Creating a new image and editing an existing one are different tasks. Some tools are built around a text prompt; others give you more control over masks, composition, and repeatable workflows. Decide what you need to deliver before selecting a generator.
Write a short creative brief
Describe the subject, the purpose, the aspect ratio, and the visual details that matter. A website background needs different framing from a product photograph or a social post. List what must be accurate, such as a real product, brand mark, or readable text. Keep a real logo as an approved asset rather than asking a generator to invent it. If a task requires an exact photograph, use the photograph and an editing workflow. Generation is better suited to content where a new visual is acceptable.
Choose generation, editing, or a workflow builder
A hosted generator can be convenient for quick exploration. An editing tool is useful when you need to preserve part of an existing image. A workflow interface such as ComfyUI makes individual processing steps visible and can support repeatable setups. More control also means more setup to understand. Test the smallest workflow that produces the output you need. Read the current documentation for supported models and features, because a technique shown in a tutorial may require additional components.
Compare the real cost of an export
Look beyond the first free preview. Check resolution, export quality, watermark rules, credit limits, and whether commercial use is permitted under the plan and model terms. A free trial can end before the final image is ready. Local tools may avoid a hosted subscription but still require hardware, storage, electricity, and time. Record what one finished deliverable costs after retries. Avoid treating every open model or downloadable workflow as carrying the same usage rights.
Use the same brief with each candidate
Choose a small test set: one simple scene, one composition with several objects, and one editing task. Keep the instructions and output size consistent. Inspect edges, hands, lettering, reflections, and important product details at the final display size. Check whether the subject stays consistent across versions. Save the prompt, model identifier, settings, and source assets so you can reproduce a useful result. Do not choose a tool based only on its gallery of best examples.
Treat references and people carefully
Use images you own or are allowed to use. Get appropriate permission before using another person’s likeness or voice in an edited or generated result. Keep the purpose of the image clear, especially where a viewer could mistake it for a real event. For a website, a provider’s real brand mark should remain identifiable and should not imply endorsement. If an image includes private material, review the tool’s upload and retention terms before sending it to a hosted service.
Finish the image outside the generator if needed
A useful output may still need cropping, colour adjustments, compression, or accessible alternative text. Check the image in the page or document where it will be used. Ensure the subject is visible on mobile and that overlaid text is readable. Keep an editable original and export a separate delivery file. If you find yourself repeatedly fixing the same issue, compare an editing-focused tool instead of generating again. The goal is a usable design asset, not merely an interesting preview.
Official instructions and sources
ComfyUI documentationKrita manualOriginal AltStack guide by Sushil Kumar Sah. Installation steps follow provider documentation; they do not imply testing on every supported device.