How to Generate AI Images for Social Media Using PhotoQuill
Stock photos look like stock photos. PhotoQuill's Simple AI Photo Generator & Editor lets you describe exactly what you want and get a unique image in seconds — right in your browser, without installing anything.
Step-by-Step: Generate Your First Image
When you open PhotoQuill, a dialog may appear automatically welcoming you with the Simple AI Photo Generator & Editor. You can also open it any time by clicking the AI Generate button in the top navigation bar.
Open the AI Generator Dialog
Click AI Generate in the top menu bar. An overlay panel slides up over your canvas. On mobile, it takes up the full screen. On desktop, it opens as a draggable window — you can move it anywhere on the canvas.
Enter a Prompt
Type your description in the main text field. You don't need to use special syntax. Just write what you want to see: A top-down view of a cozy reading corner with warm lamp light, minimalist style. The more specific you are about subject, lighting, and style, the closer the output will be to your vision.
Add a Negative Prompt (Optional)
If there's something you want to avoid — people, text overlay, dark, blurry — enter it in the negative prompt field. This is especially useful for product shots where you need a clean, distraction-free background.
Generate and Place
Click Generate. The image appears in 5–15 seconds. You'll see two options: New Project to start fresh with this image as the base, or Add Layer to place it on your existing canvas as a new layer for further editing.
Writing Prompts That Actually Work
The biggest reason images come out wrong is a vague prompt. Here's a simple formula that works for social media visuals:
[Subject] + [Setting/Background] + [Lighting] + [Style]
Example: "A white coffee mug on a dark wooden desk, early morning sunlight from the left, flat-lay photography style"
vs. what doesn't work: "coffee"
| Platform | Typical Use | Prompt Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Product shots, lifestyle | Add "soft studio lighting, clean background" | |
| Twitter/X | Announcements, quotes | Specify "wide landscape, simple composition" |
| Business context | Add "professional, corporate, minimal" | |
| Community posts | Add "warm, inviting, natural light" |
After Generation: Edit Before You Post
Generated images are a starting point. Once the image lands on your canvas as a layer, you can treat it like any other image in PhotoQuill's full editor.
- Add text: Use the Text Tool to place a headline or caption directly on the image.
- Adjust tones: Open the Hue/Saturation or Brightness/Contrast panel to match your brand colors. See How to Change Color of Any Object for the technique.
- Remove distractions: If an unwanted element appeared in the image, use AI inpainting to replace it. The process is covered in How to Replace Objects in Photos Using AI.
- Export: Go to File → Export and choose PNG (lossless) or JPG. No watermark on any export.