Envato Tuts+ Design & Illustration

How to make a fall pumpkin latte illustration

noemail@noemail.org (Nataliya Dolotko) — Mon, 2 Sep 2024 18:43:49 GMT

What You'll Be Creating

In this tutorial, we're diving into the cozy world of fall by creating a cute pumpkin latte illustration in a fall color palette in Adobe Illustrator. Whether you're a beginner or someone who has been in the field for longer, you'll love how easy it is to bring this autumn design to life using just a few simple techniques.

We'll use basic shapes, move around anchor points, and add depth and warmth with textures and transparency effects. By the end, you'll have beautiful, seasonal artwork in a warm fall color palette ready to celebrate the spirit of fall!

If you're looking for vector textures and autumn illustrations that are ready to use, don't forget to visit Envato and enjoy some free creative assets as well!

Jump to content in this section:

How to create a background in Illustrator
How to create a cup in Illustrator
How to create cinnamon sticks
How to create the yellow berries
How to create the coral fall leaves
How to create a maple leaf in Illustrator
How to create red berries in Illustrator

What you'll need for the tutorial

You'll need to download the following textures to follow along:

Natural paper textures

Fall color palette hex codes

A good fall color palette can bring warmth and coziness to your designs. The colors evoke the comforting essence of autumn, perfect for creating an inviting and nostalgic atmosphere in your seasonal projects. Here are the fall color palette hex codes that I used in the tutorial.

1. How to create a background in Illustrator

Step 1

After you've opened Adobe Illustrator, create a new document (File > New). Enter 850 px Width and 900 px Height in the dialogue window, and press OK. This will be your new artboard.

We will start to create our fall illustration by making a background. Create a rectangle by using the Rectangle Tool (M). Click on the artboard and enter 850 x 900 px. Press OK, and make its fill color R=249, G=222, B=212. This is the first part of our background.

If you want to place it exactly in the middle of the canvas, go to the Align panel and check Align to: Align to Artboard (bottom-right corner). Now, any elements that you choose to align will be aligned to your artboard. Next, you need to select the object that you want to align. In the Align Objects section, press Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center. This is how you put any object exactly in the middle of your canvas or artboard.

Step 2

Change the fill color to R=249, G=206, B=189, and draw a rectangle with the Rectangle Tool (M).

Now you want to go to View > Show Corner Widget. When you do this, the rectangle gets small circles in every corner which you can use to further modify it. Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the two upper anchor points. You can drag them inwards to give this rectangle rounded corners on top.

This is the second part of our background.

Place this newly created shape on top of the main background, exactly in the middle. The background is now done.

2. How to create a cup in Illustrator

Step 1

To create the cup, start by making a rectangle with the Rectangle Tool (M). Make its fill color R=224, G=123, B=54.

After this, we want to make the two bottom corners of the rectangle rounded, as we did for the second part of the background. Using the Direct Selection Tool (A), drag the two bottom corners to the center until they become rounded.

Step 2

Next, we'll create the cup rim. Make the fill color the stroke color by clicking on the Swap Fill and Stroke (Shift-X) button on the left panel. On the Stroke panel (Window > Stroke), click on the Round Cap button in the Cap section. On the same panel, you can adjust the Weight of this stroke—it should be 20 px. Make its stroke color R=117, G=70, B=70.

Using the Line Segment Tool (\), draw the cup rim.

Step 3

Let’s create a handle for the cup. Keep the same stroke color (R=117, G=70, B=70) and the same weight. Pick the Ellipse Tool (L), hold down the Shift key (to create an even circle), and draw a circle.

Place the cup rim on the side of the cup.

Step 4

To create the pumpkin illustration, we'll start with a yellow ellipse (fill color R=255, G=193, B=125).

Create a copy of it in the back (Control-C, Control-B), change its fill color to R=252, G=175, B=99, and stretch it a little horizontally. This is so that the front part of the pumpkin will be separated from the back parts.

Now, let's create the back parts of the pumpkin illustration. You can copy the front one (Control-C, Control-V), copy it again, and paste both back parts of the pumpkin in the back (Control-X, Control-B). Place the two back parts symmetrically, as shown in the image below.

Make the fill color the stroke color by clicking on the Swap Fill and Stroke (Shift-X) button on the left panel. Change its stroke color to R=173, G=159, B=121. Make sure that you've checked the Round Cap option and made the stroke Weight 4 px on the Stroke panel. Use the Arc Tool to draw a stalk for the pumpkin illustration.

Group the whole pumpkin illustration (right-click > Group).

Put the pumpkin illustration on the cup.

Step 5

Now, place the cup on top of the background.

Step 6

Change the stroke color to white. Make the stroke Weight 40 px on the Stroke panel. Draw three white lines using the Line Segment Tool (\) to create some whipped cream for your drink. You don’t need the black lines—they're just there to make the lines more visible.

Step 7

Let's create the top part of the whipped cream using the Ellipse Tool (L)—the fill color is white. Remember to change the stroke color to the fill color!

Then, go to Effect > Warp > Inflate because we want to add a corresponding shape to it. Enter the options you see below in the image, and please notice that Inflate should be Horizontal. Then press OK.

Expand this shape (Object > Expand Appearance).

Step 8

Put this final piece of whipped cream on top of the rest of the cream.

Make the stroke color R=255, G=235, B=235, decrease the stroke Weight to 4 px, and draw a few lines using the Line Segment Tool (\). By doing this, you're adding texture and dimension to the whipped cream.

Let’s add some sprinkles to the cream. Make the fill color R=255, G=193, B=125, and draw tiny circles here and there. Then change the fill color to R=153, G=90, B=58, and add some more.

Step 9

And now for the last step for our cup—we need to add some texture to it. Choose one of your favorite textures from Natural Paper Textures. I chose number 1. Place it under the cup. You can make the texture smaller or larger depending on what scale of texture you want.

Select the orange part and the texture, and press Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Control-7).

Keep this selection, and go to the Transparency panel (Window > Transparency). In the pop-out menu (labeled as Normal), select the Color Burn option and make the Opacity 40%. Of course, you can make the Opacity any value you want, depending on how you want it to look. Technically, the texture by itself isn’t a vector texture—it’s a raster—but that’s the best way to apply a texture to a vector illustration while preserving its features.

Now you just need to group the whole pumpkin latte (right-click > Group). Your drink illustration is finished!

Here’s how our fall drink looks now.

3. How to create cinnamon sticks in Illustrator

Step 1

Next, our autumn illustration needs a cinnamon stick. Be sure to have the stroke color set to R=153, G=90, B=58. Draw a line using the Line Segment Tool (\). On the Stroke panel, make the Weight 25 px, and check Round Cap.

Delete the stroke color and set the fill color to R=122, G=65, B=39. Draw an ellipse on top.

Step 2

Decrease the stroke Weight to 1 px, and change the stroke color to R=76, G=40, B=26. Using the Spiral Tool, draw a spiral over the ellipse.

Group the whole cinnamon stick so that you can move it easily (right-click > Group).

Step 3

Place it behind the latte drink (Control-X, Control-B). Then, holding the Alt key, move it aside. That’s how you create a copy of the cinnamon stick.

4. How to create the yellow berries in Illustrator

Step 1

First, we'll draw a stalk using the Arc Tool. On the Stroke panel, make the stroke Weight 5 px and check Round Cap. The stroke color should be R=173, G=159, B=121.

Then, draw a long stalk from top to bottom. Add two smaller green arcs that branch out.

Step 2

Using the Ellipse Tool (L) and holding the Shift key, draw a yellow circle. The fill color should be R=242, G=175, B=76.

Add a smaller red ellipse on top with a fill color of R=196, G=70, B=49. This is the first yellow berry.

Step 3

Let’s add some texture, as we did for the cup. First, choose a texture you like, and place it behind the berry. If you want, you can make the texture very big, as I did in the image below.

Select the yellow berry and make a copy in front (Control-C, Control-F). Keep the selection and select the texture while holding the Shift key. Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Control-7).

Keep this selection, and go to the Transparency panel (Window > Transparency). In the pop-out menu, select the Color Burn option. Feel free to play with the Opacity.

Group the whole berry (right-click > Group).

Step 4

Put the yellow berry on the green stalk. Create two more copies of the yellow berry and place them on each stalk. Now, group it so that it’s easier to move around.

Put the branch of yellow berries behind the whipped cream of the fall drink (Control-X, Control-B).

5. How to create the coral fall leaves in Illustrator

Step 1

Now we want a fall leaves illustration.

First, we'll draw a stalk using the Line Segment Tool (\). On the Stroke panel, make the stroke Weight 4 pixels and check the Round Cap. The stroke color should be R=153, G=90, B=58.

Then, draw a long stalk. After that, add a smaller stalk that branches out on the left side. To draw it diagonally at exactly 45 degrees, hold the Shift button while drawing.

Next, add another small diagonal stalk on the right side. Select the two diagonal stalks and move them down the main stalk while holding the Alt key. You just created a new pair of diagonal stalks.

Step 2

Use the Ellipse Tool (L) to draw a coral-colored ellipse. The fill color should be R=242, G=142, B=129.

Take the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click on the top and bottom anchor points. You should get a shape with sharp points, which will be the leaf.

Step 3

Let’s add a texture, as we did for the cup and the berries. First, choose the texture you like, and then place it behind the coral leaf. If you want, you can make the texture very big, as I did in the image below.

Select the coral leaf and make a copy in front (Control-C, Control-F). Keep the selection and select the texture while holding Shift. Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Control-7).

Keep this selection, and go to the Transparency panel. In the pop-out menu, select Color Burn and play around with the Opacity. Group it.

Step 4

Put the coral leaf behind the brown stalk.

Create a copy of it and rotate it to the left while holding Shift. The Shift key helps you to rotate any shape exactly 45 degrees.

Keep going: create three more copies and place them behind each stalk. Finally, group the whole branch together.

Put the coral leaves behind the fall drink (Control-X, Control-B).

6. How to create a maple leaf in Illustrator

Step 1

First, we'll draw a stalk using the Line Segment Tool (\). On the Stroke panel, make the stroke Weight 3 px and check the Round Cap. The stroke color should be R=196, G=70, B=49. Draw a long stalk.

After that, add a smaller horizontal stalk. Hold the Shift button while drawing—it will help you to draw at exactly 90 degrees. Then, add two new diagonal small stalks.

Step 2

Using the Ellipse Tool (L), draw a yellow ellipse. The fill color should be R=242, G=175, B=76.

Take the Anchor Point Tool (Shift-C) and click on the top and bottom anchor points. You should get a shape with sharp points—this will be our leaf.

Step 3

Choose a texture you like, and place it behind the yellow leaf.

Select the yellow leaf and make a copy in front (Control-C, Control-F). Keep the selection and select the texture while holding the Shift key. Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Control-7).

Keep this selection and go to the Transparency panel. In the pop-out menu, select Color Burn. Group it.

Step 4

Put the yellow leaf behind the vertical stalk. Create a copy of it and rotate it 45 degrees to the left while holding Shift. Put it behind the stalk.

Keep going: create five more copies and place them behind each stalk. Now, group the whole maple leaf.

Put the maple leaf close to the latte cup, on the left side.

7. How to create red berries in Illustrator

Step 1

First, we'll draw a stalk using the Arc Tool. On the Stroke panel, make the stroke Weight 5 px and check Round Cap. The stroke color should be R=173, G=159, B=121.

Draw a long stalk from top to bottom. Then, add two smaller green curves that branch out.

Step 2

While holding the Shift key, draw a red circle. The fill color should be R=196, G=70, B=49. Then add some small brown lines on top, with a stroke color of R=117, G=70, B=70.

Step 3

Choose a texture you like, and place it behind the red berry.

Select the berry and make a copy in front (Control-C, Control-F). Keep the selection and select the texture while holding Shift. Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make (Control-7).

Keep this selection, and go to the Transparency panel. In the pop-out menu, select Color Burn. Group the whole berry.

Step 4

Put the red berry on the green stalk. Create two more copies of it and place them on each stalk. Now, group it.

Put the red berry branch close to the latte cup, on the right side.

Congratulations!

Now you have a beautiful fall illustration in autumnal colors! In this tutorial, you learned how to use basic shapes to create an illustration and how to move around anchor points to modify these shapes. You also now know how to apply textures to your vector illustrations. You can apply all of this knowledge to your future projects to enhance them and truly make them your own. Happy creating!

Recommended resources from Envato

Envato is a subscription-based service offering a vast library of digital assets, including stock photos, graphics, templates, fonts, and more, created for designers, developers, and content creators. Users pay a monthly or annual fee for unlimited downloads, making it a cost-effective solution for those who need access to a wide range of creative resources. The platform is known for its quality and variety, catering to a wide variety of creative and marketing needs.

1. Watercolor fall pumpkin clipart (PNG)

This product offers a selection of beautiful autumn-themed watercolor clipart that you can easily incorporate into your designs. It’s perfect for creating greeting cards, wedding invitations, stationery, and more. The collection includes eight watercolor pumpkins and 12 botanical elements, all provided as PNG files with a high resolution of 300 DPI. Don't miss out—elevate your creative projects with this beautiful collection today.

2. Autumn leaves, pumpkins, and mushrooms vector (AI, EPS, PNG, SVG)

These autumn graphic assets are perfect for all your design projects, offering versatile vector graphics that can be used in a number of ways. The set includes AI and EPS vector files at 2340 x 1560 px, with the EPS files formatted for EPS 10. You'll also receive 36 individual SVG files, as well as 36 PNG images with a transparent background. The PNG files are high-resolution at 300 ppi in CMYK color.

3. 17 pumpkin spice elements (AI, EPS, PNG)

Enhance your designs with this charming set of 17 hand-drawn pumpkin spice elements, perfect for adding a cozy autumn touch to any project. Featuring seasonal illustrations of pumpkin spices, pies, lattes, and other delicious treats, this collection is ideal for greeting cards, banners, posters, and decorations. This set includes 17 clipart elements available in AI, EPS, and PNG formats, all conveniently downloadable as a ZIP file. Download these delightful autumn elements and use them to bring your fall projects to life.

4. Pumpkin spice design (PNG)

Add a cozy fall vibe to your designs with this adorable Watercolor Pumpkin Spice clipart collection. Perfect for capturing the autumn feel, this set includes cute pumpkin illustrations and autumn leaves, ideal for your seasonal projects. Each illustration comes as a separate PNG file with a transparent background, making it easy to incorporate into your work. On top of that, you'll also receive five beautifully arranged designs, each sized at 6"x6" and at a high resolution of 300 dpi.

5. Halloween pumpkins (EPS, JPG)

Bring a spooky touch to your Halloween projects with this vector collection of decorative orange pumpkins, featuring playful expressions and "Happy Halloween" text. Perfect for greeting cards, posters, websites, and banners, these flat-style designs are ready to enhance your seasonal creations. You'll receive 15 EPS files and 15 high-resolution JPG files (300 dpi, 6000x5000 px). All of the objects are fully expanded and ready to print. Get this spooky and fun collection to make your Halloween designs stand out!

Discover awesome tutorials and resources

Envato Tuts+ offers a wide range of step-by-step guides and video lessons that help creative professionals and beginners improve their skills in design, coding, photography, video, and more.

These tutorials are created by industry experts and cover a variety of tools and techniques, making it easier to learn new skills or enhance existing ones. Whether you're looking to master a software program or explore new creative projects, Envato Tuts+ provides valuable resources to help you succeed in your artistic journey.

How to use the Artistic Text Tool in Affinity Designer

noemail@noemail.org (Drew MacDonald) — Thu, 5 Sep 2024 11:01:08 GMT

This Affinity Designer tutorial is a continuation of our free beginner's guide to Affinity Designer. You can watch the whole video on the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel.

Previously, we learned about the Export Persona in Affinity Designer. In this installment, we'll focus on how to use the Artistic Text Tool. If you'd rather follow the video, here it is:

Watch the lesson: How to use the Artistic Text Tool

Why should you learn to use the Artistic Text Tool in Affinity Designer?

Flat, plain text isn't always aesthetically appealing and doesn't always get the point across effectively. Enter the Artistic Text Tool in Affinity Designer. This one allows you to add style and dynamism to the shorter text in your designs, such as titles, slogans, or logos.

How to use the Artistic Text Tool in Affinity Designer

We've gone through a few of the basic tools in previous tutorials on Affinity Designer tips and tricks. Here, we're creating a text-focused design that's impactful and eye-catching. Let's look at how to use the Artistic Text Tool in Affinity Designer to make it spectacular:

Step 1

To start this Affinity tutorial, find the Artistic Text Tool by clicking on the Text button on the menu to the left (the white square with a 'T' on it). From the options displayed, hit the Affinity Designer Artistic Text Tool. You'll see the button will change to a black square with an 'A'.

Step 2

To add your text, you first need to click and drag the text box until you get the desired font size. Once you have that down, type in your content.

Step 3

Finally, if you want to change the font and unlock other options, click on the Move Tool at the top left (with the cursor on it), and go to the Character panel. There, you'll be able to choose another font and modify the size, weight, and more.

Frequently asked questions about the Artistic Text Tool in Affinity Designer

Next, let's dig into a couple of questions you may have about the Artistic Text Tool in Affinity Designer.

What are the main differences between the Frame Text and Artistic Text Tools?

If you're creating Affinity Designer text effects, you may be wondering if you should use the Frame Text Tool or the Artistic Text Tool. Here are the key differences:

The Frame Text Tool is better suited to longer text since it automatically wraps and frames the text, making it easier to move around. It also has more structured boundaries to give the text a consistent format.
The Artistic Text Tool works well for shorter text (such as single words or simple phrases) as it allows for greater manipulation. This means you can be more free and creative with it.

Can I use the Affinity Designer Artistic Text Tool for paragraphs?

You can! However, as stated above, it's more suitable for shorter pieces of text. If you want to add paragraphs or longer blocks of text, opt for the Frame Text Tool. Or, if you're dealing with larger amounts of text, move to Affinity Publisher.

Do I have to change the text characteristics through the Character panel?

Not necessarily. There's also the text toolbar at the top. There, you can tweak the Font, Alignment, Size, and more. Still, you may find more options through the Character panel.

What are other things you can change through the Character panel?

There are so many things you can modify, from the Font to the Weight, all the way to the Positioning and Decorations. You can even change the Language to get a spelling check and switch the typography language. Play around with the options and go all out with your Affinity Designer text effects!

Can I change between the Frame Text and Artistic Text Tools?

Yes! You're not stuck with your first choice. If you realize you need to change between the two, you can. To do it, make sure you're on the right layer. Then, go to the menu at the top and click the Layer option. From the dropdown menu, go for Convert to Art Text. Now, you can edit your text with the Artistic Text Tool.

If you need to revert back, follow the same process in this short Affinity Designer tutorial, and go for the Frame Text option.

Check out the result!

We've reached the end of this Affinity tutorial! This is how the social media post design is going so far after using the Affinity Designer artistic text tool. It's captivating, bold, and modern. Take a look!

Continue reading these Affinity Designer tutorials to learn even more new skills and elevate your designs!

Learn more about Affinity Designer

If you need premium Affinity Designer graphics, check out Envato for unlimited downloads! Eager to learn more about Affinity Designer? Here are other Envato Tuts+ tutorials for different skill levels:

The best AI image generators of 2025

noemail@noemail.org (Dummy Dummy) — Thu, 29 May 2025 16:17:09 GMT

Looking to create your next AI masterpiece? Or do you simply want to discover fantastic assets to use in your next creative project? Finding the best AI tool for graphic design will help you take your ideas to the next level, and many of the latest and best AI image generators are not only easy to use but often free to try out as well.

Here, creative folk can find our edit of the best AI image generators of 2025, from Midjourney to ImageGen, as well as tips for using AI design apps like Adobe Firefly to integrate imagery into your own designs.

Tap into the top 2025 AI design trends with these AI tools for graphic design, photography, and advanced image editing, and see your projects come to life!

You can create images like this using Envato's ImageGen.

The best AI image generators in 2025

Envato ImageGen	Best for social media content, trending styles, and the leading models available!
Chat GPT (GPT-4o)	Best for photorealism and conversational editing.
Adobe Firefly	Best for photography and project integration.
Midjourney	Best for artistic, atmospheric imagery.
DALL·E 3	Best for cartoons and nuanced prompts.
Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra	Best for high-definition portraits.
Recraft	Best for graphic designs and vector images.
Stable Diffusion	Best for uninterrupted creativity.
Reve	Best for fast generation and high detail.
Ideogram	Best for clear text and commercial imagery.

What is an AI image generator?

First, back to basics—maybe you’ve used an AI image generator from photo before and are curious about what else is out there, or perhaps you’re fresh to the AI app scene. Either way, AI image generators are fast becoming an essential tool in a creative’s kit to visualize ideas and experiment with different styles and layouts. And with the advances in the technology, it's now possible to use AI art generators to create unique work as part of a creative project.

In a nutshell, AI image generators transform your AI art prompts into a visual image. The more refined and specific your text prompt, the more likely it is that the resulting image will be in line with what you imagined.

How do AI image generators work?

They're trained on vast amounts of visual data, allowing the generator to build associations between styles, subjects, and patterns. The more advanced image generators will be able to pick up on AI image trends and design trends more widely, creating more relevant and contemporary results. The best AI design apps are capable of generating images that are almost indistinguishable from real-life pictures—although there are a range of tell-tale signs you can use to identify AI-generated imagery.

And yup... human hands are still a sore point for almost all the image generators we tried. So we'll keep you posted on that one!

Image created with Envato's ImageGen.

What are the best AI design apps?

It’s important to know that the best AI design apps enable your creativity, rather than replacing it. They take your ideas and turn them into reality, allowing you to refine your AI image results further to achieve particular angles, styles, colors, and trends.

The most advanced AI design tools might allow you to integrate AI images into your own work, creating a seamless design that blends the best of both worlds. So depending on what you’re looking for—whether mapping out a creative idea or looking for something more sophisticated—these are the best AI design apps by project. Scroll down for the full list of our recommendations to discover even more great AI tools for design, and take a deep dive into the features they offer.

Which AI tool is best for graphic design?

The best AI tool for graphic design? If you’re looking to map out design concepts for a brief, a quick and intuitive app like ImageGen is a great starting point for beginners, and it includes an AI prompt enhancement feature that makes your text even more effective.

For creating logos, typography, and icons, online AI app Ideogram allows graphic designers to pull multiple elements together into a cohesive layout for posters, flyers, or banners.

Recraft places an emphasis on AI images that have an editorial, polished feel, making it a great fit for advertising work or branded campaigns.

Which AI tool is best for... just having fun?

To make a quick start with creating AI images, and have plenty of fun in the process, you could try a simple image generator tool like Google’s Gemini, which gives experimental (and often downright weird) results with just a few words.

Or take Meta AI for a spin, which has been designed with beginners in mind. In the app, tap Ask Meta AI and type in what you’d like to generate, starting with Imagine. Place yourself into different scenarios (however bizarre) and share the results on social media. Just don’t expect anything too advanced!

Which AI tool is best for photography?

Adobe Firefly is one of the best AI tools for advanced image editing, allowing you to create and refine sophisticated prompts, work with the latest generative AI technology, and integrate your imagery into existing photographs. Experiment with different angles, backgrounds, and lighting prompts to get the most from your AI-generated photos. Flexible and natural results: it's a win-win.

Which AI tool is best for advanced creative work?

It really depends on the type of project you're working on, but there are a growing number of AI design apps that cater to advanced graphic design, product design, photography, and brand work. Midjourney is great for experimenting with artistic styles and subtle effects in your images, while content creators and filmmakers will love the advanced capabilities of AI video generation in Runway.

For more control over creative results, DALL·E 3 generates really impressive and accurate results. The app is built around ChatGPT but is fine-tuned to image generation, making your requests more atmospheric, nuanced, and specific.

For more recommended AI design apps, read on to discover our overview of some of the best AI image generators for graphic design and other creative projects in 2025.

The best AI image generators of 2025: 10 apps to use now

Looking for the best AI for graphic design projects? Or something a little more cheap and cheerful? These are our top picks for 2025, with recommended use and price details.

1. Envato ImageGen

At a glance:

Quick and intuitive to use.
Always adding the latest cutting edge tech (the best models—like Imagen 4!)
Tap into trends and make images more precise with built-in AI prompt enhancement.
Continue editing and fine tuning images with ImageEdit.
Turn static images into videos with VideoGen.

If you’re looking for the balance of an intuitive, user-friendly interface with the potential to maximize the creative reach of your AI images, ImageGen is well worth a look. It's easy for beginners to dive in thanks to the ability to enhance your prompts using AI, but this image generator also allows you to get really experimental with aesthetic styles and fun trends. So whether you’re looking for cutesy illustrations or photorealistic portraits, your image results are sure to be experimental, bold, and fun.

Envato's AI tools also have the added benefit of image editing via their ImageEdit tools. You can customise your images even further to get the creation for your project.

You can also find a full suite of complementary creative AI tools to pair with ImageGen, so you can generate videos from static images or refine images further with background removal, erasure, and upscaling.

Best for: Achieving trending image styles, social media content creation, enhanced AI prompts.

Price: ImageGen is included as part of an Individual or Team plan at Envato, which also gives you complete access to Envato’s library of creative assets, plus all its AI tools that includes image editing, video generation, music generation, and voice generation. You can even try ImageGen for free with five image generations. (AI tools are not included with Enterprise plans.)

2. ChatGPT (GPT-4o)

At a glance:

Great for photorealistic images.
Understands sophisticated, precise prompts.
Edit images with the app conversation-style.

ChatGPT’s image generation capabilities have always been one of the strongest on the market, but with GPT-4o, developed by OpenAI, users can create images that not only look amazing but are also imbued with more meaning and relevance.

Create images with sophisticated typography and meaningful text (no more blurry, nonsensical type bunged into your image for no good reason!), as well as ultra-convincing photorealistic effects. OpenAI dubs it the app for "useful image generation," and we have to agree—the accuracy and precision of prompts, as well as the conversational style of interacting with the app, make refining your image results easy and intuitive. So you can go from icon to game character to creating a whole visual world in very little time.

Best for: Photorealism, sophisticated prompts, conversational refinement.

Price: Free for all users, with a limit of three images per day. Plus ($20 per month) or Pro ($200 per month) users can generate unlimited images.

3. Adobe Firefly

At a glance:

Perfect for photographers looking to enhance their own photos.
Best for integrating into your own project workflow.
Benefit from cool features like Generative Fill.

Adobe’s AI powerhouse app has been created with designers in mind. Create images, video, audio, and vector graphics, collaborate with fellow creatives using Firefly Boards, and generate videos from static images.

Creative studios love Firefly for its advanced image-editing features and seamless user experience, making it feel like a part of your creative team rather than a standalone AI design app.

Best for: Advanced photo editing, cool additional features like Generative Fill, integration of imagery into existing projects.

Price: You can start using Firefly for free, with limited generative credits. Upgrade to Firefly Standard ($9.99 per month) or Firefly Pro ($29.99 per month) for unlimited image generation and features.

4. Midjourney

At a glance:

Create highly artistic images.
High level of realism.
Adjust images easily with editing features.

Offering an enticing balance of exceptional ease of use and aesthetically pleasing results, Midjourney is beloved by fans for its ability to create dreamlike landscapes and immersive images that look like something straight out of a fantasy movie, with only a few text prompts.

To use it, you’ll need to sign up for an account with Discord, which is a social messaging platform popular with online gamers. After you've done that, you can use the app simply by typing /imagine in the Discord chat and creating your AI text prompt from there. One advantage of Midjourney is that it offers cool features to adjust your generated image, so you can create different variations, zoom out, or fill parts of the image with contextual imagery.

Best for: Artistic results, atmospheric images, realism.

Price: Start generating 25 images for free. After that, a Basic plan starts from $10 per month (or $8 if paid annually).

5. DALL·E 3

At a glance:

Perfect for creating fun, cartoon-style, and surrealist imagery.
Less suited to photorealism.
Understands nuanced text prompts for greater precision.

As long as you’re not looking for realistic photography (which isn’t its strong point), DALL·E 3, hosted by OpenArt AI, is a good all-round image generator that excels at producing quirky and experimental images. Cartoon and 3D styles can come out really well, but the definition and quality of images can also vary widely.

Improving on its earlier iteration, DALL·E 2, DALL·E 3 is able to better understand complex text descriptions and create more specific images as a result.

A big plus of the generator is its accessibility and price point. Anyone with a ChatGPT account can access DALL·E 3, or you can use it for free through Bing's Image Creator, making it a good-value option.

Best for: Cartoons and comics, nuanced and accurate prompts, atmospheric imagery.

Price: Available through ChatGPT Plus for $20 a month, or use for free via Bing Image Creator.

6. Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra

At a glance:

Generate "look twice" highly photorealistic images.
Export images in high detail and high definition.
Requires patience and experimentation for best results.

Promising photorealism to rival real-life photography, Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra by Black Forest Labs is causing quite a stir in creative circles, and for good reason. Image results are highly detailed, with exceptional lighting and accurate text rendering.

The interface is designed with developers in mind rather than designers, so it's not the most user-friendly AI design app. It also struggles with consistency and prompt refinement, so you have to be patient to get the best results.

Best for: Ultra-photorealistic images, human portraits, high-definition 4K images.

Price: Try Flux 1.1. Pro for free as part of a trial, or create more at $0.06 per image.

7. Recraft

At a glance:

Great for graphic designers, product designers, and branding.
Generate polished, commercial imagery.
Combine typography and mockup imagery seamlessly.

The best AI tool for graphic design specifically might just be Recraft, which has a user-friendly interface for creating vector art, illustrations, and 3D graphics. Color control features allow you to keep your palette consistent across multiple images, making designs easily transferrable to branding projects or logo designs. You can also save your creations in a range of handy image formats, including SVG, JPG, and PNG.

We particularly love the attention to detail in Recraft, which means you can subtly adjust small elements of a design, such as typography, color, or background, and it’s super easy to integrate a design into a range of mockups, making it a useful AI design app for ideation and client pitch work.

Best for: Graphic design, vector graphics, product mockups.

Price: Try the app for free, or upgrade to a Basic plan for $12 a month (or $10 paid annually).

8. Stable Diffusion

At a glance:

Uncensored content gives complete creative flexibility.
Mimics the creative process most accurately out of all the apps we tested.
Free for most individuals, for commercial and personal use.

User-friendly and cost-effective, Stable Diffusion is an open-source AI image generator developed by Stability AI. Unrestricted and uncensored content gives users more freedom and artistic reach than other AI image generators, granting access to a broader library of content.

A vast library of extensions also allows creatives to fine-tune their image results with ease. If you’re looking for an AI design app that feels closest to an actual artistic process, Stable Diffusion is possibly the most creative tool on the market right now.

Best for: Uninterrupted creativity, flexible editing, artistic results.

Price: Free for most users, with larger organizations required to purchase a licence.

9. Reve

At a glance:

Ultra-speedy image generation.
High-quality, detailed results.
Experiment with a wide range of styles.

Fast, free, and super easy to use, Reve is a new kid on the AI block (having been released in March 2025), but it's fast becoming a favorite amongst creatives looking for an all-in-one AI image generator that won’t break the bank.

One of the cool features of Reve is the range of aesthetic styles you can play with, such as watercolor, fantasy, and photorealistic. With a little experimentation, you can create highly detailed, immersive images in just a few seconds, and it almost always responds to AI text prompts with efficiency and precision. Well worth a look, we think!

Best for: Fast image generation, high-quality and detailed imagery, precise text prompts.

Price: Free for all users.

10. Ideogram

At a glance:

Renders text accurately from prompts.
Generate commercial-style imagery.
The best of both worlds with graphic and photo integration.

On the market since 2023, Ideogram is a strong contender for the best AI image generator for graphic design and gaming imagery, and it's particularly notable for its ability to integrate text as part of imagery without distortion or ‘gobbledygook’.

Ideogram uses Magic Prompt, which transforms a basic text prompt into a more complex and specific description, giving you improved art results. We think it’s a great all-round AI design app for graphic designers, artists, and brand designers, letting you create commercial-style imagery that looks polished and professional.

Best for: Clear text on images, branded graphics, commercial imagery.

Price: Start for free, or begin at $7 a month paid annually for more credits and faster generation speeds.

The best AI image generator for your next project is...?

In an increasingly crowded AI app market, it can be tricky to work out which AI image generator is the right choice for you. Hopefully our selection will help you land on the best AI design app for your next creative project. The advantage of having multiple options to choose from is that many AI developers are starting to cater specifically to certain creative tasks and industries.

So, whether you’re a product designer looking to mock up your next range or a graphic designer seeking a quick mood board of ideas for a client, there are now highly effective AI image generators that are tailored to these purposes. Find the AI app to fit your niche, and let your ideas flow. You’ll be creating amazing AI art in no time!

The next step in your AI journey? You’ll need to discover the best AI art prompts to generate jaw-dropping imagery, or why not learn how to create an AI movie poster to test your AI creative skills? And while you’re here, you can dive straight into creating AI photography, illustrations, and artwork in a few clicks with ImageGen.

Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion: AI Image Generators

noemail@noemail.org (MissChatz) — Sun, 7 Jan 2024 20:53:08 GMT

Which of the AI art generators is better: Midjourney or Stable Diffusion? Both these AI art generators are amazing at transforming text prompts into eye-catching art. However, to help you choose the best tool for your artistic needs, we need to analyze factors like pricing models, image sizes, customization, and more.

In this article, we will round up the key features of Stable Diffusion vs. MidJourney and weigh the strengths and weaknesses of these powerful AI image generation models.

Jump to content in this section:

What Is MidJourney?
What Is Stable Diffusion?
What Is the Cost of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion?
What Are the Key Features of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion?
What Are the Pros and Cons of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion for AI Image Generation?
How to Choose the Best AI Generator Model

What You'll Learn

What is Midjourney?
What is Stable Diffusion?
What is the cost of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion?
What are the key features of MidJourney vs Stable Diffusion?
What are the pros and cons of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion for AI image generation?
How to choose the best AI generator model for your work

1. What Is MidJourney?

Midjourney is an AI art generator founded in San Francisco, California, by David Holz. It entered into open beta in July 2022. Midjourney is a text-to-image AI image generator known for adapting basic art styles and generating remarkably vivid images.

Midjourney is a machine-learning model that allows users to generate images based on text prompts.

1.1 How to Access Midjourney

Step 1

Wondering how to use Midjourney? Currently, Midjourney is only accessible through the Discord chat app. To get started with it, you will need to create a Discord account. Once you've done that, head over to Midjourney's landing page and Sign In with your Discord account.

Step 2

To start generating images, you need to Purchase a subscription plan. After that, click on Community to connect to the Midjourney server.

Step 3

Midjourney has its own Discord server, so once you join the Midjourney Community, you will need to accept the Discord invitation by pressing the Accept Invite tab, to access and connect to the Midjourney server. When you've gained access to the server, you can enter one of the 'newbies' channels to start creating images.

Type in the /imagine command to get started, and enter a text prompt to generate the image you want.

If you'd like to know a little more about the process, you can check out this new article on Envato Tuts+:

What Is Midjourney?

Abbey Esparza

14 Nov 2023

2. What Is Stable Diffusion?

Stable Diffusion is an AI image generator model that was developed and released by Stability AI on 22 August 2022. This tool was built to convert textual prompts into visual outputs, using algorithms based on machine learning, state-of-the-art deep learning, computer vision, and natural language descriptions.

Stable Diffusion can produce a multitude of artistic styles, ranging from anime to photorealistic art, in a matter of seconds.

2.1 How to Access Stable Diffusion

If you're wondering how to access Stable Diffusion, you should know that Stable Diffusion is entirely open-source and free for commercial and non-commercial use. The software allows everyone to access it, modify it, and use it.

There are several ways users can gain access to Stable Diffusion. One is by installing the mobile app Dreamer. Another method is through the web app Stable Diffusion Web, and there are several other ways, both online or offline, by installing the software to a hard drive.

To find out more ways to use Stable Diffusion, check out this article:

What Is Stable Diffusion?

MissChatz

06 Jan 2024

3. What Is the Cost of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion?

3.1 What Is the Cost of Midjourney?

Is Midjourney free? Midjourney has moved from offering free trials to being a tiered paid service. A Midjourney subscription offers a limited number of hours for free image generation each month. For example, a Basic Plan subscription is billed annually at $96 ($8/month) and allows 3.3 hours/month. A Mega Plan annual subscription cost is set at $1,152 ($96/month) and offers 60hours/month.

Here's a look at the current Midjourney prices and subscription plans available for Basic, Standard, Pro, and Mega:

3.2 What Is the Cost of Stable Diffusion?

Stable Diffusion is currently free and also offers a paid credit plan for its software, starting at $29. Users can access its free basic features without needing licensing or subscription fees. The free version of Stable Diffusion allows users to perform limited edits and experiment with art styles. On the other hand, if you are looking for advanced image editing or processing, you will need to subscribe to a Premium Plan.

Stable Diffusion offers three pricing plans: Basic, Standard, and Premium. They are different in features, speed, cost, and capabilities.

4. What Are the Key Features of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion?

Midjourney and Stable Diffusion are both powerful AI image generators. Let's take a look at the key features and benefits of Stable Diffusion vs. Midjourney by comparing image quality, accessibility, ownership, and customization options.

Image Quality

Midjourney creates high-quality images up to 1024 x 1024 pixels.
Midjourney's generated images have more aesthetics and finer details.
The tool requires minimal effort and a fast rate of one minute of GPU time to produce high-quality images.
By default, Stable Diffusion creates images up to 512 x 512 resolution and can go up to 4096 x 4096.
Stable Diffusion offers an array of artistic styles from photorealistic to pixel art, so users get more creativity and diversity when generating images.
Midjourney image formats are JPEG and PNG.
Stable Diffusion formats are PNG, JPEG, and GIF.

User Interface

Midjourney is accessed through an internet connection and a Discord account.
Stable Diffusion can be accessed through various frameworks, online/offline, on a mobile app, and on your computer's hard drive.

Copyright/Ownership

Both Midjourney and Stable Diffusion allow you ownership of the images you create, with no branding or watermark. However, with Midjourney, it depends on which paid tier you have, as you have more rights with higher tiers.

Stable Diffusion, on the other hand, claims no rights to the images generated and allows users to distribute and sell their AI images. For further information, read their license and terms.

Customization

Stable Diffusion has more flexibility and customization when it comes to art styles, image size, negative prompts, adjusting the prompt parameters, and the number of images generated.

5. What Are the Pros and Cons of Midjourney vs. Stable Diffusion for AI Image Generation?

Both AI art generators have their strengths and weaknesses. Let's take a quick look at the pros and cons and how to use Midjourney and Stable Diffusion.

5.1 Midjourney

Advantages

Has an active community.
Produces high-quality images, with details.
Has a reasonable subscription price.
You can browse other users' generated images.
Use Midjourney when you need high-quality images with intricate details or photorealistic images.
It's a great AI generator for creating stunning backdrops and backgrounds, fantasy-themed images, sci-fi content, powerful scenes, or images with dramatic lighting.
Use Midjourney for video games.

Disadvantages

More complicated to use.
Lots of users on the platform, so your image generations get buried under other generations.
Requires a Discord account.
Paid-only platform.
Midjourney cost based on subscription tiers.
There is no privacy—your creations can be viewed and downloaded by other users on the server.
Offers a few customizable models.
Requires a commercial license.

5.2 Stable Diffusion

Advantages

High image quality.
You have more control over the customization of image parameters.
Offers a broader range of art styles for its users.
Has a user-friendly interface and is an easy-to-use image generator.
Free to experiment with.
Stable Diffusion has thousands of AI models available for download.
Allows users to create their own AI models by training them with their own images, which is not available on Midjourney.
Free for non-commercial use, and commercial licenses are available.
Stable Diffusion is great for industries that are focused on content creation, virtual content, or digital marketing.
Go for Stable Diffusion when you need images for e-commerce, scientific research, product design, or digital art creation.
Use Stable Diffusion to create gaming assets, cover art, backgrounds, characters, etc.
Freelancers or beginners can access the free version, but professionals should get the paid version without limitations.

Disadvantages

Requires more technical knowledge and expertise to achieve fine-grained image results.
Paid versions run out of credit.

6. How to Choose the Best AI Generator Model

When choosing which AI generator is the best for your work, it comes down to your individual preferences and needs. You should consider factors like what type of images you want to create, how much control you want to have over customization, your budget, and your comfort level in using the technology.

For beginners: Midjourney shines with the Discord interface and minimal customization, making it a gentle dip into the AI art pool. Stable Diffusion, while offering deeper control, demands steeper technical learning to obtain finer results.

Cost considerations: Midjourney starts with a paid subscription, while Stable Diffusion boasts a free downloadable version. However, the premium features on both platforms come with additional costs.

Copyright quandaries: Both platforms have evolving copyright guidelines. Midjourney retains commercial rights, while Stable Diffusion allows personal and non-commercial use with proper attribution.

Exploring the depths: Midjourney excels at generating unique, dreamlike compositions, while Stable Diffusion offers precise control over existing images with tools like inpainting and outpainting.

The ultimate test: Consider your needs. Do you value ease and quick bursts of inspiration? Midjourney might be your muse. Do you crave meticulous control and endless tinkering? Stable Diffusion awaits your sculpting touch.

Ultimately, the best AI tool is the one that sparks your creative fire. So dive in, experiment with both, and let your digital dreams take flight!

Learn More About AI Image Generation

Would you like to learn more about Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and alternative AI image generators? Check out these articles from Envato Tuts+:

The best AI image generators of 2025

noemail@noemail.org (Grace Fussell) — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 12:12:30 GMT

Here, creative people can find our edit of the best AI image generators of 2025, from Midjourney to ImageGen, as well as tips for using AI design apps like Adobe Firefly or an image generator from photo to integrate imagery into your own designs.

Tap into the top 2025 AI design trends with these AI tools for graphic design, photography, and advanced image editing, and see your projects come to life!

You can create images like this using Envato's ImageGen.

The best AI image generators in 2025

Envato ImageGen	Best for social media content, trending styles, and the leading models available!
Chat GPT (GPT-4o)	Best for photorealism and conversational editing.
Adobe Firefly	Best for photography and project integration.
Midjourney	Best for artistic, atmospheric imagery.
DALL·E 3	Best for cartoons and nuanced prompts.
Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra	Best for high-definition portraits.
Recraft	Best for graphic designs and vector images.
Stable Diffusion	Best for uninterrupted creativity.
Reve	Best for fast generation and high detail.
Ideogram	Best for clear text and commercial imagery.

What is an AI image generator?

First, back to basics—maybe you’ve used an AI image generator before and are curious about what else is out there, or perhaps you’re fresh to the AI app scene. Either way, AI image generators are fast becoming an essential tool in a creative’s kit to visualize ideas and experiment with different styles and layouts. And with the advances in the technology, it's now possible to use AI art generators to create unique work as part of a creative project.

How do AI image generators work?

And yup... human hands are still a sore point for almost all the image generators we tried. So we'll keep you posted on that one!

Image created with Envato's ImageGen.

What are the best AI design apps?

Which AI tool is best for graphic design?

For creating logos, typography, and icons, online AI app Ideogram allows graphic designers to pull multiple elements together into a cohesive layout for posters, flyers, or banners.

Recraft places an emphasis on AI images that have an editorial, polished feel, making it a great fit for advertising work or branded campaigns.

Which AI tool is best for... just having fun?

Which AI tool is best for photography?

Which AI tool is best for advanced creative work?

For more recommended AI design apps, read on to discover our overview of some of the best AI image generators for graphic design and other creative projects in 2025.

The best AI image generators of 2025: 10 apps to use now

Looking for the best AI for graphic design projects? Or something a little more cheap and cheerful? These are our top picks for 2025, with recommended use and price details.

1. Envato ImageGen

At a glance:

Quick and intuitive to use.
Always adding the latest cutting edge tech (the best models—like Imagen 4!)
Tap into trends and make images more precise with built-in AI prompt enhancement.
Continue editing and fine tuning images with ImageEdit.
Turn static images into videos with VideoGen.

Envato's AI tools also have the added benefit of image editing via their ImageEdit tools. You can customise your images even further to get the creation for your project.

You can also find a full suite of complementary creative AI tools to pair with ImageGen, so you can generate videos from static images or refine images further with background removal, erasure, and upscaling.

Best for: Achieving trending image styles, social media content creation, enhanced AI prompts.

2. ChatGPT

At a glance:

Great for photorealistic images.
Understands sophisticated, precise prompts.
Edit images with the app conversation-style.

Best for: Photorealism, sophisticated prompts, conversational refinement.

Price: Free for all users, with a limit of three images per day. Plus ($20 per month) or Pro ($200 per month) users can generate unlimited images.

3. Adobe Firefly

At a glance:

Perfect for photographers looking to enhance their own photos.
Best for integrating into your own project workflow.
Benefit from cool features like Generative Fill.

Creative studios love Firefly for its advanced image-editing features and seamless user experience, making it feel like a part of your creative team rather than a standalone AI design app.

Best for: Advanced photo editing, cool additional features like Generative Fill, integration of imagery into existing projects.

4. Midjourney

At a glance:

Create highly artistic images.
High level of realism.
Adjust images easily with editing features.

Best for: Artistic results, atmospheric images, realism.

Price: Start generating 25 images for free. After that, a Basic plan starts from $10 per month (or $8 if paid annually).

5. DALL-E 3

At a glance:

Perfect for creating fun, cartoon-style, and surrealist imagery.
Less suited to photorealism.
Understands nuanced text prompts for greater precision.

Improving on its earlier iteration, DALL·E 2, DALL·E 3 is able to better understand complex text descriptions and create more specific images as a result.

Best for: Cartoons and comics, nuanced and accurate prompts, atmospheric imagery.

Price: Available through ChatGPT Plus for $20 a month, or use for free via Bing Image Creator.

6. Flux 1.1 Pro Ultra

At a glance:

Generate "look twice" highly photorealistic images.
Export images in high detail and high definition.
Requires patience and experimentation for best results.

Best for: Ultra-photorealistic images, human portraits, high-definition 4K images.

Price: Try Flux 1.1. Pro for free as part of a trial, or create more at $0.06 per image.

7. Recraft

At a glance:

Great for graphic designers, product designers, and branding.
Generate polished, commercial imagery.
Combine typography and mockup imagery seamlessly.

Best for: Graphic design, vector graphics, product mockups.

Price: Try the app for free, or upgrade to a Basic plan for $12 a month (or $10 paid annually).

8. Stable Diffusion

At a glance:

Uncensored content gives complete creative flexibility.
Mimics the creative process most accurately out of all the apps we tested.
Free for most individuals, for commercial and personal use.

Best for: Uninterrupted creativity, flexible editing, artistic results.

Price: Free for most users, with larger organizations required to purchase a licence.

9. Reve

At a glance:

Ultra-speedy image generation.
High-quality, detailed results.
Experiment with a wide range of styles.

Best for: Fast image generation, high-quality and detailed imagery, precise text prompts.

Price: Free for all users.

10. Ideogram

At a glance:

Renders text accurately from prompts.
Generate commercial-style imagery.
The best of both worlds with graphic and photo integration.

Best for: Clear text on images, branded graphics, commercial imagery.

Price: Start for free, or begin at $7 a month paid annually for more credits and faster generation speeds.

The best AI image generator for your next project is...?

What is Envato AI ImageGen?

noemail@noemail.org (Maria Villanueva) — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 02:20:38 GMT

Envato AI ImageGen is the first tool available on Envato Labs, the testing ground for AI image generation tools that are being created for Envato subscribers. (Hint: be on the lookout for more tools soon!)

ImageGen is Envato’s new text-to-image generator designed to help Envato subscribers generate unique, high-quality images for their projects using AI. And it’s available now to try for free!

Advantages of Envato AI ImageGen

Save time: generate images in diverse styles easily within your browser—no need to install software or learn prompt engineering.

All in one: if you’ve been wanting to try AI generation for images, this is a great opportunity that's currently included in your Envato subscription. There’s no need to pay any other generative AI subscriptions or fees.

Simple licensing: you can use the images you generate with Envato AI ImageGen for personal and commercial purposes, if they're part of a larger end product. For all the details, check the licensing terms.

Try for free: You can trial the tool for free. Sign up for a free Envato account to receive 5 generations. Visit lab.envato.com and type your first prompt.

How does it work?

Using Envato AI ImageGen is really easy. You just need to log in to your Envato account and visit labs.envato.com, or click on “AI Labs” right next to the search bar in Envato and then click on "Generate Images".

Once you're there, all that’s left is to do is type whatever you wish to create in the search bar and click Generate. For the following example, the prompt was "cat cooking an omelette".

ImageGen will then provide a few styles using the prompt. If you're drawn to a specific style, you can click on an image and then click on Use Style to get new images based on it.

If you're happy and wish to download it, simply click on the Download button and you'll automatically get a JPG file.

Additionally, if you want to generate a different prompt, you only need to write it in the bar at the bottom of the screen, and you'll get the new styles to choose from. Your previous prompts will be shown below, so you won’t lose any work.

Pro tips for writing the best prompts

Start with simple prompts. Initially, use basic terms like “sunset,” “forest,” or “cat.” This approach helps you understand the range of styles and capabilities of the tool. Once you're familiar with it, you can start experimenting with more complex ideas and describing the subject in more detail, e.g describe the scene, time of day, elements you want included, or expressions.

But maybe you're wondering, "How can I get the specific image I have in mind?" Once you know what you’re looking for, refine your prompt by adding more detail. Describe the scene, mood, objects, and any specific elements you want to include. The more detailed your description, the closer the result will be to your vision. For example, instead of just “cat,” try “a fluffy white cat under a blooming cherry tree at sunrise.”

To improve the quality of the images you generate, practice and experimentation are key. Vary your prompts, observe the outcomes, and adjust accordingly. Detailed and creative descriptions often yield the most striking images.

And that's it!

Now you know how easy it is to create unique AI-generated images with your Envato subscription. Make sure to keep exploring the new tool and playing with different prompts. If you'd like to learn more about AI tools, we've got the best content for you:

How to create a coloring book with AI

noemail@noemail.org (MissChatz) — Mon, 7 Jul 2025 18:59:04 GMT

What You'll Be Creating

Creating coloring book pages has never been easier thanks to AI-powered design tools. In this tutorial, and transform text prompts into printable line art using Envato's GraphicsGen—no drawing skills are required!

Whether you're targeting adults seeking intricate, therapeutic designs or children looking for fun, simple illustrations, this tutorial will help you master the process in just a few minutes.

So stop tracing—let AI do all the work! Let's learn how to create a coloring book with AI.

1. What is Envato's GraphicsGen?

Envato’s GraphicsGen is an AI-powered graphics generator. It lets subscribers turn simple text prompts into illustrations based on 100 different art style choices—everything from flat-style blueprint to 8-bit nostalgia (and more to come!). This means you can use it as an AI coloring book generator.

Where to find Envato’s AI-powered GraphicsGen

Subscribe: Envato's GraphicsGen is available to active subscribers. A valid subscription is required to unlock the AI tools.
Visit Envato: Open Envato's AI tools in your browser. This is where you’ll find tools like ImageGen, VideoGen, and GraphicsGen.
Sign in: At the top right, use your Envato account credentials to sign in. Once authenticated, you’ll see all the available AI tools.
Launch GraphicsGen: Select Gen AI > GraphicsGen from the menu, or go directly to https://labs.envato.com/graphics-gen. This opens the interface to the AI graphics generator.

How does GraphicsGen work?

At the bottom of the interface, you will see a prompt box. Here, you can select a graphic style from the preset image icons showcased in the gallery or choose one from the dropdown menu in the top right-hand corner.

For example, you can select the Charming Storybook art style. Then, add the text description in the prompt box, such as: "Create a highly detailed enchanted forest scene with intricate vines, hidden creatures, and elaborate magical flora, ink outline." Once your prompt is in, hit Generate, and the AI coloring book generator delivers a PNG graphic in seconds.

What graphic outputs does GraphicsGen offer?

GraphicsGen offers royalty-free, high-resolution PNG files under your subscription, making them perfect for web, print, and branding projects.

It's part of Envato’s suite of AI tools, including ImageGen for raster images, VideoGen for short video clips, VoiceGen for text-to-speech, and more. These tools make it easy to quickly generate on-brand assets.

Can you edit your newly generated graphic? Yes! Just click on the pencil icon in the bottom-right corner of your graphic. This will take you directly to ImageEdit, where you can easily edit your image with AI.

2. What is the difference between adult vs. kids' coloring books?

Before we begin creating, let’s explore the differences in designing coloring pages for adults versus kids. There are a few key distinctions:

A. Level of detail

Adults: Pages tend to be more intricate, featuring numerous small shapes, fine-line artwork, and repeating patterns (think filigree or floral clusters). This encourages focus, mindfulness, and a challenge as they fill in small spaces.
Kids: Simpler, bolder shapes with larger areas to color—animals, trucks, basic cartoon scenes—so little hands can stay within the lines and have a quick feel of accomplishment.

B. Line weight & clarity

Adults: Thinner lines and minor variations in stroke weight give an elegant, delicate feel.
Kids: Thicker, uniform outlines keep the images clear and are forgiving if a crayon drifts outside the edge.

C. Themes and imagery

Adults: More sophisticated or abstract themes, like botanical gardens, fantasy landscapes, travel scenes, or Art Deco patterns.
Kids: Fun, playful, and familiar subjects, like cartoon animals or simple holiday scenes.

D. Page layout & composition

Adults: Often single-page spreads with repeating motifs or borderless compositions.
Kids: More contained scenes (with frames or borders).

E. Cognitive roles

Adults: Promotes stress relief, mindfulness, and creative exploration. The “busy” designs help quiet the mind.
Kids: Encourages fine motor skills, color recognition, self-expression, and quick wins to keep motivation high.

If you can recognize these differences, you will be able to customize the details, line styles, themes, and layout descriptions for your AI coloring book prompts.

Vintage Peonies (Left / Envato) / Summer Drawing (Right / Envato)

3. How to define your coloring book concept

Begin by clearly defining the theme of your coloring book. This step helps guide all your creative decisions throughout the process.

For adult audiences, consider themes like:

Mandalas & geometric patterns
Botanical gardens & floral arrangements
Intricate animal portraits (e.g. lions, owls, elephants)
Zentangles
Fantasy worlds (dragons, castles, enchanted forests)
Architectural details (Gothic cathedrals, vintage doorways
Steampunk & mechanical designs
Ocean life & underwater scenes
Celestial & astrological themes
Cultural motifs (henna-inspired, Art Deco, Aztec patterns)
Wine, alcohol, coffee & tea rituals

For children, focus on:

Everyday objects and toys
Food
Fantasy elements
Animals
Dinosaurs & prehistoric creatures
Magical unicorns & fairies
Superheroes & sidekicks
Outer space adventures (astronauts, rockets, aliens)
Vehicles & construction (cars, trains, diggers)
Under-the-sea (fish, mermaids, sea turtles)
Holiday celebrations (Halloween, Christmas, birthdays)
Jungle safari (lions, monkeys, elephants)
Cute monsters & robots

Select a theme and create a brief that includes your target audience, artistic style preference, and the overall mood you want to achieve. This will serve as your guiding principle throughout the creation process.

Mandala Pattern (Left / Envato) / Graphic Designer Doodle (Right / Envato)

4. How to craft the perfect AI prompt for dynamic coloring pages

When you want AI to generate pages for your printable coloring book, you need to make it feel both dynamic and color-ready. Your prompt needs to be specific, descriptive, and tailored to the AI coloring book generator. Here is what your prompt should include:

1. Audience & complexity

Adult: "ultra-detailed", "intricate", "fine line art".
Child: "bold outlines", "simple shapes", "playful".

2. Style & line weight

Specify "black-and-white vector line art", "0.3 pt uniform line width", "no shading", or "grayscale".
Or "hand-drawn marker style", "thick outlines", "thick black outlines", "clean line art".

3. Composition & dynamics

Adult: Use terms like "dynamic composition", "flowing movement", "overlapping elements", "action lines", "patterns", and "textures".
For children: "centered composition", "isolated objects", "simple shapes", "clear white background", and "recognizable forms".

4. Theme & motifs

E.g. "botanical mandala with swirling vines and hidden animals".
Or "cartoon farm scene: cow, pig, tractor, barn, sun with a smiling face".

5. Technical requirements

"High-resolution", "300 DPI", "3000×3000 px".
"Portrait orientation", "single-page layout", "sized for 8.5″×11″ printing".

6. Negative/exclude notes

"No shading", "no text", "no color", "no halftones", "no background noise".

tip

For items you want to exclude, sometimes it can work better if you simply avoid mentioning them. Experiment with the prompts to see what works for you.

By tailoring every part of your prompt—from the subject and mood to the point size of the lines and the output format—you will get AI-generated coloring pages that match your vision.

What is the formula to craft a rock-solid prompt?

A good prompt = Technical requirements + Art style + Subject matter + Composition notes + Complexity level + Line quality specifications + Background / Exclude elements or lack thereof.

Example of an adult coloring page prompt

(Technical requirements) "Create a full-bleed A4 format coloring page at 300 DPI + (Art Style) rendered as solid black line art (Subject) a whimsical woodland scene for adults: an ancient oak tree with twisting branches, clusters of mushrooms, hidden woodland creatures, (Composition notes) highly detailed bark texture, stipple shading only. (Line quality) Use a uniform line weight, crisp black outlines (Background / Exclude) on a transparent background, with no shading."

Example of a kids' coloring page prompt

(Technical requirements) "Create a full-bleed A4 format coloring page at 300 DPI + (Art Style) Simple ink doodle (Subject) of a happy unicorn prancing in a meadow, (Composition notes) big shapes and bold outlines, minimal detail, smiling clouds overhead. (Line quality) 0.5 pt black line width (Background / Exclude) on white background, no text, no background noise."

What are some pro prompting tips to follow?

Avoid clichés: Skip "stress relief mandala"; try "Art Nouveau insect with vine borders".
Words to avoid: GraphicsGen will flag words like "stroke" when referring to line weight. Also, any words that fall in the category of profanity, hate-speech, sexual content, self-harm, terrorism, violence, and other sensitive wordings.
Boost detail: Add "cross-hatching", "stippling", or "whimsical borders" to prompts.
Fix mistakes: If GraphicsGen adds color, use "monochrome line art ONLY" in your prompt.
Adult pro tip: Avoid bland art by adding "symmetrical", "ornate", or "hidden elements."
Kids pro tip: Use "large shapes", "bold lines", "cartoony", and "playful" to keep it child-friendly.
Keep refining: AI art is a process, not a one-and-done task. Learn from each result and tweak your approach accordingly.
Create a simple style guide: Record your best prompts, preferred levels of complexity, and design guidelines to maintain consistency.
Check out our complete guide to creative AI art prompts to learn more about creating effective AI prompts.

5. How to generate your first set of adult coloring pages

Adult coloring book prompt 1

Let's start with coloring book pages for adults. For the sake of this tutorial, we will create different coloring page themes to test out several prompts.

For the first coloring page, select the Adult Coloring Book art style from the GraphicsGen gallery for detailed and intricate designs. GraphicsGen is a great AI line art generator. I chose a 90s nostalgia theme for this concept, featuring items like a Rubik's Cube and a flip phone, set against a floral background. When writing prompts, pay attention to line weight consistency, the distribution of details, and the overall balance of composition. Here's an example of an adult coloring page prompt:

"Create a full-bleed square format coloring page, rendered at 300 DPI as black-and-white solid black line art. In an asymmetrical collage layout, meticulously create highly detailed '90s icons—a detailed rotary dial telephone, a swirling, bubbly lava lamp, a music cassette tape, a scrambled Rubik's Cube, and a classic flip phone—interwoven, floating and overlapping an intricate floral arrangement of daisies, sunflowers, and dahlias as a setting. Incorporate negative-space patterns around and between each element to maximize stress-relief coloring. Use a uniform line weight and crisp black outlines on a pure white background, with no shading, no grayscale, no stray dots, or messy linework."

Carefully enter your prompt and click Generate. AI sometimes produces designs with inconsistent line weights or overly complex areas—note these to refine the prompt later. If you find errors, click Generate Another below the rendered image. Correct your prompt and try to generate at least 3-4 different compositions again. Generating multiple works increases the likelihood of finding designs that perfectly match your vision. Once GraphicsGen generates a suitable image, click on the bottom right of the rendered image to download the PNG.

Adult coloring book prompt 2

Keeping the Adult Coloring Book art style selected, an elegant cocktail theme was chosen for the second coloring page. Imagine a martini with a curled lemon twist and olive, a mojito fresh with basil sprigs, and a negroni garnished with a vibrant orange slice—all floating in a playful, asymmetrical layout against a celestial backdrop.

Then I described the intricate cosmic scene, weaving in stars, moons, planets, and swirling filigree to give the page a magical feel. All the outlines must be clean, bold, and black, with no speckles or shading, to maintain a crisp and coloring-friendly appearance. Finally, I ran the prompt. Sometimes the results aren't perfect, and the prompt must be fine-tuned. Here's the AI coloring book prompt I worked with:

"Create a full-bleed square format coloring page, rendered at 300 DPI as black-and-white solid black line art. Create a high-detail adult coloring-book line art page with three floating cocktail glasses arranged in an asymmetrical composition, floating in different angles: A classic martini glass garnished with a long curled lemon twist and a single olive on a pick. A tall mojito glass filled with crisp ice cubes and fresh basil sprigs. A sturdy negroni tumbler featuring a thick orange slice on its rim All suspended over an intricate celestial background of detailed swirling cosmic filigree, planets, crescent moons, stars, and tiny orbs. Use clean, bold black outlines with no shading, or speckles—perfectly crisp for detailed coloring."

Adult coloring book prompt 3

For the third coloring page, I chose a koi and blossom design. I started by locking in the technical specs—"full-bleed square adult coloring book page, 300 DPI, 3 mm bleed"—so the output is print-ready. Next, described my main subjects and their arrangement—“two elegant koi fish swimming in a perfect yin-yang formation, bodies curving into a balanced flow with long tails spinning around."

Then I nailed down the art style—"intricate hand-drawn pen-and-ink line art, bold crisp black outlines on white, varied line weights for depth, no shading or grayscale." After that, I layered in the decorative touches—"intertwine lush cherry blossoms (no branches) and fill every inch with dynamic water motifs: ripples, swirls, waves, and bubbles." Finally, I specify the line work only, excluding any text, to keep the page clean and ready for coloring. So the prompt reads as:

"Full-bleed square adult coloring book page, 300 DPI, with 3 mm bleed on all sides. Render two elegant koi fish swimming in a perfect yin-yang formation at the center, their bodies curving into a balanced flow and long tails spinning around. Use intricate hand-drawn pen-and-ink line art style: bold, crisp black outlines on a white background, with varied line weights to suggest depth, movement, and scale; no shading or grayscale. Intertwine lush cherry blossoms in different angles, no branches, with individual blossoms floating in the water—adding finely detailed petals around and between the fish. Fill every inch of negative space with dynamic water motifs: ripples, swirling currents, waves, and rising bubbles that organically interact with the fish and floral elements. The composition should flow in a continuous loop around the circle. Exclude any text."

Adult coloring book prompt 4

Another 'coloring book page for adults' concept to try is a skull-and-snake motif. I began by locking in the technical specs: "a square format at 300 DPI with a 3 mm bleed—to guarantee a print-ready layout." Then I defined the focal imagery: "a human skull entwined by two coiling serpents and blooming rose vines."

Followed by the line specs: "a hand-drawn pen-and-ink vector style with thick, clean black outlines and no shading or grayscale, so it reads as pure line art for coloring." To keep the page engaging, I requested intricate scale patterns, skull cracks, detailed petals, and hidden death-themed motifs, such as skull-patterned moths and fallen rose petals. Finally, I filled all negative space with swirling, spiky vines plus rose borders, excluded any text or logos, and clarified that the final deliverable should be optimized for pure line work to achieve high-quality print. The prompt reads:

"Create a square format adult-coloring-book page with 3 mm bleed on all sides, no border, 300 DPI. Feature a central human skull entwined by a large detailed coiling serpent and blooming rose vines. Render entirely in hand-drawn pen-and-ink line art in a bold vector style: thick, clean, black outlines on a white background —no shading or grayscale. Embellish the serpents’ scales, the skull’s cracks, and each rose petal with intricate details. Hide tiny death-themed motifs — moths, dropped rose petals—within the composition’s negative spaces. Fill all empty areas with swirling spikey vines and rose border elements to create a seamless, balanced layout. Exclude any text, brand names, or logos. Output as pure line work optimized for high-quality print."

Adult coloring book prompt 5

For the last concept, I went for a psychedelic vibe. I started as usual, locking in the essentials—a square, single-page layout at 300 DPI with bold, uniform strokes and no shading—to guarantee a crisp, print-ready result. From there, I defined the overarching vibe as an "immersive psychedelic tapestry".

I broke it into five layered motif groups (ribbons & spirals, mandala details, organic surreal elements, micro-patterns, and Op-Art panels), each described with vivid verbs (twist, evolve, weave). By spelling out how ribbons morph into fractal spirals, mandalas into interlocking petals, and vines into alien blossoms, the prompt ensures that every negative space is filled with dots, dashes, or checkerboard waves. Finally, I reiterated the need for clean, continuous lines edge-to-edge so that the design remains both seamless and sharply defined. A prompt example:

"Create a single-page, square-format adult coloring book illustration at 300 DPI in crisp black line art with uniform thick strokes and no shading. Fill the entire page edge-to-edge with an immersive psychedelic tapestry: -Flowing Ribbons & Spirals: Draw fluid, ribbon-like shapes that twist and merge in an endless dance, evolving into fractal spirals and kaleidoscopic mandalas. -Mandala Details: Each spiral unfolds into concentric rings and petals, their geometry intricate and interlocking, inviting close coloring. - Organic Motifs: Weave in strange fungi, twisting vines, and alien blossoms—some bearing hidden faces or symbols—to add a surreal, living quality. - Micro-Patterns: Fill negative spaces with delicate dots, dashes, concentric circles, and tiny stars to encourage detailed work. - Op-Art Elements: Integrate checkerboard waves, moiré ripples, and optical-illusion panels that pulse with movement. Ensure all lines are clean, continuous, and bold enough for precise coloring."

6. How to create the children's versions using the Simple Ink Doodle Style

Switch to the Simple Ink Doodle art style for kids' coloring pages. It's also an excellent option for AI line art generation. Since we will focus on simplicity and bold shapes for this age group, the Simple Ink Doodle style is ideal for creating clean, streamlined designs that are perfect for children. When creating prompts for children's coloring pages, concentrate on the following elements:

Large, clearly defined spaces for coloring
Minimal details
Clear subjects
Positive, friendly images

Kids' coloring book prompt 1

Begin by locking in the page specs—a single-page, square format at 300 DPI—to guarantee a crisp, print-ready canvas. Then define the star of the scene (a dynamic, galloping unicorn with a long, flowing mane and tail) and surround it with playful motifs (swirling ribbons, blooming flowers, fluttering butterflies, twinkling stars, bubbling hearts, and bows) to fill every corner with energy.

Next, specify a hand-drawn pen-and-ink vector style—thick, clean black outlines with varied line weights and no shading—to keep the artwork pure line work for easy coloring. Finally, I excluded any text or branding to ensure the illustration stands independently. The prompt reads:

"Create a single-page, square-format kids’ coloring-book illustration at 300 DPI. Center a dynamic galloping cartoon unicorn with a long flowing mane and tail. Surround it with long swirling ribbons, blooming flowers, fluttering butterflies, twinkling stars, bubbling hearts, and bows to fill the scene with playful energy. Render entirely in hand-drawn pen-and-ink line art in a crisp vector style: thick, clean black outlines on a white background with varied line weights to convey motion and depth—no shading or grayscale. Exclude any text, brand names, or logos. Optimize as pure line work for easy coloring."

Kids' coloring book prompt 2

For the second coloring page, let's do an astronaut theme. First, set down the print requirements—a single-page, square layout at 300 DPI—for color-ready art. Next, define the main character of the scene: a young astronaut 'surfing' on a rocket board through a vibrant galaxy.

To spark imagination, the background should be filled with oversized, easy-to-color planets, smiling faces, playful comets, and friendly aliens waving from asteroids. To keep it kid-friendly, every element should be rendered in bold, hand-drawn line art, with thick, crisp outlines of varied weights and no shading. Fun, chunky details such as planet faces, gear buttons, and comet flares will add charm, along with broad, open spaces for coloring. Finally, make sure to exclude any text or branding from the design. The prompt should read something like this:

"Create a single-page, square-format kids’ coloring-book illustration at 300 DPI. Feature a dynamic scene of a young astronaut surfing on a rocketboard through a vibrant galaxy: the astronaut boy in a simple, cartoon-style spacesuit, arms outstretched, streaming in zero gravity. Surround them with large, easily colorable planets, smiling stars, playful comets with trailing tails, and two or three friendly alien characters waving from nearby asteroids. Render all elements as bold, hand-drawn line art: thick, crisp black outlines on a white background, with varied line weights for emphasis but no shading or grayscale. Include fun, chunky details—planet faces, gear buttons, and comet flares—while leaving broad open areas for coloring. Exclude any text, brand names, or logos."

Kids' coloring book prompt 3

For this sample, let's work on animal characters. We'll specify a square format at 300 DPI and then build out the scene: two cute animal characters (a cat baker in a chef's hat and apron behind a pastry-filled window, and a dog server in a bow tie holding a steaming cup) set before a simple café façade.

Display pastries, a blank chalkboard menu, and some potted flowers. Ensure you include thick, clean outlines on a transparent background with no shading or grayscale, allowing for pure line art that facilitates easy coloring. For the background, add simple trees and bushes, and exclude any text.

"Create a square-format, 300 DPI, hand-drawn line-art illustration for a children’s coloring book featuring two cute animal characters in front of a cozy café storefront: - Characters: - A friendly cat baker wearing a chef’s hat and apron, standing behind store window panel with cupcakes, loaves of bread, and pastries. - A cheerful cartoon dog waiter in a bow tie and server apron, holding a tray with a steaming cup and saucer. - Setting: - A quaint café façade with a striped awning, large display window showing baked goods, a small chalkboard menu (blank for coloring), and potted flowers on either side of the door. Coffee Table upfront . - Style: - Thick, clean black outlines on a transparent background. - No shading or grayscale—pure line art for easy coloring. - Extras: - Leave the café sign and chalkboard blank. Tree and bush background within the page borders. - Exclude any text, logos, or branding."

Kids' coloring book prompt 4

For sample four, a Japanese culture theme was chosen. I began crafting this prompt by setting the essentials—a single-page layout at 300 DPI. Next, I centered the scene around a kawaii kitten in a simple floral kimono behind a sushi counter.

I added clear, chunky kitchen props (rice bowls, bamboo steamer, soy dish, sushi board, and fish accents) and a charming Japanese wall pattern in the background to create context. I specified uniform 1 pt black line art with smooth, rounded strokes and no shading to keep everything bold and kid-friendly, and left generous white space. Finally, I framed it all with a thick inner border set 3 mm from the edge to tie the composition together. This is the AI coloring book prompt:

"Design a single-page, square-format coloring book illustration at 300 DPI. Center a kawaii cartoon kitten in a simple floral kimono with tied obi, standing behind a sushi counter. One paw holds a bamboo rolling mat while the other shapes rice into nigiri. Surround the foreground scene with chunky, easy-to-color kitchen props—bowls of rice, a bamboo steamer, a soy-sauce dish, a wooden sushi board, and plate of fish. In the background, a kawaii cherry blossom Japanese-style wall design. Render all elements in uniform 1 pt black line art with clean, rounded strokes and no shading. Leave ample white space and simple pattern. Finish with a thick line border set 3 mm inside the page edge."

Kids' coloring book prompt 5

Here is a fun approach with skeletons. I sketched out the playful concept: three bubbly skeleton characters enjoying a sunny beach day, each engaged in a fun activity (digging with a shovel, tossing a beach ball, splashing in gentle waves) to set a lighthearted, dynamic mood.

Next, I added simple seaside accents—scattered shells, a sand bucket, starfish on the shore, a palm tree bending in the breeze, and a smiling sun overhead—to frame the scene. Finally, I finalized the style guidelines: bold, uniform 1-point black outlines with no shading and clear, open shapes, ensuring the line art remains clean, accessible, and perfectly suited for children.

"Create a single-page, square-format adult coloring book illustration at 300 DPI. A cheerful kids' coloring-book page in clean black-and-white line art features three bubbly cartoon skeletons enjoying a sunny beach day. One skeleton enthusiastically digs in the sand with a small shovel; another is joyfully playing with a beach ball and splashes in gentle waves: and the third building a sandcastle. Surround them with simple, whimsical seaside details—scattered shells, a sand bucket, starfish on the sand. Add a palm tree bending in the breeze, and a smiling sun overhead. Use bold, uniform 1 pt strokes with no shading, keeping shapes clear and open. Lay out all elements on a single page with plenty of white space for coloring."

Excellent job, you're done!

Congratulations, you now know how to create effective AI prompts for coloring pages for adults and kids, using GraphicsGen as both an AI coloring book generator and an AI line art generator. With this skillset, you’ll be whipping up unique, eye-catching coloring books in a heartbeat.

Just keep your prompts clear and creative, curate your designs carefully, and tune into what your audience wants. Those simple steps are the secret sauce for AI coloring book success. And if you’d like to create your own printable coloring book illustrations, look at How to Create a Coloring Book Style Illustration in Adobe Illustrator.

Resources from Envato

Now that you've learned how to create a coloring book using AI, your Envato subscription provides access to a vast library of high-quality, easily customizable templates, graphics, and more. You can use these resources to generate your printable coloring book. Here are a few graphics you can explore:

Coloring pages digital sketches (PNG)

If you're short on time to create AI coloring prompts, visit Envato to download one of their many coloring page collections, such as this one. It includes everything from cozy interiors to blooming flowers.

Mandala set (PNG, EPS, JPG, AI)

Mandalas are an excellent option for adult coloring books. Their calming, repetitive patterns help in relaxation and creating mindfulness, making each coloring session a soothing retreat. You can also create your own by following this tutorial: How to Create a Festive Mandala Style Coloring Book Page in Illustrator.

Halloween doodle set (PNG, EPS, AI)

This Halloween doodle coloring pages collection features charming, hand-drawn cartoon characters as fully editable clip art—perfect for Adobe Illustrator or CorelDRAW. With a few clicks, you can easily adjust and recolor each graphic to suit your spooky-season coloring book designs.

Hand-drawn floral line art(AI, EPS, PNG, JPG)

If you prefer not to use the AI coloring book generator, download this line art collection for a quick turnaround. The set is suitable for coloring book pages for adults.

Hand-drawn floral illustration (AI, EPS, PNG, PSD)

This botanical collection of floral line illustrations is an interesting option for crafting stunning adult coloring books. Thanks to its fully editable AI/EPS files, you can easily edit elements to bring your unique design vision to life.

Want to learn more?

Are you looking to unlock even more creative magic with AI? Check out our other articles for handy tips and clever tricks to get you started with AI coloring book generators and AI line art generators. You’ll be amazed at what you can create for your printable coloring book.

How to replace the sky in a photo in Affinity Photo

noemail@noemail.org (Abbey Esparza) — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 05:36:49 GMT

Mother Nature doesn't always deliver the perfect sky. This Affinity Photo tutorial will show you how to replace drab skies with vibrant clouds, colors, or entirely new backgrounds. Learn how to replace the background to dramatically change the mood of your photos.

Jump to content in this section:

How to add clouds to a sky
How to create a sunset photo effect
How to extract a mountain range
How to create sunrise lighting effects
How to create shadow effects
How to create a sunset color grade
How to replace the sky (and any object) in a photo using Envato ImageEdit

1. How to add clouds to a sky

First, let's look at the quickest way to replace the sky, which is to add clouds! This method will work best for shots where the sky is just a little too flat and could use some detail. In this example, we will be adding a bit of a twist to our clouds. But the technique is the same, whether you want a dark sky replacement photo effect or a straight-up twister.

Step 1

Start by dragging and dropping the strange stormy sky stock image onto the canvas, over our beach image. Crop the image to add a bit more room for the cloudy sky.

Step 2

Make sure the horizon line of each photo matches up reasonably closely. You can temporarily bring down the Opacity of the storm clouds if needed to line everything up.

Step 3

Next, add a Layer Mask to the storm clouds. Then, with a large, soft, round Brush, mask out the bottom half of the cloud image.

As both photos have a grey hue to them, they will blend beautifully with each other. With this method, I suggest choosing a sky that is similar in tone to the original image if you'd like to save some time on blending.

Step 4

Finish blending the two images by adjusting the color, brightness, and contrast of both the clouds and the original image if needed.

Here, I darkened and upped the contrast of both the base image and clouds using a Brightness/Contrast layer, while also desaturating the base image using a black and white gradient map adjustment layer.

I then committed to the "storm of the century" vibe by adding both green and blue hues to the image with a Color Balance and S curve Curves layer.

Brightness/Contrast settings

Brightness: -38%
Contrast: 19%

Gradient Map settings

Black to White
Opacity: 47%

Color Balance settings

Red: -33%
Green: 51%
Blue: 59%

Curves settings

2. How to create a sunset photo effect

Next, let's amp it up a notch by creating a substantially more dynamic sky mixed with a reflective surface.

Step 1

First, let's crop our beach image to increase the sky. I'll opt for less land, so we have an equal mix of sky, water, and earth.

Step 2

Now, drop in the sky replacement. Once again, just like in the previous image, line up the horizons.

Step 3

Add a Layer Mask just as we did with the last sky, only this time we'll be a bit more precise with our masking.

I'm still going to use a soft brush, but it's much smaller. I'm blending the horizon line almost seamlessly with the new sky.

Step 4

Duplicate the sky image, delete the layer mask, and set the layer to Overlay. Bring down the layer Opacity to 50%.

Next, add a new Layer Mask to the sky, masking out all but the top quarter of the water.

Step 5

Now, repeat that same step, only this time setting the layer to Soft Light.

Again, delete and then add a new Layer Mask to the duplicated sky. Mask out any area of the sky that's touching the land or the frothy white parts of the water.

Step 6

Let's finish this beautiful beach day off by bringing the stark blue of the sky into both the water and land using a Color Balance layer.

Color Balance settings

Red: -16%
Blue: 53%

3. How to extract a mountain range

When quick blending and layer mode magic won't do the trick on their own, you may have to remove one sky altogether to place the other. Compositing is also the ideal solution if you are going for something more stylistic, surreal, or fantasy inspired.

Step 1

As with the last image, we want to have a bit more sky than before, so crop the canvas to give us more vertical space.

Step 2

Now, let's extract the sky from the original image. The best results would come from masking out the sky by hand using just a simple Brush and Layer Mask combo. However, use your preferred method for extraction. For a quick extract job, I like to rely on the Refine Mask tool.

Use the Flood Select Tool to create a quick selection and mask of the sky.

Step 3

Then, right-click on the mask and select Refine Mask to refine and smooth the mask.

Step 4

You can also use the Select > Grow/Shrink function to get rid of any pesky unwanted edges. Set the Radius to -1 px and then mask out the selection.

This is an excellent method to use when your image will be a backdrop or you need to mock something up quickly. Otherwise, zoom in real close, and mask that bad boy out by hand!

Go ahead and place the new sky behind the mountain range for now as well.

4. How to create sunrise lighting effects

Next up, let's lay down our highlights. You will likely do the bulk of your highlights on layers set to Screen, but you can also play with other layer modes like Color Dodge, Soft Light, or Overlay. The Curves layer is also a great tool to use for creating or enhancing highlights.

Step 1

Create a new layer set to Screen, and paint some ambient light focused on the horizon line.

Keep the brush very large with a low Flow rate so you can build up the color slowly. Color pick a color from the new sky—in my case, pale yellow and orange.

Step 2

Repeat this step on a layer clipped inside your landscape to help connect and blend the two images.

The lighting on this layer will be more focused if you have a rising sun or any bright light source, as I do.

Step 3

Repeat the above step behind the mountainscape as well.

Every landscape will be different, and every sky a different time of day. If you are unsure how you should paint in your lighting, look up some references of a similar environment to get a better idea.

5. How to create shadow effects

For shadows, I recommend the use of layers set to Multiply or Soft Light, along with Brightness/Contrast and Curves adjustment layers.

Step 1

Let's start with a Brightness/Contrast adjustment layer clipped into the mountains to darken everything and lower the contrast, as shaded areas will usually have less contrast than lit areas.

Brightness/Contrast settings

Brightness: -84%
Contrast: -42%

Step 2

Next, go in and mask out all the areas where the light source would be hitting. Use the original lighting to guide you.

You may be able to skip this step if the light in your image is not as intense as it is in this particular image.

Step 3

You can also paint in shadows using just a brush on a layer set to Multiply. I like to set the layer Opacity to 50%, but it depends on how deep you want your shadows to be.

When painting shadows, avoid using black as shadows are hardly ever flat black. Instead, use a darker, desaturated version of the color you're painting on. For instance, I could use dark brown on these mountains.

Blue is also an excellent color to choose in this particular scene. Blue and orange are contrasting colors, so they pair very well together.

Step 4

One of my best friends when it comes to compositing landscapes is the layer Blend Options.

Here you can tell a layer how much it should show up on light or dark areas. I don't want these shadows to cover and darken the highlights of the image beneath, so I can drag the point on the right-hand curve to control the range of light.

The further I pull, the less it will show on the lighter areas of the image beneath. You can further refine this by adding more points to the curve and adjusting them.

You can also use this tool to pinpoint highlights or color. It's a tool best learned by just playing with it and seeing what it can do.

6. How to create a sunset color grade

Finally, it always helps to add a few adjustment layers over everything to tie it all together.

Step 1

First, let's add an S curve for some added contrast, along with bringing up the blues and reds in the shadows.

Curves settings

Step 2

Next, create a masked Color Balance adjustment layer, adding blue to the outer edges of the image and one to bring more oranges into the innermost area of the image.

Color Balance settings

Red: -25%
Green: -20%
Blue: 22%

Step 3

Finally, create a second masked Color Balance adjustment layer, bringing more yellows and reds into the innermost area of the image.

Color Balance settings

Red: 23%
Green: -28%
Blue: -77%

And there you have it!

While sometimes adding a few fluffy white clouds will do the trick, don't be afraid to try changing up the whole mood of a photo by switching from a bright blue sky to a set of ominous clouds rolling in. Or create an entirely new alien atmosphere full of stars and planets. Every photo has a story to tell, and you can change the whole narrative just by choosing one sky over another. The sky is not the limit, after all!

Follow along with us over on the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel:

As always, keep experimenting with different techniques and practicing!

How to replace the sky (and any object) in a photo using Envato ImageEdit

Envato AI ImageEdit simplifies photo editing for everyone, offering tools that make complex tasks easy for both beginners and experts. This tool, along with the rest of the AI tools from Envato, is included in your subscription with unlimited use (this is not included on Enterprise plans).

To use this feature, just open an image image within Envato's AI ImageEdit platform and select the Replace tool.

Looking to learn more? Why not check out the following photo manipulation tutorials:

How to make the background transparent in Photoshop

noemail@noemail.org (Abbey Esparza) — Wed, 27 Apr 2022 16:13:19 GMT

There are several different ways to make a background transparent in Photoshop. And when multiple different tools do the same thing, it can be a pain to figure out which to use and when. Follow along as we go through four of the easiest ways you can quickly remove a background in Photoshop.

Jump to content in this section:

How to make a background transparent in Photoshop using Blend If
How to make the background transparent in Photoshop using Select Color Range
How to make an image background transparent in Photoshop using Select and Mask
How to make an image background transparent in Photoshop using the Pen Tool & Refine Edge
Bonus: How to remove a background using AI tools from Envato

1. How to make a background transparent in Photoshop using Blend If

Step 1

Creating a Photoshop transparent background is easier than you think, but you need to learn the basics first. Let's start with an alternative to a classic. I'll be using this cloud photo. Instead of using Screen for an easy Photoshop transparent background effect, try using Blend If.

Double-click the layer you want to extract, and at the bottom of the Layer Style panel, you'll see Blend If. There you'll see the This Layer slider.

Step 2

Blend If works by choosing what value range will be blended away, rendering any part of an image with those values transparent.

You choose a value by sliding the toggles. The left toggles will target darker values, while the right will target lighter values.

Let's slide the left toggle inward, removing the black background.

Step 3

Now, the background is gone, but what we have is a very harsh, jagged edge.

To create a smoother transition, hold Alt and split the toggles. Pulling the right toggle further right will create a much softer edge.

How far you pull the toggle will change every time. Blend If is a very visual tool, with no magic settings. Just slide until it feels right.

Step 4

There's still quite a bit of fringe left over. To fix that, let's add an Inner Glow layer style. But, if you try to do that now, the glow will appear on the natural edge of the image. The pixels are still there; they're just transparent. So let's right-click > Convert to Smart Object. The Smart Object will treat the Photoshop transparent pixels as deleted pixels.

Step 5

And now we can add that Inner Glow to remove those edges.

Step 6

You can follow the same process with images on white backgrounds, only adjust the right-side toggles instead.

For this Black Feather, I still used Inner Glow to remove any leftover white background, but I set the Blend Mode to Darker Color and the Color to a dark gray.

Step 7

Now, you may be wondering why you should use Blend If instead of Blend Modes. There's no one correct answer—it all depends on what you want the end effect to be. Blend If will give you a more "solid" feeling effect, while Blend Modes will feel lighter and less opaque.

Also, remember that Blend If works with values, so an image doesn't have to be on a black or white background. It just has to be on a solid background that's brighter or darker than the object itself and has distinctly different values.

2. How to make the background transparent in Photoshop using Select Color Range

Step 1

Up next, we have "Select Color Range". This is an excellent option to switch a background to transparent in Photoshop, especially for objects on studio backgrounds that have too wide a tonal range for Blend If, like this Bonsai Tree. That's because, unlike Blend If, Select Color Range keeps color in mind.

Go to Select > Color Range to open the Color Range panel.

Step 2

Let's put in some settings:

Fuzziness: 40
Selection Preview: Black Matte
Invert: Checked

These can change from image to image, especially Fuzziness, which tells Photoshop how much it should be grabbing onto color. Think of it like a tolerance or strictness. I find 40 to be a good starting point.

We also want to click to select the color we want Photoshop to grab onto—in this case, the white background. If your background has shadows or multiple tones of the same color, you can hold down Shift to add colors to the selection. Press OK when you're happy with what you see.

Step 3

Add a Layer Mask so that the selection becomes a mask; more likely than not, you'll have some cleanup to do.

Step 4

Hold down Control and click the Layer mask to reactivate the Selection.

Next, let’s go to Select > Modify > Contract and Contract by 2. If 2 seems too strong, you can also try 1.

Step 5

Then we're going to Select > Inverse to invert the selection. Then Edit > Fill to fill the selection with black.

And if you feel like the edges of your mask are a little harsh, you can open the Properties panel and add a Feather of 0.4 px.

Step 6

Finally, if you ever notice any masked areas that shouldn't have been masked, just bust out a hard round Brush set to white and mask those areas back in. This will happen a lot with brighter highlights when extracting on a white background, like our image here.

Luckily they're quick to mask back in. And that goes for any of these tools; if a shadow or highlight accidentally gets masked, just pop it back in.

That's how to make the background transparent in Photoshop using Select Color Range. It's great for green screens as well.

3. How to make an image background transparent in Photoshop using Select and Mask

Step 1

Next up, let's talk about Select and Mask, or Refine Edge as it's sometimes called. It's one of Photoshop's most powerful selection tools and the one I probably use daily when extracting subjects like this woman.

First, we need to make a selection of our subject. I'm going to use Select Subject and then add a Layer Mask.

Step 2

Now, we can go into Select and Mask either by pressing the button in the upper Options bar or by double-clicking the Layer Mask and choosing Select and Mask.

Step 3

The first thing I always recommend is to check Smart Radius and set the Radius to 4 px. You can play with the Radius amount, but 4 px seems to work well for most things.

You also want to make sure the Refine Edge brush is active, found on the left-hand side.

Next, let's hit Refine Hair in the upper options bar. This will refine the selection around the hair, but not the fur.

Step 4

The fur is a job for the Refine Edge brush. Click and drag across the edges of the fur. Refine Edge will start to grab the fur detail but leave behind the blue background.

If Refine Edge is having a hard time separating your subject from the background, you can try switching to Object Aware in the right-hand Properties panel.

Step 5

With my base refinement done, I like to press OK and then jump back into Select and Mask to make more Refinements. That way, if I mess my selection up, I can just Cancel.

There are a couple of different ways we can deal with the leftover fringe edges in Select and Mask. First, we can bring in Shift Edge by -10, which will shift the edge inwards.

But although Shift Edge and the other Global Refinements work great on objects or untextured surfaces, they don't work well with hair and fur.

So, instead, we can Check Decontaminate Colors found under Output Settings. Photoshop will try to bring in colors from the object being selected onto that fringe edge.

Step 6

Sometimes, this works great. But other times, it'll look pretty horrible. And sometimes it'll look good in some spots but not others.

This can be a problem since Decontaminate Color is a destructive filter, meaning it'll permanently change whatever it's applied to. Luckily, I have a way around that.

Let's set the Amount to 100 and change Output to New Layer with Layer Mask.

Step 7

Now, Unhide our original layer and layer mask. Delete the layer mask on the Decontaminate Color layer. Then Clip the Decontaminate Color layer into the original layer and mask.

We can now add a new Layer Mask onto the Decontaminated layer and mask out all the areas that look not so great. In this case, it's around the subject's hair.

Step 8

If you still have some of that color left, you can get rid of it just by painting on a Clipped layer set to different Blend Modes.

Use the Eyedropper tool to pick a color close to the area you are painting on.

The Blend Mode will depend on the surface you're painting on and what you need to hide. Here is a general guide on when to use which Blend Mode, keeping in mind you can always mix and match them:

Color: Use Color to color match the fringe edge to the hair color.
Hue: Hue can also be used as an alternative to Color.
Multiply: Use Multiply to darken lighter fringes left behind very dark hair.
Darken Color: Use Darken Color as an alternative to Multiply or to cover lighter fringes left behind lighter hair.
Normal: Use Normal when the edge being painted on is low in detail or loses nothing from being a flat color.
Lighten: Use Lighten on lighter hair with a darker fringe edge.
Screen: Use Screen as an alternative to Lighten or on light hair with a lighter fringe edge.

4. How to make an image background transparent in Photoshop using the Pen Tool & Refine Edge

Step 1

You should use Select and Mask anytime a mask calls for it; it's not specific to the selection tool. But let's wrap things up by pairing up the Pen Tool and Refine Edge.

This is my go-to duo for removing the background from both people and objects that have a mix of smooth and textured edges.

Select the Pen Tool and make sure it's set to Path.

Step 2

Click to place an Anchor Point on a smooth portion of your subject. I'm going to start right below her hair, at the strap of her dress.

Click and hold to place a second anchor. You want to put Anchor Points where curves start and end. Here, the arc of her strap ends, so that's where I placed the point.

Before letting go of the anchor, pull to curve the path, having it follow the edge you're trying to extract.

Step 3

Hold Alt to bring in or adjust the Path's Controller Points. The controllers help guide the path going from anchor to anchor. You can modify these points at any time.

Then place another anchor down the edge of the subject.

Step 4

When placing anchors, fewer is better. That's because fewer anchor points will result in smoother edges. However, just use as many as you need.

The more you use the Pen Tool, the more you'll get used to it and get better at it. A lot of it is built on habit and even personal style.

Repeat those steps until you've created a connected Path all around the subject, but skip the hair.

The hair comes second; we only want to focus on the subject's body.

Step 5

When the Path is finished, we can add a Layer Mask, and on the Canvas, Right Click > Fill Path, filling the path with black.

Step 6

I like to add a Feather of 0.4 px to my masks using the Properties panel, though that is optional and will depend on the image you're extracting.

Then we're going to Right Click > Convert to Smart Object. This makes it so we can safely extract our subject's hair without messing up the body's layer mask.

Suppose we tried to extract our subject's hair on the same layer mask instead of splitting it into two different masks. In that case, the Refine Edge tool is likely to mess up the smooth, clean edge we made with the Pen Tool.

And because we used Smart Objects, we can easily adjust the body's layer mask—no need to worry about rasterizing the layer. Just double-click the Smart Object, make any adjustments, save, and then close the Smart Object. The main PSD will update with the changes made.

Step 7

Use the Magnetic Lasso tool or any Quick Select tool to make a sloppy selection from around the hair of the subject.

Add a new Layer Mask to the subject.

Step 8

Finally, go into Select and Mask and use the same Refine Edge techniques from earlier.

That's it! Now you know how to make a background transparent in Photoshop

That's how to make a background transparent in Photoshop. Removing a background from an image only takes as long as you need it to. Sometimes quick and dirty works; other times, getting that perfect extraction matters. Luckily, through a combination of those four tools, I've been able to extract any image that's crossed my path. And Photoshop's auto-select tools get better and better every year.

Hey, but what if you're a visual person? In that case, you'll love the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel. There you'll find awesome video tutorials, like this new video to learn how to make the background transparent in Photoshop:

Bonus: How to remove a background using AI tools from Envato

Looking to do more with AI? Envato offers a suite of easy-to-use AI tools like ImageEdit, a great AI background remover.

Also, there’s ImageGen for creating pictures and VideoGen for making videos. They're all part of your subscription, designed to speed up your creative process, whether you're editing photos or designing from scratch.

Placeit also offers an easy tool for removing a background in a couple of clicks, using only your browser. Use the image background remover tool here:

Check out these articles for tips and tricks to get even more out of them:

Comprehensive guide: How to use Procreate for tattoos

noemail@noemail.org (MissChatz) — Mon, 9 Jun 2025 15:14:07 GMT

What You'll Be Creating

What if I told you Procreate could be your sketchbook, stencil machine, and portable tattoo design studio? Hi, I'm Sirine—a tattoo artist who swapped tracing-paper tantrums for the 'undo' button. I'll give you real-talk tips from someone who's messed up enough times to know the shortcuts. I used to be all about pencil and paper. Now? I'm tapping my way to cleaner designs, happier clients, and fewer "uh-oh" moments.

Grab your Apple Pencil and join me to learn how to use Procreate for tattoo artists. Let's turn that iPad into your secret tattoo sidekick.

What you'll learn in this article

This article is tailored to tattooists who may be digital newbies or simply interested in working smarter. I'll walk you through Procreate's most helpful features, and show you how to set up your workspace, organize layers, and create stencil-ready artwork and client mockups—all from your iPad. You'll learn:

How to set up the Procreate workspace
How to create print-ready stencils
How to organize layers for tattoo art
How to add color, brushes, and text in Procreate
How to use Procreate for tattoo artists

Gear up: Set up the hardware & software
How to organize Procreate's Gallery for tattoo artists
How do you customize a canvas to function like stencil sheets?
How to create canvas templates for different tattoo stencils
Understanding the Procreate interface for tattoo artists
Which Procreate gestures can speed up your workflow?
How to benefit from using Procreate's Layers for tattoo design
How can tattoo artists use Procreate's Blend Modes for tattoo design?
How to use Procreate Brushes to mimic tattoo machines
Color theory & application: Bring your tattoo designs to life
How to add tattoo fonts for Procreate

1. Gear up: Set up the hardware & software

Here's the hardware and software you'll need for your tattoo designs in Procreate.

Hardware

Get the most responsive gear you can afford, because that's what'll give you the best performance and precision when it comes to digital tattoo sketching. Here are my recommendations:

iPad Pro (M4, 2024) / iPad Air (M1 or newer) with at least 64GB of storage and preferably a 12.9-inch model: Fast, reliable performance, and large screen size.
Apple Pencil (2nd Gen): An Apple pencil gives you a natural drawing experience. Great for line precision, pressure sensitivity, and shading control.
Matte screen protector: It adds texture and reduces glare, making it ideal for long design sessions. Perfect for a paper-like feel and less smudging. Buy a magnetic version in case you want to take the screen protector off occasionally.
Artist glove for iPad (optional): Choose a two-finger artist glove that covers your ring, pinky fingers, and the side of your palm. A padded microfiber glove is an excellent option because it helps prevent smudging and can be used as a cleaning cloth while drawing.

Closeup photo of drawing process. Image from Envato.

Install the Procreate software

Let's get the app ready for tattoo work. Head over to the Procreate website or the App Store to purchase and download the Procreate app for the one-time purchase price of $12.99.

2. How to organize Procreate's Gallery for tattoo artists

When you open the app, you'll see the Gallery view—this behaves like your personal tattoo studio wall. You can create custom Stacks (folders) to organize your work by client, style, or project, making it easy to browse designs during consultations or revisit old ideas. Here's how to make the most of Procreate’s Gallery:

Group: Drag canvases into Stacks to sort by flash sheets, custom pieces, or body placement—this is great for managing multiple projects.
Label: Tap titles to name your files (e.g. Fineline Wrist – Yara 2025) for quick access.
Export: Share designs with clients, post on social, or send to stencil print apps.
Store: Keep all your printable stencil sheets neatly in one folder.

3. How do you customize a canvas to function like stencil sheets?

When creating your tattoo designs in Procreate, it's important to set the canvas to the size you would when selecting the size of your stencil paper.

Step 1

To create a New Canvas, click the + icon in the top-right corner.
Tap the Custom Size icon on the right to create your custom canvas.
To adjust the canvas size for print-ready and standard stencil paper, set the Dimensions to inches, Width to 8.5 inches, and Height to 11 inches (or equivalent to 21.59 cm x 27.94 cm).
Give your canvas a label, such as 'Basic Stencil'.

Step 2

For our custom stencil canvas, use 300 DPI for crisp, print-ready quality—it's perfect for tattoos and professional prints. An 8.5" x 11" canvas at this resolution supports up to 120 layers, giving you flexibility for detailed work.

In Procreate, the canvas size and DPI affect the number of layers you can use. Larger canvases mean fewer layers due to iPad memory limits. In comparison, smaller canvases allow more layers for separating the line work, shading, and color. For larger prints, go with an 11" x 17" canvas. Just keep in mind that a bigger size means fewer layers, and more layers mean more creative control.

Step 3

Clarity and contrast are necessary for tattoo stencils for high-contrast black and grey work. So when choosing the Color Profile, select RGB – sRGB IEC61966-2.1 as it's compatible with most printers and stencil-making software. If you're preparing full-color prints, consider switching to CMYK and choosing RGB (Display P3) for rich screen colors.

Step 4

Tattooists can easily showcase their creative process or build a portfolio using Procreate’s Time-lapse feature. When you start a new canvas, Time-lapse Recording is enabled by default. It automatically records every stroke from start to finish, perfect for sharing with clients or on social media. For a good balance of quality and file size, use 1920 x 1080 resolution with Good Quality selected.

Step 5

Within Canvas Properties, you can set your preferred background color or hide the background by toggling the Background Hidden. The background color is set to white by default, but you can customize it. Once you're ready, tap Create to begin designing your stencils in Procreate.

4. How to create canvas templates for different tattoo stencils

To save time in your tattoo design process, create all the stencil sizes you would typically use and save them in your Gallery. Make sure they're all set at a resolution of 300 DPI. Here are some examples:

Flash sheet	11" x 14" (3300 x 4200 px)	Ideal for multiple small tattoo designs
Small tattoo	4" x 4" (1200 x 1200 px)	Clean, compact, and good for fineline and micro tattoos
Sleeve tattoo	16.5" x 47" (4950 x 14100 px)	For forearm to shoulder; adjust depending on client arm length
Back/torso tattoo	14" x 20" (4200 x 6000 px)	For back or large areas
Back/front leg tattoo	8" x 20" (2400 x 6000 px)	Shin/Calf
Portfolio	2048 x 2732 px	iPad screen ratio
Social media	1080 x 1080 px	Instagram posts

5. Understanding the Procreate interface for tattoo artists

Get familiar with Procreate’s interface—think of it like your digital tattoo workstation. The top bar holds your brushes, just like your needle configurations (liners, shaders, magnums, etc.) and wipes. The sidebar is your quick-access tool for switching between fineline and broad strokes. Layers? They're your digital stencil sheets.

Take a moment to explore and get comfortable with the interface. If you have time, watch how to draw in Procreate for extra details and tips.

Gallery

This is where you sort and stack your designs by project or client.

Everything starts here—it's your control center.
Add photos, text, photos, or files to your canvas.
Use it to Cut, Copy, Paste, Export, Share, or create Time-lapse videos.
Canvas > Symmetry > Drawing Guide: This is a powerful tool for tattoo artists, especially when creating mandalas, mirrored designs, symmetrical images, or body placements (like chest pieces or forearm tattoos). For a better understanding, watch how to mirror in Procreate for symmetrical drawings.

Smudge Tool (Finger icon)

Pick any brush in the Brush Library to blend and soften lines or shading.
Use the Smudge Tool to blur or create smooth gradients or mixed tones.
Adjust the smudge opacity for subtle or bold effects.

Eraser Tool (Eraser icon)

Lets you fade, clean up, or correct designs easily.
Use the Opacity slider to control intensity.

Layers (Two overlapping squares)

Layers let you build your design step by step, like tracing paper.
Tap the Layers icon to add, move, lock, or delete a layer.

Color Tools (Color dot)

Tap to open the color menu.
Use the Classic Picker for hue, saturation, and brightness.
Try Color Harmony for matching tones.
Drag-and-drop to fill areas quickly.
Save and share custom palettes.

Brush Size & Opacity

Use the sliders on the side of the canvas to adjust the Brush Size thickness (top slider) and Opacity (bottom slider).
Tap the slider to enter specific values.

6. Which Procreate gestures can speed up your workflow?

You can speed up your tattoo design process by just mastering a few key gestures in Procreate, focusing more on your tattoo artistry. Here are simple canvas gestures every tattoo artist should know:

Undo: Tap the canvas with two fingers on the screen to undo the last action.
Two-finger layer tap: To adjust a layer’s opacity or transparency quickly, double-tap the layer with two fingers and drag the slider to the transparency percentage you want.
Redo: Tap the canvas with three fingers to redo what you just undid.
Zoom In/Out: Pinch two fingers to zoom in or expand two fingers to zoom out the view.
Rotate Canvas: Twist two fingers to rotate the canvas. This is great for adjusting your wrist angle while lining.
QuickShape: To draw a perfect line, circle, or shape in Procreate, keep your finger or pen pressed down on the canvas when drawing, and it will automatically snap into a perfect circle, line, arc, or square—a great trick for clean stencil work.

Touch Gestures Icons from Envato

7. How to benefit from using Procreate's Layers for tattoo design

How to use Procreate to organize tattoo artwork layers

Keep your tattoo design clean and editable by organizing your layers—use separate ones for sketching, linework, color, and shading. Label them clearly to stay non-destructive and make adjustments easy.

Reference images are kept on their own layer with low opacity.
Sketch: A rough sketch or outline or initial idea.
Linework: Clean, precise lines for the final tattoo.
Color: Layer for coloring in the tattoo piece.
Shading: Adding depth, texture, and color on separate layers, allowing for easy adjustments without affecting the linework.

Quick Procreate layer actions at your fingertips

When you swipe left on a layer in the Layers panel, you’ll see three options:

Lock: Prevents the layer from being edited. It's great for protecting completed linework, stencils, or reference layers from accidental edits.
Duplicate: Instantly makes a copy of the layer. It's helpful for creating backup versions, experimenting with color, or making slight variations (e.g. different shading styles).
Delete: Permanently removes the layer. Be cautious; once deleted, it's gone forever—unless you tap with two fingers immediately to Undo.

Layer Options tools every tattoo artist should know

Tap the layer thumbnail (not the name) to open the Layer Options menu. This brings up a range of helpful tools perfect for tattoo artists—whether you're creating custom designs or prepping stencils. Here's a quick overview of how these tools can ease your workflow:

Rename: Tap to label your layers.
Select isolates everything drawn on that layer. This is useful if you want to move, scale, or adjust the designed part.
Clear instantly erases all content from that layer.
Alpha Lock lets you shade or color inside the existing linework only. It's excellent for recoloring outlines or adding soft shading to tattoo fills without going outside the lines.
Reference: Keeps your line work visible in the reference window while adding shading on a separate layer.
Merge Down merges the selected layer with the one below it. It's helpful to keep duplicates before merging.

How to color tattoo art using the Reference layer option in Procreate

Reference layers in Procreate are game-changing for tattoo artists. This feature streamlines the workflow and helps you create clean stencils, precise shading, and effortless color fills without manually selecting each area. To make the most of this feature, set your 'Linework' layer as the Reference layer:

Tap the thumbnail of your 'Linework' layer.
Select Reference from the menu—look for the small Reference tag under the layer name.
Add a New Layer underneath by tapping the + icon.
Use ColorDrop (drag and drop) to fill areas; the linework above acts as a boundary, even though the color is applied to a separate layer.

This approach keeps your outlines and color neatly separated, making edits clean and easy.

Why use the Alpha Lock layer option for tattoo design?

Alpha Lock in Procreate locks the transparent parts of a layer so you can paint, shade, or edit only inside the existing linework. It’s perfect for clean fills or gradients, coloring inside shapes, and refining your designs.

Say you want red outlines for a traditional tattoo style. Use Alpha Lock on your 'Linework' layer, and then brush or ColorDrop to change the color only of the existing lines. There's no need to redraw!
Use Alpha Lock on a solid-shaped layer and brush it in soft shadows or gradients without spilling it outside the edge. Add stipple shading or texture brushes—Alpha Lock keeps them clean.
Always keep linework and fills on separate layers—Alpha Lock gives you more power when they’re clean and isolated.

How to activate Alpha Lock

You can activate Alpha Lock in two quick ways. You can also disable Alpha Lock the same way you turned it on if you want to work outside the shape again.

Tap the Layers icon.
Tap the layer thumbnail.
Tap Alpha Lock from the menu. A checkerboard background appears behind the thumbnail (that means it’s active).

Method 2: With a two-finger swipe

On the layer you want to lock, do a two-finger swipe right. You’ll see the checkerboard background appear—Alpha Lock is on.

8. How can tattoo artists use Procreate's Blend Modes for tattoo design?

What are Blend Modes and how can you access them?

Blend Modes are the modes that control how one layer interacts with the layers beneath it. So, instead of simply laying one layer on top of the other, you can blend them into one another in unique ways. Blend Modes are good for adding realistic shading, glows, or rich textures to your tattoo designs.

To access Blend Modes, tap the layer thumbnail. Select N (Normal), which opens the Blend Mode menu. Scroll through the mode options to see the effect each mode has on your design.

Popular Blend Modes for tattoo design

Multiply: Great for shading. It darkens your base colors without affecting the outline—good for building soft, layered shadows. Use Multiply when placing a stencil or sketch layer over your design.
Screen or Add: Perfect for highlights or glow effects, especially on color tattoos or illustrative styles. These modes lighten the base and can simulate reflected light on the skin.
Overlay or Soft Light: Enhance the color vibrancy or add subtle tone variations without upsetting the base artwork—useful for building up realistic depth.
Color: Used to recolor grayscale tattoos or to apply a color tint over existing linework while keeping the detail visible.

Always use Blend Modes on separate layers, keeping your work clean and editable. Lower the Opacity to help it blend more naturally if the effect is too strong. You can quickly adjust a layer’s opacity by double-tapping the layer with two fingers and dragging the slider.

9. How to use Procreate Brushes to mimic tattoo machines

When it comes to digital tattoo design, choosing the right Procreate brushes that replicate the look and feel of real tattoo machines can make all the difference. Tattooing relies on clean lines and smooth shading. Your liner brushes should help you achieve crisp outlines, while the shader brushes build up gradients, whip shade, or stipple your tattoo design work.

How to adjust Procreate Brush settings

To customize Procreate brushes, you have a few quick adjustments available from the left slider:

Top slider: Adjusts Brush Size
Bottom slider: Controls Opacity

For complete brush control and access to the Brush Studio:

Open the Brush Library: Tap the paintbrush icon in the top-right corner.
Select a Brush.
Then tap the brush image to open the Brush Studio.
To customize Procreate tattoo brushes, use the panels on the left to modify specific brush behaviors. You can then test changes on the preview canvas to the right. Once you're satisfied, tap Done to save.

How to use the Brush Panel settings for customizing tattoo brushes

To create tattoo brushes that feel natural and perform like real tattoo machines, you’ll need to experiment with Procreate’s Brush Studio to fine-tune every aspect of a brush.

Stroke Path	Spacing: Lower spacing creates smooth, continuous lines—important for linework. StreamLine (under Stabilization): Helps smooth out shaky strokes for clean outlines.
Shape	Use custom shape sources that resemble actual tattoo needles or dotwork textures.
Grain	For textured shading, adjust grain movement (choose between Moving or Textured) to create realistic fill styles. Modify Scale and Zoom to match the type of shading style (pepper shading, stippling, etc.).
Rendering	Set to Intense Blending or Uniformed Blending for smoother tonal transitions in shader brushes.
Wet Mix	Often disabled for linework. It's barely used for tattooing but can help in blending shades.
Color Dynamics	Typically off for traditional black and gray tattoo design. It can be useful when working with color mockups.
Apple Pencil	Pressure: Controls how the brush size reacts to pressure. This affects the size and opacity settings of your brush—important for shading and line variation. Tilt: For brushes simulating magnums or shader needles, you can control how the brush behaves when tilted.
Properties	Size & Opacity Limits: Control min/max ranges for consistency. Stamp Preview: This helps see what a shape-based brush (like dot-work) will look like. Turn on when using stamp brushes.

How to customize default Procreate brushes for tattooing

Let’s put together a few Procreate tattoo brushes that replicate the feel of tattoo machines using Procreate’s built-in brush sets. For even more variety, consider downloading Procreate tattoo brushes from Envato. As you build your custom brush set, be sure to keep the following characteristics in mind:

Linework Brush: Crisp, minimal spacing, high stabilization, no grain.
Dotwork Brush: Custom shape and jitter, textured grain.
Whip Shading Brush: Tapered stroke, strong pressure curve.
Soft Shading Brush: Large, low-opacity, smooth blending.

Liner brushes

Technical Pen (Inking folder) Great for clean outlines. Set Stabilization > StreamLine Amount to 56% for steadier lines. Then adjust Apple Pencil > Size > Max.
Fine Tip (Inking folder) Mimics a 3RL (3 round liner). Perfect for fine details and small text. Lower the brush size for extra control.
Monoline (Calligraphy folder) produces a consistent line width, ideal for stencils or bold traditional work. Customize Pressure and StreamLine to suit your hand.

Shading brushes

Soft Blend (Airbrushing folder). Great for smooth black-and-gray shading, especially on low opacity. Adjust pressure sensitivity and opacity for soft gradients.
Medium Brush (Airbrushing folder). Less diffused than Soft Brush, it gives more control while still smooth. Suitable for filling and soft whip-style shading.
Flicks (Spraypaints folder). Dot scatter for pepper shading. Use at low opacity for subtle texture buildup.
Peppermint brush (Sketching folder) for stipple shading: Try modifying the (Stroke path > Spacing: 25%, Jitter: 45%, Falloff 22%, Rendering > Blend Mode > Multiply).

10. Color theory & application: Bring your tattoo designs to life

How to use Procreate's Color Panel as your digital ink station

Consider the color wheel as your virtual ink cap setup or color mixing station. It's a powerful tool once you know how to use it. Here are a couple of quick tips:

Double-tap a color on the color disc to snap it to the nearest pure version, like pure black, pure white, or a fully saturated hue.
To grab a color from your canvas, tap and hold on the area you want, and then release. The Eyedropper Tool will pick it up instantly.

Color theory in tattooing isn't about rules; it's about strategy. Whether you're working in full color or black and grey, learn how to get the most out of your digital palette and create tattoos that stand the test of time. Use the Color Wheel to build harmony in your tattoo designs:

Complementary Colors (opposites on the wheel): Great for bold contrast (e.g. blue/orange, red/green)
Analogous Colors (next to each other): Perfect for smooth blends and realism (e.g. blue/teal/purple)
Triadic Colors (three evenly spaced): Balanced and eye-catching (e.g. red/yellow/blue)

In Procreate, you can easily use Reference layers or the Color Harmony tab (under the color panel) to explore these combos.

How to build custom color palettes

You can start by building a realistic color palette that reflects your ink and skin colors. This will help you stay consistent and speed up your process. Tap the Color icon, and then select Palettes at the bottom. Create separate palettes for different tattoo styles or skins. Or you can head to your favorite ink brand website and see if they offer a free digital palette of their inks.

Traditional: Bold primaries with high contrast (bright reds, deep blues, golden yellows).
Realism: Muted earth tones and skin-appropriate colors.
Neo-Traditional: Deep, rich combos. Saturated but sophisticated color combinations.
Black & Grey: Various range of greys from 10% to 90% opacity.

How to check how the color looks on skin

What you see on screen isn't always what ends up on the skin. Bright colors in Procreate can look amazing digitally, but remember that tattoo ink heals softer and slightly darker, especially over time. Here's how to check color digitally:

Color palette saturation: Instead of using fully saturated colors, dial it back to 70–80%. This gives you a more realistic preview of how the tattoo will look once healed. That's because ink settles under the skin, not on top, so it mixes with skin tones and loses a bit of that vibrancy. Designing with a slightly muted tone helps your final tattoo look more like your original concept.
Neutral background: Always view your design on a neutral background, not pure white—it gives you a more realistic sense of how it'll look on actual skin. Lighter skin might hold bright colors better, while darker skin tones absorb more light, so some hues might not show as clearly.
Skin tone matters: Use reference photos of your client and adjust your palette accordingly. Drop your design onto a photo of the client's skin. Set the layer to Multiply to preview how colors interact with their skin color, accounting for the natural yellowing effect that occurs as tattoos age.
Aging simulation: Duplicate your design, and then desaturate it slightly. Reduce the Saturation by 30% to mimic faded ink. Add a warm tint (Adjustments > Hue/Saturation) to mimic how ink fades over time.
ColorDrop: Test how reds/yellows pop on darker skin (adjust Saturation +10%).

11. How to add tattoo fonts for Procreate

Install Procreate tattoo fonts

Whether you mock up a client's design or create stencil-ready lettering, adding text in Procreate is a great way to lay out the names, dates, quotes, or script-style tattoos.

If you don't have any tattoo fonts for Procreate, head over to Envato and browse the collection of Procreate tattoo fonts. Once you find the fonts you like, download them and add them to Procreate's Fonts folder. Here's a detailed tutorial on how to install fonts in Procreate.

Step-by-step instructions for adding text in Procreate

Start a new canvas or open your existing design.
Access the Text Tool: Go to Actions > Add > Add Text – a default text box will appear on your canvas.
Once it's up, type in your text. Tap the text box to open the Text Entry Companion.
For further customization, tap on Text Entry Companion to access the Edit Style panel.

How to customize text from Procreate's Edit Style panel

The Edit Style panel offers options to change the font, style, kerning, tracking, baseline, opacity, and alignment. Here you can change:

Font: Choose from built-in fonts or add your own.
Size: Adjust how large the text appears.
Tracking: Change the spacing between letters.
Leading: Adjust the spacing between lines.
Alignment: Left, center, or right-aligned.

Some tattoo text design tips:

Use bold tattoo fonts for legibility.
Customize letterforms with Procreate's brushes to make the text unique or stylized. Try script or calligraphy brushes to freehand your own lettering.
Always check readability at a smaller size—clients can't zoom in on healed ink.

How to further customize text shapes

Once you're happy with your text layout, you can convert the text and transform it into editable shapes. Here's how:

Tap the text layer and choose Rasterize (now it's no longer editable text).
Use the Selection or Transform Tool to reshape or warp the text.
You can also use brushes to draw over or enhance the text manually.

Now you know how to use Procreate for tattoos

Right from your iPad, Procreate can be your all-in-one tattoo design studio—sketchbook, stencil maker, and creative hub. Now that you know how to set up Procreate specifically for tattooing, including organizing your gallery, brushes, layers, and stencil templates, I hope these beginner-friendly tips will help you work more efficiently and create cleaner designs.

Start now! Turn on your iPad and use Procreate tattoo brushes to make some flash sheets. And if you're looking for more tips, check out A to Z of Procreate: Tips, Tricks, and Hacks! or some of these tutorials:

How to remove anything using AI ImageEdit (blemishes, wrinkles, stray hairs, and more!)

noemail@noemail.org (Alina Midori Hernández) — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 02:40:50 GMT

Today, thanks to AI, it's super easy and efficient to make your photos look professional, whether you're just tweaking little things or making big changes.

In this tutorial, we'll learn how to use Envato ImageEdit's AI tools for common photo touch-ups, such as removing blemishes, smoothing out wrinkles, removing tattoos, and taming stray hairs.

Ready? Let's make your images shine!

For this tutorial, we'll be editing with ImageEdit and four photos that are available with your Envato subscription.

Girl with freckles and sparkles

Woman with assortment of clothes

Serious young tattooed man

Portrait of stylish model

How to remove blemishes using AI

Instead of manually sampling areas, ImageEdit can be your AI blemish remover. This tool can spot blemishes and fill them in with realistic skin texture sampled from surrounding areas. The AI tool understands skin tone, texture, and even subtle lighting variations, ensuring the patch is virtually undetectable.

For this part, we’ll be using this portrait, which is available with your Envato subscription.

Step 1

If you’re working with your own photo, click Upload Image. Then select the image you want to edit with AI.

If you're working with a photo from Envato, you can edit it directly by clicking Edit with AI.

Step 2

Choose the AI photo Erase tool from the left menu.

Step 3

Select a brush size appropriate for the blemish you want to remove. Click and drag the brush over the spots you want to erase. Make sure to completely cover what you want to remove.

Step 4

In the provided text field, clearly describe what you want the AI to erase. In this case, I wanted to erase the glitter and replace it with bare skin.

Step 5

Choose the option that you're satisfied with, click Keep, and Download the image.

How to remove wrinkles using an AI wrinkle remover

Wrinkles happen naturally, but sometimes, for a particular aesthetic or for commercial purposes, we need a smoother texture. Let's go over the steps to erase wrinkles from this photo using the AI wrinkle remover.

Step 1

Select the image you want to edit with AI using Envato ImageEdit.

Step 2

Click the AI Erase tool from the left menu.

Step 3

Select a brush size appropriate for the object you want to remove. Click and drag the brush over the wrinkles you want to erase. Make sure to completely cover what you want to remove.

Step 4

In the text field, describe what you want the AI to erase and replace. In this example, I wanted to erase the crease and replace it with smooth fabric.

Step 5

Choose the option that you like the most, click Keep, and Download the cleaned image.

How to remove a tattoo from a photo using AI

Beyond facial features, AI's capabilities extend to removing objects or distractions from an image. In this section, we'll be using ImageEdit as an AI tattoo removal tool with this portrait.

Step 1

Select the image you want to edit with AI using Envato ImageEdit.

Step 2

Click the AI Erase tool from the left menu.

Step 3

Select a brush size appropriate for the details you want to remove. Click and drag the brush over the tattoos, completely covering what you want to erase.

Step 4

In the description box, write what you want the AI to erase. In this case, I wanted to remove the model's tattoos, so I used the smallest brush size to cover the area properly.

Step 5

Choose the option that you like the most, click Keep, and Download the cleaned image. And that's how easy it is to use this AI tattoo removal feature.

How to remove stray hairs using AI

Stray hairs, flyaways, or unruly strands can be incredibly frustrating for photographers and retouchers. Manually painting them out is a painstaking process, but ImageEdit provides a much more efficient solution.

We'll be using this photo for this section.

Step 1

Select the image you want to edit with AI using Envato ImageEdit.

Step 2

Click the AI Erase tool from the left menu.

Step 3

Select a brush size appropriate for the details you want to remove. Click and drag the brush over the stray hairs.

Step 4

In the description box, write what you want the AI to erase. In this case, I wanted to remove a part of the model's hairdo.

Step 5

Choose the option that you like the most, click Keep, and Download the final image.

Explore Envato's AI tools

Did you know that your Envato subscription gives you full access to a stack of AI tools? That includes ImageEdit, ImageGen, MusicGen, VoiceGen, GraphicGen, InspoGen, and VideoGen.

These tools are super easy to use, so you can save time on tricky tasks, simplify your photo editing and design, and just make creative work way more fun and accessible.

Want to get even more out of your creative potential with AI? Check out our other articles for extra tips and tricks!

How to remove a background in Affinity Designer

noemail@noemail.org (Diana Toma) — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 12:17:36 GMT

In this tutorial, I'll be demonstrating how to remove a background in Affinity Designer. Since it's a vector-based application, you might assume that Designer wouldn’t be the best option for removing a background. However, it comes equipped with a powerful pixel editor that allows you to make basic edits to images, including using Affinity Designer for transparent backgrounds.

To erase a background, Affinity Designer offers two main techniques that we'll feature in this tutorial. Follow these steps to learn how to remove a white background or even a busy background from any image. It's one of the basic photo-editing tips that every designer needs to know.

1. How to open the image in Affinity Designer

Let's start by opening up the image by going to File > Open and locating the image on your computer. Double-click on it to import it into Affinity. I'll be using the beautiful daisy flower image in this section of the tutorial to demonstrate the first background removal technique.

Next, we want to remove the lock from the layer by clicking on the lock icon in the top right corner of the Layers panel while the background image is selected. Another option is to right-click on the background layer and deselect Lock from the menu.

2. How to access pixel persona in Affinity Designer

Since this image is a rasterized photo made of pixels rather than a vector design, we want to work with the Pixel Persona for this. Go to the top left corner of the application and click on the Pixel Persona icon, which is made of small colored boxes. Once you've accessed it, notice how the tools have changed.

3. How to erase a white background in Affinity Designer

Step 1

Having a JPEG image with a white background is a common reason to want to remove the white space and have it with a transparent background instead. It doesn't matter if it's white, black, blue, or any other solid color for this technique that you are about to use.

I recommend zooming in on the image. Then, while it's still selected, go to Select > Select Sampled Color.

Step 2

Designer will automatically select the main color of your image, so in this case, it will select the white. You can choose another color from your image that you might want by simply clicking on that colored area, and your selection will change.

Next, you can adjust the Tolerance level with the slider if you feel as if it's not picking up haze or different soft gradients that might be around a color that you are removing. Increasing the value from 15% upwards might give you a selection closer to the edge, but this depends from image to image. Hit Apply.

Step 3

To actually remove the white background, you can hit the Delete key on your keyboard or just go to Edit > Delete. Make sure to follow up this action by going with Select > Deselect.

Step 4

The next natural step is to check the result you got. Any time you remove a background that is white or any kind of solid-colored background, you want to make sure you put a contrasting color behind it to make sure you actually removed all of the background.

To do this, go back to the Designer Persona by clicking on the icon in the upper left corner of the application, and then use the Rectangle Tool (M) to click and draw a shape about the size of your image. Fill it with black or any other contrasting color, and make sure to move it behind the subject.

Zoom in as much as you need and take a look around the edges of the subject. If you did not remove all of the background, you will see a white haze around the image because some of those pixels might be different hues. This happens a lot, so don't worry. It's fixable.

Step 5

By repeating the previous steps, you will get a much more precise selection. While in the Pixel Persona, go back to Select > Select Sampled Color and click exactly on the haze to sample that specific hue. Choose a much higher Tolerance level of 30% and hit Apply. Next, press the Delete key on your keyboard to actually remove the remaining background followed by Select > Deselect.

Back in the Designer Persona, check out the result. Your extraction should be perfect now. You have successfully learned how to remove a white background in Affinity Designer.

4. How to remove a busy background in Affinity Designer

Step 1

Let's continue with the second way of using Affinity Designer to remove a background. This one is suitable for anything that has a busy or textured background and doesn't necessarily have solid edges like before. I'll be using the autumn leaves image in this section of the tutorial.

Things to do before we start using Affinity Designer to remove a background that's too busy:

Open the image from your computer.
Access Pixel Persona.
Unlock the Background layer.
Locate the Selection Brush Tool.

To remove the busy background in this image, we will use the Selection Brush Tool (W). In the tool's settings at the top, make sure to check Snap to edges and Soft edges. Now, if you bring your cursor over the image, you will notice your cursor is now a circular brush, and you can change the size of that brush at the top under Width. You don't want to make it too big or too small, so a medium size like 300 px will be good.

P.S. You can get even more free Affinity Designer brushes here:

25+ Best Free Affinity Designer Brushes (& Affinity Designer Tutorials!)

Nona Blackman

30 May 2024

Step 2

Start painting around the subject, which in this case is the leaf in focus. You will notice as you're painting that Affinity Designer is placing a dotted line around the subject automatically. Some areas are far from perfect at first, but we'll correct that next.

Continue to go around the subject until you get the entire background selected. You're not creating a selection around the leaf but a selection around the busy background.

Step 3

What we want to do now is to correct the imperfections. Zoom in on the edge of the leaf and make the brush smaller. To push back the dotted line, hold the Alt key and click on the image. While you do this, the selection will move to the edges of the subject.

Continue to do this in all the areas that need fixing. Keep in mind that the smaller the brush, the more precision you'll get.

Step 4

Use a very small brush size of about 2-3 px for the pointed tips of the leaf and also for the stem to get a precise selection. At this point, the background should be ready to be cut out.

Step 5

The next step is to open up the Refine Selection window by pressing the Refine button at the top. Affinity Designer will place a red mask over the subject that was selected. You can use this red mask as a reference to determine whether or not your trace is accurate. Zoom in on the leaf as much as needed, and check out the edges. If it doesn't look as accurate as you want it, you can adjust it further by painting over the missing areas to include them in the red area.

You can also adjust a few settings but for an accurate trace, the default settings work just fine. Of course, this depends from image to image and what kind of background you are trying to remove.

Border width
Smooth
Feather
Ramp
Output: Selection, Mask, New layer or New layer with mask

Step 6

Now, to actually erase the background in Affinity Designer, all you have to do is press the Delete key on your keyboard, and it's gone. Also get rid of the selection by going to Select > Deselect.

Step 7

Let's check our work. Back in Designer Persona, grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a shape that covers the artboard. Send it behind the subject and fill it with black or any other contrasting color. Zoom in and check out the edges all around. The leaf looks pretty good without the background.

Step 8

All that's left to do is save your work. Go to File > Export to open the Export Settings window, where you will see a lot of file formats available. It's best to save your image as a PNG because this format allows a transparent background.

To save only the subject without the extra empty space, make sure to have it selected before you go to File > Export and then choose Area: Selection without background.
To save the entire image in the original size, you don't need to select anything. Just go to File > Export and then choose Area: Whole Document.

Hit Export and find a location on your computer to save the new image.

You're done using Affinity Designer to remove a background

You have successfully learned how to remove a background from an image and how to get a transparent background in Affinity Designer. Apply these two techniques when you have a white/solid colored background or when you have a busy and textured background to accurately remove it every time.

Would you rather watch a design video tutorial? Then you can't miss this video by Andrei Marius from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel. Quickly learn how to use Affinity Designer for transparent backgrounds:

You can also get amazing, premium Affinity Designer graphics on Envato. Save time and upgrade your projects with unlimited downloads of creative assets for a flat monthly fee.

How to remove a background right in your browser

Learning to use Affinity Designer to remove a background is pretty cool. But what happens if you're using a computer without this software?

Maybe you would've struggled in the past, but now, you can use AI to remove a background. And do we have the one for you! Envato has a powerful stack of AI tools, like ImageEdit, that could be the best AI background remover. Just a few clicks (no need for credits, complicated prompts, or software knowledge), and you can tweak any image you want. It truly is the answer to the question of how to remove background in AI.

The best part? All AI tools are included with your Envato subscription (except for Enterprise accounts).

You can also use Placeit as a background remover tool. You won't even need to leave your browser, and you can do it from any device, anywhere.

Learn more about Affinity Designer

You saw how easy it is to learn how to remove a background in Affinity Designer. If you want to continue learning, here is a list of other Affinity Designer tutorials (and even a few cool Affinity Designer resources) specially made for you: