Write a brief before choosing a model
Specify the subject, audience, aspect ratio and intended use. If the design needs words, provide the exact wording. List the details that must remain consistent, such as a product’s shape or a required color.
Use reference material you have permission to use. Keep the brief the same across candidates and record any model or setting changes. This gives you a useful personal comparison; it does not turn one example into a universal quality ranking.
Inspect the complete visual
Check the main subject first, then look for missing constraints, unintended text and inconsistent details. Read every word in the image. Zoom into the areas that matter for the intended publication size.
Try one targeted revision. Ask for a small change and inspect whether the rest of the image stays useful. A tool that produces a good first image but cannot support your editing route may be a poor fit for repeated work.
Check the conditions around the image
- Is the generation public or private on this plan?
- Can you download the required resolution or file type?
- Does a trial expire, or does the allowance renew?
- What rights and attribution conditions apply to the intended use?
The Ideogram plan guide and Adobe Firefly plan page describe different allowances. Compare the exact feature, not simply a “free” label.
Keep selection and technique separate
For current candidates, see Adobe Firefly, Ideogram and Leonardo.Ai, then return to the image category. Older DALL·E API references should be checked against its retirement notice rather than treated as a current API recommendation.
Run one example brief
Ask each tool for a square poster with one headline, a blue background and room for a logo. Keep the brief and intended size fixed. Compare text accuracy, the editable area and the file you can actually export.
Find generators for the same brief
