The Process
The image on the left was generated solely by AI. I simply provided the title of this blog as the prompt, and then edited the text onto the image."
"The image on the right is the identical image, but it has been further manipulated and placed against another background generated by AI, which I had previously edited with electric bolts several months ago."
"Here's that iteration. It required some time to achieve this outcome, as it took several attempts to convey my vision to the AI effectively. Additionally, I desired electric bolts, which I created and inserted using Adobe Photo Express and Photoshop by segmenting the image into layers."
"I wasn't especially pleased with the final result for the android, but I still appreciated the concept. Therefore, I manually made several adjustments to better align with my vision."
Just throw all those elements together with blending options using your favorite photo editor. AND ....... TAA DAA !!!
The Debate
"If you belong to the camp that believes the capacity to draw a flawless circle determines creativity, then essentially you're asserting that 'physical ability' dictates your level of 'Cognitive Creativity'. But what about artists who have lost their vision or hands? Does that make them uncreative, or do they simply lack the conventional means to visually express 'creative' ideas? It's important not to confuse muscle memory with creativity."
For two decades, I disregarded the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, leading to permanent damage to the fine muscle control in my hands. While I do utilize AI as a production tool, I've also established guidelines for myself to guarantee transparency and the creation of genuinely unique content. I'll elaborate more on these rules later on."
Production and efficiency
3 concepts using 4 Ai produced assets, Fotor's Image generator, Adobe Photoshop, Nvidia's Canvas in Beta (landscape generator) and photoshop express for adjustments.
The capacity to swiftly generate digital content, especially the ability to generate various iterations of a concept rapidly, is a significant advantage in the industry. However, numerous student artists exhibit reluctance towards embracing digital technology. Many of them lean towards a more "organic" approach, preferring traditional mediums such as pencil and paper, as well as tangible mediums like oil painting and watercolor.
These traditional mediums certainly hold their appeal and value, offering a sense of enjoyment and authenticity. However, it's essential to recognize that regardless of its origins on paper or canvas, any content destined for movies, the web, or game consoles undergoes digital conversion at some stage. Whether it begins with a sketch or a painting, if the intention is to display it on the internet, television, or any digital device, it must undergo the process of digital conversion.
It's Economics
The artist who possesses the ability to convert or directly input their ideas into the digital medium holds a significant advantage over traditional "pen and paper" Artists in today's industry landscape. Entertainment companies, ad agencies, and similar entities benefit greatly from artists who can seamlessly transition their concepts into the digital realm. Such artists save both time and money for these companies, as there's no need for extensive conversion processes.
While there's no denying the beauty and impact of "pen and paper" concepts, the practicality of digital readiness cannot be overlooked. In scenarios where two artists exhibit equal skill and produce equally impressive works, but one is adept at digital work while the other relies solely on traditional methods, companies are more inclined to hire the digitally capable artist. This preference is primarily driven by economic considerations. Even traditional practices like storyboarding have largely shifted towards digital formats in response to industry demands.
Where does AI fit in all this?
I'll share my personal experience and utilization of this tool, recognizing that its potential applications vary greatly among artists.
For me, it's a game-changer in brainstorming and concept development. I can swiftly generate and explore various scenarios, allowing me to present a multitude of ideas to clients efficiently. The more concepts I can produce, the higher the likelihood of finding something that resonates with the client or myself. This iterative process often sparks further creativity and innovation.
Moreover, it serves as a potent antidote to creative block. Sometimes, I input random prompts just to stimulate my imagination. Experimenting with song lyrics through AI, especially when combined with psychedelic styling, can yield fascinating and enjoyable results. While this may not always be the most effective way to communicate ideas to the AI, it undoubtedly leads to intriguing outcomes.
Additionally, I rely on this tool to aid in my drawing process, particularly due to limitations with my hands. It's become an indispensable tool in my artistic toolkit, offering versatility and efficiency in both concept development and creation.
I have guidelines for myself
I don't simply input a prompt and use the resulting image "as is" most of the time. Particularly for simple assets like icons that I can't find suitable templates for, I might use the generated image as a base.
However, the generated images rarely align 100 percent with my vision. They often contain visual errors, such as heads not fully attached or animals with extra limbs. Additionally, they may include elements I didn't want or didn't anticipate, which I then have to edit out. To truly make the scene my own, I prefer to combine at least three edited assets created with AI with assets made in Adobe Express or Photoshop. Sometimes, if I'm particularly fond of a concept, I'll even bring out my Wacom tablet for more detailed editing. I can spend days and dozens of attempts to get the output I want. however. I'm getting better relaying my ideas to the generator., resulting in more accurate results.
Learning to draw on an electronic tablet has been challenging but immensely satisfying. The adjustment of not looking down at your drawing only to see black plastic can be frustrating at first, requiring a different kind of hand-eye coordination, not harder. Just different. However, the ability to change colors and brushes with the push of a button greatly increases efficiency, and the lack of material costs for mistakes is a significant advantage.
In Summary
Using templates in photo programs is akin to utilizing auto-generated content to aid in the creation process. The distinction lies in the fact that the content generated using AI is unique to each user and not a standard asset found in every copy of the program. While it's true that the technology can be misused, such as passing off AI-generated content as entirely handcrafted, this deception isn't exclusive to AI and occurs outside of AI as well.
For me, the ability to quickly create content, especially iterating on concepts, has become invaluable. This tool enhances productivity rather than creativity, as the ideas are already present in my mind. It helps me overcome creative block by providing working iterations and acting as a catalyst for brainstorming, even when I'm feeling creatively fatigued. Sometimes, the AI-generated content ignites a spark of inspiration, leading me to immerse myself in a day of concept development and asset exploration. I often dissect images into individual assets for potential future use, further enhancing my productivity and creative arsenal.
As an artist, not every piece of content will resonate with everyone. Thus, the ability to rapidly produce a variety of content is a significant advantage, particularly for independent artists who are often compensated solely for produced content. Being able to present 20 variations of an idea to a client holds more value than offering only 10 variations, increasing the chances of meeting the client's needs and preferences.
Next post : by 4/14/24 (PART 2) Generative AI: Exploring the Pros and Cons of Generative AI in Visual Arts
Transparency in AI
The images for this blog post were created using Fotor's image generator, a portion using Adobe's Firefly Generative AI. and Wix Ai but not exclusively. Edits were made to preserve the creative process. original transcript written by me, then corrected and enhanced by chatGPT for readability.. because im definitely not a writer.