How to edit images with AI to best fit your illustration How to edit images with AI to best fit your illustration

How to edit images with AI to best fit your illustration

BioRender now supports using AI to modify your uploaded images, and BioRender icons too! You can change the style, remove text and backgrounds, adjust colours, add/remove details, and make custom edits with a quick text prompt. These features will help you bridge the gap between available BioRender icons and the specific images that you need for your illustration.

These AI image editing tools will maintain the current style of the source image, unless using one of the style-specific tools. We will not automatically convert your image to BioRender style, but you can use the Apply BioRender Style feature to achieve the BioRender look, making your figures more cohesive. These tools will automatically remove image backgrounds to make the main subject easier to incorporate into your figure.

These AI image editing features are now available to all users who have opted into the new BioRender canvas. Click here to learn more about how to opt-in if you haven't already!

Steps to modify your uploaded images or BioRender icons with AI 

  1. Select an uploaded image OR BioRender icon on your canvas. To upload an image, you can drag it into the canvas or use the "Upload" button in the left toolbar. 
  2. Once you have your image selected, click the AI symbol in the top toolbar. Here you can choose from any of the image editing tools from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can access these tools from the AI button in the left-side tool panel. See image above.
  3. The first four toolsdo not require prompting from you: Apply BioRender Style, Remove Background, Remove Text, and Apply 3D Style. The bottom three tools allow you to direct changes with a short prompt: Adjust Colors, Add/Remove element, and Custom Edit. Write a clear description of the change you would like to make to the selected image. See example in image below.
  4. Click the blue arrow button to start the generation. Once complete, the generated image will be added to your canvas and displayed in the tool panel alongside the original image. Generated images will also be saved to your Uploads panel in the “AI Generated” tab for future use.
  5. At the bottom of the tool panel, you’ll also see Related BioRender Icons. You can click “See more results” to exit the AI panel and open the Search panel, where you can explore even more related BioRender icons to help you finish building your figure.

 

Best practices

Choosing the right images

Use content you own

  • Make sure you have permission to use any images you upload. Sticking to content you own or are authorized to use keeps your final figures worry-free.
  • Acceptable uploaded image types include: JPG, PNG, and SVG.

Use simple backgrounds for best results

  • Stick to white or solid-color backgrounds when possible. 
  • Avoid busy backgrounds, complex textures, or visual noise that could interfere with object recognition.

Break down complex illustrations

  • If working with multi-part figures (e.g., pathways, organ systems), upload and convert one component at a time.
  • This helps the AI focus on style, improving output quality and consistency.

Leave ample margin around the object

  • Don’t use images that are tightly cropped. Cropped edges can cause the AI to fill in or hallucinate incorrect content.
  • Provide visual breathing room so AI can interpret the full shape and structure of your object. 

Writing good prompts

Ask for changes that relate to a given uploaded image 

  • These generated images are intended to be natural modifications of your selected image. Examples of modifications can include: different views of an object, open vs. closed state, alternative colors, adding or removing specific details, etc.

Be specific about what the one modification should be

  • When editing an image with AI, it's generally best to request one clear modification at a time. While you can ask for multiple changes in a single prompt, this may result in inconsistencies in the output.

Troubleshooting tips: 

  • These tools are intended to be used at the ICON level, and not at the whole FIGURE level 
    • Use these image editing tools to make changes to small individual components that make up a figure, not whole figures (like those that include text, arrows, leader lines, etc.)
    • AI image editing tools do work on individual BioRender icons and grouped icons from the library, but they will not work on user-made groups, or whole BioRender-made figures.
  • You can only use one AI generation tool at a time.
    • Let the current generation finish before you kick off a new one.
  • Make sure you check the generated images for accuracy.
    • AI models can make mistakes. Make sure you review all AI-generated content for accuracy before using in your finalized figures. TIP: Try using the Custom Edit tool to prompt for a correction to a generated image when needed.

Help us improve our AI tools

We’d love to hear from you! Your feedback helps us make the AI tools even better, whether something worked perfectly, missed the mark, or sparked an idea for improvement.

After generating an image, you’ll see the Give Feedback button at the bottom in the AI tool panel. You can also click the thumbs up and thumbs down indicators near the top of the panel to give feedback on your overall satisfaction with the AI-edited image that was just created.

Clicking these opens a feedback window where you can tell us what went well and what could be improved. Not sure where to start? Here are a few helpful questions to guide your response:

  • What worked well or felt especially useful?
  • Was anything missing, confusing, or inaccurate?
  • How satisfied were you with the result, on a scale of 1–10?
  • Is there anything you wish this tool could do in the future?

Whether it’s a quick comment or detailed suggestions, every bit of input helps us improve the tool and shape its future based on your real-world needs.

Thank you for taking the time to help us build better tools for science communication!

Related resources

Need help?

  1. Email: support@biorender.com
  2. Live Chat: Available by clicking on the "Help" bubble in the app on the bottom right-hand corner.

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