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Imagen 3 is an advanced text-to-image model developed byGoogle.
Its capable of generating realistic and detailed images based on natural language prompts.
Want to learn more and use it for yourself?
Weve broken down all the basics below.
This article was correct as of February 2025.
AI tools are updated regularly and it is possible that some features have changed since this article was written.
Some features may also only be available in certain countries.
What is Imagen 3?
Imagen 3 is an AI-powered text-to-image model developed by Google DeepMind, the companys AI research lab.
First announced at Google I/O in May 2024, access to Imagen 3 was opened up in August.
Imagen 3 builds on previous versions of the technology.
According to Google, the third iteration generates images with better detail, richer lighting and fewer distracting artifacts.
The tool also allows users to refine the resulting images, editing text prompts to add specific details.
What can you use Imagen 3 for?
Imagen 3 can generate detailed images in a matter of seconds, based on text-based descriptions.
Trained on millions of images, it excels at replicating different visual styles.
Prompts such as cinematic, surreal and 35mm film can be used to produce images with a particular aesthetic.
Its particularly effective at replicating photorealism.
What cant you use Imagen 3 for?
Imagen 3 is only capable of generating still images.
DeepMind is developing a separate AI-powered text-to-video generator called Veo 2.
Imagen 3 cant be used to generate high-resolution images.
The model is also subject to a number of ethical policy restrictions.
Imagen 3 is also trained to avoid generating images which could infringe on copyright.
How much does Imagen 3 cost?
Imagen 3 is free to use through ImageFX or Gemini.
This costs $19.99 / 18.99 / AU$30 per month.
The plan also includes priority access to new features and access to Googles latest models.
Where can you use Imagen 3?
Imagen 3 can be accessed through Gemini, Googles answer to ChatGPT.
Request an image in your conversation with the chatbot and it will generate one asset at a time.
you’re able to also edit your original prompt to refine the results.
Gemini can be used via theweb app, as well as the app foriOSandAndroid.
Imagen 3 is also available throughImageFX, a dedicated AI image generator hosted by Google Labs.
ImageFX benefits from an intuitive web-based interface, with suggested prompt structures and art styles.
Usefully, it generates four images at a time from a single prompt.
Is Imagen 3 any good?
The prompt-based interface is pretty foolproof, although the model doesnt always follow detailed edits to the letter.
Youll only need to pay if you want to generate images featuring people.
For this, youll need an alternative tool such as DALL-E 3.
You need total attention to detail
Googles text-to-image model does a pretty decent job of following prompts.
However, its interpretation of nuanced descriptions can often be a little loose.
Changes to one part of a prompt can often throw off the detail in another.
