AI image generators for social media: how to choose and prompt

How do you write a good AI image prompt?

Start with the subject, then the setting, then the look. Generators respond best to a clear, ordered description, so “a ceramic mug on a wooden desk by a window, soft morning light, photographed from above” works far better than “a cozy vibe”.

• Lead with the subject and what it is doing.
• Use photography words for a photo look: lens, light, angle and depth of field.
• Name colours in words, such as warm terracotta and cream.
• For illustrations, name the technique, such as flat vector, paper cut or watercolour.
• Say what to leave out, such as text, logos or extra hands.

How do you compare AI image generators?

Run the same three prompts through each tool and put the results side by side. Pick prompts that match your real work: a product shot, a quote card and an illustration for a blog post, for example.

Score each result for how close it is to what you asked, how clean the details are and how much editing it needs. Keep the notes, because tools improve and you will want to compare again.

What should you check before you choose one?

A few practical points decide whether a tool will work for social media.

• Text in images: can it spell a short headline correctly?
• Consistency: can you get the same style across a set of posts?
• Brand names and logos: some tools refuse to draw real brands, so know that first.
• Licence: check whether your plan allows commercial use.
• Free tier: credits, watermarks and daily limits differ a lot and change often.
• Speed and editing: can you tweak part of an image instead of starting again?

What image size should you use?

Generate for the final shape from the start. Stories and Reels are tall, at 9:16. Instagram feed posts work well as square or 4:5. LinkedIn and X posts often use wide images, and link previews are wide too.

Cropping an image after the fact often cuts off the subject, so choose the ratio in the prompt or the tool’s settings.

Which kinds of image work best for social posts?

AI is strongest where the picture supports the message rather than being the message.

• Background art for quote cards and carousels.
• Illustrations for articles and newsletters.
• Concept images for ideas that are hard to photograph.
• Variations of a theme, such as the same scene in different colours.

Where is AI imagery risky?

Be careful with images of real people, products and places. A generated product shot can show features your product does not have, and a made-up face can mislead. Check every image for odd hands, garbled text and details that do not match reality.

Follow each network’s rules on labelling AI-generated content, and be honest when an image is illustrative rather than real.

How do you get the image into a scheduled post?

Save the final image and host it or keep it ready to upload. With Content Postiz, your AI can attach media from a link, write the caption for each network and schedule the post in one step.

Preview the post for each network before it goes out, since a crop that works on one may cut the subject on another.

How do you test generators fairly?

A fair test uses the same prompts, the same number of tries and the same scoring for every tool. Choose three prompts that match your real work. Run each prompt a few times in each tool, since results vary from run to run.

Score each result from one to five on three things: how close it is to the prompt, how clean the details are and how much editing it would need before you could post it. Add up the scores, and note anything that surprised you.

Repeat the test every few months. These tools change quickly, and a tool that was weak last year may now be the best choice for you.

Which prompts should you try in a test?

Use prompts that stretch the tool in the ways your work needs. A good set has three types.

• A realistic product or lifestyle shot, to test photo quality and lighting.
• A quote card with a short line of text, to test lettering.
• A flat illustration in your brand colours, to test style control.

How do you keep a consistent look across images?

Consistency is harder than a single good image. Reuse the same style words in every prompt: the medium, the palette, the lighting and the mood. Keep them in a short style note you can paste.

If the tool supports it, save a reference image or a style setting and apply it to every new image. After you generate, do a light edit in your design tool, adding your logo, fonts and a consistent border or background, so the set feels like one family.

How do you edit an AI image?

Rarely does the first result go straight to a post. Plan a short edit. Crop to the right ratio, fix small flaws, adjust colours and add text in your design tool rather than asking the generator to draw it.

Many generators let you change part of an image or generate variations of one you like. Use these to fix a single problem, such as a distracting object, instead of starting from scratch.

How do you label and credit AI images?

Networks are developing rules about AI-generated content, and some ask you to label it. Check the rules for each network you post on, and follow them. Be honest when an image is an illustration rather than a photograph of something real.

If you use a generator with terms about attribution or restrictions on commercial use, keep a note of the tool and plan for each image, so you can answer questions later.

When should you use a photo instead?

Use a real photo whenever the picture is evidence: your team, your product, your premises, a customer’s result. People trust real images of real things, and an AI picture of your own product can mislead.

Save generated images for the cases where a photo would be hard or costly, such as an abstract idea or a background. A good mix of real and generated images tends to look more honest than a feed made entirely of one or the other.

Frequently asked questions