Microsoft Launches Its AI-Powered Designer App to iOS and Android, and It’s Similar to Canva

Microsoft has officially launched its AI-powered Designer app on iOS and Android, marking a significant expansion of its creative tools suite. Initially unveiled in 2022 and having undergone an extensive preview phase, the Designer app is now accessible to users with a Microsoft account. The app aims to provide a robust, AI-driven alternative to popular design platforms like Canva, offering a suite of tools to create and edit images and designs through simple text prompts.

Key Features and Capabilities

The Microsoft Designer app is a versatile platform designed to simplify the creative process. It enables users to generate images and designs for various purposes, including stickers, greeting cards, invitations, collages, and more. The app leverages AI technology to help users create visually appealing content quickly and efficiently.

AI-Driven Image Generation: Users can start with a blank canvas and use text prompts to describe the desired outcome. The AI generates images and designs based on these descriptions, making the creative process more intuitive and less daunting for users who may feel intimidated by a blank page.

Templates and Customization: The app includes numerous templates for common image types such as greeting cards, smartphone wallpapers, and profile avatars. These templates serve as a starting point, which users can customize further. Experienced artists can also create their own templates and use their original art to build designs from scratch.

Integration with Microsoft Products: Designer integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Word and PowerPoint through Microsoft Copilot, enhancing the creative workflow. For instance, users can create images and designs directly within their documents and presentations, streamlining the process and maintaining the creative flow.

Editing Tools: The app provides a suite of editing tools powered by generative AI, allowing users to edit photos by erasing objects, removing backgrounds, auto-cropping images, applying filters, and adding text without leaving the Photos app on Windows. This integration with Microsoft Photos allows for seamless editing experiences.

New Features and Enhancements

With the general availability of the Designer app, Microsoft has introduced several new features to enhance the user experience:

Prompt Templates:  To help users overcome the challenge of starting with a blank page, Designer now offers prompt templates. These templates are pre-populated with ideas, styles, and descriptions, helping users get started and experiment with different creative directions.

Custom Stickers and More: Users can create custom stickers, emojis, clip art, wallpapers, monograms, avatars, and more, all starting with a simple text description. This feature is particularly useful for social media and messaging apps where personalized content can make interactions more engaging.

Restyle Image and Frame Image: The Restyle Image feature allows users to transform any photo into a work of art by choosing from a set of styles and adding extra details. The Frame Image feature lets users create custom image frames, turning their photos into shareable memories. Additionally, the app supports creating collages, bringing multiple images together in a cohesive and personalized manner.

Replace Background: Soon to be available in select markets, this feature allows users to replace the background of their photos by simply describing the desired scene. This tool is perfect for enhancing the presentation of craft and hobby projects.

Accessibility and Language Support

Microsoft Designer is now accessible in over 80 languages on the web and is available as a free mobile app and as an app in Windows. This broad accessibility ensures that a wide range of users can take advantage of its powerful features.

Responsible AI Use

Microsoft is committed to responsible AI usage. The company has implemented measures to ensure its AI systems are used ethically and safely. These measures include guardrails, threat monitoring, abuse detection, and provenance technology to prevent misuse and mitigate negative outcomes. Microsoft continuously works to strengthen its safety systems, creating a safer environment for all users.

Getting Started

To start using Microsoft Designer, users can download the app on their iOS or Android devices or access it through the web. With its intuitive AI-powered tools, Designer helps users unleash their creativity, making design accessible to everyone, regardless of their experience level.

In summary, Microsoft’s Designer app is a powerful tool that leverages AI to simplify the creative process. Its integration with other Microsoft products and its suite of editing tools make it a valuable addition to the company’s lineup of productivity and creative software. Whether you’re a seasoned designer or a novice, Designer provides the tools you need to bring your creative ideas to life.