DALLE-2 vs Stable Diffusion vs Midjourney

Introduction

Hello ladies and gentlemen, it's Mike here at Game From Scratch. In just about a week, DALLE-2 was made available for the public to check out. Now, this tool was first announced a couple of years ago and it blew people's minds with its ability to create art from text. But since DALLE-2's first announcement, it has lost a bit of its steam due to competition. So obviously, DALLE is out there and today we're going to look at three major options available for generating AI art: DALLE-2, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney.

Availability of DALLE-2

DALLE-2 is available for you to check out, although not in all countries unfortunately. If your country supports it, you can check it out for free. You get 50 free credits for the first month and then 15 free credits each month thereafter. You can also buy additional credits.

Overview of Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion brings a lot to the table, especially since it has a free and open-source implementation. If you have a beefy enough system to run the models, you can take advantage of it. However, there are online easy-to-use versions with a free trial, like Dream Studio, which we'll look at today. Moreover, Stable Diffusion is more flexible in terms of use-cases due to its open-source nature.

Introducing Midjourney

Then there's the plucky new underdog, Midjourney. Midjourney operates more as a subscription service, using Discord for its interface. You can do up to 200 minutes of GPU time per month for ten dollars a month, with an optional privacy feature for an additional twenty dollars a month.

Open Source Nature of Stable Diffusion

Stable Diffusion is also available in source form. If you want to set it up yourself, a good place to start is the "Stable Diffusion Beginner's Guide" on Reddit, which provides a variety of tools, options, and models. Running it locally also avoids burning up credits, allowing for more experimentation.

Example Comparisons

Now, let’s compare these platforms using a few example queries:

Cyberpunk Bar Populated by Cyborgs in an Anime Style

DALLE-2: It produced four decent results, each with a unique take on a cyberpunk bar populated by cyborgs.
Dream Studio (Stable Diffusion): The output was more artistic and perhaps better for concept art, though it lacked cyborgs.
Midjourney: Used Discord and produced arguably the best results, with a more coherent theme.

Sci-Fi Fighter with Four Wings

DALLE-2: The results were quite disappointing and lacked coherence.
Dream Studio: Nothing that stood out.
Midjourney: The most appealing, with clearer and more defined outputs.

Pixel Art Floppy Disk

DALLE-2: Nailed it with a result that could be used immediately in a game or application.
Dream Studio: Produced a completely unusable mess.
Midjourney: Better, but still not as good as DALLE-2’s output.

Sad Woman Riding on a Dinosaur on a Beach

DALLE-2: Mixed results, with one decent image but generally not impressive.
Dream Studio: More realistic but equally disappointing.
Midjourney: Better results but did not completely nail it.

Wrap Up

Each of these tools has their own strengths and weaknesses. DALLE-2 excels at specific art styles like pixel art. Dream Studio offers a wider range of artistic styles. Midjourney seems to provide more coherent and appealing outputs for certain complex prompts.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of these tools largely depends on the user’s ability to craft effective prompts.

Keywords

AI Art Generation
DALLE-2
Stable Diffusion
Midjourney
Dream Studio
Pixel Art
Cyberpunk
Concept Art
Free Trial
Credits
Subscription
Open Source

FAQ

What are the three main AI art generation tools discussed?

DALLE-2, Stable Diffusion, and Midjourney.

How much does DALLE-2 cost?

You get 50 free credits for the first month, and then 15 free credits each month thereafter. Additional credits can be purchased.

What is the pricing model for Midjourney?

It offers a subscription model with up to 200 minutes of GPU time per month for ten dollars. There is an option for a privacy feature for an additional twenty dollars a month.

Can I use Stable Diffusion for free?

Yes, Stable Diffusion is open-source and free to use if you have the necessary hardware. There are also hosted versions like Dream Studio which offer a free trial.

Which AI tool performed the best in creating pixel art?

DALLE-2 produced the best pixel art results in this comparison.

How do I start with using Stable Diffusion locally?

A good starting point is the "Stable Diffusion Beginner's Guide" on Reddit, which provides all the necessary tools and instructions.