Chapter 1: My Journey with AI Image Generation

Since July 2022, I've been utilizing Midjourney for image generation, creating over 50,000 images in just a year and a half. As a passionate enthusiast of generative AI, I've amassed a vast collection of images—most of which remain stored in iCloud or on an external hard drive. A mere fraction of these images have generated income, while others have been transformed into stunning artworks that I’ve printed at large scales, achieving sharp lines and impressive resolutions, far beyond typical outputs from Midjourney or Dall-E.

In February, I stumbled upon an exceptional tool through a Medium article that I likely wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. Though it lacks advertising and extensive coverage, I believe it stands out as one of the most effective and affordable image enhancement tools available.

While the tool offers a free version with certain limitations, I firmly advocate for the subscription model—where you truly reap the benefits of your investment. This endorsement is purely based on my experience, not sponsored in any way.

The Arsenal: Clipdrop by Stability.ai

For all my image editing and enhancement needs, Clipdrop by Stability.ai has become my indispensable resource. It features a variety of relevant tools, including an AI-driven image generator based on Stable Diffusion. The free tier has its constraints, like job completion limits and resolution caps, but for just $9.95 USD per month, the paid version offers significant advantages, including high-resolution outputs—an essential feature that I’ll elaborate on later.

A Glimpse of Available Tools

Here’s a snapshot of the various tools accessible on the Clipdrop platform:

My Top Picks

Among the many tools offered by Clipdrop, I have two favorites that I rely on daily. Their utility is so profound that I can't envision switching to other options unless they provide extraordinary benefits.

Image Upscaler

The Clipdrop Image Upscaler is a hidden gem on the internet, often overlooked despite its remarkable capabilities.

Primarily, it functions as an image upscaler. You can upload an image (or up to ten in a batch) with a maximum size of 6,000 x 6,000 pixels, and it can upscale images to an impressive 8,192 x 8,192 pixels. This means it can handle resolutions of up to 67.1 megapixels! What sets this upscaler apart from others, including Midjourney's native option, is its use of AI to enhance images. It effectively reduces noise, eliminates haze, and sharpens details, achieving outstanding results.

Here’s a comparison of a Midjourney image and its enhanced version after processing through the Clipdrop Image Upscaler:

Remove Background

After receiving a Cricut machine from my mother-in-law, I've incorporated it into my daily routine, crafting various stickers and decals. Previously, I painstakingly removed backgrounds from images manually, a process that could take hours.

However, the Remove Background tool from Clipdrop uses AI to swiftly identify and eliminate backgrounds, whether they're solid colors or more intricate designs. This tool is especially helpful in eliminating unwanted shadows, which is crucial when creating stickers for my kids. The output format is a .png file, making it compatible across different applications.

The efficiency of this tool is impressive; background removal generally takes about one to three seconds, depending on site traffic. While it’s not flawless, it significantly outperforms other similar tools.

Check out this example where I transformed my son into a South Park character:

Before Background Removal:

Overall, I encourage you to explore the Clipdrop suite of tools. They provide remarkable value for the subscription price, and the developers at Stability.ai have established generous usage limits. Clipdrop is the best tool I've discovered for image enhancement, making it an easy recommendation!

Chapter 2: Essential Video Insights

This video dives into the AI tool every designer should have, showcasing its features and benefits in creative projects.

Here, you'll learn about the three essential AI tools for your business and how they can be effectively integrated into your workflow.