Thanks to A.I, creating artwork to sell online has never been easier. Here’s how to use it to your advantage.
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If you wanted to sell artwork online, you previously had two options.
- Draw or paint the artwork yourself, or
- Hire a professional artist
The challenge was that if you weren’t good at art, your drawings would probably suck. And if you didn’t have enough money to hire a top-notch artist, you’re left stuck.
But now, there’s a third – and easier – alternative.
AI-generated artwork.
With AI, anyone can create stunning images — for free — all by typing words into a generator.
Curious to learn how? This article is a great place to start.
You’ll learn how to create AI-generated artwork, and two proven ways to earn money with it. You’ll see examples of online stores making big sales, and how AI can be leveraged to create top-selling artwork that is 100% legal.
By the end of this article, you should have a better understanding of how to turn AI artwork into a successful online income.
Sounds good? Read on to learn more.
How to Create AI-Generated Artwork
So, how does it work?
How exactly can AI form incredibly remarkable images, all by itself, within a fraction of the time it would take a professional artist?
It’s all thanks to DALL-E 2.0.
This miraculous app is meticulously designed to create any picture you want.
All you need to do is type words into a description bar. It really is your on-demand artist.
And best of all, it’s currently free. Every user gets 50 free credits during their first month, then 15 credits thereafter.
Here’s a quick rundown on how to create an image with DALL-E:
1. Create a free account here.
2. Once you’re in, head to the description bar.
3. Describe the image you want DALL-E to create. For example, ‘a chibi astronaut smiling’.
4. Click “generate” and let the magic begin.
Here are the images created. Pretty decent, right? All in less than 60 seconds.
As you can see above, the app provides 4 images to choose from. A variety of styles give you more room to explore.
But DALL-E can go a step further.
For example, there might be one of these four images that you like most. Well, DALL-E can create variations of that image, so you have even more options to play with.
When you’re happy with the results, click the download button. You just created your first AI-generated image — congrats!
Still, you might be thinking, “Is this artwork legal to use?”. After all, there’s no point selling artwork if DALL-E will sue you.
The current answer to that question is a yes, according to their terms & conditions. DALL-E gives its users rights to artwork they generate, which also means you can make money with it.
And that’s what this next bit covers.
We’ll look at two proven ways to use artwork to earn money, and examples of bestselling artwork DALL-E can replicate.
Note: While images can be used commercially, DALL-E retains the right to use your artwork where necessary to keep running their services. Read their terms & conditions to learn more.
How to Earn Money With AI-Generated Artwork
Method #1: Digital Products
Digital products are a lucrative way to earn money from artwork. From coloring books and tick-off sheets to stickers and DIY posters, finding ways to profit are abundant.
This Etsy shop is a great example.
They sell posters of cute, hand-drawn animals on a black and white background. Customers download and print them out to hang on their walls.
According to Allura, an Etsy research app, this store has an estimated revenue of €84.52k.
To add, digital products typically have low overheads. So, it’s very likely that most of what they earn is profit. How cool is that?
But, what’s even cooler… is that DALL-E can create similar, if not better, images to sell. Let’s give it a try.
In the bar, describe the image you want to create. In this particular example, we wrote:
“A detailed pencil black and white drawing of a curious cat wearing light pink colored glasses on a white background”
And the results we got back were pretty awesome.
A quality piece of artwork — drawn in seconds — that you can legally sell as a digital product.
Pro Tip: Be very specific with your image description. With more accuracy, DALL-E creates better results.
Method #2: Print-On-Demand Products
Mugs, tees, bags, bath mats… these are just some of the many physical products that you can sell artwork on with a print-on-demand business.
With print-on-demand, you only make a sale after a customer has paid for an item. This means you don’t need to buy truckloads of inventory, spend any money up-front, or risk losing any.
We explain how this model works in more detail in our free ebook. But, the main benefits of this business model are:
- Low overhead costs: Print-on-demand allows artists to sell their work without the need for large upfront investments in inventory.
- Flexibility: Artists can create and sell a wide variety of products with minimal additional effort.
- No risk of unsold inventory: Artists are only charged for the products that are sold, so there is no risk of unsold inventory or wasted resources.
One popular product to sell is physical posters, just like this store does here.
They sell historical artwork on physical posters, and in the last year generated over €1.14 million in sales. Not bad for selling posters, huh?
Their bestselling poster comes from a unique type of Japanese art called Ukiyo-e.
Today, there aren’t many artists who draw in this style… but DALL-E could be a strong contender.
For example, what if we ask the generator to create a “Ukiyo-e painting of Mount Fuji at sunset”?
The results we get are pretty remarkable.
A unique, Japanese-style image that you can sell on any poster.
But DALL-E isn’t just fantastic at generating unique imagery. It can also help you make more money by cross-niching.
In the past, if you wanted to sell an image in this style, then you’d have to use the same historical image as everyone else. But this gave you no room to stand out from other sellers.
But now, you can ask DALL-E to use this art style to create a picture of something else, in a totally different niche.
Like this ukiyo-e-style cup of coffee. This could be a hit for fans who love both Japanese art and coffee.
To add artwork to products, you can use apps such as Printify or Printful. These are production companies that place your artwork onto products like mugs, t-shirts and so much more.
They also ship your product to the customer when they buy from your store, which saves time and money from doing it all by yourself.
There are many ways to profit from artwork, but these are two reliable methods to start with. Find top-selling artwork that DALL-E can generate, and sell it on marketplaces such as Etsy and Amazon. But remember, the key is to be specific in your image description. The more, the better.
Use AI to Increase Image Size
As amazing as DALL-E is, it has a limitation: image resolution.
The image files that you download are small, which is okay for small items like stickers. But if you plan to sell your artwork on something bigger, you’ll need a larger image file.
That’s easy with the help of AI Image Enlarger. This app uses (surprise, surprise) A.I. to increase the size of an image – without losing its quality.
Here are some quick steps on how to use it:
- Go to https://imglarger.com and create a free account
- Upload the image you want to resize
- AI Enlarger will generate a larger image that you can download
AI Enlarger’s free account allows you to enlarge images by 400%. This is great for items like notebooks and stickers, but if you plan to sell larger items, then consider checking out their premium plan. It increases image size by up to 800%, which is perfect for posters and t-shirts.
Turn AI-Generated Artwork Into Profit
In conclusion, using artificial intelligence to create images has a wide range of benefits for artists and creators looking to sell their work on physical and digital products.
With the help of AI, you can produce a vast array of unique and visually striking images, without the need for extensive training or expensive equipment. Additionally, AI-generated images can be sold on a wide range of products, from traditional prints to clothing and home decor, giving you a flexible and profitable way to monetize their work.
And with DALL-E now in your toolbox, you now have the power to create top-selling artwork – in seconds – no expensive artist required.
All in all, using AI to create images is a smart move for any artist or creator looking to expand their reach and revenue. So, get ready to embrace the future, and let the machines do the heavy lifting for you!
Your turn now. Play around with the methods above, and see how DALL-E works yourself. Thank you for reading, and if you enjoyed it, please share this with anyone you think it could benefit.
