How to create AI images with Cocreator on Paint for Windows 11

Microsoft Paint Cocreator is a new feature that allows you to generate images from text description using AI.

Paint Cocreator on Windows 11
Paint Cocreator on Windows 11

UPDATED 12/4/2023: On Windows 11, the Microsoft Paint app has the “Paint Cocreator” or “Cocreator” feature that allows you to use the DALL-E AI model from OpenAI to generate virtually any image from a text description. Paint Cocreator isn’t meant to be a feature to create a complete image. Instead, it’s meant to create a starting point to spark creativity and continue creating. In the Paint app, you can also add these AI-generated images into layers to create even more complex pieces of imagery.

This guide will teach you the steps to use the new image creator on Paint.

Create images with AI using Cocreator on Paint

To create images with Paint Cocreator on Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Paint on Windows 11.

  2. Click the profile menu on the top-right side.

  3. Confirm you’re signed in with your Microsoft account.

    Paint with Microsoft account

  4. Click the Cocreator button from the toolbar.

  5. Click the Join Waitlist button (if applicable).

    Quick note: At this point, you will have to wait until you receive an email on your Microsoft account with access to the feature.
  6. Compose a description of the image you want to create. For example, “a black bear drinking coffee sitting next to a picnic table.” 

    Paint Cocreator

    Quick tip: The more description you add to your prompt, the AI will be able to create an even more accurate image.
  7. Choose a style option, such as “Pixel Art,” “Oil painting,” “Charcoal,” “Ink Sketch,” “Watercolor,” “Digital Art,” “Photorealistic,” and “Anime” from the drop-down menu.

    Paint Cocreator styles

  8. Select one of the three samples to add the image to your Paint canvas.

Once you complete the steps, the Paint Cocreator will generate three samples using your description that you can choose from to add to your image creation.

Using AI computing resources is costly, so as part of the rollout of the Paint Cocreator, Microsoft is giving users 50 credits to redeem for up to 50 sets of image creations.

Update December 4, 2023: The text-to-image generator, powered by OpenAI’s DALL-E 3 model, is now available for all users.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.