This is what I'm thinking on my upcoming laser craft business. As an IT and don't have graphics experience (though I have couple of video editing skills), this is my go-to for producing images. Leveraging AI as a tool is much easier and cost-effective. Thank you for this vid!
A good way to not have to see all the other images created by others is to invite the midjourney bot to a private chat. Then it is only what you ask it to create that you see. Is also good for seeing what minor changes in your prompt do when you change it.
In the Image Trace Advanced settings you can select ignore color to white so that it's a transparent file... then compound the paths before exporting as an SVG.
Hello, I am inexperienced in the engraving industry. I need help setting parameters for engraving Parker and Waterm pens. Can I ask for advice on what parameters to start testing?
Short answer is.. maybe? Midjourney has a tuff time with words, and text, you can put it in the prompt but sometimes it just doesn't come out right, I always add my text in after and add to the project, other AI software Like Davinci and Leonardo.. can do a better job with words.. Great question!
And I do hire artists as well when I need them, I find it useful to use both, as I dont believe AI is the end all for creating art not at all, its just a tool, just like all the other machines in my shop. Thanks for your comment!
There are no “ethics” involved here, and you are free to hire an artist. This tool is a lot cheaper and faster than a human artist, and might produce similar results.
In my opinion, the people freaking out about the ethics of AI art are the same people who back in the day would have freaked out about home video, and before that prints of art. You can make the argument that artists should be paid for having their work added to an AI training database, but I do not agree with the arguments that it is theft. Using an AI art tool is the same as borrowing a pose or a layout from an image you've seen online. You are not using the creators work. You are iterating off of something you saw and using it along with other elements to create a new work. That's how art styles change. You're just using a new tool to do it. Yes, I believe you reach a point that you should be using a human artist for more complex pieces, but I believe it is on your own ethics to define where that line is.
@@Staren01 I somewhat agree, but I really think AI’s capability to mimic particular art styles is a form of theft. I guess an artist would have to prove his sales dropped as a result of this, so maybe nothing is being stolen here. However, if I’m an artist with a distinct style (Simon Stalenhag is my favorite), I’d be more than a little annoyed that someone could reproduce my style extremely accurately and nearly infinitely and for very low cost. It’s a devaluation of your art. That distinct style used to only come from you, and now anyone with a Midjourney account can instantly make unlimited copies for pennies.
@@Staren01 If money is all we care about, then of course AI art is what is going to be the future. But it will cost much more than I think people are willing to imagine or maybe can imagine given our limited perspectives. The problem of passing on working through the ethics of this is that artists end up getting hurt and disappearing without your knowledge, but out of sight out of mind is a convenient thing when it comes to unethical decisions. The fact that you don't personally feel the impact doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The energy cost of ChatGBT is the yearly cost of 33,000 homes for a single DAY. We don't see this personally, however that's a ridiculous amount of energy. Better buy LED lighting for your home to save the planet. It's an unsustainable practice that is very much an issue. But you can get a nice poem in less than a minute... AI can be a tool in the creation of art. The ability to draw straight lines, for instance. Filling in a spot in a photo is also something I don't consider theft. Typing a prompt should never be considered artwork. I can do the same thing on Google and download someone else's work, and it's essentially the same thing. It's just the sampling was stolen, the imitation blurred enough that you can't easily find the original, and it's passed off as your own work now. Use it as a starting point if you need it, but do the actual work. For me, I will only use my own art for my business, or I will pay for the rights to use others art. Iteration on someone's work is one thing, typing a prompt is not iteration.
*_I appreciate that you find this something that you can use but in reality, this is a lot of BS hoops to jump through that are less than ideal because discord and the way discord works isn't very viable at all. Discord has a lot of issues aside and I, as with a lot of other people don't want anything to do with discord. I think you need to find a much better way and get back to us._* 🧐🤔🤨😐
Thank goodness, I never used Discord for anything other than Midjourney.. seriously never even heard of it until I needed to use AI. Soon as I'm done using midjourney, I shut it down. I guess I'm too old to know about the whole discord drama story, but I do think its odd that the only way you can use these powerful AI servers is on Midjourney,, seems odd to me. Thanks for dropping a comment. !
@@LaserEngraving911 If I can make a suggestion. Look up an AI project called Stable Diffusion. There are a number of programs that allow you to run it locally on your own computer. One of the easier ones to use is called Fooocus. I prefer Automatic1111. Worth looking into if you find yourself using the online tools more than a couple of times.
While I respect your ability to teach about laser engraving, I really hope that you would do a video with some resources to hire actual human artists in the future. Yes, this is easier and faster. However, I personally can not ever use it in good conscience.
I have done many video on this, and my top recommendation is Joy form Joy designers you can reach out to here at info@joydesginers.com she does great work and is a asset tot he community!
This is what I'm thinking on my upcoming laser craft business. As an IT and don't have graphics experience (though I have couple of video editing skills), this is my go-to for producing images. Leveraging AI as a tool is much easier and cost-effective. Thank you for this vid!
I think you’ll find it very useful
A good way to not have to see all the other images created by others is to invite the midjourney bot to a private chat. Then it is only what you ask it to create that you see. Is also good for seeing what minor changes in your prompt do when you change it.
oooo coool tip gonna use that one!
I played around in Midjourney when it was free. You can produce some amazing images. Great video, as always
Seriously! Thanks for watching!
In the Image Trace Advanced settings you can select ignore color to white so that it's a transparent file... then compound the paths before exporting as an SVG.
Hey Michael! Thanks for this amazing and helpful video! Glad I was finally able to meet you at Next Level :) I am eager to start using midjourney!
Very cool, I find it to be a helpful tool when I need something unique, or just and element for a larger project. Have fun!
Awesome video.. keep up the great work.. thanks for the ideas
Thank you! This is so helpful.
Hello, I am inexperienced in the engraving industry. I need help setting parameters for engraving Parker and Waterm pens. Can I ask for advice on what parameters to start testing?
You can check over at @lasereverything for settings, they have tons!
Just wondering if Midjourney can insert text into an image?
Short answer is.. maybe? Midjourney has a tuff time with words, and text, you can put it in the prompt but sometimes it just doesn't come out right, I always add my text in after and add to the project, other AI software Like Davinci and Leonardo.. can do a better job with words.. Great question!
Adobe Firefly excels where text is concerned.
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😎
Any conversation in this video about the ethics of doing so? I'd rather hire an artist.
And I do hire artists as well when I need them, I find it useful to use both, as I dont believe AI is the end all for creating art not at all, its just a tool, just like all the other machines in my shop. Thanks for your comment!
There are no “ethics” involved here, and you are free to hire an artist. This tool is a lot cheaper and faster than a human artist, and might produce similar results.
In my opinion, the people freaking out about the ethics of AI art are the same people who back in the day would have freaked out about home video, and before that prints of art. You can make the argument that artists should be paid for having their work added to an AI training database, but I do not agree with the arguments that it is theft. Using an AI art tool is the same as borrowing a pose or a layout from an image you've seen online. You are not using the creators work. You are iterating off of something you saw and using it along with other elements to create a new work. That's how art styles change. You're just using a new tool to do it. Yes, I believe you reach a point that you should be using a human artist for more complex pieces, but I believe it is on your own ethics to define where that line is.
@@Staren01 I somewhat agree, but I really think AI’s capability to mimic particular art styles is a form of theft.
I guess an artist would have to prove his sales dropped as a result of this, so maybe nothing is being stolen here. However, if I’m an artist with a distinct style (Simon Stalenhag is my favorite), I’d be more than a little annoyed that someone could reproduce my style extremely accurately and nearly infinitely and for very low cost.
It’s a devaluation of your art. That distinct style used to only come from you, and now anyone with a Midjourney account can instantly make unlimited copies for pennies.
@@Staren01 If money is all we care about, then of course AI art is what is going to be the future. But it will cost much more than I think people are willing to imagine or maybe can imagine given our limited perspectives.
The problem of passing on working through the ethics of this is that artists end up getting hurt and disappearing without your knowledge, but out of sight out of mind is a convenient thing when it comes to unethical decisions. The fact that you don't personally feel the impact doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The energy cost of ChatGBT is the yearly cost of 33,000 homes for a single DAY. We don't see this personally, however that's a ridiculous amount of energy. Better buy LED lighting for your home to save the planet. It's an unsustainable practice that is very much an issue. But you can get a nice poem in less than a minute...
AI can be a tool in the creation of art. The ability to draw straight lines, for instance. Filling in a spot in a photo is also something I don't consider theft. Typing a prompt should never be considered artwork. I can do the same thing on Google and download someone else's work, and it's essentially the same thing. It's just the sampling was stolen, the imitation blurred enough that you can't easily find the original, and it's passed off as your own work now.
Use it as a starting point if you need it, but do the actual work. For me, I will only use my own art for my business, or I will pay for the rights to use others art. Iteration on someone's work is one thing, typing a prompt is not iteration.
*_I appreciate that you find this something that you can use but in reality, this is a lot of BS hoops to jump through that are less than ideal because discord and the way discord works isn't very viable at all. Discord has a lot of issues aside and I, as with a lot of other people don't want anything to do with discord. I think you need to find a much better way and get back to us._* 🧐🤔🤨😐
Thank goodness, I never used Discord for anything other than Midjourney.. seriously never even heard of it until I needed to use AI. Soon as I'm done using midjourney, I shut it down. I guess I'm too old to know about the whole discord drama story, but I do think its odd that the only way you can use these powerful AI servers is on Midjourney,, seems odd to me. Thanks for dropping a comment. !
@@LaserEngraving911 Keep us updated if you find another AI solution that seems workable. Thanks.
@@LaserEngraving911 If I can make a suggestion. Look up an AI project called Stable Diffusion. There are a number of programs that allow you to run it locally on your own computer. One of the easier ones to use is called Fooocus. I prefer Automatic1111. Worth looking into if you find yourself using the online tools more than a couple of times.
Not to sound mean, but if you don't like his methods don't use them and find your own. He's sharing HIS way of doing things.
@@chrisprice5181 Not to sound mean but I wasn't talking to you, was I? Im allowed to comment and share MY ideas. Jrk!
While I respect your ability to teach about laser engraving, I really hope that you would do a video with some resources to hire actual human artists in the future. Yes, this is easier and faster. However, I personally can not ever use it in good conscience.
I have done many video on this, and my top recommendation is Joy form Joy designers you can reach out to here at info@joydesginers.com she does great work and is a asset tot he community!