AI Synthwave Art Generator - Create Retro 80s Art | Apatero | Apatero Blog - Open Source AI & Programming Tutorials
Digital Art

Create Synthwave Art with AI

Synthwave is pure 80s nostalgia distilled into an art form. Chrome everything, neon grid floors stretching to infinity, gradient sunsets in hot pink and orange, and that unmistakable retro-futuristic vibe.

Try Synthwave Generator

What is Synthwave Art?

Synthwave art draws from 1980s pop culture, especially action movies, video games, and sci-fi. The visual signature includes horizontal neon grid floors in perspective, layered sunset gradients (pink, orange, purple, cyan), chrome or neon typography, silhouetted palm trees, sports cars (especially Lamborghinis and DeLoreans), and a general atmosphere of sleek, idealized retrofuturism. The color palette is warm gradients contrasted with cool neon accents.

Prompt Tips

How to Get the Best Synthwave Results

Use these tips in your prompts for more authentic synthwave artwork

1

Use 'synthwave sunset with horizontal neon grid floor extending to horizon' for the iconic composition

2

Add 'chrome reflective text floating over gradient sky, 80s font style' for retro typography

3

Specify 'outrun style with sports car driving toward sunset on neon grid road' for the classic scene

4

Include 'palm tree silhouettes against pink and orange gradient sky' for Miami Vice atmosphere

5

Try 'synthwave mountain range with wireframe terrain and dual suns' for sci-fi landscapes

FAQ

Synthwave AI Art FAQ

Common questions about generating synthwave art with AI

Q

What is synthwave art?

Synthwave is a retro-futuristic art and music movement inspired by 1980s pop culture. The visual style combines neon lighting, gradient sunsets, chrome surfaces, and geometric grids to create an idealized vision of the future as imagined in the 80s. It emerged alongside the synthwave music genre in the late 2000s and has become a massive aesthetic movement.

Q

How to create synthwave art with AI?

Describe your scene on Apatero and include 'synthwave style' or 'outrun aesthetic' in the prompt. Mention specific elements: neon grid, sunset gradient, chrome surfaces, palm trees, or sports cars. The AI captures the warm-to-cool color transitions and geometric compositions that define the synthwave look.

Q

What colors define synthwave art?

The synthwave palette centers on warm sunset gradients: hot pink, electric orange, deep purple, and magenta for the sky. Cool neon accents in cyan, electric blue, and turquoise appear in grid lines, outlines, and highlights. Chrome silver reflects these colors. The combination of warm backgrounds with cool neon details creates the signature synthwave contrast.

Start Generating Synthwave Art

7-day free trial. No credit card required.

Try Synthwave AI Free