Modelling and AI

[BarryW]

This is prompted by a FB post I recently saw.

It never occurred to me to use AI as a background for my models. Now I have never been impressed by AI, I hate those AI narrations on YouTube and as for those pictures, they are just ludicrous. I was therefore tempted to try it out on one of my models using Chat GPT.

I Asked it to show my Kotare Spitfire Mk1 in a Battle of Britain battlefield scene. Now, firstly, yes, this particular aircraft is one that was flown by Al Steere when he crashed it on a Dunkirk beach so this aircraft did not see service in the BoB but that's not important for this experiment.

This is the picture it produced.

The model is depicted well but the aircraft shown in the background both on the ground and in the air are, to say the least, a bit 'iffy'.

Initially I decided that was it and I would not bother in future. I have rethought that and despite the problems it is a nice way to depict a model. So I will look to include a 'scene' among most of my pictures of WW2 aircraft. Do note, I only have the free version of Chat GPT and I am not sufficiently impressed to pay for it that means I am limited to how many times I can use it each day.

Another point, annoyingly after I did the one above, I tried it with a Bf109K but it didn't work, I suspect it's was because of the swastika.

What do you think?

 

[BOATMAN]

WELL Barry i think it looks real with your spitfire an background very good love to do one on my ships but im not clued up as you are sir but very good thats my opinion
chrisb

 

[BarleyBop]

Interesting use of the technology.

As you intimated, with $$ you could probably refine the image further...

Did the process mess with your model: adding or removing features and details, whether right or wrong?

Curious to know how much of the image is a result of your prompt: truck, setting, people, weather, etc.

Last summer I experimented with tight camera framing and placing models in front of a wide monitor with background 'settings'. I've also been trying out an endoscope to move the point of view up close and personal.

This is the next step!

Thanks for posting.

 

[Edbert]

It never occurred to me to use AI as a background for my models.

I think this is an inevitable (and unavoidable) evolution.

We can consider it a negative, I'm positive that many do, but that will not change anything. In ways I see it as the next step of computer gaming, or photoshop, or even scale models. How? I bet that everyone on this forum has found it difficult to find authentic photograpsh of historical vehicles, aircraft/cars/armor/etc. Even if you are able to find photographs that are not from a game or of a model, most of them have been retouched or colorized, adjusted or "corrected" by digital media.

 

[BarryW]

Here is another, the Trumpeter 1/32 P40

Again it's let down by some of the background.

 

[Edbert]

let down by some of the background.

I thought the Spitfires in the background of the 1st were not that bad, the bombers or whatever they were, that was a bit weak. But whatever that is behind your subject matter in the desert, I think it what they say about AI malfunctions...an hallucination

Make no mistake, while we can all laugh at AI today, the time will come when it will laugh at us.

 

[Ron2]

This is prompted by a FB post I recently saw.

It never occurred to me to use AI as a background for my models. Now I have never been impressed by AI, I hate those AI narrations on YouTube and as for those pictures, they are just ludicrous. I was therefore tempted to try it out on one of my models using Chat GPT.

I Asked it to show my Kotare Spitfire Mk1 in a Battle of Britain battlefield scene. Now, firstly, yes, this particular aircraft is one that was flown by Al Steere when he crashed it on a Dunkirk beach so this aircraft did not see service in the BoB but that's not important for this experiment.

This is the picture it produced.

View attachment 183741

The model is depicted well but the aircraft shown in the background both on the ground and in the air are, to say the least, a bit 'iffy'.

Initially I decided that was it and I would not bother in future. I have rethought that and despite the problems it is a nice way to depict a model. So I will look to include a 'scene' among most of my pictures of WW2 aircraft. Do note, I only have the free version of Chat GPT and I am not sufficiently impressed to pay for it that means I am limited to how many times I can use it each day.

Another point, annoyingly after I did the one above, I tried it with a Bf109K but it didn't work, I suspect it's was because of the swastika.

What do you think?

I think a person should always make notice that AI was used. I used it for a diorama I had built- asked AI to create a sky in the background. It looked great. I do not notice any changes with my model but later I did notice it had altered my diorama- it looked way better. That was not my intention and I was disappointed it did that. I've also noticed if i make too many corrections AI gets confused so sometimes I end up starting with a new thread to get what I want. I use AI a lot now. But not for backgrounds. I will ask for information such as what colors to use. Or ask it to show me "a BF 109 in canary yellow" so I can see what an idea I have might look like. I've also asked AI for feedback on something I'm doing and find it to be helpful. It does make mistakes though so I don't recommend asking it for information unless you have a good idea what the answer should be. I can't tell how many times I've told AI it was wrong and it responded with "Good catch! You are correct…" hmm, my wife never says that.

 

[Edbert]

I've told AI it was wrong and it responded with "Good catch! You are correct

Nice that you noticed that!

It is a general part of their programming that it is beneficial to "soothe human egos", or, in other terms "flatter you".

 

[Ron2]

Nice that you noticed that!

It is a general part of their programming that it is beneficial to "soothe human egos", or, in other terms "flatter you".

Yes I've noticed the program is very complimentary! Not fooling me AI!

 

[BarryW]

My own conclusion is that I will get one or two of my photos put into an AI background in future. Hopefully the background will improve and perhaps I might learn how to better instruct Chat GPT to achieve a better result. A useful tool but it has many dangers and pitfalls.

 

[Ron2]

My own conclusion is that I will get one or two of my photos put into an AI background in future. Hopefully the background will improve and perhaps I might learn how to better instruct Chat GPT to achieve a better result. A useful tool but it has many dangers and pitfalls.

Let me share a couple of examples. This is the diorama I made.

 

[Ron2]

Let me share a couple of examples. This is the diorama I made.

This is the first background AI created after I asked it to add sky to the background. Pretty cool but hardly my diorama! Haha.

 

[Ron2]

This is the first background AI created after I asked it to add sky to the background. Pretty cool but hardly my diorama! Haha.

This where I ended. But if you notice it improved my landscape

 

[Glenn S]

Interesting discussion about AI.
From what I'm told, and read, AI is going to take over all our jobs.
My wife thought she would take advantage of AI's ability to do all the work.
Now that the snow has mostly melted in our backyard she was going to get AI to pick up a winter's worth of dog poo. Regrettably, AI wasn't able to pick up dog poo. So, I got to keep my job!

 

[Ron2]

Interesting discussion about AI.
From what I'm told, and read, AI is going to take over all our jobs.
My wife thought she would take advantage of AI's ability to do all the work.
Now that the snow has mostly melted in our backyard she was going to get AI to pick up a winter's worth of dog poo. Regrettably, AI wasn't able to pick up dog poo. So, I got to keep my job!

I've seen two offices switch over to an AI "receptionist" for phone calls, make that three. The one was so annoying, it was as if the computer was stuck on a loop- like a broken record. I'm concerned about how it's going to impact jobs- and except dog poop scoopers, AI is smart enough to avoid learning that skill!

 

[BarryW]

I did another today and this is how it turned out, probably the best yet. The model is the 1/32 Trumpeter Avenger

 

[Edbert]

From what I'm told, and read, AI is going to take over all our jobs.

I believe that will be true for many white-collar office jobs. Even highly skilled jobs in science or legal and of course infotech including programmers/coders.

It is not true that there will no longer be humans working in those fields, just not as many and maybe far fewer.

If you work in a trade there's less threat. Automation might eliminate many factory jobs, most automakers are using robots for a long time now, and self driving car tech is improving fast. But if you are a carpenter, plumber, HVAC, electrician working in the field you're probably safe for the foreseeable future.

 

[blakeh1]

These are all great. I had always tried to convey certain things through the camera with either perspective tricks, removing background etc.. but it is really hard get certain effects. Seeing what you guys have done made me want to give it a try to go to the next step if you will

quick first time was simply asking to replace the background with the model planes flying over the pacific ocean

this a picture of a 1/48 model alongside of a 1/72 one to evoke a forced perspective type of image

this is what it came up with this

not, bad but they looked pretty out of scale for the water, so I asked it to make them higher in the air and add a horizon with some clouds

better for sure, but still needs some refinement to make the planes look like they are more integrated in the "air haze"

so I instructed it
make the propellers look like they are spinning fast, and add less contrast between the planes and the background

and it came up with this, which while not perfect integration, looks pretty impressive for a free chatgpt generation

 

[blakeh1]

not quite as good results, I asked it to remove the hand holding the planes and make the ocean look more realistc

so original untouched picture apart from cropping...

and it's first attempt which it did a good job removing the hand, but the waves are a bit comical

so I asked it to try making the waves look more in scale with the ship so the ship looks bigger, and it gave me this, not really any better or worse, just different

And I have reached the free image generation limit for the day and have to wait until tomorrow for it to reset lol

 

[BarleyBop]

Very cool. Have to admit it adds a whole other dimension!

 

[blakeh1]

tried copilot this time

asked it to fill in the ocean around the model ship, and add spinning propellers to the plane

It actually detected it a b-25!

The updated image now features spinning propellers on the B-25 bomber, adding a dynamic sense of motion to the scene. Let me know if you'd like to animate the ocean or add more aircraft in flight

 

[blakeh1]

totally different genre, but I had some pictures of Star Wars stuff where I was experimenting with light and camera setting trying to produce a black background naturally without any photoshop type manipulations

I had varying success, trying to set up certain scenes by having models on black music book stands and getting bright lights to shine on the models, while leaving the background dark and out of focus, but due to limited space/distance from the camera it never fully worked out and you could often see the background etc..

I'd essentially wind up with this, then try to crop off the sides leaving just the dark

So having AI be able to remove the backgrounds has been opened a whole new world

 

[BarleyBop]

...like how you find real world lighting situations to emulate the scenarios you have in mind!