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Artlist AI Tools: Using the Image Editor

The Image Editor lets you break any image down into separate layers, edit each one individually (even just by describing the change), and recombine them into a polished result — without regenerating the whole image and risking changes you never asked for.

What it replaces

The Edit Image action you know from your generation grid or folder now opens the Image Editor directly, instead of pushing your image in as a reference and regenerating it through a different model. If you're used to the old "Edit Image" behavior, this is the update: it's now a real, targeted edit — not a regeneration.

Key Features

  • Separate layers: Use AI to break an image into individual layers (for example, subject, objects, and background) so you can change one part without touching the rest.
  • Control the breakdown: Choose how many layers you want and pick a resolution (1K, 1.5K, or 2K) before you generate — you'll see the credit cost update live as you adjust either setting.
  • Start from anywhere: Layerize an image already in your folder, or upload one straight from your device.
  • Per-layer editing: Hide or show, reorder, move, resize, flip, rotate, and duplicate any layer.
  • Edit a layer with a prompt: Select a layer and describe what you want to change. The edited version replaces the layer in the same position and size, on a transparent background, while your original stays safely hidden underneath.
  • Remove Background: Cut out a layer's background in one click; the result is added as a new layer you can keep editing, and is also saved as a new asset in your library.
  • Refine: Once you're happy with your edits, merge your layers into one coherent image that fixes mismatched lighting, rough edges, and odd proportions. The result is added as a new top layer called Refined, and your edited layers stay underneath, hidden — so nothing is lost. Refine is a separate action with its own credit cost.
  • Export your way: Download the flattened image, download all layers (cropped to content or aligned to the original canvas), or download a single layer on its own.
  • Pick up where you left off: If you leave without finishing, your layers and edits are saved automatically — reopening the same image brings you right back, with no extra charge.
Image Editor pre-decompose panel showing number of layers, resolution, and Separate layers button

How to separate an image into layers

  1. Open the Image Editor from the side navigation, or click Edit Image on any existing image in your grid or folder.
  2. If you don't have an image loaded yet, upload one from your device — or pick an image already in your folder.
  3. Set your Number of layers. This is how many layers you want on top of the model's background layer — for example, requesting 4 layers gives you 5 total (4 + background).
  4. Choose your Resolution: 1K, 1.5K, or 2K.
  5. Check the credit cost shown on screen, then click Separate layers to run the decomposition.

💡 Pro Tip: Start with fewer layers if you're not sure how an image will break down — you can always re-run the decomposition with a different layer count.

Editing your layers

  1. Once decomposition finishes, your layers appear in the Layers panel on the right.
  2. Select a layer to hide or show it, move or resize it on the canvas, flip or rotate it, or duplicate it.
  3. Reorder layers in the panel to change what sits in front or behind.
Image Editor layers panel with multiple layers listed and per-layer controls

Editing a layer with a prompt

Want to change one element without touching the rest of the image? You can edit any single layer just by describing the change.

  1. Select the layer you want to change, either on the canvas or in the Layers panel.
  2. In the prompt box that appears under the layer ("Describe how to change this layer"), type what you want to change — for example, "Change it to a baby elephant".
  3. Click the arrow to submit.
  4. The edited layer replaces the original in the same position and size, with a transparent background so it drops cleanly into your composition.
Image Editor with a layer selected and the prompt box reading 'Describe how to change this layer'

Cost: Each layer edit costs 80 credits. Free Trial users can edit one layer.

Good to know:

  • Your original layer is never deleted — it's hidden underneath the new version. You can show it again from the Layers panel at any time.
  • You can edit the same layer as many times as you like. Each new version stacks on top of the previous ones, with no limit.

💡 Pro Tip: After editing one or more layers, use Refine to blend everything together so the final image looks like it was made in one go.

Removing a background

  1. Select the layer you want to cut out, then open Remove Background from the editor's toolbar.
  2. The background is removed and the result is added as a new layer, which you can keep editing like any other layer.
  3. The result is also saved automatically as a new asset in your library.

Good to know: Available for free-trial and paid users — free-trial users use one free generation per removal.

Refining your result

Once you're done editing, click Refine in the editor's toolbar to flatten your visible layers and merge them into one coherent image. An AI model smooths over any inconsistencies your edits introduced — mismatched lighting, rough edges, or odd proportions.

  • The refined result is added as a new top layer called Refined.
  • The layers you edited stay underneath, hidden, so nothing is lost — you can show them again from the Layers panel.
  • Refine has its own credit cost, shown before you confirm, and also saves its result as a new asset in your library.

Exporting your work

  • Download image: Flattens all currently visible layers into one image and downloads it.
  • Download layers — cropped: Downloads each visible layer as its own image, cropped tightly to its content.
  • Download layers — aligned: Downloads each visible layer as its own image, sized to the original canvas with the layer positioned exactly where it sits.
  • Download a single layer: Right-click (or open the context menu on) a layer to download just that one.

Hidden layers are left out of both the flattened download and the "Download layers" options.

Good to know

  • Credits are charged per layer: You're charged for every layer generated (including the background layer), at a rate set by your chosen resolution. Nothing is charged until you confirm.
  • Editing a layer costs 80 credits: This is charged each time you edit a layer with a prompt.
  • Free Trial: Free Trial users can separate an image into up to 4 layers (one time) and can also edit one layer.
  • Failed generations don't cost you: If a decomposition, layer edit, or Refine fails, you won't be charged — and if credits were already deducted, they're refunded.
  • Signed out? You can open the Image Editor and see the upload option without signing in — you'll be asked to sign in or create an account only when you try to upload an image.
  • Nothing gets overwritten: Editing a layer or using Refine never deletes your previous layers — they're kept hidden in the Layers panel.
  • One saved session per image: The Image Editor keeps one in-progress state per source image. Use the Reset option in the editor if you want to start over from scratch.

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