AI RADAR

2D Graphics Open-Weights Benchmark

Black Forest Labs

Flux.1 (Dev & Schnell)

Smarts 9.3/10

Precision Anatomical Logic

Speed 9.0/10

Rapid on Schnell (~3-5s)

Cost: Free on sites like Fal.ai/Replicate demo, or open-source local

IN PLAIN ENGLISH (ELI5)

"Created by the original inventors of Stable Diffusion. Famous for fixing the notorious "ugly 6-finger AI hand" problem and rendering authentic skin pores without plastic sheen."

When to pick this:

Candid smartphone-style photography, realistic human portraits, open-source customization.

Visit Website

2D Graphics Best For Beginners

OpenAI

ChatGPT Image (DALL·E 3 / GPT-4o)

Smarts 9.0/10

High Intuition (Understands messy ideas)

Speed 8.0/10

Fast (~10-15s per image)

Cost: Free tier (limited daily gens) / $20/mo for ChatGPT Plus

IN PLAIN ENGLISH (ELI5)

"Like talking to an illustrator who sketches what you describe in casual chat. You don't need technical photography jargon—just say "a cat drinking tea in a cozy rainy cafe" and it gets it."

When to pick this:

Blog illustrations, fun social media graphics, concept drafts, and turning vague ideas into pictures without learning complex settings.

Visit Website

2D Graphics Aesthetic Gold Standard

Midjourney Inc.

Midjourney v6.1

Smarts 9.0/10

Artistic Master (Unmatched taste)

Speed 7.0/10

Moderate (~30-50s per 4 options)

Cost: $10/mo (Basic 200 gens) to $30/mo (Standard unlimited relax mode)

IN PLAIN ENGLISH (ELI5)

"A high-end Hollywood concept artist. Even with a short prompt, it automatically adds gorgeous atmospheric lighting, rich textures, and dramatic camera angles."

When to pick this:

Photorealistic fashion, movie concept art, architectural moodboards, album covers, and luxury brand visuals.

Visit Website

2D Graphics King of Text & Typography

Ideogram

Ideogram 2.0

Smarts 8.8/10

Typography Genius

Speed 8.5/10

Fast (~15s)

Cost: 10 free credits daily (approx 40 images) / $8-$20/mo plans

IN PLAIN ENGLISH (ELI5)

"Most AI image tools spell words backwards or turn letters into alien gibberish. Ideogram spells exact quotes, slogans, and typography on shirts, signs, and posters flawlessly."

When to pick this:

Graphic t-shirt designs, posters with headings, logo badge concepts, event invitations with clear text.

Visit Website