Microsoft Designer

Microsoft Designer is an AI-powered image generation application that empowers users of all knowledge levels to quickly generate high-quality and eye-catching digital art using a mix of natural language descriptions and a large set of traditional image editing tools for placing finishing touch on stunning AI-generated art.



Built from the ground up to take full advantage of modern AI techniques for natural language processing and advanced generation of photos in a wide variety of art styles, this application can supercharge image generation workflows when creating all types of digital art content such as website banners, invitations, logos, social media posts, marketing images, promotional art, and more.

Key Features

Microsoft Designer is part of Microsoft 365, the most current version of Microsoft’s productivity package that evolved from the previous Office 365 package.

However, since the app has not yet reached its public stage, as of early 2024 it can only be accessed via its preview invitation tier that can be initiated on the official web page of this app.



When the app reaches its full release state, it will undoubtedly be integrated into several tiers of Microsoft 365 subscription service, including Private, Business, and Enterprise tiers.

In its current form, this application serves as an intermediary between web-focused image generation applications and the fully featured image editors, providing Microsoft Office users with a way to stay inside their favorite app ecosystem and get tremendous value from the industry-leading image generation service powered by celebrated DALL-E 2 by OpenAI.

This implementation of an image generation platform has received comprehensive training on over 100 million publicly available images and videos and can even implement engaging motion graphics and stylish overlays that can be fully edited by the user.



Alternatives

Luminar Neo: A photo editing software with advanced AI-powered features and a range of creative tools, ideal for enhancing and transforming your images.

Corel PaintShop Pro: A comprehensive photo editing and graphic design software that provides professional-level capabilities.

Affinity Photo: A powerful and affordable alternative to this app, offering advanced AI editing tools and non-destructive editing capabilities.

GIMP: A free and open-source image editing software with a robust set of features and tools.

Capture One: Designed for professional photographers, Capture One offers powerful editing capabilities and exceptional RAW image processing.

DxO PhotoLab: DxO PhotoLab is known for its excellent automatic AI image corrections and powerful RAW processing.

ON1 Photo RAW: ON1 Photo RAW combines photo organization, AI editing, and effects into one application.



PROS

• User-friendly interface with drag-and-drop functionality
• Wide range of design templates available
• Ability to import and export designs to other Microsoft applications
• Integration with Microsoft cloud services for easy sharing and collaboration
• Regular updates and improvements based on user feedback
• Good support resources available online

CONS

• Limited functionality compared to more advanced design software
• Limited font and graphic options compared to other design tools
• Some features require a paid subscription

Overall

As of early 2024, Microsoft Designer is as of early 2024 available only as a standalone preview app that lacks some of the advanced features that Microsoft has detailed to be in development.

The final version of the app will be distributed to all Windows 365 subscribers as a local client app and eventually even as a Microsoft Edge plugin, empowering fast and stunningly detailed image generation at a moment’s notice.