A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up & Using DALL·E 2

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The easiest way to get started with DALL·E 2
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DALL·E 2 is an AI image generator you can access from your web browser. It was created by OpenAI, the same group that made ChatGPT . DALL·E 2 is the second iteration of DALL·E, which, like other AI image generators , uses your text-based prompts to generate images. If you've been curious about DALL·E 2 and how to use it, then keep reading—we go over how to sign up, buy credits, create images, and do some advanced editing in this article.

Things You Should Know

  • DALL·E 2 is not free. You will need to pay $15 per 115 credits (115 images).
  • One prompt generation costs one credit, and DALL·E 2 will offer four image variations per generation.
  • In addition to generating new images, you can upload your own and use DALL·E 2's advanced editing features on them to create something new.
Section 1 of 4:

Signing Up & Buying Credits

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/3b\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    You'll find the AI image generator at https://openai.com/index/dall-e-2/ .
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1f\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1f\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you already have an OpenAI account, you can sign in and skip the rest of the steps in this section. Otherwise, follow the on-screen steps to set up your account, including mobile verification.
    • You can also sign up using your existing Google, Microsoft, or Apple account.
    • OpenAI requires a phone number for security reasons. [1]
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  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/b3\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's directly under the prompt box.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/46\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    115 credits is $15, and there's no discount for buying credits in bulk. One credit is good for one prompt of four image variations, so 115 credits will get you 115 prompts generated.
    • Note that your DALL·E credits expire 12 months after you buy them, so ensure you can use up all of your credits before they expire. [2]
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Section 2 of 4:

Creating Images

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    After you've signed up or logged in, you'll be brought to the DALL·E homepage, which has a text box where you can enter prompts. The prompt box will have a placeholder prompt in it, and it's next to a button that says Generate . You can write anything from a very simple prompt to a more detailed one, and DALL·E will generate your image based on that prompt.
    • Be specific and detailed without going overboard.
    • If you want the end image to have a certain art style, mood, or look, include that in the prompt. However, don't make your prompts too wordy; this can have the opposite effect and make your images harder to understand.
    EXPERT TIP

    Tyrone Showers

    Technologist
    Tyrone Showers is a Technologist and the Co-owner of Taliferro Group, an IT consulting company based in Seattle, Washington. With over 35 years of professional experience, he specializes in API Design, e-Commerce, Operational Efficiency, and website development. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from DeVry Institute of Technology.
    Tyrone Showers
    Technologist

    Bring your ideas to life by using AI Art Tools. Craft a clear description of your vision, including details like style (cartoon, realistic), subject matter, and artistic influences (i.e. Salvador Dalí). You can generate stunning visuals for work, content creation, or even unique artwork with just a concise prompt.

  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/54\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If your images didn't turn out how you wanted, you can adjust the prompt to tweak the end results.
    • For example, if your original prompt for DALL·E was "a skateboarding dog," you might adjust it to say "a brown skateboarding dog" or "a skateboarding dog wearing a baseball cap." This specificity will help DALL·E make an image that is closer to what you want.
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    When you click on any of your generated images, you can choose from several options in the upper-right corner.
    • Download: Download the image to your computer.
    • Save: Save the image to a collection.
    • Share: Share the image to DALL·E 2's feed.
    • Edit: Use advanced editing options
    • Variations: Generate four alternative images of the same prompt (though this will use another credit)
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Section 3 of 4:

Writing Great Prompts

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-8.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-8.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you want to create an image that looks like a painting, include the style of impressionism, cubism, or baroque. If you want to create a photo-realistic image, try including information such as camera type and focal distance.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-9.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-9.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/33\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-9.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-9.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    If you are trying to create an image of wolves in a forest, be specific about what you want the forest to look like. Are there a lot of trees or are they in a clearing? What season is it? What time of day is it?
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/68\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-10-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-10-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Intricate details such as image orientation or object placement can actually have the opposite effect and can lead to your image not being readable.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-11-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-11-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    After figuring out the concept, you can add more details to your prompt to tweak it further and bring it closer to the image you're trying to achieve.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a8\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-12-Version-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-12-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Try joining communities of people who like to use DALL·E 2 on Reddit or Discord and study how other people write prompts, especially those who get results like what you're looking for. Some people are protective over their prompts, but many are willing to share.
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Section 4 of 4:

Advanced Features

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  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Use-Dall-E-2-Step-13.jpg\/v4-728px-Use-Dall-E-2-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    There are two main advanced editing modes with DALL·E 2: inpainting (eraser) and outpainting (add generation frame).
    • To inpaint, select the eraser tool (keyboard shortcut E) with the image open in the editor. Paint over a spot in the image you want to replace, then use the prompt pop-up to describe the entire image, including what you want to fill in the spot you erased.
    • To outpaint, select the Add generation frame tool (keyboard shortcut F) and position it so your image expands in the direction you want. Use the prompt bar to describe what you want to fill the new part of the image.

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      • You can also edit an image you already have by clicking the Upload button. You can then use this image with inpainting and outpainting to edit the image into something new.
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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about technology, check out our in-depth interview with Tyrone Showers .

      References

      1. ↑ https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6613520-phone-verification-faq
      2. ↑ https://help.openai.com/en/articles/6399305-how-dall-e-credits-work

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