Most AI image tools start from a blank box and a text prompt. That works for scenes invented from scratch. It falls apart when you already have a photo — a selfie, a landscape, an old family print — and only want to change the style, the hair, or the damage on the print.
That second job is image-to-image. The model starts from your picture, keeps the person, the pose, and the composition, and changes only what you ask for. Below is a plain guide to how that works, plus a step-by-step run on image2img.net, a free browser tool built for exactly this.
What image-to-image actually does
Text-to-image tools invent a scene from words. Image-to-image tools take an existing photo as the base. You keep the identity and layout; you steer the look.
Common uses:
- Restyle a selfie (anime, film, collage, doodle)
- Preview hairstyles on the same face
- Repair scratches and fading on old prints, then add natural color
- Turn a casual selfie into a clean studio-style headshot
You do not need to write long prompts. Ready-made “looks” are editable starting points; you press Generate only when the description looks right.
Step-by-step: generate on image2img.net
The flow runs in the browser. No desktop app, and no account for the free daily images.
1. Open the site and upload a photo
Go to https://image2img.net. Drop a file, paste one, or upload from your phone camera roll. Supported formats are JPG, PNG, WebP, and HEIC, up to 20 MB.
2. Pick a look — or type what you want
The homepage lists ready-made looks such as Anime, Doodle in real life, Paper collage, 90s film, Old photo restored, Studio headshot, Travel pin, and Try 4 hairstyles. Each look is a ready-made prompt you can still edit. Choosing a look does not use a free image; nothing runs until you press Generate.
If none of the looks fit, type a short instruction in plain language, for example: “make it a watercolor” or “warmer light, soft grey backdrop.”
3. Generate, then keep editing if needed
Press Generate and wait a few seconds. Happy with the result? Download it — full size, no watermark. Not quite right? Describe the next change in words. Each edit becomes a new version (V1, V2, V3…), and you can jump back to any of them while you work.
4. Optional: log in only to save
You do not need an account for the five free daily images. Logging in only saves work to My Creations so you can come back later. Results without an account are deleted after 2 days; saved results after 30 days.
Prompt tips that actually help
- Start from a look, then tweak one thing. Pick Anime or 90s film, then change one phrase (“warmer flash,” “softer line work”) instead of rewriting everything.
- Say what to keep. Image-to-image already preserves face and pose; saying “keep the same person and pose, only change the background to a soft grey studio” reduces surprises.
- Iterate instead of restarting. If the hair is right but the lighting is off, edit the result with one new sentence. You build on the version you liked.
- Match the job to the look. Old scratched prints → Old photo restored. Profile picture → Studio headshot. Playful social post → Doodle or Paper collage. Landscape souvenir vibe → Travel pin.
Free vs paid (exact limits from the site)
Figures below come from the live homepage and pricing page as of late October 2026.
Free (no account needed)
- 5 images per day at 1K standard quality
- Resets at 00:00 UTC
- No watermark, full-size downloads
- Commercial use allowed if you own the rights to the upload
When you need more
- Daily free images are always used first; credits only start after that
- Standard 1K image = 1 credit; HD 2K (long side about 2048 px) = 2 credits
- Failed or blocked generations are not charged
Subscriptions (monthly)
- Basic: $9.90 / month, 150 credits
- Pro: $19.90 / month, 400 credits
- Yearly billing saves 20% (Basic about $7.92 / month billed yearly; Pro about $15.92 / month)
One-time credit packs (valid 12 months)
- 50 credits for $4.99
- 200 credits for $14.99
Refunds: full refund within 7 days if you used less than 10% of that purchase’s credits. Cancel anytime from Billing; packs have nothing to cancel.
Content policy blocks NSFW, nudity, images of minors, real-person face swaps, deceptive deepfakes, and graphic violence. Blocked attempts do not cost a free image or a credit.
Who this is for
People who want a new look for a selfie or profile picture; anyone repairing or colorizing old family photos; creators who need quick variations with every version one click away.
If that matches what you need, open image2img.net, drop in one photo, pick a look, and press Generate. Five free images reset daily at 00:00 UTC — enough to try a few styles before deciding on credits.
Written by Jeson. Tool referenced: Image2Img — free image-to-image AI in the browser.
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