When Google introduced ImageFX, their AI image generator, I was totally intrigued.
I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype, so I decided to dive in and see what kind of art it could create!
Suffice it to say that I took some time with it, and I have lots to say about what Google developed. But if I were to give you a quick summary, I’d say it was a mixed bag.
At first glance, the most telling thing about ImageFX is how freely accessible it is. All you need is your Google account to sign in.
The tool shines best when it comes to generating realistic and surreal imagery, so it can be helpful for certain use cases like graphic design or even product design.
It also makes prompt editing and regeneration simple since it offers various keyword suggestions that I can select to edit and refine my instructions.
However, the issue with ImageFX is that its outputs can be inconsistent.
It doesn’t always produce what you’d expect, which can make for a rather unpredictable workflow. This also means more prompt experimentation may be needed at times.
But before I dive into all this, let’s take a look at ImageFX’s capabilities, shall we?
What Is ImageFX?
Developed by Google and powered by their Imagen 3 model, ImageFX is an advanced AI image generator that can be accessed by any user with a Google account.
Unlike its market rivals, ImageFX is an extremely simple platform that doesn’t function on subscriptions or credits. I can just log in and start generating images in just a few clicks.
And while ImageFX doesn’t have a ton of features, its simplicity and lack of user friction, compared to its competitors, make me enjoy my experience as a first-time user.
However, there aren’t any AI model options, advanced controls, customization tools, etc. It just has a simple prompt station, which is not comprehensive enough for precise image generation.
In fact, ImageFX doesn’t even let users adjust image resolution. I attempted it via prompt since there are no controls for this, but the outputs still had the same basic resolution.
I will admit ImageFX is quick to generate and offers multiple image iterations of any prompt. This gives me different options to explore with varying camera angles, detail, image quality, etc.
On top of that, Image FX has a unique ‘Expressive Chips’ feature that suggests alternative prompt ideas on certain keywords in real time. I did find this to be very convenient.
Now, let’s get into the more exciting bit, which is testing ImageFX to see how it performs! Is it worth using or not? Well, strap in your seatbelt and let me take you on a ride-along.
What Was My Experience With Using ImageFX?
The first thing I wanted to test out with ImageFX was its ability to handle photorealistic requests. So, I gave it a simple prompt request:
[Fuzzy polar bear plushie sleeping in a minimalist modern apartment bed]
You can check out the varied images it produced below:
As you can see, ImageFX’s capacity to produce realistic and believable imagery is unapproachable. The textures and even lighting look just as real as any actual photo.
There are also no artefacts or strange distortions that would otherwise indicate that this isn’t a real image. Frankly, it’s hard not to give this image a perfect score.
If I had to rate it, I would say it’s a 9/10.
But let’s not get carried away just yet. Let’s see how ImageFX handles more complex image creation instructions that require more precise prompt adherence.
For this test, this is the prompt I used:
[A surreal fantasy dreamscape at twilight, with floating islands covered in bioluminescent plants and glowing crystal formations. Waterfalls flow from the edges of the islands into the clouds below. A massive, shimmering moon can be seen in the sky, with strange, dreamlike creatures drifting through the air— The scene's color palette is composed of deep purples, soft blues, glistening silver, and hints of emerald green. Highly detailed, cinematic lighting, ultra-realistic textures, wide-angle shot, 4K resolution]
This was the output ImageFX generated for the described scene:
Once again, I was impressed by the scene composition. ImageFX captured almost every minor aspect well with a fantastic level of visual detail, clarity, and prompt adherence.
I must say, ImageFX’s capability for object rendering is especially great. The color scheme is also very accurate to the original prompt, so that’s another positive.
I also appreciate how it produced four images, each with small but significant changes, giving me more variety to choose from.
Honestly, I would give this output from ImageFX a 9.5/10.
For the final test, I decided to see how ImageFX performs with more detailed scenes that come with multiple character renders. So, this is the prompt I used:
[photo of a panda with reading glasses sitting in a crowded coffee shop reading a newspaper while being served by a futuristic humanoid AI robot waitress]
These are the image outputs it generated below:
This time, ImageFX’s performance was not that great. The subject renderings were relatively good. It followed my prompt, depicting a comical scene in a somewhat believable setting.
However, it faltered in certain areas, the most obvious being the background characters. The inclusion of animals with human bodies looks very weird and was completely unnecessary.
Also, apart from the two main subjects, the rest of the characters are simply portrayed as blurry depictions. This visual glitch and scene inconsistency are also present in every image.
For this reason, if I were to give this final test a rating, I would give it a 6/10.
What Is My Overall Verdict of ImageFX?
In my opinion, ImageFX is an impressive product from Google. For the most part, it delivers high-quality images with exceptional clarity, detail, and realism.
It’s very hard to deny its competence with simple or even abstract interpretations. But, it also seems to struggle with certain scene details when rendering images with multiple subjects.
Simply put, the more intricate details you need from a scene, the more randomized the outputs can become. This may result in strange depictions, poor visual consistency, etc.
Also, the lack of customization options, like for image resolution, limits my capacity to produce more tailored outputs. In short, I can’t ever tweak my outputs for specific use cases.
To sum it up, ImageFX can be great for experimentation, but it’s not reliable. When it comes to producing more tailored and predictable image outputs, I would suggest looking elsewhere.
Need a More Reliable Alternative? Check Out Pollo AI!
If you need something that can not only match but exceed ImageFX’s calibre, then my top recommendation would be to try using Pollo AI. Let me tell you why!
Pollo AI is a powerful AI image and video generator that provides users with access to numerous industry-leading AI models, all in one convenient place.
With this platform, you can consistently produce all kinds of incredibly stunning images and captivating videos in any visual style with just a few simple clicks.
You can choose AI image models like GPT-4o, Recraft, Stable Diffusion, or Flux. With AI video generation, you can switch between PixVerse AI, Luma AI, Kling AI, Hailuo AI, Runway, etc.
And if that isn’t enough, Pollo AI also comes with several AI tools, effects, and templates that let you transform any existing images and videos into new creations, almost instantly.
But you don’t need to take my word for it! Want to test it out yourself? Go ahead. Pollo AI has a free trial plan that lets you generate images and videos at no cost!
Conclusion
ImageFX’s strength lies in how fast, simple, and intuitive it is. Anyone can access it and create high-quality images with no hassle, but it isn’t perfect. I find that its inconsistency in generating complex scenes can be problematic, and with almost no editing tools, this makes it all the more frustrating. Luckily, Pollo AI offers all of ImageFX’s benefits without the drawbacks!