Cover Art Resources

melchi

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I have two stories on this site, one has a comm that I paid for and one has an AI generated cover. The one with a cover that I paid an artist to make has way less views.

I paid another artist to make a cover for the second novel but they ghosted me. I asked the first artist for help with another comm but got radio silence.

There is a _VERY_ important factor not being factored in and that is how can a writer overcome their roadblocks. Saying "git gud" at making your own covers is very asinine.

As with all things, keeping the main thing the main thing is an age old business practice. If someone is here to write fictions then the less distraction they have to that the better.
 

greyliliy

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No?

I wouldn't stop using AI,
I didn't say you had to. I'm providing resources for people who may not have known it's an option.
If most of the writers here didn't have AI to make their covers, they would steal images from anywhere with google help.
That is also, bad, yes.
They may use some art at the base for the training purpose, but guess what? That how real artist trained too
They are not even remotely similar processes.

Why AI Models are not inspired like humans.
I have two stories on this site, one has a comm that I paid for and one has an AI generated cover. The one with a cover that I paid an artist to make has way less views.
Your paid cover looks objectively better, but your story summary starts with a statement note about what it is instead of a story summary.

The AI cover has an actual story synopsis, albeit a short one.

The covers are not the reason for the discrepancy in popularity.
 
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Tyranomaster

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House MD is a modern hospital AU of the Sherlock Holmes formula. :P
All modern stories are just AU of the epic of Gilgamesh.
Improved safety regulations for industrial automation would be good, yes. I also disagree with unnecessarily dangerous working environments in the name of profit.

And funny enough, I do follow some tailors on social media that lament the encroaching death of the trade due to fast fashion and unethical labor practices.

AI Art isn't causing the harm that industrial machinery does, but it does cause harm. I can care about both.

And again, you and everyone else are free to do as you like.
Allow me, someone who worked in the industry, was trained in safety practices, and was both MSHA and OSHA certified to inform you of some facts about modern industry in the US.

Almost all of the deaths are user error. The machines are pretty much as safe as they can get, and while perhaps 10-20% could be solved with further safety regulation, the issue is that humans get complacent in their environments, and do something dangerous, resulting in death. The only way to save those people is to use automation to take their job away, so they are no longer in that dangerous environment, or remove the factory entirely.

It's not a matter of "in the name of profit" I've been in well over 50 different plants from 20 different companies. Many of them were co-op ethanol plants. The reason they exist is literally because people continue to consume what they make, as they operate on razor thin margins. If you, the consumer didn't buy any of their products, they wouldn't exist. Simple as.

You can care about both, but please actually be informed about both, instead of just choosing to consume talking points about why x is bad, or why we need to fix y.
They are not even remotely similar processes.
In fact, the way the current iteration of AI training works for artwork and language, it does work basically how humans learn, to a terrifying degree. It's basically a neural network, simulated by large matrices of linear equations which function in a similar manner to how brains and neurons grow connections. It's then given millions of images, and told what is "good replication" vs "bad replication", adjusts it's parameters, and repeats.

Many artists practice by saying, "I'm going to try to replicate one picture every day, until I'm good at it." This is almost exactly the same process. Like, it's so similar, that if GPT figures out how to deal with the memory issue (basically develop a hippocampus for the AI), then I'd argue they need to be covered under certain human rights laws.

In that article the person writing it literally says, "But first and foremost (and for those who may not know me) I am not a AI engineer, a neurologist, a scientist or a lawyer." Hey, I'm vastly underqualified to say this, but my opinion is...

Again, I've worked in automation, and double majored in mathematics. So I can at least read and understand the technical documents for a lot of these things.

I didn't say you had to. I'm providing resources for people who may not have known it's an option.
This is absolutely fair.

For those who want to learn more about making quality AI art.
 

greyliliy

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Never saw a good AI art. Got it. *thumbs up* And? Both are still based on someone else's work.

P.S. I'm not against alternatives, I don't even use AI.
I see plenty of good AI art. It's copying from amazing artists.
All modern stories are just AU of the epic of Gilgamesh.
This is an insult to Journey to the West and Seven Samurai, thank you.
The only way to save those people is to use automation to take their job away, so they are no longer in that dangerous environment, or remove the factory entirely.
I am not arguing for the elimination of all automation.

Many tools and machines are great, I just don't believe Generative AI is one of them in its current state.
Again, I've worked in automation, and double majored in mathematics. So I can at least read and understand the technical documents for a lot of these things.
I'm glad!

Honestly, if Generative AI was trained entirely on opt-in, voluntary submissions, I wouldn't have as many complaints. But it isn't, and until the technology can function without obscene amounts of theft, I will continue to chose not to use it.
 
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Tyranomaster

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Honestly, if Generative AI was trained entirely on opt-in, voluntary submissions, I wouldn't have as many complaints. But it isn't, and until the technology can function with obscene amounts of theft, I will continue to chose not to use it.
This depends on your definition of theft. If I look at images already posted on web, just look, is it theft? The images are already there.

If an actual artist then used those images to practice their drawing, and only practice their drawing, is it theft?

What if that artist then later makes original work. Is that now theft?

Basically, we've already agreed none of that is theft as a society, but when an engineer decides to do it, suddenly it's theft. Discrimination at it's finest.
 

greyliliy

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This depends on your definition of theft. If I look at images already posted on web, just look, is it theft? The images are already there.
AI isn't just looking, and you know it.
If an actual artist then used those images to practice their drawing, and only practice their drawing, is it theft?
If you're using it for reference to improve your skills, no. Tracing for practice can be a good way to learn, and drawing from reference is essential to learning.

If you copy it exactly and then sell it, yes. It's a Copyright violation.
What if that artist then later makes original work. Is that now theft?
If one uses the techniques and skills they learned from references to make something new, no it isn't theft.

And again: If you copy it exactly and then sell it. It's a Copyright violation.
Basically, we've already agreed none of that is theft as a society, but when an engineer decides to do it, suddenly it's theft. Discrimination at it's finest.
If someone made a collage using other people's art and sold it, they would likely also be charged with Copyright violations.

With that, I'm pretty sure we've both said our peace.
 

Tyranomaster

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With that, I'm pretty sure we've both said our peace.
So we agree, if the AI art bears no immediate resemblance to other art, it's absolutely fine, and everyone has no reason to be concerned with it. Got it.
 

greyliliy

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greyliliy

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If you trace art and sell it, it's a Copyright violation.

Tracing to learn. Great!

Tracing and then claiming the art is entirely yours. Theft! :D
Good artists copy, and great artists steal. Seems to me like AI is a great artist.
Part of why it's so insidious.

At least when artists steal from each other, they usually give credit or name their inspiration.
 
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