How to Create and Edit Images with Makeayo

Updated

Makeayo is a Windows desktop app that generates and edits images from text prompts and reference images. To use it, install it on Windows 10 or 11, pick a base model, describe what you want, and generate; you can then transform, upscale, or pose-match the result. It runs locally on your own GPU rather than in the cloud, and the site states it is free to use.

What you need before starting

  • Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11. Mac and Linux are listed as "coming soon," so they are not options today.
  • Graphics card: an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or better is the recommended minimum.
  • Local install: Makeayo runs on your desktop like Photoshop or DaVinci Resolve. If your machine can't handle it, the site points to RunDiffusion as a way to run it in a cloud environment.

Create an image from text

  1. Select your base. Choose the model you want to start from. The site advertises hundreds of community models, so the base you pick sets the style and subject matter the prompt will follow.
  2. Describe your picture. Write the text prompt that describes the image you want.
  3. Generate results. The site describes results appearing "in seconds," and generations are unlimited at no additional cost, so you can keep refining the same idea rather than rationing attempts.

The practical loop is: adjust the prompt or base, regenerate, and keep the version that gets closest. Because there's no per-generation cost, iterating is the intended workflow rather than a single perfect prompt.

Edit and extend an existing image

Makeayo's editing features work on images you bring in or on ones you've just generated:

Task What it does When to use it
Transform images Restyles an input image into a new style You have a photo or sketch and want a different look
Pose matching (ControlNets) Matches poses from an input image You need a character in a specific stance or composition
HD upscaling Generates at 4K and beyond The composition is right but you need more detail or resolution

A sensible order is to settle the composition first, then upscale. For example, if you're making a character illustration, use pose matching to lock the stance, transform to push the style, and upscale last so you're not spending detail on an image you'll still change.

Common sticking points

  • Wrong OS: if you're on Mac or Linux, the app won't run yet; the site lists those as future support.
  • Weak GPU: below the GTX 1050 recommendation, expect the app to be impractical. The cloud option via RunDiffusion exists for this case.
  • Expecting a browser tool: Makeayo is a desktop program, not a web app, so there's nothing to open in a browser tab.
  • Pricing questions: the site's FAQ states Makeayo is free to use. Check the Pricing page for any current details before relying on that for a specific plan.

Where to get help

The site links a Discord community for creators, plus a blog and contact email for unanswered questions. An affiliate program is listed as coming soon.