INTRODUCTION

Within a matter of years, AI is set to radically transform the creative space. From creative writing to generative art, 3D rendering, video, speech, and music, we are set to witness advancements that will totally change the way we design and generate digital content.

The outputs that we can achieve from AI prompt-based software are already impressive and their outputs are only going to improve over time—just think in months, not years. In the creative writing and generative art fields, there are already dozens of credible companies offering advanced software tools that can generate magazine-worthy illustrations or consecutive paragraphs in virtually any genre of novel. Technology observers like Martin Shkreli and Kevin Rose have little doubt that we’ll see a New York Times seller written by an AI within the next ten years. In the case of generative AI art, the results are mind-blowing and there’s already debate over whether AI-generated art should be outright banned from art competitions.

As with previous trends, the surge in news and social media coverage is expected to bring fresh investment and talent into the field. The industry is poised to become the next frontier for engineering talent, presenting an exciting opportunity for people passionate about technological innovation. Whether it's developing software that enables users to unleash their creative potential or utilizing deep learning algorithms to detect AI-generated digital artwork, opportunities in the world of creative AI are available and abundant.

By leveraging the power of AI, software companies can also unlock unprecedented efficiency upgrades to existing software, while simultaneously revolutionizing the end-user experience, which is an important trend itself. Future versions of Photoshop or Microsoft Office will reduce the dependence on manual actions like click-and-drag and shift towards utilizing AI-powered text and voice prompts to guide the user's actions with accurate precision. Rather than hovering and pointing over the shoulder of an in-house designer, users will be able to highlight an area and change it by communicating directly with the software—all with no wait time. Users will dictate or type in the changes they want, and the AI will make it happen, instantly.

We are starting to see glimpses of this transition taking place with online graphic design tools such as Figma and Canva introducing new text-to-image apps on their platforms and Adobe adding generative AI technology to their existing software suite.

For other established players, these new developments will come as a wrecking ball through the creative industry as AI shoulders the low end of the market before working its way up the value chain. Diversified and dynamic gig-based marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork have more room to maneuver but generic stock photography sites like Shutterstock face the threat of becoming entirely irrelevant in the face of AI-driven innovation.

Though AI-generated art holds a promising future, achieving widespread adoption will be a gradual process. The primary hurdle lies in its acceptance and adoption by companies and government organizations, and overcoming risks and ethical concerns, which are explored in Chapter 15. While many people have experimented with AI optimization for their profile pictures and shared their creations on social media, few are using AI as part of their professional workflow. Even fewer are actively exploring different platforms, learning about the unique strengths and limitations of each software option, and taking steps to enhance their skills in this emerging field of content creation.

For those early to the trend and curious to learn more about AI art, the following chapters will serve as your guide. With this book, you will gain a solid understanding of generative AI art as well as common techniques you can start implementing today.

Generative AI Art covers all the basics of AI art, from its technological underpinnings to the practical possibilities of new software applications. It explains what text prompts are, how they work, and why they matter. This book also provides an overview of key topics such as framing, lighting, and image parameters, as well as the limits of AI art creation. Additionally, the book provides guidance on choosing and using AI art software and other resources, as well as ethical considerations when working with technology in this field. By the end of this reading, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively incorporate AI software into your creative content stack and gain insight into the future direction of this rapidly evolving industry.

Given that software development is moving so quickly, the chapters in this book will focus on the key concepts and theoretical considerations behind creating AI art, such as text prompt construction, framing, consistency, and image masking, rather than in-depth instructions on how to use and navigate the user interface (UI) for each software service.

Lastly, it’s important to understand that creating AI art doesn’t require any specialized programming knowledge or even much talent for design. With the right software and guidance, anyone can quickly become a master at creating AI-generated artwork. That said, constructing a good prompt requires practical experience, including knowledge of special techniques, and some domain expertise in your subject matter to match your artistic vision. This is a skill that can be honed, leading to a deepened understanding of art and design along the way.

That said, let's get started with generative AI art!