Hey there!

This week, we’re excited to launch our new newsletter series: GenAI Guides.
Each edition will walk you through new GenAI features and how to use them with the help of our free, practical guides.

We’re kicking things off with a guide to ChatGPT’s new Image Library, a feature that opens up a whole new way to create and manage visuals with AI.

What is ChatGPT Image Library?

OpenAI just launched a seemingly small but incredibly impactful new feature inside ChatGPT: the ChatGPT Image Library. Like many people, ChatGPT has become one of my main tools for quick and easy image generation. I've found myself creating images with increasing frequency over the past two years, but unfortunately, one major drawback has remained – actually finding images after I've created them. This is the exact issue that OpenAI has solved with their new "Image Library".

It's a single, centralized location where all your generated images can be found and interacted with. The best part is that this new update is available to all users, both paid and free!

In this guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to know about this exciting new feature.

Availability

The Image Library is currently rolling out to all ChatGPT Free, Plus, and Pro users and is available on both Web and Android/iOS platforms.

All images you create with ChatGPT are automatically saved to your Library, giving you a single place to browse, revisit, and reuse your work without sifting through past conversations.

Getting Started

Accessing the Library

The Image Library can be accessed through the left-hand sidebar in both the web and mobile versions of ChatGPT. Look for the "Library" section, which should appear below your chat history.

Viewing Your Images

When you open the Library, you'll see a grid of all your generated images. The interface is designed to be intuitive, similar to your device's photo gallery. You can scroll through your images and quickly find what you're looking for.

Like me, some of you may have realized that your older creations aren't appearing within the Library. Currently, only images created with the 4o image generation model are included in the Library. OpenAI has already explained that they will be adding your older images to the Library over the next few days.

Managing Your Images

Basic Operations

Now that we know how to access the Image Library, let's look at how you can interact with your creations within it.

Each image in your Library can be managed through a simple press-and-hold menu (on mobile) or right-click menu (on web). Here are your options:

1. Edit: Opens the image in a new chat where you can provide prompts for modifications

2. Select: Activates the selection tool for targeted edits

3. Save: Downloads the image to your device

4. Share: Opens your device's sharing options

5. Copy: Copies the image to your clipboard for pasting elsewhere

Advanced Editing Features

Using the Edit Function

When you choose to edit an image, ChatGPT will open the original conversation where the image was created. This allows you to maintain context while making changes. The editing process works like this:

1. Select "Edit" from the image menu

2. Provide your edit prompt in the chat

3. ChatGPT will generate a new version of the image based on your instructions

Now you can prompt the model to make changes to your selected image.

Note that:

• ChatGPT will reopen the original chat used to create the image instead of creating a new one.

• Editing an image will not remove the original one.

Using the Select Tool

For more precise edits, you can use the Select tool:

1. Choose "Select" from the image menu

2. Use the slider on the left side to adjust the selection tool size

3. Highlight the specific area you want to modify

4. Use the undo/redo buttons at the bottom to adjust your selection

5. Provide your edit prompt for the selected area only

Managing Your Library

Creating New Images

You can quickly create new images directly from the Library by pressing the "Make Image" button. This opens a new chat where you can provide your image generation prompt.

Deleting Images

Currently, to delete an image from your Library, you need to delete the entire conversation where it was created:

• On web: Hover over the conversation title in the sidebar, click the three dots (...), then select Delete

• On mobile: Press and hold the conversation title, then tap Delete in the pop-up menu

Tips for Generating Better Images

Like all prompting, the output you receive depends heavily on how you craft your instructions to the model.

To get the most out of ChatGPT's image generation capabilities, consider these tips:

• Be specific: Add as much detail as you can to the prompt.

• Add style or medium: Try phrases like "in watercolor," "digital art," "oil painting," or "3D render."

• Describe the mood: Words like "grim," "happy," or "dreamy" help shape the overall tone.

• Mention the audience: If you're creating something for marketing or education, mention who it's for.

• Include time of day or weather: Details like "foggy morning" or "golden hour light" can make your image feel more realistic.

• Use pop culture references: Style cues like "Pixar," "cyberpunk Tokyo," or "Studio Ghibli" give the model a strong creative direction.

• Ask for variations: Requesting multiple versions can spark new ideas and help refine your vision.

• Experiment and iterate: Don't be afraid to tweak your prompt little by little until the image feels right.

Additional Resources

• Image prompting docs where we fully explain how to create prompts that lead to incredible visuals.

• Guide to image generation with 4o model for more tips on how to get the most out of the 4o image generation model.

• Free ChatGPT course for beginners for a quick and useful introduction to ChatGPT.

Conclusion

While this new feature seems simple enough, it makes creating and reusing visuals significantly easier. I also think it takes ChatGPT one step closer to being an image generation platform instead of a chatbot who can create visuals when needed. For those of you who don't use ChatGPT for image generation, check out my guide for some of the best free AI image generators.