Good-enough graphics, in-house
L2 CheckerA1 Draft
Social graphics, simple thumbnails, product shots: AI drafts options, you pick and crop.
00You know you're here when
Level L2 · Checker
You cross-check answers, you write real prompts with context, you use voice, you've caught AI being confidently wrong and know what that smells like.
Altitude A1 · Draft
AI makes the first version; you finish and send.
01Do this first
Next graphic you need, generate 3 options with AI, pick one and crop it. Don't hire it out.
One rep, by hand, this week. Keep what works.
02Starter prompt
I need a [graphic / thumbnail / product shot] for [use]. Generate 3 distinct options in different styles, describe each so I can choose, then I'll crop.
03Tools pinned to this stop
S first, then A. Hover a tier for the rule.
SCanva ProCategory-defining at $15/mo; drafts multiple on-brand options plus templates and crop in one place.AAdobe ExpressFirefly-powered and commercially safe; workable free tier; thinner template library than Canva.AMidjourneyHigher-end product shots when quality beats speed; cost and learning curve are the tradeoff.
3 stops and 2 rungs to the frontier: The edit pipeline.
Frontier last checked Jul 16, 2026