Leonardo can create detailed AI images, but lacks the wow factor. Leonardo AI is no Leonardo da Vinci or DiCaprio, but it’s still an image generator that falls into the artistic Leonardo category. Originally designed to help create gaming assets, it’s now a full-fledged AI content creation service that offers AI video creation and editing services in addition to image tools.
Overall, Leonardo is a good choice compared to many of its AI competitors. It’s on par with Adobe Firefly and much better than Google’s ImageFX or Canva. Leonardo follows prompts better than Midjourney, but the lack of extensive editing tools makes it hard to choose between the two. OpenAI’s Dall-E 3 is still CNET’s top-ranked choice, but you’ll need to pay $20 for ChatGPT Plus, while Leonardo has a comprehensive free plan. I’ve used Leonardo to generate more than 90 images, ranging from stock images to sci-fi and fantasy renderings. Here’s the full process:
How CNET tests AI image generators
CNET takes a hands-on approach to reviewing AI image generators. Our goal is to determine how it compares to the competition and what applications it’s best suited for. To do this, we provide AI prompts based on real-world use cases, such as rendering in a specific style, combining elements into a single image, and handling long descriptions. Image generators are rated on a 10-point scale, taking into account factors like how well the image matches the prompt, the creativity of the result, and responsiveness. Learn more about how we test AI
Leonardo’s images are so attractive that we encourage you to try Leonardo’s other AI creation tools, such as Canvas Editor and Live Generate. However, we recommend that you don’t use it. These programs are less user-friendly and produce lower-quality content that’s blurry, off-center, or has strange quirks. Now that better image editing software is available, Meta AI’s “Imagine” feature is a more accurate live image generation tool.
Leonardo’s paid version, Alchemy Refiner, promises “improvements and enhancements” to images that AI image generation struggles with, especially faces and hands. Since I’m a free user, I couldn’t test it myself, but I was impressed by the clarity and accuracy of human hands and teeth compared to other AI generators. How long does it take to receive an image?
Images are generated in 10-20 seconds, making Leonardo one of the fastest AI image generation tools. Image generation time varies depending on the model used. For example, the new Phoenix model takes longer. But with Phoenix, you don’t have to scroll your phone or check email while waiting for the image to load like you do with other generators.
Leonardo is great, but I’m not surprised.
For AI creators, Leonardo checks a lot of important boxes. It’s fast, has a free plan, and the images it creates look completely normal. However, there are a few reasons not to recommend it to everyone. The paid post-editing tools are cumbersome and will quickly drain your tokens to get what you need. Important parts of the privacy policy are hidden in the terms of service and leave a lot to be desired. From a quantitative perspective, I wasn’t surprised by the results. It felt average. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s more than an alternative to the current top competitors. For non-professional creators and AI creative enthusiasts, Leonardo is great for making usable (if not perfect) AI images quickly and easily.