Overview
Image Generation is TotalApp's core AI-powered creative tool that transforms text descriptions into high-quality images. Whether you're a marketer, designer, or content creator, Image Generation offers multiple approaches — custom prompts, AI-suggested prompts, artistic style presets, and specialized poster formats — all from a single screen inside the Creator Tools module.
Key Capabilities
- Multiple Generation Methods: Write your own prompt, let AI expand a basic idea, apply a style preset, or use a poster template — whichever fits your workflow
- Style Presets Library: Over 62 curated artistic styles from oil painting and watercolor to cyberpunk and minimalism
- Poster Presets: Purpose-built templates for movie posters, event flyers, product showcases, and more
- Batch Generation: Generate up to 4 variations in one run to explore creative directions quickly
- Non-destructive Output: All generated images are saved to My Creations so you can revisit, download, or continue editing at any time
Custom Prompts
Write detailed, freeform descriptions to control every element of your image — subject, lighting, color palette, composition, and artistic style.
AI Prompt Assist
Enter a rough concept and TotalApp's AI will expand it into a richly detailed, optimized prompt — ideal when you know what you want but not how to describe it.
Style Presets
Select an artistic style from the library and combine it with any prompt. The AI applies the style's visual vocabulary consistently across every generation.
Poster Presets
Choose a purpose-built poster format and the AI optimizes composition, proportions, and text-placement zones for that specific output type.
Advanced Controls
Fine-tune generation parameters including model tier, aspect ratio, resolution, diffusion steps, guidance scale, seed, and batch size.
My Creations Integration
Every generated image is automatically saved to My Creations. From there, send directly to Upscale, Magic Replace, Remove Background, or the Video Creator.
How to Generate Images
Follow these steps to create your first image from the Image Creator screen inside Creator Tools:
1. Open Image Creator
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2. Choose a Method
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3. Write or Select Prompt
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4. Adjust Settings
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5. Generate
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6. Save or Continue Editing
Step 1 — Open Image Creator
Navigate to Creator Tools → Image Creator from the sidebar or the My Apps screen. The Image Creator opens as a full-screen workstation with the generation controls on the left and the canvas preview on the right.
Step 2 — Choose a Generation Method
Select your preferred generation method from the top tab bar:
- Custom Prompt — type your own description in the prompt field
- AI Prompt — enter a short concept; the AI writes the full prompt for you
- Style Preset — pick an artistic style and optionally combine it with a prompt
- Poster Preset — select a poster type (Movie, Event, Product, etc.) as your starting point
Step 3 — Write or Select Your Prompt
For Custom and AI Prompt methods, type your description in the text area. Aim for at least 10–15 words. Include the subject, environment, mood, lighting, and any stylistic preferences. For Style or Poster Presets, browse the library and click the preset to load it — you can still add a supplemental prompt to guide the subject matter.
Step 4 — Adjust Generation Settings
Fine-tune the optional parameters in the Settings panel (see the parameters table below). At minimum, choose your desired Aspect Ratio. Leave other settings at their defaults until you need more control.
Step 5 — Click Generate
Press the Generate button. Depending on complexity and server load, your image will appear within 10–30 seconds. If you selected Batch mode, up to 4 variations render simultaneously — each is shown as a separate tile you can click to expand.
Step 6 — Save or Continue Editing
Once generated, you can:
- Download — save the image to your device as PNG, JPG, or WebP
- Save to My Creations — store it in TotalApp for later use and sharing
- Continue in Editor — open the image in the full editor to apply filters, text, or crop
- Pass to another tool — send to Upscale, Magic Replace, Remove Background, or Remix with one click
- Send to Video Creator — animate the image using Image to Video
Quick Tip: Iterate Fast
After your first generation, tweak one element of your prompt (add a color, change the lighting, or swap the style) and regenerate. Small prompt changes often produce dramatically different results — iteration is the fastest path to the image you have in mind.
Generation Settings & Parameters
The Settings panel beneath the prompt field exposes the following parameters. All parameters are optional — defaults are chosen to produce good results for most use cases.
| Parameter |
Options / Range |
Default |
What It Controls |
| Model |
Standard, Pro, Ultra |
Standard |
The underlying AI model. Higher tiers produce more photorealistic or artistically refined output but may take longer. |
| Aspect Ratio |
1:1 · 4:3 · 3:4 · 16:9 · 9:16 · Custom |
1:1 |
The width-to-height ratio of the output image. Use 9:16 for Stories/Reels, 16:9 for banners, 3:4 for portrait social posts. |
| Resolution |
512 px · 768 px · 1024 px · 2048 px |
1024 px |
The longest edge of the output. Higher resolutions take longer but are required for print-quality work. |
| Steps |
10 – 50 |
25 |
Diffusion steps. More steps generally improve detail and coherence; fewer steps produce faster, rougher results. Values above 40 rarely add visible improvement. |
| Guidance Scale (CFG) |
1 – 20 |
7 |
How strictly the model follows your prompt. Lower values give the AI more creative freedom; higher values adhere more literally to the text. |
| Style Intensity |
0 – 100 % |
80 % |
How strongly the selected Style Preset influences the output. 0 % applies no style; 100 % produces a heavy style application. |
| Seed |
Any integer, or Random |
Random |
A fixed seed produces reproducible results from the same prompt. Use this to generate controlled variations — keep the seed, change one prompt word. |
| Batch Size |
1 – 4 |
1 |
Number of images generated in one request. Useful for exploring variations without retyping the prompt. |
| Output Format |
PNG · JPG · WebP |
PNG |
File format for download. PNG preserves full quality; JPG is smaller for web use; WebP balances quality and file size. |
Style Presets
Choose from 62 carefully curated artistic styles to apply to your generated images. Style Presets define an artistic look that is applied to whatever subject you describe — think of them as a visual filter applied on top of your content.
Popular Style Categories
Oil Painting
Classic oil painting with rich textures and brushwork
Watercolor
Soft, flowing watercolor washes and organic edges
Digital Art
Modern digital illustration with crisp lines
Vintage Poster
Classic poster design with aged textures and retro palette
Cyberpunk
Futuristic neon-lit aesthetic with dark urban grit
Minimalist
Clean, simple design with only essential elements
Pop Art
Bold colors and commercial imagery in Warhol tradition
Art Deco
Luxurious geometric patterns and 1920s elegance
Anime
Japanese animation style with expressive characters
Impressionist
Light-focused brushwork capturing mood over detail
Photorealistic
Camera-accurate rendering indistinguishable from photography
Sketch
Pencil or charcoal sketch with raw, hand-drawn energy
Style Selection Tips
- Match Your Vision: Choose styles that complement your content and intended mood
- Experiment: Try different styles with the same prompt to discover unexpected combinations
- Combine Elements: Use descriptive prompts that work well with your chosen style — "oil painting" style works best with nature or portrait subjects
- Consider Context: Select styles appropriate for your target audience and use case
- Adjust Intensity: Use the Style Intensity slider (0–100%) to blend the preset subtly or apply it heavily
Poster Presets
Poster Presets define a layout and purpose — they set composition rules optimised for a specific output type while leaving the aesthetic more open. Unlike Style Presets which control the look, Poster Presets control the structure and proportions of the image.
Movie Poster
Cinematic composition with title space at top or bottom
Event Poster
Event-focused layout with prominent date/time zone
Product Showcase
Product-centered with branding and copy space
Concert Poster
Music-focused design with artist name prominence
Travel Poster
Destination-focused with location name emphasis
Fashion Poster
Style-focused with model prominence and brand space
Food & Restaurant
Culinary-focused with appetizing presentation
Sports Poster
Action-focused with dynamic composition and energy
Combining Poster and Style Presets
You can combine both: choose a Poster Preset to set the layout and purpose, then pick a Style Preset to add an artistic treatment on top. For example: Movie Poster layout + Vintage Poster style produces a retro-aesthetic cinematic poster with a dedicated title zone.
Prompting Tips
The quality of your prompt is the single biggest factor in the quality of your output. These guidelines apply to all generation methods but are most impactful when writing Custom Prompts.
Anatomy of a Strong Prompt
A well-formed prompt typically includes these elements in roughly this order:
- Subject — who or what is the focal point? ("a golden retriever puppy", "a futuristic city skyline")
- Action or Pose — what is the subject doing? ("sitting on a park bench", "seen from below")
- Environment / Setting — where is the scene? ("in a misty mountain forest", "on a neon-lit rooftop")
- Lighting — how is the scene lit? ("soft golden hour sunlight", "harsh studio strobe", "bioluminescent glow")
- Color Palette — any dominant tones? ("muted earth tones", "vivid complementary colors")
- Style Qualifier — artistic style if not using a preset ("oil painting", "cinematic photography", "flat vector illustration")
- Quality Boosters — optional keywords that signal high fidelity ("8K, highly detailed, award-winning photography")
Do's — What Works Well
- Be specific: "a tabby cat with amber eyes" outperforms "a cat"
- Describe what you want, not what you don't want — positive framing is more reliable
- Combine style qualifiers: "watercolor illustration in the style of Studio Ghibli" gives the model two creative anchors
- Use comma-separated descriptors for rapid iteration — it is easy to swap one word at a time
- Reference a known aesthetic ("Art Deco poster", "1970s sci-fi paperback cover") to trigger learned visual patterns
- Include camera/lens language for photorealistic images: "shot on 85mm f/1.8, shallow depth of field, bokeh background"
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Vague subjects — "something interesting" gives the model nothing concrete to work with
- Contradictory instructions — "dark and bright" or "minimalist with lots of detail" confuse the model
- Too many subjects — prompts with 5+ separate subjects often produce crowded, incoherent images
- Relying on negatives — avoid "no background" or "don't include people"; describe what you do want instead
- Skipping the setting — without a scene or background, the model invents one that may not match your vision
Using AI Prompt Assist Effectively
When using the AI Prompt Assist mode, your short input (e.g. "medieval market") is expanded into a detailed prompt automatically. You can review and edit the expanded prompt before generating — this is highly recommended, as the AI's expansion gives you a ready-made template to refine rather than a final answer to accept blindly.
Use Cases
Image Generation is used across a wide range of professional and creative workflows:
Creative Projects
Generate unique artwork for personal creative projects and artistic exploration. Experiment with different styles without needing traditional artistic skills.
Marketing Materials
Create eye-catching marketing visuals with consistent brand aesthetics. Generate hero images, ad creatives, and campaign visuals at scale.
Social Media Content
Generate engaging social media visuals in the exact aspect ratio you need — 1:1 for Instagram, 9:16 for Stories and Reels, 16:9 for Twitter/LinkedIn banners.
Poster Design
Create professional posters for events, movies, products, and promotions using purpose-built poster presets that optimize composition automatically.
Educational Content
Create illustrations and visuals for educational materials, presentations, e-learning courses, and explanatory diagrams.
E-commerce
Generate product visuals, lifestyle imagery, and promotional materials. Rapidly prototype new product photography concepts before committing to a shoot.
Technical Specifications
Output Formats & Dimensions
- Supported Formats: PNG, JPG, WebP
- Resolution Range: 512 px to 2048 px (longest edge)
- Aspect Ratios: Square (1:1), Portrait (3:4, 9:16), Landscape (4:3, 16:9), Custom
- Color Depth: 24-bit color with full alpha channel support (PNG only)
Processing Performance
- Standard Generation: 10–30 seconds per image at 1024 px
- High-Resolution: 30–90 seconds at 2048 px or with Pro/Ultra model
- Batch Processing: Generate up to 4 images simultaneously; time scales proportionally
- Queue System: Images are processed in order during high-traffic periods; a progress indicator is shown while you wait
Privacy & Data Handling
- Secure Processing: All generation happens on encrypted, secure servers
- Tenant Isolation: Your prompts and generated images are scoped to your workspace — never shared with other users
- My Creations Storage: Images saved to My Creations are retained indefinitely on your account; delete them manually at any time
- Commercial Use: Images generated in TotalApp are yours to use commercially — see Terms of Service for full licensing details
Troubleshooting
Image Doesn't Match My Prompt
Cause: Prompt is too vague, Guidance Scale is too low, or the prompt contains contradictory descriptors.
- Add specific details: subject, setting, lighting, mood, and style
- Raise the Guidance Scale (CFG) to 9–12 to make the model follow your text more literally
- Simplify the prompt — remove conflicting descriptors and keep related concepts together
- Try generating 2–4 variations via the Batch setting; at least one typically matches better
Generation Takes Longer Than Expected
Cause: High server load, large resolution, or Pro/Ultra model selected.
- Check your internet connection — a slow connection adds latency on top of generation time
- Try generating at 1024 px before scaling up to 2048 px
- Switch from Pro/Ultra to Standard model for faster results during testing
- Try during off-peak hours if you notice consistent slowdowns
Style Preset Not Applied Visibly
Cause: Style Intensity is too low, or the prompt conflicts with the preset's visual vocabulary.
- Ensure the style preset is selected (highlighted) before clicking Generate
- Increase the Style Intensity slider toward 80–100%
- Check that your prompt doesn't explicitly describe a different style (e.g. "photorealistic photo" with an "Oil Painting" preset will create tension)
- Try a different style preset to determine if the issue is preset-specific
Next Steps
Now that you understand Image Generation, explore these related Creator Tools:
Browse and apply the full library of 62+ curated artistic styles directly from the preset browser.
Enhance the resolution of your generated images up to 4× for print-quality output.
Replace backgrounds, objects, or regions in your generated images with new AI-generated content.
Apply the artistic style of a reference image to your generated content for unique visual results.
Instantly remove the background from any generated image to isolate subjects for compositing.
Animate your generated still images with motion and effects using the Video Creator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does image generation take?
Most images generate in 10–30 seconds at standard resolution. Higher resolutions (2048 px), larger batch sizes, and the Pro or Ultra model tiers take longer — typically 30–90 seconds. During peak usage periods there may be a brief queue; a progress indicator is shown while you wait.
Can I use generated images commercially?
Yes. Images generated by TotalApp's Image Creator are yours to use commercially, including in client work, products, and advertising. Review the
Terms of Service for the complete licensing terms, including any restrictions on images that depict real individuals or trademarked imagery.
Why does my generated image not match my prompt?
Several factors can cause a mismatch: (1) The prompt may be too vague — add specific details about subject, setting, and lighting. (2) The Guidance Scale (CFG) may be too low — raise it to 9–12 to make the model follow your text more literally. (3) Conflicting descriptors in the prompt can confuse the model — simplify and keep related concepts together. Generating 2–4 variations via the Batch setting often surfaces at least one result that better matches your intent.
Where are my generated images saved?
All generated images are automatically saved to My Creations (accessible via My Workspace). From there you can download, share, or open them in other Creator Tools. Images are retained indefinitely on your account; you can delete them manually from the My Creations screen.
What is the difference between Style Presets and Poster Presets?
Style Presets define an artistic look that is applied to whatever subject you describe — think of them as a visual filter (Oil Painting, Cyberpunk, Watercolor, etc.). Poster Presets define a layout and purpose — they set composition rules optimised for a specific output type (Movie Poster, Event Flyer, Product Showcase) while leaving the aesthetic more open. You can combine both: choose a Poster Preset and then pick a Style Preset to add an artistic treatment on top.
Can I turn a generated image into a video?
Yes. After generation, click
Send to Video Creator in the image actions menu. This passes your image directly to the Image to Video tool inside Video Creator, where you can animate it with motion, effects, and transitions. See the
Image to Video documentation for details.
How do I reproduce a result I liked?
Every generated image stores its Seed value, which you can view in the image detail panel in My Creations. Copy the seed and the original prompt, then re-enter them in Image Creator with the same settings — the same seed and prompt combination will consistently produce a very similar result. Minor variations between generations are normal due to floating-point differences across hardware, but the overall composition and style will match.
What are the best aspect ratios for different platforms?
Use 1:1 (square) for Instagram posts and profile images. Use 9:16 (portrait) for Instagram Stories, TikTok, and Reels. Use 16:9 (landscape) for YouTube thumbnails, Twitter/X banners, and LinkedIn headers. Use 4:3 for general web content and presentations. Use 3:4 for Pinterest pins and portrait-orientation social cards.
How many images can I generate per day?
Generation limits depend on your subscription plan. See the
Plans & Pricing page for current limits per tier. All plans support batch generation (up to 4 images per request), so you can efficiently use your quota by generating variations in batches.
