Introduction
AI-generated art is transforming the creative industry, but with so many tools available, how do you choose the best AI for photorealism or stylised visuals?
In this article we will explore the abilities of Midjourney, DALL-E, and Firefly to find the best uses for each of them, as well as discussing the ethics involved with each AI tool.
Objectives:
- Which AI is Which?
- Realism vs Artistic Output
- Prompt Strategies Across AIs
- AI and ethics
Which AI is Which?
Midjourney
Developed by Midjourney, Inc., this AI is known for its highly artistic and imaginative outputs. Unlike some AI tools that focus on photorealism, Midjourney excels at creating dreamlike, painterly, and surreal visuals.
DALL-E
DALL-E was developed by OpenAI, it can generate anything from realistic photos to surreal artwork. The latest version of DALL-E, DALL-E 3, is integrated into ChatGPT which makes it easier to refine prompts and tweak images. DALL-E is particularly skilled at creating lifelike images, combining concepts in unique ways, and rendering text within images.
Firefly
Firefly is Adobe’s generative AI tool designed for creative professionals. It focuses on image, video, audio, and vector generation, this makes it a tool suited to designers, marketers, and content creators! Firefly is a great option for those looking to produce high-quality, brand-safe visuals.
Realism vs Artistic Output
Whether you need ultra-realistic images for marketing or surreal AI-generated art for storytelling, knowing which AI tool excels at photorealism versus creativity is key. Some users require highly realistic images—ideal for marketing, product visuals, or professional branding. Others prioritise stylised, artistic imagery, better suited for concept art, storytelling, and brand identity.
The AI you choose should also reflect your audience’s expectations. Are they looking for authentic, lifelike visuals? Or will they engage more with imaginative and abstract designs? Selecting the right AI can enhance viewer engagement and make your visuals more impactful.
Different AI tools interpret prompts differently, affecting whether they generate more realistic or creative outputs. Later in this article, we’ll compare how Midjourney, DALL-E, and Firefly handle the same prompt—highlighting which AI leans towards photorealism and which thrives on creativity.
Prompt Strategies Across AIs
Each AI image generator interprets prompts differently, affecting the style, detail, and accuracy of the final image. Here’s how Midjourney, DALL-E, and Firefly approach prompts:
Midjourney: Concise and Style-Focused
- Works best with short, structured prompts using comma-separated adjectives.
- Uses parameters like --ar for aspect ratio, and --v 6 for engine version to fine-tune results.
- Less emphasis on full sentences—keywords drive aesthetics rather than detailed descriptions.
So, let’s put a prompt into Midjourney that follows these parameters!
Prompt: A futuristic city, neon lights, cinematic.
Great! Although, this isn’t as futuristic as I want… let’s go to settings and turn up the ‘weirdness’ option to 100%.
- Weirdness will introduce some quirky qualities to my generated images.
- Stylisation will determine how much of the Midjourney aesthetic is included in my image.
- Variety will influence how unexpected and varied my results are.
Now let’s see what Midjourney produces!
Now that is a futuristic image!
Midjourney has some great customisation options for your settings, you can create weird and wacky things that are more unique, or you could create something more digestible. It all depends on what you need!
DALL-E: Narrative & Detail-Oriented
- Handles long-form, descriptive prompts well, interpreting them like a scene from a book.
- Context-rich descriptions will improve the output.
- Can generate highly stylised or realistic images, depending on the level of detail provided.
So, let’s see what storybook image we can create with DALL-E!
Prompt: A Victorian library with warm lighting, intricate wood carvings, and a cat curled up in a chair.
And now we have a cute storybook scene!
DALL-E’s capabilities with understanding in-depth descriptions means there is little editing to be done as the description can go into as much detail as the user feels is necessary.
Firefly: Structured and Photography-Based
- Uses a structured approach: Subject + Description + Context + Style = Image.
- Works best with photographic terms.
- Compositional elements like depth, lighting, and mood should be mentioned for realism.
- Option menu to add to your prompt, giving you the ability to add things you hadn’t thought of. Effects include; art style, camera angle, and lighting. Combine these effects as you need to and customise your image.
So, let’s see what we can create with Firefly!
Prompt: A portrait of a woman, soft lighting, shallow depth of field, cinematic.
Now we have a highly realistic portrait!
Working with photography terms can be confusing if you’re new to the lingo, however, it makes the difference between something usable and something that makes no impact.
3 AIs, 1 Prompt
Now that we know how to optimise our prompts for each AI tool, let’s see what happens when we give all three the same prompt to work with!
Prompt: A grand medieval castle perched on a cliffside, overlooking a stormy ocean. Dramatic lighting, intricate stonework, banners fluttering in the wind, torches illuminating the entrance, cinematic composition, ultra-detailed textures.
Let’s see the results!
Midjourney
DALL-E
Firefly
As you can see, Midjourney has gone with a dreamlike approach, the details are good but some of them have been lost. Whereas DALL-E, whilst also having a storybook take on the prompt, has included all of the details into the image. Firefly has produced an image that looks like it could have been taken on the coast of the UK.
So the results are in:
- Midjourney - Your go to for a painterly, atmospheric image with rich lighting and artistic textures.
- DALL-E - A balance of accuracy and artistry, realism and creativity.
- Firefly - Sharp details and photorealism, Firefly produces images that look professionally shot.
AI and Ethics
AI isn’t only a useful tool to brands, businesses, and beyond—it can also be fun to use! However, are there ethical implications to using AI? And if so, which AI tool is the most ethical?
AI ethics in image creation is a growing concern, with issues ranging from copyright and bias to misinformation and sustainability. Here’s a breakdown of key issues:
Copyright & Ownership
AI models like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Firefly are trained on vast datasets, often including copyrighted images.
This raises concerns about who owns AI-generated content and whether artists’ work is being used without consent.
Some platforms, like Adobe Firefly, aim to mitigate this by using licensed and public domain images for training.
Bias & Representation
AI models can reinforce stereotypes based on biased training data.
If datasets lack diversity, AI-generated images may underrepresent certain groups or amplify harmful biases.
Ethical AI development requires transparent datasets and bias mitigation strategies.
Misinformation & Deepfakes
AI can create highly realistic fake images, leading to concerns about misinformation, fraud, and identity manipulation.
Some platforms restrict generating images of public figures to prevent misuse.
Ethical AI use involves clear labelling and responsible content creation.
Environmental Impact
AI image generation is computationally intensive, meaning it uses significant energy and water sources.
As AI adoption grows, its carbon footprint increases, raising sustainability concerns.
Developers are exploring energy-efficient AI models to reduce environmental impact.
So, which is the most ethical AI tool? Adobe Firefly! Firefly prioritises training on licensed content, making it the safest option for commercial use. However, Midjourney and DALL-E offer broader creative flexibility.
Conclusion
So, the world of AI is vast but now you know how to navigate it!
- If you’re looking to create dreamy, creative, and sometimes wacky images, Midjourney is the way to go! Use short, descriptive prompts for the best results!
- If you need more detail but want to keep that fantasy feeling, DALL-E is your best choice! Remember, the more detail the better.
- If you’re after something with more realism, Adobe’s Firefly is what you need. Use prompts that have photography terms, Subject + Description + Context + Style = Image, for the best results!
If you’re looking to level up the way you use Midjourney, DALL-E, or Adobe Firefly—our industry professionals have years of experience in the field. Book today to level up your AI skills!
by Josie Daniel