How to Create AI Images on Instagram

AI-generated images are no longer just for tech insiders, they’re popping up all over Instagram, and you can create them without any special skills. These stunning visuals can help you develop a unique brand aesthetic, create content when you're short on ideas, and capture your audience's attention in a crowded feed. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create AI images, from using Instagram’s built-in tools to leveraging powerful third-party apps, along with strategies to make your creations stand out.

Understanding Instagram's Built-in AI Image Tools

Meta has been integrating generative AI directly into its apps, making it easier than ever to add a creative spark to your content. While these tools are still rolling out and may not be available to everyone just yet, they provide a simple and fast way to get started with AI image creation without ever leaving the Instagram app.

The two main features you can use right now are AI-powered background editing for Stories and AI-generated stickers for Stories and direct messages.

How to Use AI Backgrounds in Instagram Stories

Ever wished you could instantly transport yourself to a dream location without using a green screen? Instagram's AI background editor ("backdrop") in Stories makes this possible. It allows you to select an object or person from your photo and generate a completely new background based on a simple text description.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

• Step 1: Open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap the plus icon to create a new Story.
• Step 2: Upload a photo from your camera roll or take a new one. For the best results, use a photo with a clear subject in the foreground.
• Step 3: At the top of your screen, look for an icon that looks like a person in front of a rectangular background. This is the backdrop tool. Tap on it.
• Step 4: Instagram will automatically cut out the main subject from your photo. You'll now see a text prompt box where you can describe the background you want to generate. Be as creative as you like!
• Step 5: Type in your prompt. You could try something like "standing in front of a futuristic cyberpunk city" or "surrounded by a field of bioluminescent flowers."
• Step 6: Tap "Done." Instagram will generate a couple of options for you to choose from. Tap on the option you like best to add it to your Story, then continue editing as you normally would.

How to Create AI Stickers for Stories and DMs

Custom AI stickers are a fun, personal way to react to messages or add a unique touch to your Stories. Instead of searching through the GIPHY library, you can instantly create a sticker that perfectly matches your thoughts or the context of your content.

Follow these simple steps:

• Step 1: Open a Story or a direct message conversation.
• Step 2: Tap the sticker icon (the smiley face in a square) from the top menu in Stories or from the text bar in DMs.
• Step 3: Look for a new option labeled "AI Stickers" and tap on it. You might see it highlighted as a new feature.
• Step 4: A text box will appear asking you to describe the sticker you want. Your imagination is the only limit.
• Step 5: Enter a prompt like "a Corgi wearing a tiny chef's hat," "a happy avocado giving a thumbs up," or "a synthwave-style cat DJing." The more specific you are, the better the result.
• Step 6: Tap to generate your sticker. Instagram will create a few variations. Just tap the one you want to add it directly to your Story or DM.

Level Up Your Creations: Using Midjourney for Stunning AI Images

While Instagram's tools are a great starting point, dedicated AI art generators like Midjourney offer far more creative control, higher image quality, and the ability to develop a truly unique artistic style. Midjourney runs through the social platform Discord, which might seem a little unusual at first, but it’s a powerful tool once you get the hang of it.

Getting Started with Midjourney

Before you can create, you need to set up your accounts. You’ll need to subscribe to a Midjourney plan, as there is no longer a free trial.

1. Create a Discord Account: If you don't already have one, head to Discord.com and sign up for a free account.
2. Join the Midjourney Server: Go to Midjourney.com, click "Join the Beta," and accept the Midjourney Discord server invitation. This will add the Midjourney server to your server list on the left side of your Discord screen.
3. Head to a "Newcomer Room": In the Midjourney server, find one of the channels labeled "#newbies" or "#general". This is where you can start generating images.
4. Use the `/imagine` command: All image generation in Midjourney starts with a single command. In the message box of a newcomer room, type `/imagine` and press enter. You'll now see a `prompt` box. This is where you will type the description of the image you want to create.

Crafting the Perfect Prompt for Instagram

The quality of your AI image depends almost entirely on the quality of your prompt. A weak prompt gives a generic result, while a detailed prompt creates something extraordinary.

A great prompt includes several key elements:

• The Subject: Clearly describe the main person, object, or character. Be specific. Instead of "a dog," try "a fluffy Samoyed puppy."
• The Setting: Where is your subject? Describe the environment. Example: "on a serene beach at sunset."
• The Style: This is what gives your art a unique feel. You can reference specific art movements, artists, or aesthetics. Examples: "in the style of Hayao Miyazaki," "3D render," "cinematic," "vintage polaroid photo," or "minimalist line art."
• The Lighting &, Mood: Lighting dramatically changes the feeling of an image. Try "soft, magical studio lighting," "dramatic neon noir lighting," or "golden hour."
• The Right Aspect Ratio: Instagram's feed favors vertical images. To make an image perfectly formatted for a portrait feed post, add --ar 4:5 to the end of your prompt. For Stories or Reels backgrounds, you would use --ar 9:16.

Here's an example of how prompts evolve:

Okay Prompt: a woman in space

Better Prompt: a female astronaut floating in space, looking at earth

Excellent, Instagram-Worthy Prompt: cinematic shot of a beautiful female astronaut with reflective helmet, a distant, glowing earth is reflected in her visor, cosmic nebula in the background, hyperrealistic, dramatic lighting, shot on hasselblad, --ar 4:5

Experimentation is part of the fun with this platform, so don't be afraid to try different combinations of words to see what happens.

Exploring Other Powerful AI Image Generators

Midjourney is not the only option. Several other user-friendly tools offer unique strengths depending on your needs. Here are a couple of excellent alternatives to try:

DALL-E 3 (via ChatGPT or Microsoft Image Creator)

Why it's great: DALL-E 3 is renowned for its incredible grasp of natural language. It can understand very complex and nuanced prompts with accuracy, making it phenomenal for creating specific scenes. Unlike Midjourney, it's also excellent at generating legible text within images, a feature that can be great for social media graphics.

Who it's for: Anyone already using ChatGPT Plus, or marketers who need images with specific words, like mock-up advertisements or conceptual graphics. You can also access DALL-E 3 through Microsoft Designer, where it's currently free to use.

Canva's Magic Studio

Why it's great: Millions of creators and marketers already live inside Canva to design their social media content. Magic Studio brings AI image generation directly into that workflow. You can use its "Magic Media" feature to generate images or illustrations and then immediately drop them into your Instagram post templates, add text, apply filters, and animate them. It lowers the barrier to entry because it's built into a platform so many people already know how to use.

Who it's for: Social media managers, small business owners, and anyone who relies on Canva for their content creation. It’s perfect for quickly creating on-brand illustrations, backgrounds, and custom graphics without needing a separate tool.

Best Practices for Sharing AI Art on Instagram

Creating an arresting AI image is only half the battle. To truly succeed on Instagram, you need to share your creations strategically to build an audience and spark engagement.

Editing and Post-Production

Often, the raw output from an AI generator can be improved with a few adjustments. Don’t just post the file as-is. Instead of posting the pure AI-generated image directly, take an extra few minutes to give it a human touch. Use editing apps like Adobe Lightroom, VSCO, or even Instagram's own editing tools to:

• Adjust Colors and Contrast: Fine-tune the colors to enhance the mood and make it align with your personal brand aesthetic.
• Increase Sharpness: AI images can sometimes come out a little soft. Adding a bit of sharpness makes them pop on a small phone screen.
• Fix Minor Flaws: AI is notorious for generating wonky hands or other strange details. If you're skilled with photo editing software, you can easily clean up tiny artifacts before posting.

Craft Compelling Captions and Hashtags

Your caption turns an image into a story, giving your audience a reason to connect with your post. Instead of just saying "Made with Midjourney," share the creativity behind it. Some ideas include:

• Share Your Prompt: Be transparent! Letting your people see your text prompt gives them a behind-the-scenes peek into your creative process. It can also help other artists to improve.
• Tell A Little Story: If you've created a fantasy landscape or a character, write a few sentences about it. Create a narrative around it that interests them. What's the world called? What happens to the character next?
• Ask Engaging Questions: Encourage interaction. Ask questions like, "What should I name this spaceship?" or "What kind of title for a story would you give this scene?"

For your hashtag strategy, use a mix of broad, specific, and community-focused tags. For example, combine general tags like #AIart and #GenerativeArt with tool-specific ones like #MidjourneyArt. Add style tags like #FantasyArt or #Futurism. For transparency, always include the hashtag #CreatedWithAI, which is becoming a popular standard and shows respect for the community.

Engaging Your Audience and Building a Community

Use your AI-generated art as a starting point for conversations. In your Stories, run polls asking your audience which prompt idea they'd like to see you create next, or share the step-by-step process of generating a new piece in a Reel. As the conversation around AI art continues to evolve, transparency and respectful dialogue with other creators are key. Embrace the discussion and showcase how you're using these tools to express your creativity.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're using Instagram's quick and easy built-in features or diving deep into powerful platforms like Midjourney, creating AI images for your feed is an accessible way to boost your creativity and stand out online. The trick isn't just generating a pretty picture, it's about crafting a compelling story, engaging with the community, and seamlessly blending that captivating content into your overall social media strategy.

Once you have a folder full of incredible AI-generated visuals, the next step is planning how to roll them out for maximum impact. We built Postbase to make this part effortless. Our visual content calendar lets you see your entire posting schedule at a glance, drag and drop posts to find the perfect flow for your AI art series, and schedule everything across Instagram, TikTok, and Threads in one go. You can focus on your creative process, and we’ll make sure your content gets published reliably every single time.

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