Visily – AI-powered UI design software: Complete Guide & Tutorial

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced digital world, creating user interfaces (UI) for websites and mobile apps is no longer a skill reserved exclusively for professional designers. With the emergence of artificial intelligence, tools like Visily have democratized the design process, making it possible for anyone—from startup founders to product managers, marketers, and developers—to generate high-quality wireframes, mockups, and prototypes in a fraction of the time.

Visily is an AI-powered UI design software that allows you to describe your design ideas in plain English and watch them come to life. Alternatively, you can import an existing screenshot of any app or website and instantly convert it into an editable design. The platform combines the power of generative AI with a user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, a vast library of pre-built components, and robust collaboration features. Whether you are a seasoned UI/UX professional looking to speed up your workflow or a complete beginner with no design background, Visily provides the tools you need to turn your vision into a clickable prototype.

This tutorial will guide you through everything you need to know about Visily, from setting up your account to mastering its most powerful features. By the end, you will be able to create polished designs using nothing more than your words or a screenshot.

Getting Started with Visily

Creating an Account

Visit the official Visily website at https://visily.ai/. Click the “Get Started for Free” button. You can sign up using your Google account, your GitHub account, or your email address. The free plan offers generous credits for AI generation and access to all core features, making it ideal for learning and small projects.

The Dashboard Overview

Once you log in, you will land on the Visily dashboard. This is your command center. The interface is clean and intuitive, with the following key areas:

• Projects Panel: Displays all your existing designs. You can create a new project, duplicate an existing one, or organize your work into folders.
• Create New Button: A prominent button (usually in the top right corner) that offers several options: “Start from Scratch,” “Generate with AI,” “Import Screenshot,” or “Use a Template.”
• Templates Library: A gallery of pre-designed templates for mobile apps, web pages, dashboards, and more.
• Settings & Profile: Access your account settings, billing, and team management options.

Choosing Your First Project Type

When you click “Create New,” you will be presented with four primary ways to start a design:

• Start from Scratch: Opens a blank canvas with the drag-and-drop editor.
• Generate with AI: Opens a text prompt box where you describe your desired design.
• Import Screenshot: Allows you to upload a screenshot (PNG, JPG, or WEBP) to convert into an editable design.
• Use a Template: Browse a curated collection of templates to use as a starting point.

For this tutorial, we will explore all these methods in detail.

Key Features of Visily

1. AI-Powered Design Generation from Text Prompts

This is Visily’s flagship feature. Instead of manually dragging and dropping every button or text box, you simply type what you need. For example, you can type: “A mobile login screen with a logo, email field, password field, and a blue login button” and Visily will generate a fully editable wireframe based on that description. The AI understands context, layout hierarchy, and common UI patterns.

2. Import Screenshots to Editable Designs

Have you ever seen an app or website design that you liked and wished you could modify it? With Visily, you can upload a screenshot of any UI. The AI analyzes the screenshot and reconstructs it as a set of editable components (buttons, text fields, images, etc.). This is incredibly useful for competitive analysis, redesigning existing apps, or quickly iterating on a design you found online.

3. Drag-and-Drop Editor with Pre-Built Components

Visily’s editor is designed to be as simple as possible. On the left side, you have a panel filled with pre-built components such as buttons, input fields, navigation bars, cards, icons, and more. You can drag any component onto the canvas and resize, recolor, or reposition it instantly. The editor also supports layers, alignment guides, and grouping, giving you professional-level control without the steep learning curve.

4. Real-Time Collaboration and Sharing

Design is often a team effort. Visily allows you to invite team members to your project by sharing a link. Collaborators can view, comment, and edit the design in real time. You can also leave feedback directly on specific elements, making the review process seamless. The sharing feature also lets you generate a public or password-protected link for stakeholders who do not have a Visily account.

5. Extensive Template Library

If you are short on time or need inspiration, the template library is a goldmine. It includes hundreds of professionally designed templates for various use cases: e-commerce checkout flows, social media dashboards, onboarding screens, landing pages, and more. Each template is fully customizable, so you can tweak colors, fonts, and content to match your brand.

How to Use Visily: A Step-by-Step Guide

Method 1: Generating a Design from a Text Prompt

Step 1: Click “Create New” and select “Generate with AI.”

Step 2: In the text box that appears, write a clear and descriptive prompt. Be specific about the type of screen (e.g., “mobile app home screen,” “web dashboard,” “sign-up form”). Mention key elements you want to include, such as a header, search bar, product grid, or navigation tabs. For example: “A mobile app onboarding screen with three slides, a progress indicator, a ‘Skip’ button in the top right, and a ‘Next’ button at the bottom.”

Step 3: Click “Generate.” The AI will process your request and display a generated wireframe within seconds. You can regenerate if the result is not exactly what you envisioned, or you can refine your prompt by adding more details.

Step 4: Once you are satisfied with the generated design, click “Use This Design.” It will open in the full editor, where you can further customize every element.

Method 2: Importing a Screenshot

Step 1: Click “Create New” and select “Import Screenshot.”

Step 2: Upload a screenshot from your computer. Supported formats include PNG, JPG, and WEBP. For best results, use a screenshot of a clean, well-lit UI (avoid blurry or heavily compressed images).

Step 3: Visily will analyze the image. This process may take a few seconds. Once complete, you will see the screenshot converted into a layered, editable design on the canvas. Each recognizable element (buttons, text, images) becomes a separate component that you can move, resize, or delete.

Step 4: You can now modify the design as needed. Change the text, swap out colors, or replace icons. This is perfect for rebranding an existing design or quickly prototyping variations.

Method 3: Using the Drag-and-Drop Editor from Scratch

Step 1: Click “Create New” and select “Start from Scratch.” Choose a canvas size (e.g., iPhone 14, Android, Web 1920×1080, or custom dimensions).

Step 2: On the left panel, browse the component library. You will find categories like “Basic” (rectangles, lines, text), “Input” (text fields, dropdowns, checkboxes), “Navigation” (tab bars, headers, back buttons), and “Content” (cards, lists, images).

Step 3: Drag a component onto the canvas. Use the blue alignment guides that appear to position it perfectly relative to other elements.

Step 4: Click on any component to edit its properties in the right panel. Here you can change the fill color, border radius, opacity, text content, font style, and more. You can also resize elements by dragging the corner handles.

Step 5: To create a prototype (clickable flow), select a button or image, then click the “Link” icon in the toolbar. Drag the arrow to another screen in your project to create a connection. You can then preview the prototype by clicking the “Play” button in the top right corner.

Method 4: Starting from a Template

Step 1: Click “Create New” and select “Use a Template.”

Step 2: Browse the categories on the left (e.g., “Mobile,” “Web,” “Dashboard,” “Landing Page”). Click on a template thumbnail to preview it.

Step 3: Once you find a template you like, click “Use Template.” It will open in the editor, fully editable. You can replace placeholder text with your own content, swap images, and adjust colors to match your brand guidelines.

Step 4: Use the “Pages” panel (usually on the left) to see all the screens included in the template. You can duplicate, delete, or reorder pages as needed.

Collaborating and Sharing Your Design

Step 1: In the top right corner of the editor, click the “Share” button.

Step 2: You can generate a link that allows anyone to view the design. For editing access, you need to invite team members by entering their email addresses. They will receive an invitation to join your project.

Step 3: Collaborators can add comments by clicking the “Comment” icon in the toolbar and then clicking on any element on the canvas. This is great for giving feedback or asking for revisions.

Step 4: To export your design, click “File” in the top menu, then “Export.” You can export as PNG, PDF, or SVG. You can also copy the CSS code for specific elements if you are handing off to a developer.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Visily

1. Write Detailed AI Prompts

The quality of the AI-generated design depends heavily on your prompt. Instead of saying “a login page,” try something like: “A modern mobile login page with a gradient background, a centered logo, a username field with an icon, a password field with a visibility toggle, and a large rounded ‘Sign In’ button. Include a ‘Forgot Password?’ link below the button.” The more context you provide, the better the result.

2. Use Screenshots for Inspiration, Not Just Copying

When you import a screenshot, treat it as a starting point. Use the editable components to experiment with different layouts, color schemes, or font choices. This is a powerful way to learn design principles by reverse-engineering existing work.

3. Leverage the Component Library for Consistency

Instead of creating a button from scratch every time, use the pre-built components. They are designed to be consistent in terms of spacing, typography, and interaction states. This ensures your entire design feels cohesive.

4. Organize Your Layers

As your design grows, the layer panel can become cluttered. Get into the habit of renaming your layers (e.g., “Header,” “Product Card 1,” “Footer”) and grouping related elements. This makes it much easier to find and edit specific parts of your design later.

5. Use Real Content

Placeholder text like “Lorem Ipsum” can make your design look unrealistic. Replace it with actual copy relevant to your project. Similarly, use realistic images and icons. This helps stakeholders visualize the final product and makes your prototype more convincing.

6. Explore Keyboard Shortcuts

Visily supports several keyboard shortcuts to speed up your workflow. Common ones include:

• Ctrl + D (or Cmd + D on Mac) to duplicate a selected element.
• Ctrl + G to group selected elements.
• Delete or Backspace to remove an element.
• Ctrl + Z to undo an action.

You can find the full list of shortcuts in the Help menu within the editor.

7. Iterate Quickly with Versions

Don’t be afraid to experiment. If you want to try a completely different layout, duplicate your current page before making changes. This way, you keep the original as a backup. You can also use the “Version History” feature (found in the File menu) to revert to any previous state of your project.

8. Hand Off to Developers with Ease

Visily includes developer-friendly export options. You can copy CSS styles for individual elements, export assets in multiple resolutions, and share a prototype link that developers can inspect. This bridges the gap between design and development, reducing misinterpretation.

Conclusion

Visily is a remarkable tool that lowers the barrier to UI design without sacrificing quality or flexibility. Whether you are generating a wireframe from a simple sentence, converting a screenshot into an editable masterpiece, or building a pixel-perfect prototype from scratch, Visily provides the intelligence and the interface to get the job done quickly. Its real-time collaboration features make it an excellent choice for remote teams, and its extensive template library ensures you never have to start from a blank canvas.

The best way to master Visily is to dive in and start creating. Begin with a simple prompt, then gradually explore the editor, templates, and collaboration tools. With practice, you will find that designing professional user interfaces is not only possible but genuinely enjoyable. Visit https://visily.ai/ today and bring your next great idea to life.