I was pleased to see that "prompt engineering" is a thing! From several of your previous wonderfully expansive posts about AI (and picture creating), I've been frustrated by how one is limited by just how creative their original reply/request/order (prompt) for the AI to DO something!
In other (hopefully clearer) words, knowing how far (and creatively deep) one can be in their description to make full, productive use of the ultimate AI output. In first attempts at this, I'd struggle with finding words beyond "make a bunny" (only a slight exaggeration) that would also be genuinely helpful to the AI process in spitting out something worthwhile. Also, which words in my 2-dozen word prompt could've been excised without appreciably affecting the outcome?
Whether it's "what you're supposed to do" or not, I've struggled with how best to communicate with AI...I've always been motivated to improve my communication with fellow humans....now, I'm tasked with honing and whittling my speech so a machine can grok me? Oy vey.
All these are rhetorical questions, Paul, but they give you an idea of what one person (namely me) might struggle with in making room for clear communication beyond the human interaction! Plus, it can't help that I'll be 68 next month!! Always mind-expanding, your posts, and I thank you for that!
I love your comments, Brad. All of them. For me, this is just another rabbit hole I have fallen into because I have no life, and that void needs to be filled. I am having fun "creating" these things, but I see how a lot of folks just don't get it. Like Bitcoin, Stonks, NFT's, the Television, Fire, the Printing Press, time will tell if there is anything lasting there.
There is no substitute for human interaction. I concur. Beep, Beep...
I know you are dying to see what the prompt "make a bunny" reveals in Midjourney. Here is what it gave me, from your exact prompt (not sure why a couple of these only has one ear?)
That's hilarious! The lower-right one has definite chia-pet vibes! The one-eared ones I'm gonna guess are implanted simply because the robot is assuming millennial-type futuristic leanings!
Thanks, Mitchell! Well-said, and as I doubtless out-number you in days on the planet (this one), I'll relay what we in the '60s (the decade, not one's relative age)---I was 10 in 1965---we were told that "one day, every home will have a computer"!
I remember thinking, "Golly! When I grow up, I'll have to make sure my house has a spare wall that can house such a cool thing!" I understand these things no more now than I did then!!💻🤯
I can't recall computers in my first foray into higher ed....1973-'75 at both N. TX State and U of Houston. When I returned from '83 to '86, I can't remember much (memorable) interaction with them, either! I will say that, in the early '70s, when I had the choice of an elective, I'm glad I chose typing. Can't imagine the future computer-hunt'n'peckin'-trouble I'd've had had I chosen Home Ec. instead!🍲Whew!
It's funny, that, even as I lived thru the no-PC '60s/some-PC '70s/ubiquitous-PC '80s, I never gravitated to them. I remember having one in my office (late '80s; I was in my early 30s) when I was youth minister at an L.A. county church, but all I can remember doing on it was word processing a monthly youth newsletter (and creating, writing, and drawing an original animated skater and his cartoon adventures....Major Biff)! I never was drawn to video games at all, so that was one thing that kept me and PCs apart!
This is amazing what AI can create! In one aspect I can see how it would be great to create stuff like this but I wonder if it will put true artists out of business. I mean true artists take hours on some projects and this is just a click of a button and you have an instant graphic.
Yes, I agree this new tech is amazing. I know a lot of "artists" - of which I am one, have their nose out of joint because this process seemingly doesn't really take any talent. From the fingers to a brush or whatever. Photoshop has been around since 1990. Digital artists embraced that technology. Take a normal picture, add some filters, actions, plugins, tweaks, and you change your normal looking photo into something that you get with Midjourney. I'll admit that learning "prompt engineering" is way easier than learning photoshop, or illustrator, or ... The outcome is hard to tell
if the picture is made buy a photoshop guru, or some dude with a macbook!
Another one of life's paradoxes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Thanks for the comment, Matthew
I'm pretty sure that it will send to all my subscribers, if there is no subscribe button on the article page. Thank you Mitchell!
I was pleased to see that "prompt engineering" is a thing! From several of your previous wonderfully expansive posts about AI (and picture creating), I've been frustrated by how one is limited by just how creative their original reply/request/order (prompt) for the AI to DO something!
In other (hopefully clearer) words, knowing how far (and creatively deep) one can be in their description to make full, productive use of the ultimate AI output. In first attempts at this, I'd struggle with finding words beyond "make a bunny" (only a slight exaggeration) that would also be genuinely helpful to the AI process in spitting out something worthwhile. Also, which words in my 2-dozen word prompt could've been excised without appreciably affecting the outcome?
Whether it's "what you're supposed to do" or not, I've struggled with how best to communicate with AI...I've always been motivated to improve my communication with fellow humans....now, I'm tasked with honing and whittling my speech so a machine can grok me? Oy vey.
All these are rhetorical questions, Paul, but they give you an idea of what one person (namely me) might struggle with in making room for clear communication beyond the human interaction! Plus, it can't help that I'll be 68 next month!! Always mind-expanding, your posts, and I thank you for that!
I love your comments, Brad. All of them. For me, this is just another rabbit hole I have fallen into because I have no life, and that void needs to be filled. I am having fun "creating" these things, but I see how a lot of folks just don't get it. Like Bitcoin, Stonks, NFT's, the Television, Fire, the Printing Press, time will tell if there is anything lasting there.
There is no substitute for human interaction. I concur. Beep, Beep...
I know you are dying to see what the prompt "make a bunny" reveals in Midjourney. Here is what it gave me, from your exact prompt (not sure why a couple of these only has one ear?)
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1060580052917567608/1072173002424324126/paulm_make_a_bunny_dda86163-6b2a-47b0-8bb3-ce13e5d273f7.png
Then you can add a couple of words and have a truly unique artwork? Prompt was "make a bunny in ratfink style 80’s"
https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1060580052917567608/1072175466645037056/paulm_make_a_bunny_in_ratfink_style_80s_24f02808-11e8-448e-95dd-6f1c3a20d2ba.png
Great! And, fairly disturbing! Ed Roth would be proud!
Ed Roth - exactly!
That's hilarious! The lower-right one has definite chia-pet vibes! The one-eared ones I'm gonna guess are implanted simply because the robot is assuming millennial-type futuristic leanings!
Thanks, Mitchell! Well-said, and as I doubtless out-number you in days on the planet (this one), I'll relay what we in the '60s (the decade, not one's relative age)---I was 10 in 1965---we were told that "one day, every home will have a computer"!
Well, needless to say, our tiny-toon brains could only imagine what was only available then...the wall-covering, floor-to-ceiling, disc-spinning, light-blinking, whirring monsters, like so: https://www.pingdom.com/blog/retro-delight-gallery-of-early-computers-1940s-1960s/
I remember thinking, "Golly! When I grow up, I'll have to make sure my house has a spare wall that can house such a cool thing!" I understand these things no more now than I did then!!💻🤯
That is a cool website. Could be a "One Thing"...
I can't recall computers in my first foray into higher ed....1973-'75 at both N. TX State and U of Houston. When I returned from '83 to '86, I can't remember much (memorable) interaction with them, either! I will say that, in the early '70s, when I had the choice of an elective, I'm glad I chose typing. Can't imagine the future computer-hunt'n'peckin'-trouble I'd've had had I chosen Home Ec. instead!🍲Whew!
It's funny, that, even as I lived thru the no-PC '60s/some-PC '70s/ubiquitous-PC '80s, I never gravitated to them. I remember having one in my office (late '80s; I was in my early 30s) when I was youth minister at an L.A. county church, but all I can remember doing on it was word processing a monthly youth newsletter (and creating, writing, and drawing an original animated skater and his cartoon adventures....Major Biff)! I never was drawn to video games at all, so that was one thing that kept me and PCs apart!
So cool, Paul! Thanks for some great ideas. So neat!
Thanks Joshua!
This is amazing what AI can create! In one aspect I can see how it would be great to create stuff like this but I wonder if it will put true artists out of business. I mean true artists take hours on some projects and this is just a click of a button and you have an instant graphic.
Yes, I agree this new tech is amazing. I know a lot of "artists" - of which I am one, have their nose out of joint because this process seemingly doesn't really take any talent. From the fingers to a brush or whatever. Photoshop has been around since 1990. Digital artists embraced that technology. Take a normal picture, add some filters, actions, plugins, tweaks, and you change your normal looking photo into something that you get with Midjourney. I'll admit that learning "prompt engineering" is way easier than learning photoshop, or illustrator, or ... The outcome is hard to tell
if the picture is made buy a photoshop guru, or some dude with a macbook!
Another one of life's paradoxes. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Thanks for the comment, Matthew
Where is the link to follow so I can make some of these?
Hi Fred. This will get you started: https://docs.midjourney.com/docs/quick-start
You can generate around 25 free pics when you sign up. Have fun!