Everything you need to know about Image Wand the new AI tool in iOS 18.2
Apple is planning to release the new updates of iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 for iPhones and iPads during the first week of December. As part of these updates, Apple has added three artificial intelligence tools to create images on iPhones and iPads. These tools fall under the Apple Intelligence system , and include: Image Wand, Image Playground, and Genmoji.
The Image Wand lets you create AI-powered images in the Notes app on iPhone and iPad, and can turn simple sketches into crisp, professional-looking drawings.
Here are more details about the Image Wand and how to use it:
What is the Image Wand tool?
Image Wand is a new AI image creation tool from Apple Intelligence that's similar to Image Playground. It lets you write a text description of an image or use your own simple drawings as the basis for generating a new image.
The unique feature that makes this tool different from Image Playground is its ability to use sketches as the basis for the images it will generate.
How to use Image Wand:
The Image Wand is designed for use in the Notes app, and it's only available in that app at the moment, but Apple may bring it to other apps like Freeform in the future.
You can use this tool on compatible iPhones and iPads in several ways, including:
1- Create an image based on text:
You can use the information you've written in the Notes app to describe the image you want the Image Wand to generate. When you're writing something, whether it's typed or handwritten with Apple Pencil on iPad, tap the Markup menu to access the Image Wand, which looks like a wand.
After clicking the tool icon, draw a circle anywhere empty in the note, and the Image Wand will generate a new image, and the tool will rely on the words available in the note to create an image.
The tool automatically pulls specific phrases from the note text to use to create the image. You can click the “-” icon to remove specific words the tool used to create the image, or you can type a new phrase in the image description bar. You can also click the “+” button to add more phrases the tool pulled from the note text.
After creating a set of images, you can scroll through the different images to find the right one. After selecting the right image, click the Done button to add the image to the note.
2- Create images from handwritten text:
If you use Apple Pencil with your iPad, you can handwrite your notes and have Image Wand generate an image based on your handwritten text.
Simply write something, then select an empty space on the page to bring up the Image Wand interface. The tool will use what you wrote as the image description, and you can add more phrases in the image description box in your handwriting using Apple Pencil.
3- Create images from drawings:
Instead of creating an image from text, you can draw a simple image and the Image Wand will use it as the basis for creating a new, professional image.
To try this, you'll need to use the Markup tools to draw an image with your finger on your iPhone, but on your iPad you can use the Apple Pencil to draw.
Draw a rough sketch, then circle it, you'll need to add a word or two as a description of the image, and Image Wand will generate a new image based on the sketch and text description.
What makes the Image Wand unique is its ability to simulate the details of the image you've drawn. For example, if you draw an apple with a leaf appearing on the right side of the neck, the Image Wand simulates that detail, and in some cases, it will also use the same colors you chose.
4- Change the image mode and edit it:
After you create an image with the Image Wand, you can move, resize, delete, or copy the image you created. You can tap the Like or Dislike option to provide Apple with feedback on the tool's accuracy, or you can tap the Apple Intelligence icon to create a new image.
There's also an option to remove the background, which you can access by tapping on the new image, tapping the three-dot button, and then choosing Remove Background. This will remove the background color so the image blends better with the note text.
Restrictions for using Image Wand:
Using Image Wand has some limitations, it doesn't generate images of people. If you try to create an image that includes a person, you'll see a note telling you that images that include people aren't supported.
As with Image Playground and Genmoji , you can't create images that contain violence or nudity, nor can you create images of cartoon characters, celebrities, or copyrighted products.
Compatible devices:
Image Wand will be available on devices that support Apple Intelligence, including:
- iPhone 15 Pro phones.
- All iPhone 16 models.
- The new iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip.
- All iPads with Apple silicon processors.