AI ART ESSENTIALS O1
Hey, AI art lovers, welcome to the essentials! The essentials are not keyword stuffed, SEO optimized articles, these are no-nonsense guides to have you generating AI art at a high level as quickly as possible. As usual I will be working in Leonardo AI so think of this as your practical roadmap to unlocking the platform’s key features. Before we start, make sure Legacy Mode is toggled on for max control and extra settings.
Proper AI Prompting
Crafting a solid prompt is single handedly the most important step in the creation of AI art. A clear, well-thought-out prompt tells Leonardo AI exactly what you want, boosting the detail, adherence, and quality of your final image. If you’re new to prompts, I’ve got tons of beginner guides, but this tutorial is about taking your prompt game to the next level—whether you’re tweaking one of your own or grabbing a gem from the AI Art Kingdom’s 100+ prompts section.
Quick Tip: Head to the AAK club’s prompt section, pick a style that sparks your interest, and try recreating that vibe. Use the reference image to nail the details or swap the subject to make it your own. For example, take a cyberpunk cityscape prompt and turn it into a futuristic forest. Want more? Check out my in-depth prompt engineering guide or browse AI Art Kingdom for endless insporation.
Choosing The Right Model
Picking the right model is your next big move—it’s what shapes the overall look of your art. Leonardo AI has a sizable lineup of models, and the 100+ prompts section even shows which model was used for each style. You’ll find the Model selection dropdown just below the prompt bar. My advice? Play around to find what clicks for you!
Below is a short list of my most frequently used models:
AlbedoBase XL
Described in Leonardo AI as a "generalist model" that tends towards more CG artistic outputs. I've definitely found this model useful for generating more of a artistic rendition of the subject matter. Great for a more painted or illustration style for your images.
Leonardo Anime XL
As the name suggests this model specializes in generating anime style art. It consistently outputs images with a hand-drawn 2D illustration style better than any of the other anime models currently available.
Leonardo Vision XL
For those seeking highly realistic visuals, Vision stands out as a specialized model suitable for cinematic scenes and lifelike portraits. Leonardo Vision XL can be used to enhance the quality and cinematic appeal of AI-generated art, adding realism and depth to various prompts.
Leonardo Phoenix 1.0
Phoenix is a popular model as it is the base model for Leonardo AI. This model can handle all types of styles with the ability to accurately generate text. Worth noting, this model cannot be used in Legacy Mode.
Utilizing Elements
Positioned just below the image prompt bar, Elements allows users to fine-tune the style and details of their images through a 'mix and match' implementation of dynamic style modifiers. This allows for the creation of unique and customized artwork with infinite variations. You can adjust the strength of each Element to further your control of the images overall dominate vibe. You don't have to use elements however, but this feature is SERIOUSLY one of the most important tools Leonardo AI offers for producing the exact desired style outcome for your art and I can't stress this enough.
Image Guidance
At the forefront of creating constant characters in AI art generation are Leonardo AI’s Image Guidance options, and while it still isn’t an exact science, it is a massive leap forward in AI image output control. You can use up to four reference images to blend styles, compositions, or even character likenesses, with sliders to adjust each image’s influence. Leonardo recommends sticking to SDXL models (not Lightning) for the best results.
Here’s the lowdown on the three key Image Guidance options:
1. Style Reference: Infuse your art with the aesthetic of a reference image, like a specific art style or color scheme.
2. Content Reference: Keep the shapes and layout of a reference but change the theme or content. Great for remixing existing images.
3. Character Reference: Capture a character’s likeness (e.g., a celebrity or OC). Use a clear face shot at the same angle as your desired output.
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Heads-up: Style and Content Reference do need a premium membership, and not all options work with base models. Regardless, working with Leonardo AI's standard model Phoenix 1.0 is still an extremely viable option and a great place to start.
Wrap Up
There you go—part one of the Essentials. A straightforward guide to rocking your AI art creations! Start with a good prompt (grab one from AI Art Kingdom if you’re stuck), pick a model that fits your vibe, and use Elements and Image Guidance to make your art pop. Keep experimenting, and don’t forget to check out the AAK club for more prompt ideas and style guides.
If you'd like to know more you can head over to AIArtKingdom.com for a curated collection of today's most popular, most liked AI artwork from across the internet. Plus explore an extensive array of AI art tools, complemented by comprehensive guides and reviews, on our AI blog.
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