We need to talk about the Coke rebrand: Genius or fridge cigarettes?
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AI-generated graphics are quickly changing how designers work, but even the best tools aren’t immune to graphics generation issues. Distorted shapes, off-brief visuals, low-resolution outputs, problems like these can derail a project fast, especially when deadlines are tight.
The good news: most graphics generation issues are easy to diagnose and fix once you know what to look for. In this troubleshooting guide, we’ll break down why these issues happen, how to resolve common AI errors, and how to sharpen your workflow using Envato’s AI graphics generator.
TL;DR: Most AI graphics problems come from unclear prompts, missing references, or default settings that don’t match your project. Fix them by specifying the graphic type, upscaling low-res outputs in Envato’s AI image editor, simplifying complex prompts for vector-friendly results, converting RGB swatches to CMYK for print, and layering detail into prompts incrementally. Advanced strategies: inpainting, variation testing, prompt stacking, and reference blending help you tune outputs without starting over.
Why do graphics generation issues happen?
Before diving into fixes, it’s important to understand why graphics generation issues happen in the first place. Generative AI is a powerful design assistant, but it relies entirely on the information it’s given. When AI image prompts are unclear, references are missing, or settings are mismatched, AI image generation issues are almost inevitable.
Most graphics generation issues can be traced back to a small set of common input problems, including:
- Ambiguous or conflicting prompts
- Missing image references
- Lack of cues regarding layout, angle, or composition
- Low image quality
- Too much ‘randomness’
- Inconsistency in style direction
It’s important to realize that these common AI problems aren’t software ‘bugs’; they’re simply how generative AI interprets provided instructions.
GraphicsGen has been specifically designed with creatives in mind, so most (if not all) of these issues can be overcome with some knowledge of the options available to you in the AI design tool. Some issues can be solved through the designer’s input, such as refining prompts, but others can be put right by simply using GraphicsGen’s built-in features to steer the AI generation in the right direction.
Common graphics generation issues and how to fix them
When AI image fails, and graphics generation issues appear, they can feel frustrating, especially when you’re under pressure to deliver. The key is learning to recognise these AI design errors early and knowing which adjustments will fix them fastest. The troubleshooting tips below address the most common graphics-generation issues designers encounter when using AI tools like GraphicsGen.
Issue 1: Graphics that don’t match your project’s needs
Cause: Not specifying the exact type of graphic you’re looking for.
Fix: You might need a graphic for a particular purpose, such as a logo, background, or social media image. Luckily, this common AI problem has an easy fix when using GraphicsGen.
On the prompt dashboard, you’ll see a selection of options for tailoring your AI output to a specific purpose, including Graphic, Infographic, Poster, and Logo. Simply select the option that best suits your project, and GraphicsGen will adapt the results accordingly.
Issue 2: Low-resolution graphics
Cause: The default DPI and dimensions generated in GraphicsGen may initially be too small-scale for your needs.
Fix: One of the most common graphics generation issues is that the generated image is not always at a usable resolution for your project. Particularly if you want to use an image for a print poster or a large landing page, the default resolution can look too pixelated to use effectively.
In GraphicsGen, this is easily rectified by selecting Edit using AI at the bottom of your generated graphic. This will move the image into ImageEdit.
From here, select Upscale, and choose from 2x or 4x to maximize the scale of your image. Now you’ll have a high-resolution graphic to work with!
Issue 3: Non-vector graphics
Most GraphicsGen images can be downloaded as editable vector files, in SVG format, but sometimes this isn’t always possible.
Cause: The most common cause of this GraphicsGen troubleshooting issue is excessive complexity in a generated graphic, which restricts the GraphicsGen formats that can be generated.
Fix: Perhaps the image has too much detail, has complex textures, or has too much busy stuff going on to allow GraphicsGen to convert it into a vector image. The best way to rectify this is to simplify your image.
To do this, return to the GraphicsGen landing page and upload or select the same image reference as your original generation. Make sure to include phrases like ‘simplify’, ‘minimal’, ‘no textures’, and ‘clean’ in your prompt to encourage GraphicsGen to create a more vector-friendly graphic. You can also select Graphic or Logo from the image type options in GraphicsGen to create a simplified result.
Issue 4: A different color profile than what you need
Cause: GraphicsGen images are automatically rendered in a web-friendly RGB color profile.
Fix: If you want to use your generated graphic for a print project, it’s a good idea to convert RGB swatches to CMYK before printing to avoid any unpleasant color surprises. To do so, download your graphic as an editable SVG file and open it in vector editing software such as Adobe Illustrator. Go to the Swatches panel to individually select color swatches and convert these to CMYK.
Issue 5: Inconsistencies in graphics generation.
Cause: GraphicsGen is great…but it can’t read minds. Lack of clear detail in prompts can lead to inconsistent results.
Fix: The more specific you are in your original prompt, the better your AI graphic will be. You don’t need to write an essay (though by all means), but a few sentences with more direction about aesthetic details will make a world of difference. Look at this complete guide to creative AI prompts for guidance.
Just look at this example. The first scooter logo is fine, but with more specific detail included in the prompt, such as color palette, style, and angle, the generated logo is much more aligned with what I have in mind for the design.
Advanced AI troubleshooting strategies
Most common AI problems can be resolved with a simple one-step process, but advanced AI artists also have a few more tricks up their sleeve when it comes to managing generative AI errors. These sophisticated troubleshooting strategies can really help refine your results and achieve imagery that rarely looks AI-generated in the first place.
Strategy 1: Inpainting
This technique homes in on a single problem area of your image while preserving the rest of the image intact. For raster images, this can be done using a tool like ImageEdit, in which the Erase tool can be applied to specific areas. For vector images, you might need to download your graphic as an editable SVG and use vector editing software to make pinpoint adjustments.
Strategy 2: Variation testing
Imagine you have a long prompt with plenty of detail. Now, rather than switching up multiple parts of the prompt or changing the prompt entirely when the resulting image is not what you intended, you can instead tweak very minute parts of a prompt.
Your generated images stem from the same strong base input, with slight differences, allowing you to test different subtle variations. For example, you might change the description of a texture from ‘wool’ to ‘mohair’ to create a fluffier result, or vary the angle from ‘ side angle’ to ‘isometric’.
Strategy 3: Prompt stacking
There’s a reason that ‘in at the deep end’ is a phrase often used as a warning. When you go all in with a long, complex prompt and still don’t get the results you want, you may feel the need to go back to the drawing (or prompt) board. Prompt stacking is about building prompts gradually, step by step, so you can refine style and structure over successive generations. It’s a sensible technique for retracing your steps effectively.
Strategy 4: Reference blending
The more guidance you can provide to an AI generator, the better, and with reference blending, this simply means providing multiple visual references to create hybrid results. With GraphicsGen, you can provide up to two image references, including your own image uploads or references from the GraphicsGen deck. For one of your images, try to include an accurate representation of the style you’d like to achieve, such as Atomic Age, Art Deco, or futuristic, with the second image providing additional aesthetic pointers, such as color palette or subject matter.
Preventing graphics generation issues before they happen
With AI troubleshooting, prevention is preferable to cure, so if you can head off the problems before they arise, all the better. These top troubleshooting tips focus on building a solid foundation when using GraphicsGen or other AI generators.
- Start with a structured prompt that follows a formula. Loop together subject + style + detail + setting + angle for a failsafe formula. An example structured prompt might be ‘Create an icon design featuring a cute puppy, in a 3D plush style with a fluffy texture. Set the icon against a pastel pink background, and angle the puppy’s head to face the viewer.’
- Avoid confusing the generator by mixing unrelated adjectives. Throwing out random descriptions that don’t align with each other won’t give the AI tool clarity, so rather than using a sequence like ‘minimalist chaotic watercolor’, use related adjectives instead, such as ‘ethereal, dreamlike, pastel drawing’.
- Think like a photographer! Stick to consistent aspect ratios and refine your lighting language, using keywords such as ‘spotlight’, ‘backlit’, or ‘high-angle shot’.
- Did your prompt work well? Save a successful prompt as a template for future reuse.
- Source great visual references. Use assets from the Envato library as reference images to give the AI generator information about color palettes, textures, or style directions. In ImageEdit, you can do this directly by clicking Explore Library on the dashboard.
When to regenerate or refine?
Refinement takes patience and time, and sometimes even the most experienced (and determined) AI designer has to throw in the towel and start afresh. But knowing when to give up is crucial. You might miss out on a potentially great image if you abandon too soon.
A good rule of thumb? It’s best to simply press the regenerate button when the overall composition is unusable. Perhaps the subject isn’t right, the setting is off, or the layout just looks wrong. However, there’s still room for refinement when isolated details, such as lighting or color, aren’t quite right.
And of course, with generative AI, iteration is all part of the creative journey. Every ‘failed’ output directs you towards your intent, so it’s well worth keeping a ‘prompt journal’ of your most successful prompts to refer to as you move forward.
Post-processing in Adobe Illustrator
By combining GraphicsGen with vector editing software like Illustrator, you really can get the best of both worlds and refine your AI-generated graphics with nuanced detail. Here are three tips for post-processing in Illustrator.
1. Import raster images and vectorize with Image Trace
If you can’t download your generated graphic as an SVG file, it’s no problem. Download the PNG or JPEG file and import it into Illustrator. Go to Window > Image Trace, adjust the options for full color or black-and-white, then hit Trace.
Adjust the options under Advanced in the Image Trace window to finetune the traced result. When you’re happy, go to Object > Image Trace > Expand to vectorize your image.
Pro tip: Set the Paths slider to a high value to smooth any rough edges.
2. Adjust fonts and branding elements
Switch out any AI-generated fonts for your own choice. Go to our fonts library and take your pick, or create your own bespoke vector font with Illustrator’s drawing tools. Add branded elements such as borders, stamps, or crests to create a complete logo design.
3. Change color tones
Transform the mood of your graphic with a different color palette. Using the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches), select and create new color swatches in RGB or CMYK, and experiment with different color families, such as pastel, neon, or earth tones, to give your design a distinct flavor.
Pro tip: Easily switch the swatch of a repeating color in your graphic by selecting Select > Same > Fill Color. Double-click the selected color at the bottom of the left-hand Toolbar to adjust the swatch.
Troubleshoot AI issues with creative confidence
You might be fooled into thinking that every strong AI-generated image was an instant success. It rarely is. Every AI designer runs into graphics generation issues, but with the right troubleshooting strategies, those “failures” become learning opportunities.
With a flexible AI tool like Envato’s AI graphics generator, creatives can iterate quickly without breaking their workflow. Simple tweaks to your process help you generate work you can actually use for commercial projects, from concept to final asset.
Ready to troubleshoot and thrive? Envato’s AI graphics generator is part of your existing Envato subscription, with no additional fees, tokens, or small print. Every generation comes with worry-free licensing, cleared for personal and commercial use under Envato’s licensing terms. Start creating.
Graphics generation issues FAQs
Distorted or inaccurate AI graphics usually come from unclear prompting, mismatched styles, or low-quality references. The AI tool can only work with what you provide, so making prompts as specific as possible produces the best results.
Combine a structured formula (subject + style + detail + setting + angle) with a visual reference image. Aim for aesthetically related adjectives rather than conflicting ones — “ethereal, dreamlike, pastel drawing” reads more clearly than “minimalist chaotic watercolor.”
Yes. Graphics generated with Envato’s AI graphics generator are cleared for personal and commercial use under Envato’s licensing terms as part of your subscription, no additional fees or tokens.
AI-generated text doesn’t always render accurately, though newer models like [Nano Banana Pro](https://envato.krola.online/learn/nano-banana-pro) handle it much better. The best strategy is to clearly state the exact text you want in the prompt using inverted commas, or add text manually in post-production for a guaranteed result.
Common AI problems are rarely avoidable, but with time and experimentation, you’ll start to learn how the model interprets your instructions and develop a sense of how to phrase prompts to achieve good results. using an AI prompt guide can be very helpful while you are learning the ropes.
Combine specific prompts with post-processing. Use reference blending for stylistic control, inpainting for fixing problem areas, and take generated outputs into Photoshop or Illustrator for finishing touches. The goal is AI as a starting point, not the final output.
