How to create Ghibli-style photos using ChatGPT

How to create Ghibli-style photos using ChatGPT for free: A step-by-step guide, limitations and more

Here’s a step-by-step guide to generating your own Ghibli-style images without a paid subscription.

OpenAI’s GPT-4o now allows users to generate images, including Ghibli-style portraits, even on the free tier users. The feature has been rolled out with the new GPT-4o rollout and while ChatGPT Plus users have access to DALL·E’s full image generation capabilities, free-tier users can still create Ghibli-inspired portraits using GPT-4o’s new image feature. Here’s a step-by-step guide to generating your own Ghibli-style images without a paid subscription.

Limitations you should know
Do note that ChatGPT has announced that it will implement a restriction of a maximum of 3 images for free-tier users. However, paid members get unlimited Ghibli image generation.

Active login account in required

Step 1: Open ChatGPT app or on web
OpenAI has introduced image creation within GPT-4o, making it accessible to free-tier users. To get started:
Open ChatGPT (chat.openai.com) on your browser or the app.
Ensure you are using GPT-4o, which is available to all users, including those on the free plan.

Step 2: Upload an image or provide a description
You can create a Ghibli-style portrait in two ways:
Image-to-Image transformation: Upload a photo and ask GPT-4o to transform it into a Ghibli-style version.
Text-to-Image generation: Provide a detailed text prompt describing the character, background, and lighting in the style of Studio Ghibli.

For best results, use a prompt like: “Generate a Studio Ghibli-style portrait of a person waiting on the bus stop in lush green meadow with a bright blue sky and soft tones and expressive eyes.”

Step 3: Fine-tune the output
Once the AI generates an image, you can refine it by:
Requesting variations with more specific details (e.g., “Make the background more detailed with sharp features”).
Adjusting colors and lighting to match the Ghibli aesthetic.
Ensuring the final output resembles traditional hand-drawn anime.

Step 4: Download it and share
Once satisfied with the image, save it by:
Right-clicking (on desktop) or long-pressing (on mobile) and selecting ‘Download’.
Using it as a profile picture, wallpaper, or sharing it online.
By following these steps, you can create Ghibli-style portraits for free using GPT-4o without needing a ChatGPT Plus subscription.