Visual Electric: Revolutionizing Image Generation with AI
The Rise of Generative AI in Design
In the ever-evolving landscape of design, technology has played a significant role in shaping the creative process. One such innovation is generative AI-based image generation tools, which have been gaining traction in recent times. At the forefront of this revolution is Visual Electric, a company backed by Sequoia Capital, that has launched its highly-anticipated image-generation tool aimed specifically at designers.
The Founders’ Vision
Visual Electric was founded in November 2022 by CEO Colin Dunn, former executive at Universe; Chief Product Officer Adam Menges, ex-Apple employee and co-founder of Lobe (acquired by Microsoft) and Lowkey (acquired by Niantic); and Chief Technology Officer Zach Stiggelbout, who worked on Lobe while at Microsoft. This team of seasoned professionals has brought a wealth of experience to the table, with a clear vision for creating an innovative tool that addresses the needs of designers.
An Interface Problem
According to Dunn, existing generative AI-based image creation interfaces are not designed around the workflows of designers. "Generative AI is an interface problem," he explained in an interview with TechCrunch. "Existing tools rely on a linear chat metaphor. But creativity isn’t linear, it’s messy." Visual Electric aimed to solve this issue by building its product around the creative process.
A Generative Canvas
The company’s image-generation tool boasts a simple and intuitive interface, allowing users to type in a prompt to generate four options based on an infinite canvas. Users can iterate as many times as they want to achieve a satisfactory image for their project. The platform also offers additional features such as selecting a color palette, excluding colors, formatting, and mood (Airbrush, Film, Cinematic, and Neon).
Free to Use, with Limits
Visual Electric’s tool is free to use, but there is a cap of 40 image generations per day. For users who require more flexibility or need to generate images for commercial purposes, the company offers a premium plan starting at $16 per month. This plan includes better generation speeds and no limit on image creation, as well as a license to use the generated pictures commercially.
Community-Driven
One unique aspect of Visual Electric’s platform is its community-driven approach. Under both the free and premium plans, any images generated by users are shared with the community. However, for top-tier $48 per month plan subscribers, their snaps remain private, and they enjoy even faster image generation speeds.
Features and Functionality
The tool offers a range of features that cater to designers’ needs, including:
- Touch: modify different parts of a generated picture with a prompt
- Upscaling: a premium feature for users who require high-resolution images
- Background removal: easily remove the background from generated images
- Variations: create multiple variations by changing the ‘creativity’ slider
- Remix: give an existing image a makeover with the remix feature
Stable Diffusion and GPT-3.5 Turbo
Visual Electric’s tool relies on Stable Diffusion as its image generation model, combined with GPT-3.5 Turbo to power auto-generated prompt suggestions. Additionally, GPT-4 is deployed to generate prompts from imported images.
Mobile App and Future Plans
Although Visual Electric does not have a mobile app yet, the company is considering working on one in the future. With its focus on designers and a specific set of users, Visual Electric believes it can differentiate itself from other image-generation tools.
The Future of Design
As technology continues to shape the design landscape, innovations like Visual Electric’s AI-powered image generation tool are poised to revolutionize the way we create. By addressing the needs of designers and providing an intuitive interface, this platform has the potential to transform the creative process forever.
