AI Image use cases and image sizes

AI image use cases

AI-generated images have rapidly found their way into almost every corner of creative production. From marketing materials to personal projects, they provide flexibility, speed, and an impressive level of customization. Let’s explore the key areas where AI-generated images are making a real difference.

Marketing and social media content

One of the most common uses for AI images is creating content for marketing and social media. Whether it’s a web banner for a seasonal promotion or a social media post designed to drive engagement, AI-generated visuals can capture attention quickly and effectively. Each platform has its visual trends and preferred formats, and AI tools allow users to easily modify their images so they match the platform requirements.

Designing YouTube thumbnails is particularly popular. These small but powerful visuals act as the first impression of a video, and a well-crafted, AI-generated thumbnail can significantly boost click-through rates. Customized, eye-catching thumbnails have become essential for standing out in the crowded video landscape.

Website and app visuals

Modern websites rely heavily on compelling visuals to create an immediate impact. Website backgrounds and hero images—the large banners often seen at the top of landing pages—are crucial for setting the tone and delivering key brand messages. AI generation allows designers to experiment with different moods, styles, and color schemes without the need for lengthy, manual illustration or costly photoshoots.

Gaming and video visuals

The gaming and video industries are embracing AI-generated images in powerful ways. In game development, AI tools assist in creating game assets such as background environments, character concepts, icons, and texture elements. These assets speed up early-stage development and allow small teams to achieve a polished look without overwhelming production costs.

Publishing and creative covers

AI tools are increasingly used for crafting book covers and album covers. Whether an author needs a striking visual for a self-published novel or a musician is looking for a memorable album design, AI-generated images provide a fast and affordable alternative to hiring traditional artists.

Posters and flyers for events, concerts, and campaigns also benefit from AI’s ability to produce multiple stylistic variations quickly. Designers can experiment with different styles, moods, and typography integrations without lengthy revision cycles.

Advertising and product package

For businesses selling products or promoting services, AI images are a practical tool for advertisement designs, both digital and printed. Whether crafting a web ad or a magazine spread, AI-generated visuals can be fine-tuned to match brand aesthetics and campaign themes.

Packaging design and product mockups are also prime areas where AI shines. Instead of waiting for photography or 3D renders, companies can generate high-quality visualizations of their products at various angles and settings, streamlining the approval and marketing process.

For e-commerce product images, AI can create clean, attractive, or even stylized versions of product shots, helping products stand out on competitive platforms like Amazon, Etsy, or Shopify.

Branding and identity creation

When developing a brand, strong visuals are essential. AI-generated imagery supports the creation of logos, brand assets, and visual identity packages that can serve as either finished products or starting points for human refinement.

For storytelling brands, infographics and visual diagrams generated with AI offer an efficient way to explain complex concepts clearly and memorably, without the need for extensive graphic design experience.

More use cases

Beyond the major industries, AI images find their way into a wide variety of personal and small business projects.

For special occasions, AI can generate greeting cards and invitations tailored to specific themes and events, from weddings and birthdays to corporate parties.

Users can create personalized backgrounds as digital wallpaper in phones, tablets, desktops, and smart devices, often using thematic prompts like “flowing abstract shapes in muted pastel tones with soft lighting.”

Merchandise design is another growing field, with AI helping to create unique prints for t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and other customizable items.

Aspect ratio, image size, and resolutions

When generating AI images, it’s easy to focus entirely on the content—the subject, style, or color—but there are some invisible factors that are just as important. Aspect ratio, image size, and resolution don’t change what the image shows, but they play a huge role in how well the image fits its intended purpose. Whether you're creating a social media post, a website banner, or a book cover, understanding these basic concepts helps ensure your images look professional and perform well.

Let’s take a closer look at what these terms mean and why they matter.

Understanding the basic terms

Aspect ratio describes the proportional relationship between an image’s width and height. It’s typically written like 16:9 or 1:1. For example, a 16:9 image is much wider than it is tall, while a 1:1 image is a perfect square.

Image size refers to the actual pixel dimensions of an image, such as 1920 pixels wide by 1080 pixels tall. Bigger image sizes allow for sharper details, but they also result in larger file sizes.

Resolution is about how much detail an image holds, often measured in pixels per inch (PPI). In most online uses, resolution isn’t a huge concern (because screens are relatively standard), but for print materials, higher resolution is needed to ensure sharpness.

While these details don't change the creative essence of the image—the scene, characters, mood, or style—they determine how well the image adapts to different platforms and usage scenarios.

Popular aspect ratios and where they are used

Rather than diving into every possible ratio, it's more useful to focus on a few popular ones that cover most needs:

• 16:9: Commonly used for YouTube thumbnails, video covers, website banners, and slides. It’s the standard widescreen format.
  
  
• 4:3: An older but still useful format for classic presentations and some social media posts. It’s slightly more compact than widescreen.
  
  
• 1:1: Perfect square, ideal for Instagram posts, profile pictures, and some ad formats where symmetry is key.
  
  
• 3:4: Often used for portrait-mode photography, posters, and some app visuals where a slightly taller-than-wide format feels natural.
  
  
• 9:16: The vertical format popularized by mobile platforms like Instagram Stories, TikTok videos, YouTube Shorts, and vertical ads.
  
  

Choosing the right aspect ratio is not just about matching platform standards—it also helps your visual storytelling. A wide, cinematic 16:9 frame gives a sense of openness and drama, while a tight 1:1 square brings focus and balance to the composition.

Limitations when setting aspect ratios in AI image generation

While AI platforms offer exciting creative possibilities, they aren't always equally flexible when it comes to adjusting aspect ratios.

On web-based AI image platforms (like Midjourney Web, Adobe Firefly, and Leonardo AI), users often find convenient options to select aspect ratios directly in the user interface. You might see options like “square,” “portrait,” or “landscape” right before generating the image, making it easy to align with your intended use.

In contrast, chatbot-based AI services (like ChatGPT’s DALL-E integration) generally require you to mention the aspect ratio manually in the prompt. You might write something like “create a 16:9 widescreen image of a fantasy landscape.” However, it’s important to note that chatbot-based services may not always honor the requested aspect ratio perfectly. Models might prioritize maintaining composition quality over strictly following sizing instructions.

If the output doesn't match your required format, you'll often need to adjust the image manually afterward using editing tools.

How to adjust images when sizes don't match

If the AI-generated image doesn’t fit the desired size or ratio perfectly, there’s no need to worry. It’s a common situation, and fortunately, it's easy to fix with a few simple post-editing techniques.

One of the most effective methods is cropping. This involves trimming the edges of the image to better center the main subject and achieve the desired aspect ratio. Careful cropping ensures that important elements, like faces or focal objects, remain visually balanced and undisturbed.

Another approach is resizing. This means adjusting the image dimensions by enlarging or shrinking the image while maintaining its original proportions. Resizing is useful when the image generally matches the needed shape but must fit specific pixel dimensions, such as a web banner or product listing requirement.

Sometimes, instead of cutting away parts of the image, it's better to use background extension. This technique adds more space—such as sky, grass, water, or abstract background textures—around the existing image, making it taller or wider without affecting the core visual focus. It's a particularly helpful approach for wallpapers, posters, and hero images that require expansive layouts.

---

Mastering AI image generation is about more than crafting beautiful prompts or selecting the right styles. Paying close attention to technical details like aspect ratio, image size, and resolution elevates your work, ensuring it not only looks stunning but also performs effectively across different platforms and media. A little preparation and thoughtful post-editing can make the difference between an image that feels “almost right” and one that feels truly professional and purpose-built. By combining creativity with an understanding of format and function, you open up the full potential of what AI-generated visuals can achieve.