Leonardo AI Models Explained: A Comprehensive Tutorial

Hey everyone! If you love AI, we are pretty sure you will love Leonardo’s AI models. And, if you are a beginner in digital art or have just started creating art using AI, this tutorial is for you. We are here to guide you so you can enjoy Leonardo’s AI. We will discuss, in detail, all the amazing models Leonardo AI offers you, from the basic ones to more advanced ones, like ImageGenV2 presets, with some crazy prompts and examples for all of them. So, let’s embark on our first AI adventure together!

Introduction

Leonardo AI has been revolutionizing artificial intelligence in the art industry lately, and it’s no surprise why. It provides an entire art studio right at your fingertips. But wait – power comes with… confusion? Indeed, with numerous models available, it might feel like being blindfolded at a buffet table sometimes. However, fear not because that’s where this article comes in handy! By the end of reading this article, not only will you be able to navigate through different types of LEONARDO AI models but also create stunning masterpieces that would make your Instagram followers ask, “Wait, YOU made that?!”

Core Leonardo AI Models Explained

Alright, drumroll, please! Let’s meet the stars of the show – the core Leonardo AI models. These bad boys are the backbone of your AI art adventure, each with its own superpowers. Let’s break ’em down, shall we?

PhotoReal Model

Firstly, there’s the PhotoReal Model, which, simply put, is about producing such realistic-looking pictures one could easily mistake them for being human-made photographs rather than ones created by AI.

Example Prompt: “Close-up portrait photo showing a freckled red-haired woman with emerald green eyes lit softly through the natural light source and having hyperrealistic skin texture”

 

 

Diffusion XL Model

Next, we have the Diffusion XL Model – this bad boy can be considered as Swiss army knife among various types of AI art generations out there; it’s flexible enough to handle any given situation thrown at it so if you’re not sure which model should use? Don’t worry because Diffusion XL always got your back!

Example Prompt: “Steampunk-inspired airship flying across Victorian London cityscape during sunset with lots of detailed mechanical parts showing”

 

 

Leonardo Lightning XL

If you need things done fast then look no further than Lightning (XL). This particular category focuses on speedier kind of generative processes which comes in handy when one finds themselves having those moments where everything is needed yesterday or trying out different design concepts faster than can say “AI art”.

Example Prompt: “Superhero jumping through the sky while wearing a cape against a futuristic city background with lots of motion lines indicating speed”.

 

 

Leonardo Anime XL

Calling all otakus and weebs! Leonardo Anime XL is here to make your dreams come true by turning them into digital reality. Whether it’s about creating kawaii characters or epic battle scenes worthy enough for Studio Ghibli productions, this model has got it covered!  If you like to know more about Anime Preset and want to explore Anime prompts, check out this article.

Example Prompt: “A magical girl transformation sequence in anime style, with swirling energy and sparkles surrounding a young heroine as her outfit changes from an ordinary school uniform to an elaborate magical costume”

 

 

Leonardo Kino XL

Lights, camera, action! Leonardo Kino XL is your ally for creating that blockbuster movie look. Best used for that final touch of realism.

Example Prompt: A fight between two rival spies on a rain-slicked rooftop at night, in a noir-style film, where neon signs light up their silhouette.

 

 

Leonardo Vision XL

Ready to get weird? Leonardo Vision XL is all about pushing the boundaries of imagination. It’s great for creating unique, visionary artwork that makes people go “Whoa, what am I looking at?” (in a good way, of course).

Example Prompt: “A surreal landscape where books grow like trees, their pages fluttering in the wind, while clock gears float in the sky casting strange shadows.”

 

 

AlbedoBase XL

Finally, we come to AlbedoBase XL, which rounds out our core set of assets and is the product of choice for creating high-quality base textures and materials for your 3D work. This is the unsung hero of the 3D world.

Example Prompt: “Seamless weathered barn wood texture with grain, knots and tones, ready for 3d modelling.”

 

 

Additional Models in Leonardo AI

But wait! There’s more… Leonardo AI doesn’t stop at just the core models. Let’s take a whirlwind tour through some of the additional models you can play with.

DreamShaper V7

DreamShaper V7 is that friend who pipes up with the craziest ideas after a long marathon of sci-fi TV. If you’re looking to make dreamlike images that blur the line between reality – or anything else – this is the plugin for you.

Sample Prompt: ‘A plug-hole-sized floating island in the shape of a giant crystal inhabited by many bioluminescent creatures, drifting above an endless ocean of ethereal clouds’

 

 

Absolute Reality v1.6

And do cry because when your work needs that final kick, are you sure this wasn’t actually photographed? Nothing delivers like Absolute Reality v1.6. Good for the photorealistic portrait or landscape that’s sure to piss off the rubes.

Example Prompt: Wafer-thin close-up of a dew drop with the surroundings reflected in water.

 

 

Anime Pastel Dream

It’s a wonderful style for pastel-coloured anime, those cute characters and dreamy backgrounds that might make even the toughest, grimmest girl blush and sigh – ‘aww!’

Prompt: A cute chibi-style group of animals having a picnic in a pastel-hued meadow with fluffy clouds and the occasional rainbow in the sky.

 

 

3D Animation Style

Interested in making images that feel like they are straight out of a Pixar movie? Then the 3D Animation Style model is for you.

Prompt: An anthropomorphic refrigerator and air conditioner pose for a Cosmo-style cheesecake photoshoot, with box-like cakes in various states of licking. It’s a fantasy world with the maturity of a Disney animated feature.

 

 

SDXL 0.9 & 1.0

These models are more stable and of better quality than their predecessors and thus a good jack-of-all-trades for the photographic creation of any object – a two-door sedan, if you will.

Prompt for SDXL 1.0: ‘A detailed cityscape of a futuristic eco-friendly metropolis, with vertical gardens, flying electric vehicles, and solar-powered skyscrapers, people of various cultures interacting in a bustling marketplace.’’

 

 

Stable Diffusion 1.5 and 2.1

Of course, the classic Stable Diffusion models are still there, and they’re still pretty great. Think of them like those old paintbrushes you’ve had since art school.

Stable Diffusion 2.1 prompts: ‘An enchanted forest scene with glowing toadstools, fairy lights and a secret doorway in a giant tree trunk.

 

 

RPG V5

This product is intended to draw the attention of dungeon masters and other fantasy creatures everywhere. Experience adventure like never before by using RPG V5 to add more fantasy to fictional creatures. RPG V5 functions as if it has programmed a digital artist to create images for your DD campaign.

Example from an intro to RPG play: A party of adventurers consisting of a dwarf, an elf and a human-faced against a daunting draconic foe in a cavern rich in treasure. RPG style.

 

 

Pixel Art

Missing the dinky little dots and blocks of the early days? Pixel Art lets you make scenes in retro 8-bit graphics.

Example Prompt: Pixel art of a traditional RPG town scene, illustrated in 16-bit style, with tavern, blacksmith, and townsfolk.

 

 

Image Gen V2: Presets with Optimized Settings

And then there’s the latest thing: ImageGenV2 ships with a host of presets, each of which have pre-configured parameters so that reaching a particular look or effect is easier: think Instagram filters, but better.

Leonardo Phoenix (using the Phoenix model)

Leonardo Phoenix is AI-assisted art generation, reborn! It brings quality improvements across genres and is the ultimate ‘jack of all trades’ preset.

Prompt: ‘A beautiful bird clutching feathers in its beak, flying above a dark black and gray smoky background as the feathers burst into bright orange flames. Based on a style of both fantasy and realism.’

 

 

Anime Preset

The Anime preset is by far the fastest method for anime-style creations. It will bring about the necessary constant wide eyes, oversized heads, and expressive little faces. Indeed, kawaii desu ne.

Example Prompt: Large groups of colourful anime characters stretching outside school uniforms while talking and laughing in an orchard of cherry blossom trees in the springtime.

 

 

Cinematic Kino Preset

Lights! Camera! Action! With the Cinematic Kino preset, now your shots can look and feel like a blockbuster movie. Show us your VFX team!

Example Prompt: ‘A tense standoff between two rival gangs, in the rain, in an alley lined with fluorescent signs, neon lights, all film noir’-style.

 

 

Concept Art Preset

Need to bring your game or film idea to life quickly? The Concept Art preset is designed to help you do just that with some added style points. It’s like having a concept artist on speed dial.

Example Prompt: “A futuristic spaceport on a distant planet, with alien architecture and various spacecraft docking and taking off, concept art style.”

 

 

Graphic Design Preset

From logos to posters – if you’re looking for clean, professional-looking designs, then go no further than the Graphic Design preset; it’s like having a graphic designer tucked away in your pocket (but way less uncomfortable).

Example Prompt: “A modern, minimalist poster design for a music festival, using bold typography and abstract geometric shapes inspired by sound waves.”

 

 

Illustrative Albedo

This setting is perfect for producing illustrative materials and textures that can be used to add a final touch to your 3D models. You could think of it as putting on a new outfit for your 3D creations.

An example prompt would be: “A dragon scales textured skin that has an illustrative look with metallic shine and subtle color gradients suitable for 3D modeling.”

 

 

Leonardo Lightning

Sometimes you need to turn out images at high speed. Perhaps you want to make quick iterations or rapid prototyping. The Leonardo Lightning preset has got you covered! You blink and you’ve missed it.

Example prompt: ‘Quick character sketches of Superheroes with unique costumes and powers.`)

 

 

Lifelike Vision

If you want ultra-realistic shots, then go with Lifelike Vision; it creates images that could pass off as photographs. Say cheese!

You could use this preset to generate prompts like “hyperrealistic still life of a vintage pocket watch on a leather-bound book” where every detail will be visible.

 

 

Portrait Perfect

As the name suggests, this preset is optimized for creating stunningly realistic portraits.

For instance, you could use this setting when asked to create “striking portrait[s] of elderly Indigenous woman/women with soft natural lighting” showing their wisdom and resilience through their weathered faces.

 

 

Stock Photography

Need something that looks like it’s straight from stock photo sites? Look no further than our Stock Photography preset! This creates professional looking, versatile images – perfect if you’re going for that ‘person laughing alone with salad’ vibe.

You might try something like: “a diverse group of young professionals collaborating in a modern open-plan office space” with warm positive vibes all around them.

 

 

Practical Examples and Screenshots

Now, let’s get into some practical examples. I’ll show you how to generate images with different models and presets so that you can see what sets them apart from each other (like a taste test for AI art!).

[Insert screenshots and step-by-step instructions for generating images with different models here]

For example, let’s try creating a landscape using the PhotoReal Model:

1. Select the PhotoReal Model from the dropdown menu.
2. In the prompt box, enter: “A serene mountain lake at sunset, with snow-capped peaks reflected in the calm water, photorealistic style.”
3. Click “Generate” and watch the magic happen!

 

 

Now let’s try something different with the Anime Preset:

1. Switch to the Anime Preset in ImageGenV2.
2. Enter prompt: “A group of high school students discovering a mysterious glowing artifact in an abandoned classroom, anime style.”
3. Click the “Generate” button to see an anime scene come alive!

 

 

Example Prompts

Prompts are the secret sauce of great AI-generated art. They’re like a recipe for your digital masterpiece. Here are some more example prompts tailored for different models to get your creative juices flowing:

DreamShaper V7: “A surreal underwater city where fish swim through the air like birds, and coral grows in the shape of skyscrapers.”

RPG V5: “A legendary magical sword embedded in stone, surrounded by an enchanted forest with glowing flora and curious woodland creatures.”

Pixel Art: “A retro-style pixel art scene of a bustling space station, with aliens of various shapes and colors going about their daily lives.”

Leonardo Kino XL: “A suspenseful scene from a spy thriller, with two agents exchanging a mysterious briefcase in a crowded train station, cinematic lighting.”

AlbedoBase XL: “A seamless texture of alien skin, with iridescent scales and subtle bioluminescent patterns, suitable for 3D creature design.”

Remember to make your prompts as specific and descriptive as possible. Don’t be afraid to really paint a picture with your words!

Comparing Models

Now that we’ve looked at several different models, let’s do a quick comparison to help you choose which one is right for you! It’s like matchmaking but for AI art models!

For ultra-realism: PhotoReal Model or Absolute Reality v1.6

For versatility: Diffusion XL Model or Leonardo Phoenix

For speed: Leonardo Lightning XL or Leonardo Lightning preset

For anime: Leonardo Anime XL or Anime Preset

For cinematic vibes: Leonardo Kino XL or Cinematic Kino Preset

For surreal art: DreamShaper V7 or Leonardo Vision XL

For 3D textures – AlbedoBase XL or Illustrative Albedo preset

For fantasy/RPG: RPG V5

For retro vibes: Pixel Art model

Again, these are just general guidelines. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you!

Tips for Choosing the Right Model

Choosing the right model can make or break your AI art project – it’s like picking the right tool for the job (you wouldn’t use a hammer to paint a masterpiece). Here are some tips to help you choose:

1. Consider your subject matter – some models work better with certain subjects. For example, Anime works well with anime characters while PhotoReal is great for lifelike portraits.

2. Think about style – are you going for realism, stylization, or something in between? This can also help narrow down which models might be best suited for your needs.

3. Speed vs quality – if speed is important then faster models like Leonardo Lightning XL may be more suitable but if quality matters most then slower but more detailed ones would be better options.

4. Experiment – don’t hesitate to try different models on same prompt as they could yield surprising outcomes!

5. Examples: Look at the examples showing different presentations for each model to get an idea of what it is good at, and which stylistic variant is your preference.

Keep in mind, that there is no single best way: the right one for you will depend on your project and your personal tastes. And fun, remember, comes from experimenting anyway.

Conclusion

And there you have it, friends – a Fast and Furious tour of Leonardo AI models! We just covered almost everything, including the main models, the specialized presets, and everything in between. Are you a bit overwhelmed? No worries. That is how it’s supposed to be. Generating AI art is a massive field in itself, filled with constant surprises.

Trust the process: in other words, experiment. Play around with different models and see what works, tweak your prompts, see what happens, and go wild. It might just be a prompt away from your next masterpiece.

So go on. Boot up Leonardo AI. Select a model. Start creating. The only limitation is your creativity. And, if you come up with something cool (as I’m certain you will), share it in the comments below. I’d love to see what you go for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use multiple models for one project?

A: Indeed! First, it will make your model more realistic. Second, sometimes models do not match in definite ways, but the combination can produce really cool results. Feel free to mix and match.

Q: How often are new models added to Leonardo AI?

A: Leonardo AI has many new models and updates released every month. Be sure to check out our official announcements for the latest content.

Q: Are some models better for commercial use than others?

A: All models can be deployed for commercial projects, but some (like the Stock Photography preset) are specifically attuned for commercial-style imagery. Choose according to your needs.

Q: How do I know if I’m using the latest version of a model?

A: Leonardo AI utilizes the most current version of each model by default; however, you can obtain the version numbers for each in the interface.

Q: I’m new to AI art. Which model should I start with?

A: If you’re a beginner, stick with the Diffusion XL model or Phoenix model; it can handle a lot of different styles, so you’ll be able to play around more without a ‘must do this’ mentality getting under your skin.