Making money with AI images is not a distant dream. You can earn money by generating AI images in 8 different ways, including selling stock photos, starting a print on demand store, image licensing, and AI influencers. All you need to do is master tools such as Midjourney, DeepMode, Dall-e 3, and others. Success in this field is dependent upon several things, including creativity, perfecting the prompts, and experience using the tools.
8 Ways to Make Money with AI ART
Have you heard about people making money with AI tools? Making money through AI images is indeed possible and a lucrative way to earn passive income. To do so, you need to master the art of AI image generation, get comfortable with using the best tools to help you generate catchy and attractive AI images and understand generative AI and how it uses tokens to deliver output according to your prompt.
We have compiled 8 different ways to make money through AI images and also shared AI tools that will help you get the best results.
Sell Stock Photos
Stock Photos selling can be a side gig for you where you contribute in global communities showcasing your AI creations. Every time your images are selected by a user for purchase the community platforms give you a commission.
Some popular platforms for selling stock photos include Adobe Stock, Shutterstock Pixabay. There are more platforms but these three are the most popular ones.
To start making money from stock photos, you first need to register to these communities as a creator/contributor and decide on a niche you want to be known for. Some platforms allow you to create albums for every niche so make sure you utilise those.
Fill up your profile with images generated by AI with descriptions, hashtags and arrange them in categories to be found easily.
Note that all images do not make money. Research top sellers on the community and learn what kind of images other contributors are producing and what images have a higher demand. For example, a dentist might need images of a “happy woman flaunting her perfect teeth” for his clinic’s social media posts. You can create such images and sell them to the right people.
Start Print on Demand
Create stunning and engaging stock photos using AI tools. Instead of offering the images for sale, offer print on demand services. For example, you can offer to print the images on t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, and more. There are various platforms which you can use to start a print on demand business, including Printful.
Starting a sprint on demand business can be a lucrative option but it does come with a cost. You can register on platforms like Printful to ease your process of printing, packaging and delivering. But you will need to come up with attractive and trending designs and marketing your creations on social media to the right audience.
To start a successful print on demand business, you need to have a unique design sense that is trending and in demand. Then you need to setup an online store and social media accounts to showcase your products. Platforms like printful are highly cost effective for startups as you will not have to worry about looking for vendors to print and deliver your orders. Lastly, you need to have a great marketing plan to reach your target audience and start making sales.
Print on demand with AI images is not a side hustle only, it’s a complete business where you have to dedicate time and effort.
Create and Sell Clip Art
Clip is like an illustration which can be used in web design projects, books, presentations, and more. A single clip art won’t do the job. So, what you need to do is create a clip art set. In other words, offer multiple illustrations as part of the package. There is earning potential in this, but a lot is dependent upon the niche and the art’s quality. You can sell clip arts through Etsy, Redbubble or even your own website.
Create and Sell Stickers
Stickers are becoming more and more common. You can use AI art generators to create the stickers and then sell them on online platforms. There is considerable earning potential here, especially if your stickers prove to be a hit. Similar to print on demand, this is a business that needs your time, effort and creativity.
AI Art Course and Tutorials
Not everyone is making money through image licensing or AI art commission. A lot of professionals have said goodbye to this area and are now focused on offering AI art courses and tutorials. In other words, they are teaching others how to create sellable AI art.
Sell NFTs
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have sold for millions of dollars. So, don’t let anyone tell you that this area has no earning potential. Enrol in an AI art course that specifically focuses on NFTs. You can then sell your NFTs on blockchain platforms.
Image Licensing
There are other ways to earn money through AI art. One is image licensing. Instead of offering your stock photos on websites, you can licence for use in websites, documents, and advertising. You can use a NSFW image generator to make images for adult audiences.
Create AI Influencers
Don’t fancy appearing in the camera yourself? No worries as you can create an AI influencer to take up this role instead. An AI or virtual influencer are computer-generated influencers. They can perform the same function as a human influencer. The earning is in the form of sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and ad revenue.
We do recommend sticking to one platform such as TikTok or YouTube when launching an AI influencer. If you think, there’s no scope for an AI influencer, think again. Aitana, a pink haired fitness influencer developed by [———], from Barcelona is earning her creators up to €10,000 a month.
Now, let’s focus on what AI tools you need to kickstart your AI side hustle.
What tools should you use to create AI Images?
There are several tools that you can use to create AI images. The best ones include:
Midjourney
It is perhaps one of the most widely used AI art generators. The platform offers various types of AI image generation tools and customisation options. If you are looking to sell unique and creative stock photos, Midjourney is the best option.
Dall-e 3
OpenAI’s ChatGPT took the world by surprise due to its ability to provide human-like answers. Dall-e 3 is an advanced AI art generator tool by OpenAI. It can create compelling AI art based on the textual information provided. Its ideal for complex visual storytelling.
Leonardo
You can create AI illustrations and videos with this AI tool. The one thing we love about this tool is the ease of use. In a few seconds, you can create professional-looking AI art. If you are into creating realistic imagery, then this platform is your best bet.
How to become an AI Artist?
Everyone can use an AI tool to create AI images. However, if you wish to truly succeed in this field, you need to have the following skills:
Be Creative
AI tools can help you earn passive income through AI art. The only prerequisite is that you need to be creative. Simple prompts won’t generate sellable art.
Perfecting the Prompts
You must learn to write concise and specific AI prompts. Long sentences can confuse the AI tool, leaving you with a creation that’s not near your expectations, let alone sellable. The only way to perfect the prompts is through practice. The alternative would be to opt for AI art course.
Experimenting with AI Tools and Techniques
We have listed only 5 AI art tools. But if you visit our ai image tools section, you’ll come across hundreds, if not thousands of all tools. While not every AI tool is worth using, most ones are. So, experiment with different AI tools and techniques to gain experience. Secondly, this can help you create unique illustrations that are sellable.
