matches your description. No photography, no art skills, and no software installation needed.
These tools are popular for creating personalized greeting card images, fun pictures to share with grandchildren, illustrations for a newsletter, or imagining what a vacation destination looks like. Some people use them to create pictures of loved ones in imaginative settings, or to generate wallpaper images for their phone or computer.
There are several free or free-to-try AI image generators available. Microsoft Designer (designer.microsoft.com) and Adobe Firefly (firefly.adobe.com) are among the most beginner-friendly. Google's AI image tools are built into some of its products. Most of these offer a set number of free image generations per day or per month before asking you to pay.
The images AI generators create look realistic and often quite beautiful. But they are entirely made up. They do not come from anywhere and were not taken by a photographer. That makes them useful for creative and decorative purposes. They also have limits: hands and text inside images often come out wrong, and the AI may misinterpret unusual requests.
To get good results, be specific in your description. Instead of "a cat picture," try "a fluffy orange tabby cat wearing a red bow tie, sitting in a cozy library with wooden bookshelves." More detail means a result that is closer to what you have in mind.
Still stuck?
A real person can walk you through it over the phone.
Get help from a person