OpenAI recently released Dall-E 3, and it's got people talking. Many of us have been loyal to Midjourney for AI image creation since its version 4, but could Dall-E 3 give it a run for its money?
What is Midjourney?
Midjourney is a generative AI image creation model that creates images based on text prompts. It has gained popularity as one of the top tools for AI art creation, alongside Dall-E and Stable Diffusion.
Developed by an independent research lab based in San Francisco, Midjourney offers a limited number of free images, after which users are required to pay a monthly fee for unlimited image creation.
The strength of Midjourney lies in its ability to generate highly relevant images according to the user's specified lighting, style, orientation, and colors. Midjourney is also capable of blending multiple images while preserving features from minimal training data.
What is Dall-E 3?
DALL-E 3 is an advanced artificial intelligence model developed by OpenAI. Similar to Midjoruney it is designed to generate images from text prompts. Dall-E3 is a significant upgrade from its predecessor, DALL-E 2, in terms of caption fidelity and image quality. The system is accessible to ChatGPT Plus or Enterprise users directly through OpenAI, but it's also available for free via Bing Image Creator with a Microsoft account.
The strength of DALL-E 3 lies in its ability to understand more nuance and detail than previous systems, translating ideas into exceptionally accurate images. It's known for its efficiency, generating high-quality images in a short period of time, thereby reducing production costs compared to manual image creation.
Comparing Dall-E3 and Midjourney: Which AI Image Creation Tool is Better?
Test 1 - Photography
I decided to put Dall-E to the test, and I was impressed! In terms of photography, both Dall-E and Midjourney produce stunning results. Only true AI art aficionados might notice that Midjourney offers slightly better lighting and more natural skin textures. But for the rest of us, they both deliver striking images.
Test 2 - Fantasy art
Moving on to fantasy art, I asked both engines to draw a dark hooded figure emerging from a particle mesh made of golden beads. It was a close call once again! Fantasy art creators pointed out that Dall-E follows prompts more precisely, while Midjourney offers slightly more detailed textures.
Test 3 - Abstract prompts
Next up, I tested the interpretation of abstract concepts. I asked both engines to capture the happiness emotions in corporate hippie style. Dall-E tends to take a more literal approach, while Midjourney embraces creative freedom. Which one would I use in a presentation? Well, it depends on the overall style direction, but both are highly impressive.
Test 4 - Text on products
Now, let's talk about text on products. Brace yourself, because this was brutal! Dall-E 3 is incredibly capable of understanding that you want text in an image and delivers accordingly. Sorry, Midjourney, your interesting images fall short in this department.
What’s missing in Dall-E?
But let's not forget that there are still some features missing in Dall-E compared to Midjourney. For example, Midjourney allows you to create images in any ratio (landscapes, portraits, stripes), use image-to-image techniques, zoom out, fix specific parts of the image, and tweak styling rates. Dall-E, on the other hand, only offers 1x1 square images without much room for tweaking.
What’s missing in Midjourney?
On the flip side, Midjourney has one drawback - it does not have browser-based interface and it requires you to install Discord and learn how to use it. This can be a blocker for many users who either do not want or cannot install additional chat software to their computers or simply do not have time or wish to learn to use Discord.
Where to get Dall-E 3?
Simply head to Bing Create (bing.com/create) and you can start creating Dall-E images for free. Some ChatGPT Plus and Enterprise users can directly access Dall-E 3 within ChatGPT as well.
Verdict
Overall, both Dall-E 3 and Midjourney have their strengths and weaknesses in AI image creation. In terms of photography and fantasy art, both engines produce stunning results, with Midjourney offering slightly better lighting and textures. When it comes to abstract concepts, Dall-E tends to be more literal while Midjourney embraces creative freedom. However, Dall-E excels in incorporating text into images, while Midjourney falls short in this aspect.
In terms of missing features, Dall-E lacks the ability to create images in different ratios, use image-to-image techniques, zoom out, fix specific parts of the image, and tweak styling rates. On the other hand, Midjourney requires the installation of Discord and learning how to use it, which could be seen as a drawback.
As for me, I'll definitely start using Dall-E3 more, but I'll also miss the advanced image manipulation features available in Midjourney. So, for a while, I’ll still keep my Midjourney subscription as well.
