AI Image and Video Generators: Overview for Beginners

 AI Image Generators: An Overview for Beginners

Which tool is right for you? A guide to getting started with AI image creation in an accessible way.

AI image generators come in all shapes and sizes: open-source engines for creators who want to tweak everything, commercial platforms for fast output, and web-based tools for those just getting started. Below are five popular and powerful options—with explanations, links, pricing, star ratings, and whether they support video.

- 1. Stable Diffusion (Open source engine)

•  Type: Open source

•  Platform: Self-hosted via tools like Automatic1111, ComfyUI, Invoke AI

•  Price: Free (requires installation and GPU)

•  Link: Stable Diffusion on GitHub

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Video: ❌ No native video output

•  For whom: Makers, developers, visual researchers

•  Pros: Full control, LoRA integration, custom workflows

•  Cons: Technical knowledge required

- 2. Invoke AI (Open source + Desktop)

•  Type: Open-source, locally installable

•  Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux

•  Price: Free (Community Edition)

• Link: Invoke AI Download Page

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Video: ❌ No video output

•  For whom: Prompt artists, visual tuners

•  Pros: Edge control, seed management, LoRA support

•  Cons: Initial installation takes a while

•  Advice: Ideal for those who want to work locally without cloud dependency

- 3. Midjourney (Commercial, via Discord)

•  Type: Commercial

•  Platform: Web-based via Discord

•  Price: From $10 per month

• Link: Midjourney official site

•  Discord tag: [discord.gg/midjourney]

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Video: ⚠️ Limited video output via external tools (such as Runway Gen-3)

•  For whom: Creatives, illustrators, concept artists

•  Pros: Aesthetically powerful output

•  Cons: Less control, works via Discord

- 4. DALL·E 3 (Commercial + free version)

•  Type: Web-based via OpenAI or Bing

•  Platform: ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) or free through Bing

•  Link: DALL·E 3 via OpenAI

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Video: ❌ No video output

•  For: Content creators, brands, quick visualizations

•  Plus points: Strong in text integration

•  Disadvantages: Less suitable for style control

- 5. Leonardo AI (Commercial, style-oriented)

•  Type: Web-based

•  Price: Free basic version, premium starting at $10/month

•  Link: Leonardo AI official site

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Video: ❌ No video output

•  For whom: Portrait art, branding, character design

•  Pros: Many presets, visually powerful

•  Disadvantages: Less open than Stable Diffusion

- Extra: AI video generators (for moving images)

Want to generate video instead of still images? These tools are relevant:

- Synthesia

•  Type: Commercial

•  Platform: Web-based

•  Price: From $30/month

•  Link: Synthesia AI Video Platform

•  Usage: Realistic avatars, voice-over, presentations

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Recommendation: Perfect for e-learning, corporate communications, tutorials

- Runway Gen-3

•  Type: Commercial

•  Platform: Web-based

• Link: Runway Gen-3

•  Usage: Cinematic AI videos, creative motion output

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Advice: Ideal for filmmakers, animation artists

- Pika Labs

•  Type: Web-based

•  Link: Pika Labs

•  Use: Quick videos for social media and marketing

•  Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•  Advice: Good entry point for short clips and visual storytelling

- Fliki / Pictory / Heygen

•  Type: Commercial

•  Usage: Text to video, voice-over, slideshows

•  Advice: For content creators and marketers

Source: Making an AI movie – overview of 8 tools

- How do you choose?

Goal                                                                          Best choice  

 Freeze image, full control Stable Diffusion / Invoke AI

Fast and aesthetic image Midjourney / Leonardo

Text + image integration DALL·E 3

Video with avatars Synthesia / Heygen

Creative AI video Runway Gen-3 / Pika Labs

Beginner-friendly Leonardo (free) / Bing DALL·E

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Differences between Stable Diffusion and SDXL source: Copilot 

Stable Diffusion (SD 1.5)

• Resolution: 512×512 standard
• Parameters: ~860 million
• Fast, light and widely supported
• Strong in realism and style variation
• Many community LoRAs and checkpoints available
• Works well on GPUs from 4GB

SDXL (Stable Diffusion XL)

• Resolution: 1024×1024 standard
• Parameters: ~2.6 billion
• Dual text encoder (OpenCLIP ViT-G + CLIP ViT-L)
• Higher detail display, better semantics
• Requires at least 8GB of VRAM
• Slower, but visually more powerful
• Refiner model optional for extra sharpness

Advice:

• Beginners: Start with SD 1.5 for speed and compatibility
• Advanced: Use SDXL for complex prompts and high resolution

Star rating:

• SD 1.5: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• SDXL: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 Plex AI — yes or no?

Plex (often confused with Pixlr AI)

• Web-based image generator
• Focused on quick visuals in different styles
• Supports 3 modes: Fast, Pro, Ultra
• Good for simple prompts and social visuals
• Less suitable for complex compositions or edge control

Advice:

• Beginners: Accessible, but limited in precision
• Advanced: Not recommended for fine-tuning or style mastery

Star rating:

• Plex/Pixlr AI: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

 CogView — What is it?

CogView (developed by Tsinghua University & Zhipu AI)

• Open source text-to-image model
• Strong in Chinese language processing and semantics
• Less known in the West, but powerful in concept generation
• CogView4-6B is the latest version

Advice:

• Beginners: Not recommended — requires technical setup
• Advanced: Interesting for experiments and language-driven image generation

Star rating:

• CogView: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (for researchers and experimental makers)

 Advice: which tool for whom?

	++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ LoRAs are one of the most powerful tools in AI image generation, especially when working with Stable Diffusion or SDXL. Below, I'll provide a copy-and-paste explanation for your blog/website/forum page, including what LoRAs are, how to use them, and where to download them—including a link to Civitai. What are LoRAs? Low-Rank Adaptation modules for AI image generation LoRA stands for Low-Rank Adaptation . It's a technique that allows you to specifically adjust an existing AI model (such as Stable Diffusion) without retraining the entire model. You essentially add an extra layer that changes the model's behavior—for example, in style, character, composition, or use of color. - What can you do with LoRAs? Adding specific styles (e.g. Art Nouveau, anime, pixel art) Generating familiar characters or unique faces Sending poses, clothing types, accessories Injecting artistic flair or technical precision Combining multiple LoRAs simultaneously for hybrid output - How do you use a LoRA? You need an AI tool that supports LoRAs (such as Invoke AI, ComfyUI, Automatic1111) Download a .safetensorsfile .ptfrom a LoRA Place it in the appropriate folder (usually models/lora/) Add the LoRA to your prompt or interface with a weight (e.g. LoRA:ArtNouveauStyle, weight=0.6) Combine with exclusions and edge control for maximum effectiveness Where do you download LoRAs? The largest and most reliable source is Civitai : Civitai LoRA library ➤ Here you will find thousands of LoRAs, sorted by style, popularity and application ➤ You can search by name, genre, model type (SD 1.5, SDXL), and even by resolution ➤ Each LoRA has sample images, prompt tips and user reviews - Advice for beginners and advanced users - Star rating: LoRAs as a technology Applicability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Creative freedom: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Technical accessibility: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (requires setup) Community support: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ LoRA guide and style checker in AI image generation LoRA stands for Low-Rank Adaptation and is a technique that allows you to fine-tune an existing AI model like Stable Diffusion or SDXL without retraining the entire model. You add an extra layer that influences the model's behavior, for example, in terms of style, composition, level of detail, or word interpretation. A text-based LoRA is a type of LoRA that influences not only visual style but also the way the AI ​​understands words and sentences and translates them into images. This is called semantic interpretation. Semantics refers to meaning. A text-based LoRA helps the AI ​​visually translate abstract or context-sensitive words like "elegant," "rhythmic," "mystical lighting," or "ceremonial composition" into recognizable elements such as symmetry, glow, color, or ornamentation. A good text-based LoRA ensures that your prompt is not only read literally, but also interpreted intuitively and stylistically. This creates images that better reflect your intention, even when using abstract language. Pixcores SDXL LoRAs were specifically developed to make SDXL models more responsive to style, detail, and light. These LoRAs work like sliders: you can set them with a value between -6 and +6, for example, to amplify or weaken the effect. They are designed to help you get a handle on SDXL's output without retraining. Some popular Pixcores LoRAs are "Great Lighting," "Extremely Detailed," "Photorealistic Portrait XL," and "Aesthetic Enhancer." You can download them from Pixcores or Civitai and use them in tools like ComfyUI or Invoke AI. Pixcore's LoRAs are unique because they combine semantic control with visual tuning. For example, you can add "great lighting" to your prompt and activate the corresponding LoRA with a value from 1 to 3. This creates dramatic lighting without having to manually write lighting instructions. The "Extremely Detailed" LoRA works similarly: a value of -1 reduces detail, a value of +1 increases it. Here's a top 10 of popular LoRAs for style control, based on downloads and community usage: BlackWhiplash (BWL) for fantasy and illustration Zoropaton Real Life Anime for realistic anime Echo Saber for sci-fi and cinematic style Softener/Sharpener Slider for detailed adjustment Extremely Detailed LoRA for texture and depth Great Lighting LoRA for lighting and atmosphere Photorealistic Portrait XL for realistic portraits Art Nouveau Style LoRA for ornament and curl style 3D Rendering Style LoRA for digital depth Fashion Girl LoRA for poses and fashion You can download these LoRAs from Civitai ( https://civitai.com/tag/lora ) or PromptHero ( https://prompthero.com/ai-models/lora ). Note that some LoRAs are specific to SD 1.5 and others to SDXL. Use a weight between 0.3 and 0.7 to keep the effect subtle, or higher for a bolder look. For beginners, it's recommended to start with a single style LoRA and experiment with its weight. Combine this with clear exclusions in your prompt, such as "no floral motifs" or "no curved lines." For advanced users, it's interesting to combine text LoRAs with visual LoRAs, so you can control both semantics and style. LoRAs are an extension of your visual vocabulary. They turn AI into not just a generator, but a tool you can control and generate to achieve your own results. - The Breachline – Start & Overview Bell & Clapper – Stylistic Tone & Site Rhythm - Copilot’s Reflection – External Reading of the Site - What Is Noverra – Digital Art as System - Codex I – The Noverra Manifest - Codex II – Rhythmic Purification - Codex III – Style Admission & Structural Testing - Codex IV – Noverra in Practice - Codex V – The Color Codex - Codex VI – Glossary & Core Terms - Codex VII – DNA & Ritual Structure - Codex VIII – Prompt Anatomy: The Noverra Engine - Codex IX – Prompt Examples & Structural Variants - Codex X – Hairstyles as Visual Rhythm - Codex XI – Symbolism & Decorative Logic - Codex XII – Art Deco as Internal Mutation - Codex XIII – Resolving Style Conflicts - Codex XIV – Layering & Structural Depth - Codex XV – Prompt Discussion & Recurring Friction - Codex XVI – Prompt Triggers & Automation - Codex XVII – High-Level Tuning Codex XVIII – Visual Identity Core - Codex XIX – Color Codex Course Component AI Primer I – Understanding AI Systems - AI Primer – Image & Video Generators for Beginners - AI Primer – Model Overview: SDXL, 1.5, Flex, Rocview - AI Primer – LoRA Explained - The Echo – Prompt of the Week & Response Zone source: Copilot

This page is part of the Noverra series, which combines stylistic shifts, rhythm, and digital image structures. Each image carries a unique codex and is aligned with a larger visual system in which form, color, and composition are given meaning. The content is rhythmically placed within the Tussen Klok en Klepel blog universe and aligns with the classification chart and cyclical structure of the series. For more context and in-depth information, visit the Noverra overview page.