> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://tinkeringwithideas.io/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Streamline Image Creation With AI - URL: https://tinkeringwithideas.io/streamline-image-creation-ai/ - Published: 2024-05-10T16:15:43.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-13T10:19:32.000Z - Description: Prepare images for your published content. - Author: Anna Burgess Yang - Tags: Workflows, Writer App, Airtable, Midjourney For more than a year, I've been using Midjourney to create images for my [Substack](https://www.workbetter.media/?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io), [newsletter](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/profile?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io), [Medium](https://annabyang.medium.com/?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io), and [blog](https://www.musingsoutloud.com/?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io). Pre-Midjourney, I used stock photos from [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io). I really wanted unique images for my writing, but I didn't have a way to create them. Filters were the best I could do, giving the photos a monochrome vibe. ❗ ****Important:** I fully believe artists and writers should be fairly compensated for their work. Midjourney is not a substitute for an artist and companies that can afford illustrators end up with artwork that is **much* better than what I can produce with Midjourney. I'm in a spot with my work where my options are "use stock photos" or "try to generate something a little more unique using AI." Between those two choices, AI is better suited for what I'm trying to do. This isn't a tutorial about "how to use Midjourney." For that, you can check out Midjourney's [Help Docs](https://docs.midjourney.com/docs/quick-start?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io). This tutorial assumes you know how to use Midjourey and follows my process for streamlining AI image creation. I'd get stuck at the Midjourney prompt stage. I know *how* to prompt Midjourney, but I couldn't envision the output I wanted. I've gotten past "image block" (like writer's block, but for images) with a little help from Unsplash. ## Step 1: Find an image on Unsplash I start my process in the same way I did pre-Midjourney: in Unsplash. I'll type in a few words or a phrase and start browsing photos. ![Search in Unsplash](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-1.png) Once I've found an image, I'll download it. ![Download an image from Unsplash](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-3.png) ## Step 2: Use the image as inspiration for Midjourney To create new images in Midjourney, you use the /imagine command. In my case, I don't want to start from scratch. I want to use my Unsplash image as inspiration. So I prompt Midjourney to **describe** the Unsplash image. The /**describe** command will return what Midjourney "sees" in the Unsplash image. I can then use this to create my own prompt. The /describe command has two options: image and link. I select image. ![The /describe command in Midjourney](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-4-1.png) Midjourney will prompt me to either drag-and-drop or click to upload my image file. ![Image upload in Midjourney](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-5-1.png) I'll browse to my downloaded Unsplash image and select it. ![File explorer of Downloads folder](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-7.png) My selected Unsplash photo will be displayed in Midjourney. Hit "Enter" on the keyboard to send the /describe command. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-8.png) Midjourney will return four descriptions of the image. Usually, the first or second is closest to what I want. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-10.png) I'll highlight the text, right-click, and select "Copy." ![Copy text from Midjourney prompts](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-11.png) Then, I'll run the /imagine command. I paste the text I'd copied from the /describe result. This is where I edit the prompt. In this example, Midjourney came back with "photography in the style of Unsplash" as part of the description. I don't want that in my new prompt! So I'll take that text out. I also use different styles for different publications (Substack = graphic novel, Medium = pop art, blog = abstract watercolor illustration). I add the style to the beginning of my prompt. ![Midjourney /imagine command with pasted text](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-12.png) Midjourney will return four image results. I'll select the one I want and upscale it. ![Midjourney image results](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-13-1.png) Then I'll right-click on the image an Save it. ![Dsbran image in Midjourney](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-14.png) ## Step 3: Shrink the image with Squoosh Midjourney's file sizes are quite large – much bigger than I want on my website. It can affect the performance of my page. So I need to shrink the image. To do this, I use [Squoosh](https://squoosh.app/?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io) (which is free). Click on the "Drop OR Paste" button in the middle of the screen. You'll browse to your image and select it. ![Home screen of Squoosh.app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-15.png) Once your image is uploaded, you'll click on the down arrow button in the lower right corner of the screen. Squoosh will default shrink your image by over 90%, but you can change this by adjusting the Quality. ![Download an image in Squoosh](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-16.png) That's it! You can click on the X in the upper right corner of the screen to close the image (and upload another, if needed). ![Close Squoosh app](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-17.png) At this point, I'll usually rename my image to something like **sitename-short-description-of-post**. ## Step 4: Generate alt text with Writer Next, I need to generate Alt Text for my image. I do this in [Writer](https://writer.com/?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io) (I'm on a paid plan). In Writer's apps, I select **Image analyzer**. ![Image analyzer app in Writer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-18.png) I browse to upload my image. ![Upload an image in Writer's Image Analyzer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-19.png) In the prompt, I type in "generate alt text" and click the **Generate text** button. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-20.png) The output is usually one or two sentences. I'll edit it to something shorter. ![Output of alt text from Writer](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-21-1.png) ## Step 5: Add the image to my content library in Airtable Finally, I'll upload the image to my Google Drive. My Drive folder is [synced to my Airtable Content Library](https://tinkeringwithideas.io/sync-google-drive-airtable/), so I'll see the image added as a new record. I'll link the image to the appropriate article, once it's published. ![Images in Airtable synced from Google Drive](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c6/8b/c68b9f37-94e3-4c3c-ae12-39470811de24/content/images/2024/05/tinkering-with-ideas-ai-image-creation-step-22.png) ## More resources: - Want to build your own Content Library? Check out [this eBook](https://annabyang.gumroad.com/l/contentlibrary?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io). - Read more about [how I keep track of my freelance work](https://medium.com/swlh/how-i-keep-track-of-my-freelance-work-pitches-wip-and-delivered-a93ec346aeba?sk=78636f5e7d509cc7d3eff24d6850e18a&ref=tinkeringwithideas.io) in [Airtable](https://airtable.com/invite/r/UCwrdMYa?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io). - Want more ideas delivered directly to your inbox? Check out my [newsletter](https://newsletter.annabyang.com/?ref=tinkeringwithideas.io). *I created the screenshots in this tutorial using Scribe – it's one of my favorite tools. You can check out Scribe* [*here*](https://get.scribehow.com/lp-1/?via=anna-burgess-yang&ref=tinkeringwithideas.io) *\[affiliate link\].*