In the world of AI, it seems that all eyes are on OpenAI. From the groundbreaking release of ChatGPT to the game-changing promise of Sora, it seems that OpenAI can do no wrong. Somewhere in the middle of these two models are an AI image generator that’s sometimes dwarfed by others in its market: DALL-E 3.

One of the biggest reasons why DALL-E 3 fails to overtake Midjourney and Stable Diffusion is that people can’t figure out how to use it properly. 

So, I’m here to teach. In this article, I’ll be teaching you how to use DALL-E 3 correctly using both ChatGPT and Bing Create. Stay tuned!

How To Use DALL-E 3 With ChatGPT

I’ve said before that DALL-E 3 is the most user-friendly AI image generator, and my opinion hasn’t changed since then. The biggest reason why it’s so accessible is its integration with ChatGPT, or to be more specific, GPT-4. Here’s all you need to do to use DALL-E 3 with ChatGPT:

Step #1: Switch to GPT-4

Just as GPT-4 operates on a paid model, DALL-E 3 is not a free service. To unlock this AI image generator, you need to pay for the ChatGPT Plus subscription plan at a cost of $20 monthly. If you’re worried about not getting your money’s worth, fret not! This also comes with data analysis tools, web scraping powered by Bing’s engine, and integration with plugins such as Zapier for automation workflows.

Once you’ve successfully paid for a subscription, all you need to do is switch from GPT-3.5 to GPT-4 like this:

Step #2: Write Your Prompt

Now, all you need to do is write a prompt. If you’re already using other AI image generators, you might wonder how to prompt with DALL-E 3. After all, other models like Midjourney and Stable Diffusion require a lot of parameters and deep understanding of prompt engineering to fully use.

That’s not the case with DALL-E 3.

Since you’re using it with ChatGPT, you can simply write anything as your prompt. The more conversational it is, the better. For example:

The reason why this works is because GPT-4 turns your conversational prompt into something that DALL-E 3 is better equipped to understand. If you click on any image, you can see the final prompt based on your conversation:

Step #3: Refine The Output

Since DALL-E 3 with GPT is conversational, you can easily ask it to create modifications to an image like this one:

And that’s literally it. You’ve successfully created images with DALL-E 3 using ChatGPT. But there’s a couple more things you can do…

Additional Tip: Use Conversations

If you’re using ChatGPT Plus and you find yourself wanting to create an image based on your conversation, don’t worry. You can also directly ask ChatGPT to visualize certain elements of your conversation:

Additional Tip: Custom Instructions

If you don’t want ChatGPT to modify your original prompt, you can create a custom instruction that prevents the model from doing so. To do this, simply press your account name on the bottom left side like this:

And then select “Customize GPT.”

After that, this popup should appear:

On the upper field, simply write this instruction:

“When generating images with DALL-E 3, don’t — under any circumstance — change or modify any part of the original prompt. Keep it as is.”

And then click the “Save” button. That’s one way of ensuring that ChatGPT won’t change your prompt when using the DALL-E 3 model. 

As for the other way…

How To Use DALL-E 3 With Bing Create

Let me clue you in on a little secret: You can actually use DALL-E 3 for free using Bing Create. The trade-off? You don’t get to use it conversationally like with ChatGPT.

Bing Create functions similarly to Midjourney and other AI image generators, but without the features. All you need to do is input a prompt and let DALL-E 3 do its magic:

This method is free for 15 generations with boosts. After that, each prompt takes about 10 to 30 minutes to create images.

Which Is Better?

It depends. If you value generating images using conversations and refining them, then definitely go for DALL-E 3 with Bing Create. Yes, it will set you back a few bucks, but you’ll also get more than DALL-E 3 with a Pro Subscription with OpenAI, so you’ll get your money’s worth in no time.

However, if you’re a frugal person who values flexibility and precision, you can settle for Bing Create. You don’t need to worry about ChatGPT accidentally changing your prompts or spending a few bucks — you just go straight into creating images. No frills, no fuss.

All Said And Done

No matter what you choose, DALL-E 3 is an incredibly easy tool to use. As far as I know, it’s the only AI image generator that lets you create artwork without ever worrying about the basics of prompt engineering. It’s proof that an AI tool doesn’t have to be complicated to be amazing.

If you’re looking for a full review of DALL-E 3, we’ve got you covered. And if you’re looking for comparisons of DALL-E 3 with popular AI image generators, I recommend checking out our articles such as this one or this one. Have fun!