Just ran two different AI image generators for a client project in Seattle

We needed 50 product mockups by Friday. I used the basic auto-prompt tool on one platform and spent 3 hours fixing weird hands and text. Then I switched to a model that lets you upload a reference image for style. The second batch was done in 45 minutes and the client approved them all. Why isn't the reference image feature standard everywhere yet?

4 comments

4 Comments

kelly.hannah2mo ago

Oh man, why is it such a secret? I had the exact same thing happen last month. I wasted a whole afternoon trying to describe a specific shade of blue and the texture of a fabric... it just wouldn't get it. Then I found the upload option on a different site. I just gave it a photo of an old catalog page for the vibe. It just understood everything immediately. It feels like cheating, but it's just smart. That should be the first button you see, not some hidden feature.

danielnelson5d ago

Totally agree with you. It's like sites hide their best features on purpose. I've noticed this pattern everywhere now, even outside of tech. My local grocery store moved the paper towels to the very back corner behind the cleaning supplies, like they're trying to make you walk past everything else first. It's the same thing with the upload button, it works perfectly but they bury it so you waste time fighting with their broken text prompts first.

the_taylor2mo ago

Wait, you got a whole batch approved? That's wild. @kelly.hannah is right, it's like a secret weapon. I tried to get a simple logo on a coffee mug last week and the generator gave me a mug with, I swear, five handles. Looked like an octopus. Upload a reference pic and bam, perfect. Hiding that feature should be a crime.

kim.jake2mo ago

My friend's brother finally got his weird t-shirt design right after showing it a picture of a weird t-shirt.