Leonardo AI Explained: A Detailed Guide to Features, Usage, and Comparisons

Struggling to bring your ideas to life visually? Leonardo AI can help! This powerful Free AI image generator can transform your text descriptions into stunning and unique images.

Getting started is a super easy. Simply sign up on the official website and, if you want to connect with fellow creators, you can join the Leonardo AI Discord server.

Let me tell you what I’ll cover in this guide, so you don’t waste your time reading it if it doesn’t address your specific concerns!

Don’t worry, I won’t overwhelm you! This article is your comprehensive guide to the world of Leonardo AI. I’ll cover everything you need to know, from the basics of signing in to crafting amazing prompts that make the AI generate precisely what you imagine. Even if you’re entirely new to AI art, this article will help you dive confidently into AI image generation. Plus, we’ll discuss the different pricing options to find the perfect plan for you.

My goal? To help you push your creative boundaries even further, not to waste your time on understanding the working of leonardo ai and express yourself with the vibrant brilliance that Leonardo AI offers.

Let’s make some awesome art with Leonardo AI! I’ll show you how to get the most out of it.

What is Leonardo AI?

Leonardo AI is an online tool that uses generative AI technology to create any image you can think of, in photorealistic detail. You can simply type in a short description of what you want to see, and Leonardo AI will generate multiple images for you to choose from. You can also refine your images by adjusting various settings, such as style, quality, and aspect ratio.

Leonardo AI was founded by Australian entrepreneur JJ Fiasson in January 2022. It has one of the world’s largest AI communities, with over 1 million Discord members who share their love of AI art.

The best part? You get to keep full ownership of everything you create on Leonardo AI, and you can even use the images for projects or to sell! It’s easy to experiment with different image styles, sizes, and more. You can access Leonardo AI for free through their website or even download their handy iOS app.

User Base and Tools

Leonardo AI has quickly become a go-to tool in the AI art generation space, with over 1 million registered users. This popularity underscores its effectiveness and ease of use in creating visually stunning images. Additionally, Leonardo AI offers a comprehensive suite of tools for generating visual assets, not limited to AI Art Generator, but also including AI image to motion and Transparent PNG Generator, Image Upscaler making it a versatile platform for various creative needs.

Getting Started with Leonardo AI

Account Creation and Initial Setup

1. Sign Up: Begin your journey with Leonardo AI by creating an account on their official website. You can use your Apple, Google, Microsoft, or email account for registration, it’s super easy.
2. Join the Community: For additional resources and early access to new features, consider joining the Leonardo AI Discord server. This community is a great place to get support and inspiration from other users.

Navigating the Interface

1. Home Page Overview: Once you’ve signed up, you’ll land on the Home page. Here, you can explore Featured AI models and view the latest images created by the Leonardo community.
2. Community Feed: Access the Community Feed from the left panel. This section allows you to browse through a library of images generated with Leonardo AI. You can use these images as references, copy prompts, or download them for commercial use since all public images are royalty-free.
3. Personal Feed: Your Personal Feed is where you can find all your generated images. This personalization makes it easy to keep track of your creations and revisit them anytime.

Utilizing Leonardo AI Tools

1. Image Generation: To start creating images, navigate to the ‘Image Generation’ section accessible via the left pane or widget on homepage itself, the center icon, or by clicking the ‘Create New Image’ button in the upper right corner.
2. Fine-tuned Models: Explore the ‘Fine-tuned Models’ section to access a list of specialized AI algorithms. These models are designed by the Leonardo team or the community and are tailored for creating images in specific styles i.e. anime, Disney art.

By following these steps, you can effectively start using Leonardo AI and generate stunning images with ease.

Exploring Leonardo AI’s Key Features

Leonardo AI has many tools to make digital art better. Let’s look at the important features that make Leonardo AI a great choice for artists, designers, and creators.

• AI Image Generation and Editing Capabilities
  • AI Image Generation: You can generate high-resolution images using text or image inputs, allowing for the creation of unique visuals from scratch.
  • Real Time canvas: It’s a special feature within Leonardo AI for lightning-fast image creation. You can Draw simple shapes, colors, or upload an image to get started.
  • AI Canvas: Using this feature you can do real-time editing and manipulation of images, it really has a dynamic platform for creative expression.
  • Motion Feature: Watch your ideas come to life in moments with generative video. You can add a motion touch to your leonardo ai generated images.
  • Universal Upscaler: With this feature you can enhance or upscale your creation and obviously your ideas come to life in moments with generative video.
  • Image Prompting and Editing: Enhance images by editing prompts directly within the AI canvas, offering a seamless integration of text and visual creativity.
  • Realtime Generation: Allows you to generate images in real time while you type. This is really an awesome feature becasue you know what is generating infront of you and accordingly you can manipulate the prompt in real time.

• Advanced Model Options
  • Pre-Trained Models: Leonardo ai offers access to a variety of models tailored to different artistic styles, from photorealistic to abstract art, providing flexibility and creative freedom.
  • Train Your Own Models: You can also train your own AI models using a small set of images (typically 10-20) and make them available for others to use. This way, you can create images with specific styles that match your vision and taste.
  • Finetuned Models: These specialized models are optimized for particular styles or use cases by the platform and the community, enhancing the accuracy and style of generated images.
• Customization and User Interface
  • Customizable Settings: Adjust image generation settings such as the number of images, dimensions, and guidance scale to fit the specific needs of your project.
  • Intuitive Web-based Platform: The user-friendly interface of Leonardo AI makes it accessible and easy to navigate, enhancing the user experience.
• Exclusive Access and Community Engagement
  • Early-Access Program: You can participate in the early-access program to test new features and provide feedback, helping in the future enhancement of Leonardo AI.
  • Community Interaction: Engage with a vibrant community of creators to share ideas, gain inspiration, and collaborate on creative projects
• Freemium Service: Leonardo AI operates on a freemium model, permitting users to create a certain amount of images daily without any charge. You can also upgrade to a paid subscription to get access to more features, such as the PhotoReal mode, which generates images with the highest level of realism possible.

By using these powerful features, Leonardo AI transforms the art creation process, leaving traditional limitations behind. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced artist or someone who’s always dreamed of creating – Leonardo AI puts the tools of digital expression directly in your hands.

Read More : What is LLM, LLM full form in AI?

Here are some images generated by Leonardo AI to inspire you

How to create stunning images with Leonardo AI?

To create stunning images with Leonardo AI, follow these detailed steps, ensuring each action is tailored to maximize the potential of your artistic output.

We already have discussed how you can get onboard, won’t repeat that again. Let’s start by clicking on ‘image generation’.

Step 1. Crafting a Prompt (defining your vision)

To improve the accuracy of AI image generation, it is important to provide specific details. Craft clear prompts that focus on modifiers, textures, and lighting details. This will result in more detailed outputs. Being precise in your instructions helps the AI better understand the desired outcome. Example of a detailed prompted is:

A photorealistic full body street photograph of a 25-year-old Latin girl with long, flowing brown hair and striking brown eyes. She should have a natural, approachable smile and be illuminated by soft, natural light. She should eating food, perhaps ice cream. The background should be metropolitan city setting, perhaps a morning in New York City. Capture this image with a high-resolution photograph using an 50mm lens for a flattering perspective.

Define the main subject, background, and environment in your prompt. Use the Negative Prompt feature to specify what you do not want in your image, refining the AI’s output

For additional guidance, click on the dice icon or visit the ‘Improve Prompt’ or ‘Prompt Generation’ sections for hints or pre-made prompts.

Step 2. Choosing a Model

You can browse the different models and see examples of their outputs. You can also use the search bar to find a model that suits your needs. But still i will show you some popular models which are being used on daily basis, Here are the name of some models you are going to see:

• Leonardo Lightining XL: It is a generalist photorealistic model, designed to generate high-quality images at an very high speed and with reduced token costs.
• Leonardo Anime XL : The model is tailored to generate anime-style images, making it an ideal choice for users who require high-quality anime images and it is faster than other previous models.
• Leonardo Vision XL : This is a versatile model fo Leonardo which an expert of at realism and photography. To make this model generate Stunning images you need to give detailed and longer prompts.
• Leonardo Diffusion XL : This is the enhanced version of Vision XL model called next phase of the core Leonardo model. it generates Stunning outputs, even with short prompts.
• AlbedoBase XL : For a user looking to create images, AlbedoBase XL is an AI model that allows the generation of a wide variety of visuals, including photorealistic images and artistic renderings. Users can input text prompts to guide the AI in creating specific images, with the option to use negative prompts to avoid certain elements.
• And the list is endless including: Stable Deffusion 1.5, Stable Deffusion 2.1, Anime Pastel Dream, SDXL 0.9, 3D Animation Style, DreamShaper v7, Absolute Reality v1.6….

Step 3. Image Guidance and Customization

• If starting from an existing image, use the Image Guidance feature by uploading an image and setting up the desired strength. You can upload up to four images for more complex compositions, available in paid plans.
• Adjust the Strength and Guidance Scale to control how closely the output matches the original image and how much emphasis is placed on the prompt versus the image.

Step 4. Final Adjustments and Generation

• you can choose the number of images to generate from a single prompt, and select the best output to use afterwrds.
• Set the image dimesions from the left panel and finally click “Generate”.

Here are the results from Leonardo Lightning XL and Anime XL:

By following these steps, you can harness the full potential of Leonardo AI to create visually stunning and artistically rich images that stand out. Whether you are a professional artist or a hobbyist, these guidelines will help you navigate the complexities of AI-driven art creation effectively.

Leveraging Negative Prompts for Refined Outputs in image generation

Negative prompts in Leonardo AI are a powerful tool to refine the outputs by specifying what elements should not appear in the generated images. This feature ensures that the AI avoids including unwanted details, which can significantly enhance the realism and quality of the final artwork.

How to Use Negative Prompts Effectively:

1. Be Specific with Your Criteria
   • When using negative prompts, it’s crucial to be clear and specific. For instance, if creating an action scene with a “ninja cat,” you might use a negative prompt like “don’t include swords” to focus on other elements like agility or environment.
2. Adding Negative Prompts
   • To implement a negative prompt, first enter your main creative prompt in Leonardo AI. Then, add your negative instructions into the negative prompt box to clearly define what should be excluded from the image.
3. Refine and Adjust
   • After generating the initial image, review it and adjust your negative prompts as needed. This process allows you to fine-tune the details and enhance the accuracy of the AI’s output.

Practical Examples and Tips

• Common Negative Prompts: Use prompts like “avoid two heads, distorted hands, or more than five fingers” to prevent common AI art errors, ensuring the generated images look realistic and are free from typical generative anomalies.
• Enhancing Realism: Alongside negative prompts, utilize the “photo real” button to push the realism of your AI-generated images even further, making them suitable for professional or commercial use (It’s the feature of paid plan.)

Pros & Cons of Leonardo AI

Like any tool, Leonardo AI has its advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of the pros and cons of using Leonardo AI:

Pros:

• Photo realistic images: Leonardo AI can generate images with amazing realism, especially with the PhotoReal mode. You can create images that look like they were taken by a camera, or even better.
• Short prompts work great: Leonardo AI can generate images from concise and simple prompts, such as “a red car on a snowy road”. You don’t need to write long and detailed descriptions to get good results.
• Train your AI models: Leonardo AI allows you to create your own AI models with your images, giving you more control and flexibility over the output. You can also share your models with other users and use their models as well.
• Community support: Leonardo AI has a large and active community of users who share their creations, feedback, and tips on Discord. You can also get help from the support team if you encounter any issues or have any questions.

Cons:

• Options can be overwhelming: Leonardo AI has many options and settings that you can tweak to customize your images, such as style, quality, aspect ratio, and more. However, this can also be overwhelming and confusing for some users, especially beginners. You might not know which option to choose or what effect it will have on the output. Still my above guide on creating images will do most of it.
• Can’t create NSFW images: Leonardo AI does not allow you to create images that are not safe for work (NSFW), such as nudity, violence, or gore. This is to prevent abuse and misuse of the tool, as well as to comply with the terms of service of the AI models.
• Potential for Artistic Bias: Like all AI image generators, Leonardo AI is trained on massive datasets of images and text. This can sometimes lead to biases appearing in the generated art, either in terms of style or content.

Leonardo AI’s Pricing and Subscription Models

Leonardo AI offers a range of pricing and subscription models designed to cater to different user needs. Understanding the various plans will help you choose the best option for your creative projects. Here is what i found:

1. Free Plan
   • Daily quota of tokens for generating images.
   • Allows for the production of up to 150 images per day.
2. Apprentice Plan – $10 per month
   • Generate up to 8,500 images per month.
3. Artisan Plan – $24 per month
   • Allows for the generation of 25,000 images per month.
4. Maestro Plan – $48 per month
   • Generate up to 60,000 images per month.

Here is the comparison table for better decision:

Additional Costs and Token Usage

Here is a low down on how credits an image generation takes:

• Token-Based System: Each generated image consumes a specific number of tokens.
• In free plan generating 4 images (768×1024) with Lightning XL model costs 8 APPI credits and 4 images (512 x 512) with the PhotoReal v1 model (Paid Model) costs 24 API credits.
• Tasks such as upscales, unzooms, and background removal cost 30, 15, and 5 credits respectively.

I have tried to serve you the actual scenerio of pricing plans and usage of it’s tokens so that you can choose the best fit for you. It’s better to look for the pricing on the website, sometimes there may be good offers or changes in pricing.

Leonardo AI vs. Midjourney : A Comparative Analysis

Both Leonardo AI and Midjourney aim to make the world of AI art accessible, but they approach it with slightly different philosophies.

• Leonardo AI: Has an easy-to-use interface with lots of pictures. Signing up is simple, and there are helpful hints throughout the platform. While all the options might seem like a lot at first, this gives experienced users more control over their creations. Leonardo AI also has a busy online community on Discord, where people can share ideas, help each other, and chat about any problems they have.
• Midjourney: Operates entirely within Discord, which can have a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with the platform. Image generation relies exclusively on text prompts, providing a more focused experience but potentially less initial flexibility. Midjourney’s community is vast and highly engaged, offering a wealth of resources.

Key Takeaway: Leonardo AI may be a better fit for beginners seeking a visually guided experience and those who want to experiment extensively with settings. Midjourney users could enjoy the prompt-focused approach if they are comfortable with Discord and prioritize a highly active, collaborative community environment.

Is Leonardo AI worth it?

Leonardo AI is a great tool for anyone who wants to create stunning visual assets from text prompts. It can help you save time, money, and effort, as well as unleash your creativity and imagination. Whether you are a professional or a hobbyist, Leonardo AI can help you achieve your goals and have fun along the way.

Leonardo AI is worth if you:

• Want to create game assets, concept art, product mockups, and other types of image
• Want to train your own AI models and share them with other
• Want to join a vibrant and supportive community of AI enthusiasts
• Want to create photorealistic images with minimal effort and maximum quality

Overall Impression

Leonardo AI is highly recommended for its photorealistic image generation capabilities and is considered a game-changer for creative professionals and hobbyists. It offers a balance of power and accessibility, with an intuitive interface suitable for a wide range of users​​.

In conclusion, Leonardo AI is an excellent choice for those looking to leverage AI in creating digital art, game assets, and other digital projects. Its ease of use, combined with powerful features, makes it a valuable tool in the creative process.

And yeah, if you need any help in creating your specific image, let me know in the comment box or via mail. Happy to help😊!