Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Shutterstock is a leading global creative platform that leverages AI to enhance its vast library of images, videos, and music. While traditionally known as a stock media provider, its AI initiatives aim to empower creators with innovative tools. Shutterstock’s AI focuses on generating new content, facilitating intelligent editing, and ensuring ethical and commercially safe use of AI-generated visuals.

Key Features & Capabilities

• AI Image Generator: Creates high-quality images from text prompts using advanced AI models, offering various styles like “Photos,” “Art,” or “Digital.”
• Magic Brush: An “inpainting” tool that allows users to select an area or object in a picture and modify it by describing what they want to add or remove.
• Expand Image: Extends an image beyond its original borders, intelligently filling the new canvas with suitable content to adjust aspect ratios or improve composition.
• Variations: Produces multiple versions of the same image or prompt, enabling users to explore more creative possibilities from a single concept.
• AI Design Assistant: Guides users through the design process, helping them turn ideas into impactful images and providing creative suggestions.
• Ethical AI & Contributor Compensation: Trains AI models on Shutterstock’s legally licensed content and compensates contributors whose work is used in the training datasets, ensuring commercial safety and ethical responsibility.
• Prompt Optimization: Utilizes natural language processing to understand detailed text prompts and generates visuals that closely match the user’s vision.
• Diverse Art Styles: Offers a wide range of AI-generated art styles, including watercolor, pastel drawing, cartoon, oil painting, and more, to fit various creative needs.

How to Use Shutterstock

Shutterstock’s AI tools are typically accessed through its website after logging into an account. Here’s a general overview of how to use Shutterstock’s AI features:

1. Access AI Generator: Navigate to the AI image generator tool on the Shutterstock website.
2. Define Your Concept (Prompting): Type a descriptive text prompt outlining the image you want to create, including details about style, mood, colors, and subjects.
3. Choose Style & Format: Select preferred aspect ratios (e.g., square, landscape, portrait) and visual styles (e.g., Photo, Art, Digital) to guide the AI.
4. Generate Image: Click “Generate” to have the AI produce multiple image options based on your prompt.
5. Refine & Edit: If needed, refine your prompt and regenerate, or use AI editing features like Magic Brush or Expand Image to modify existing images.
6. License & Download: Once satisfied, license and download the high-resolution image for personal or commercial use.

Common Use Cases for Shutterstock

• Marketing and Advertising: Rapidly generate custom visuals for ad campaigns, social media posts, and website banners without costly photoshoots.
• Content Creation: Produce unique images for blogs, articles, presentations, and other digital content to enhance visual appeal.
• Graphic Design: Assist designers in quickly iterating on visual concepts, experimenting with layouts, and creating mock-ups.
• Brand Personalization: Create visuals that perfectly match specific brand aesthetics, colors, and messaging.
• Concept Development: Explore a wide range of visual ideas and compositions for projects before committing to traditional production methods.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is Shutterstock?

A: Shutterstock is a creative platform that provides access to a vast library of stock media and offers AI-powered tools for generating and editing images.

Q: How does Shutterstock use AI?

A: Shutterstock uses AI for text-to-image generation, intelligent image editing (like Magic Brush and Expand Image), and ensuring ethical sourcing and compensation for AI model training.

Q: Is Shutterstock easy to use?

A: Yes, Shutterstock‘s AI tools are designed with user-friendliness in mind, allowing both experienced creatives and beginners to generate and edit visuals effectively.

Q: What are the benefits of using Shutterstock?

A: Benefits include rapid image creation, access to ethically sourced AI content, powerful editing capabilities, and the ability to produce unique visuals tailored to specific needs.

Q: Does Shutterstock provide commercially usable AI-generated images?

A: Yes, Shutterstock emphasizes that images generated with its AI are built on proprietary data and are guaranteed safe and licensable for commercial use, often with indemnification.

Q: Can Shutterstock help with editing existing images?

A: Yes, Shutterstock offers AI-powered editing features like Magic Brush and Expand Image that allow users to modify images from its existing library.

Q: Is Shutterstock suitable for small businesses?

A: Yes, Shutterstock can be highly beneficial for businesses of all sizes, allowing them to create professional visuals efficiently without requiring extensive design skills or resources.

Q: What kind of support does Shutterstock offer?

A: Support options typically include online help articles, FAQs, chat support, email support, and phone support, covering billing, licensing, account management, and technical assistance.