How to Create Your First AI-Generated Image in Minutes (For Free!)

An AI-generated image created by me using Ideogram.

A couple of years ago, I sat in my office in Ottawa, staring at my screen in disbelief. I had just typed a few words into DALL-E, one of the first AI image generators available to the public, and watched as it created my first AI-generated image.

The image was too cartoonish for my professional work and contained snippets of text without readable words, but I was impressed by the experience. With just a sentence, I had created something entirely new.

Those first images were a far cry from what's possible now. They were a bit surreal, which likely inspired the creators to refer to the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí when they chose the name DALL-E.

I remember thinking: "This will change everything."

Three years later, these tools have evolved beyond recognition. A technique that once produced dreamlike abstractions now creates images nearly indistinguishable from photographs. And the best part? It's become even easier to use.

Today, I'm writing for those of you who have never given AI image generation a try – or perhaps tried years ago and weren't impressed. Keep reading, and within minutes, you'll create your first AI-generated image with zero cost and minimal effort.

The promise of AI-generated images

Artificial intelligence has transformed how we create and interact with visual content in just a few years. The days when you needed professional design skills or photography equipment to produce high-quality visuals are behind us. Today's AI tools can generate anything from photorealistic images to artistic illustrations with just a few descriptive words.

For your work, social media, or creative projects, AI-generated images offer three key advantages:

1. They're free (at least at basic levels)

2. They're incredibly easy to produce

3. They're fully customizable in style, composition, color, and more

In future newsletters, I'll explore different AI generators in depth and share techniques for crafting the perfect "prompts" (the text descriptions that guide image creation). One of you has asked me to share these, but first things first. Today, we'll focus on getting you started with your very first AI-generated image.

Your first AI image: getting started with Ideogram

Ideogram is the perfect platform for beginners. It's intuitive, offers free daily generations, and requires no technical knowledge. Here's a step-by-step guide to creating your first image:

1. Create Your Account

• Visit the Ideogram website: https://ideogram.ai/t/explore

• Click "Sign Up" (or click on "Describe what you want to see," and you'll be asked to create an account)

• Connect with your Google or Apple account

• Choose a username (this doesn't have to be your real name—perhaps your pet has a more anonymous name you could use)

• Enter your name (or just your first name) to complete setup

2. Craft your first prompt

This is where the magic happens. Think of a prompt as giving instructions to an incredibly talented artist. Be specific about what you want to see.

For example, try something like:

"A horizontal photo of my black and white cat Luna, who stands on her hind legs in the windowsill, to smell one of the red tulips in a white vase. Through the window you see the skyline of New York City."

3. Generate your image

• Type your prompt into the text field

• Click the "Generate" button

• Wait approximately 20 seconds while Ideogram creates four variations of your requested image

• Click on your favorite result

4. Download and use your creation

• Click the download button (on the right) to save as a JPG

• Your image is now in your downloads folder and ready to use on Substack, social media, or anywhere else

Not happy with the results? You can either:

• Click "Retry" with the same prompt, or

• Modify your prompt for better results (e.g., change the color of the vase, add a second cat).

That's it! You've created your first AI-generated image.

An update on our Screen Skills journey

One of the most exciting aspects of launching this newsletter has been watching its growth in real time. If you've subscribed, you're now part of the statistics I'm about to share.

Just six days ago, I launched Screen Skills. Today, we're 127 members strong! (The one paying subscriber showing in the stats is me—I'm not sure why Substack counts it that way.)

I'm curious: Do you consider this good growth for our first (less than a) week? And more importantly, what do you think of these initial newsletters? I welcome your suggestions and feedback as we build this community together.

For those considering it, your early pledges for future support would mean the world as we lay the foundation for what Screen Skills will become. I designed this newsletter to grow with you, sharing practical, accessible ways to enhance your digital life without overwhelming technical details.

In the coming weeks, we'll explore more AI tools, dive deeper into prompt engineering, and discover how these technologies can make your online experience more productive and creative.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I can't wait to see what you create!

Did you try generating your first AI image after reading this? I'd love to see what you made! Share your creations in Notes or the chat (you can't attach an image to the comments). Use the comments section below for questions and requests.

Earlier this week, I published this newsletter about websites where you can find free photos to use for your projects or on social media: