How to Create AI Blog Images in 2025 (That Actually Work)

‘Create an image of a professional digital marketer working on SEO’

I prompted…

Instead, I got a shirtless bodybuilder having an intense relationship with his laptop while papers flew everywhere.

Not exactly the ‘professional expertise’ vibe I was going for!

After that memorable fail (and many laughable attempts later), I learned that being specific with AI isn’t just important – it’s essential for keeping your shirts on.

These AI image generators have changed how we create images today, gone are the days of spending hours searching through stock photos or paying designers.

From awkward first attempts that looked like abstract art to now creating professional visuals in minutes, I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t.

According to recent stats, 80% of bloggers are using AI tools in some way, yet only 12% have figured out how to use AI for visuals.

That’s a huge missed opportunity because most bloggers and marketers get stuck with creating the right instructions for AI and understanding the legal requirements can feel tricky.

I’ve tested everything from Dall-E to Midjourney to Leonardo.ai, making plenty of mistakes along the way. 

Through this testing, I’ve discovered that using AI tools strategically isn’t just about knowing which buttons to click – it’s about understanding how to get exactly what you want from these tools.

In this guide, I’ll share my tested process on how to create AI blog images that enhance your blog posts.

No fluff, no theory – just practical steps I learned from my embarrassing AI image fails so you don’t have to make the same mistakes!

Here’s what I am going to discuss:

🎯 Master AI image generation tools (Dall-E, Midjourney, Leonardo.ai)
💪 Learn to create prompt templates for consistent results.
⚡ Get a proven workflow for generating and optimizing your AI images.
🔒 Discover how to properly use AI images without legal issues.
🎨 Learn the system for managing AI-generated images, prompts, and style guides.

Ready to learn how to create AI blog images that stand out? Let’s start with the basics of AI image generation.

Getting Started with AI Image Generation

As I stated, only 12% of bloggers are using AI for visuals to enhance their content. When I first started creating AI images, I struggled with basic prompts that produced weird-looking results.

However, after testing different tools and approaches, I discovered that each AI image generator has its own strengths.

Let’s break down the top AI image generators and what makes each one unique:

Dall-E (OpenAI):

This was my starting point in AI image creation. It has a beginner-friendly interface and is great for creating illustrations.

The free tier gives you 15 credits for basic images, and the paid version comes with the ChatGPT plus subscription or with OpenAI Developer API.

What I love about Dall-E is its ability to understand natural language prompts.

Midjourney:

Running through Discord might seem strange at first, but don’t let that put you off. Midjourney is better at creating detailed, artistic images. At $10/month for 200 generations, it’s a go-to for complex visualizations.

For example, if you’re writing about health (just to demonstrate), a prompt like “A detailed cross-section of a heart with clean, medical textbook style” produces remarkably accurate results.

Leonardo.ai:

This newer platform has become my secret weapon for consistent blog visuals. The free tier offers 150 credits per day, and the premium version gives you 5500 fast tokens for $10/month.

I use Leonardo AI to create my blog image. It has the ability to maintain style consistency across multiple generations which sets it apart from other generators.

Setting up these tools is simpler than you might think:

1. Pick one tool to start (I recommend Dall-E for beginners)
2. Create your account
3. Install necessary software (like Discord for Midjourney)
4. Begin with the free tier to practice

Before you start generating images, keep these resolution guidelines in mind for different blog placements:

• Featured images: 1200 x 630 pixels or 1200 x 628 pixels
• In-post images: 800 x 600 pixels
• Social media shares: 1000 x 1500 pixels

Here’s a pro tip I learned the hard way: Create a simple spreadsheet to track your successful prompts and their results. This saves hours when you need similar images later.

If you’re new to AI tools, check out my complete guide to integrating AI tools into your blogging workflow to make your content creation process more efficient.

Want to know how to write prompts that actually get you the images you want? I’ll cover that in the next section.

Writing Effective Prompts for Blog Images

Creating AI images starts with writing the right prompts. When I first began, my prompts were too vague, resulting in images that looked artificial and awkward.

I have learned this through trial and error, so with the good prompts, the results will be better.

Basic Prompt Structure That Works:

1. Subject + Action/Position
2. Style/Medium
3. Lighting/Mood
4. Technical Specifications
5. Additional Details

Let me show you how to put this together for real blog images.

Strong Prompt Formula: “[Subject] in [Position/Action], [Style], [Lighting], [Additional Details], [Technical Aspects]”

For example: “A modern office desk with a laptop and coffee mug, minimalist style, soft natural lighting from the right, shallow depth of field, high resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio”

Here’s what DALL.E created with the above prompt:

Common Prompt Mistakes I Made (And How to Fix Them):

Poor Prompt: “A business meeting”

Look at the above image, it is good but looks like someone is teaching students. And it is too vague, with no style or context specified.

Better Prompt: “Professional business team meeting in a modern conference room, business casual attire, natural lighting, documentary photography style, 4K resolution”

The below image is what I actually like because it looks so cool with natural lighting and in a documentary style.

Tips for Detailed Descriptions:

• Start with the main subject
• Add specific positioning details
• Include environmental elements
• Specify the artistic style
• Mention lighting and atmosphere

Style Specifications That Make a Difference:

1. Photography Styles:

• Documentary
• Product photography
• Editorial
• Lifestyle

2. Artistic Styles:

• Digital art
• Watercolor
• 3D rendering
• Pencil sketch

Advanced Prompt Elements:

• Camera angles: “shot from above,” “eye level view”
• Composition: “rule of thirds,” “centered composition”
• Technical aspects: “8K resolution,” “ultra-detailed”
• Lighting: “Golden hour lighting,” “studio lighting setup”

Pro Tip: I keep a running list of successful prompt combinations. When one works well, I save it as a template and modify it for future images.

To streamline your blog content creation, you should learn to combine AI writing with visual elements for a consistent quality across your content.

Now that you know how to write effective prompts, let’s look at how to optimize these AI images for your blog.

Optimizing AI Images for Your Blog

After generating the perfect AI image, proper optimization is crucial. I learned this the hard way when my blog’s loading speed tanked because of poorly optimized AI-generated images.

Image Size and Format Guidelines: The right dimensions make a huge difference in how your blog looks and performs:

For WordPress Blogs:

• Featured Images: 1200 x 628px
• In-post Images: 800 x 600px
• Sidebar Images: 300 x 250px

Best File Formats:

• WebP: My go-to format for best compression
• PNG: When you need transparency
• JPEG: For photographs and complex images

Pro Tip: Keep your AI-generated images under 100KB without losing quality by using the “Save for Web” option in your image editor.

Image compressors like ShortPixel or Imagify can be used to compress images to improve page loading time.

File name best practices:

Writing Effective Alt Text:

Poor:

“AI image” ❌
“Remote Work” ❌

Good:

“Remote team having a virtual meeting” ✅
“AI-generated illustration showing diverse professionals on video call” ✅

Loading Speed Optimization:

1. Lazy load all images below the fold
2. Use responsive images with srcset
3. Implement a CDN for faster delivery
4. Cache your images properly

My Quick Optimization Checklist: 

✓ Correct dimensions for placement
✓ Proper file format chosen
✓ Image compressed
✓ Descriptive filename
✓ Alt text added
✓ Lazy loading enabled

Next up, let’s tackle the important legal stuff you need to know about using AI-generated images.

Legal Considerations and Attribution

Understanding the legal side of AI-generated images saved me from potential headaches. Let me share what I’ve learned about using these images safely on your blog.

Most AI image generators have different terms for image ownership, check the copyright status of AI images:

• Dall-E: You own the images you create
• Midjourney: Commercial rights with a paid subscription
• Leonardo.ai: Full rights to use and modify generated images

But here’s what’s important: AI-generated art exists in a legal gray area. AI-generated images alone cannot be copyrighted, but if heavily modified, they may qualify for protection.

Proper Disclosure Methods: While not legally required in most cases, AI disclosure helps maintain transparency and trust. I add one of these disclosure statements beneath AI images:

• “AI-generated image using [Tool Name]”
• “Created with [AI Tool] artificial intelligence”
• “Image: AI-generated artwork via [Platform]”

Pro Tip: Create a standard image credit template in your blog’s CSS to maintain consistency.

Commercial Usage Rights: Different platforms, different rules:

Dall-E:

• Users (both free and paid) own the images and can use them commercially.
• Can edit and modify images

Midjourney:

• Midjourney Basic Plan: Commercial use is allowed, but your images are public by default.
• Pro & Mega Plans: Allow privacy (your images won’t be visible to others).
• Cannot modify core terms

Leonardo.ai:

• Leonardo.ai Free & Premium: Allows commercial use, but check if certain models have restrictions.

Best Practices I Follow:

1. Keep records of:
   • Date of image generation
   • Tool used
   • Prompt text
   • Subscription level
2. Attribution Requirements:
   • Always mention AI generation
   • Include tool name
   • State if modified
   • Add generation date (optional)

Before using AI images commercially, check for platform-specific guidelines:

✓ Current terms of service
✓ Usage rights for your subscription level
✓ Restrictions on sensitive topics
✓ Modification permissions

Remember: When in doubt, document everything. I keep a simple spreadsheet tracking all AI images used on my blog, including generation details and usage rights.

Ready to level up your AI image creation? Let’s explore some advanced tips and workflows next.

Advanced Tips and Best Practices

Creating consistent blog visuals used to take hours of work. Now, with AI tools like DALL.E, and Leonardo AI, I’ve developed a workflow that saves me time while achieving the desired quality.

Here’s what I’ve learned from months of using AI image-generation tools.

Style Consistency Secrets: I create a style guide for AI images that includes:

• Preferred aspect ratios
• Color schemes
• Visual themes
• Lighting preferences

Save these as prompt templates: “Subject + preferred style + lighting + technical specs”

Batch Generation Tips: Instead of generating one image at a time, I follow these steps below:

1. Write prompts for multiple blog posts
2. Generate variations in bulk
3. Save successful prompts for future use

Pro Tip: Generate 3-4 variations of each image. This gives you backups and options for A/B testing.

Refinement Process: When editing AI-generated images, I focus on:

• Adjusting brightness and contrast
• Cropping for different platforms
• Adding brand elements
• Maintaining consistent style

Blog Design Integration: Match your AI images to your:

• Brand colors
• Typography style
• Overall aesthetic
• Content layout

My Time-Saving System:

1. Create prompt templates for different content types
2. Use folder structures for organization:
   • Raw AI generations
   • Edited versions
   • Final blog images
3. Maintain a database of successful prompts

Want to level up your blogging workflow? Check out my tested strategies for consistent blog content production that combine AI tools with proven systems.

Remember: The goal isn’t just to create images quickly – it’s to maintain quality while saving time.

Conclusion

Creating AI images for your blog doesn’t have to be a workout session with unexpected results (pun intended!).

With the right prompts, tools, and optimization techniques, you can create professional visuals that enhance your content, not distract from it.

Remember my first attempts at AI image generation? Those overly enthusiastic, shirtless marketing moments taught me that success lies in the details.

Today, I create blog visuals in minutes instead of hours, and they look like what I intended them to be.

Ready to level up your blog’s visual game? Begin with one tool, master its prompts, and slowly build your AI image workflow. The key is to start small and keep refining your process.

Your first AI-generated image might not be perfect – and that’s okay! The important thing is to start creating. Who knows? Your AI image “fails” might just become your best blog story.

FAQs On How To Create AI Blog Images

How long does it take to create an AI image for a blog post?

After you master the prompts, generating an AI image takes 2-3 minutes. The optimization process adds another 5 minutes. My first attempts took hours of trial and error, but now it’s a quick part of my content workflow.

Why do my AI-generated images look unnatural?

Poor prompting is usually the culprit. Instead of “man working,” try specific details like “professional male entrepreneur working on laptop in modern office, natural lighting, photorealistic style.” The more precise your prompt, the better the result.

Do I need to disclose that my blog images are AI-generated?

Yes, always mention when you use AI-generated images. I added a simple note like “Image: Created with [Tool Name]” beneath each image. This builds trust with readers and keeps you legally compliant.

Which AI image generator is best for blog posts?

I use Dall-E for simple illustrations, Midjourney for detailed visuals, and Leonardo.ai for consistent brand style. Each tool has strengths – start with one that matches your blog’s visual needs and budget.

Are AI-generated images safe for commercial blog use?

Most paid plans of AI image generators allow commercial use. Check the terms of service for your specific subscription level. I track all my AI image usage in a spreadsheet to stay organized and compliant.

Will Google penalize my blog for using AI images?

No, Google doesn’t penalize properly disclosed AI images. Focus on optimizing file names, alt text, and image sizes. My SEO rankings improved when I started using relevant, high-quality AI visuals.

How do I maintain a consistent image style across my blog?

Save your successful prompts as templates. I keep a style guide with preferred settings for aspect ratios, lighting, and composition. This ensures all AI images match my blog’s branding.

What should I do if the AI generates an inappropriate image?

Try rewording your prompt or adding filters like “professional,” “clean,” or “business-appropriate.” If an image seems off, generate another version. Better to spend extra time generating than use an unsuitable image.