The discussion of AI in synthwave is popping up again, so I feel like it's worth bringing up this back. I made this using a free stock photo and some pretty basic filters/overlays in Photoshop. I know not everyone has access to PS, but the point is more that you don't need AI to make cool images. - ThreadSky

patrickkingart.com • 3 days ago

The discussion of AI in synthwave is popping up again, so I feel like it's worth bringing up this back. I made this using a free stock photo and some pretty basic filters/overlays in Photoshop. I know not everyone has access to PS, but the point is more that you don't need AI to make cool images.

Reposted from Patrick King

Stock photo + 20 minutes in Photoshop. All human.

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thebitchdigital.com•2 days ago

it really sucks cause like you see the biggest names in synthwave posting AI cover art and AI music videos and most people don't care, and if they do care then most of them aren't speaking out about it. and if they are they're getting told to shut up and look at the palm trees.

thebitchdigital.com•2 days ago

and the blogs keep pushing them cause maintaining connections with the big names is more important than having morals, which gives smaller acts justification for doing it too, and now the scene is flooded with slop and *we* are the assholes for saying it's bad actually.

patrickkingart.com•19 hours ago

It really really is disappointing seeing big name synth artists using it because it's *very* obvious when it's AI, and to your point it's basically approval/encouragement of smaller artists to use it, leading to floods of melty, plastic-y slop

nightrazor.bsky.social•2 days ago

There's always https://Photopea.com if you want a decent add-supported version.

chassmith.bsky.social•2 days ago

Gimp is freely available

patrickkingart.com•2 days ago

Yep, I included it in the thread

krynis.ca•3 days ago

this especially important because Synthwave has sunch a strong signature aesthetic so when you use AI for that you know it is trained on artists who know you are and see you (artists like you)

krynis.ca•3 days ago

which is to say I'm sure you've seen plenty of AI stuff that was clearly trained on your stuff.

krynis.ca•3 days ago

not to mention how many people probably just literally use your art with their own logos on it (which is it's own unique issue with being a high profile artist in a scene)

patrickkingart.com•3 days ago

So thankfully (to my knowledge) the only instances of that were a few years ago when a couple of those accounts on Instagram that share synthy art without credit posted a couple of my things. A couple of friendly but firm DMs later and the issue was fixed.

krynis.ca•3 days ago

oh nice so I can assume most of the time I see your art (outside of random youtube stuff) it is probably with permission (or at least credit)

patrickkingart.com•3 days ago

Well now you've got me curious, where are you seeing my art?

patrickkingart.com•3 days ago

And also thankfully I don't think I've seen any of my stuff mixed into in any AI slop, which then bears the question is my stuff even good enough to be scraped 😂

krynis.ca•3 days ago

Hello imposter syndrome, interesting to see you here.

patrickkingart.com•3 days ago

To that end, I feel like at some point I should make a tutorial on how I made this image so folks can make their own as needed.

zedarkadia.com•2 days ago

As someone who makes heavy use of stock photos, I'd love something like that.

thermonuclearmusic.bsky.social•3 days ago

If you decide to do this, maybe use an open source app for the tutorial?

patrickkingart.com•2 days ago

For sure! Definitely want to make it as accessibility as possible. Now I just need to find the time to do it.

thermonuclearmusic.bsky.social•2 days ago

Ahhh yes. Time. My nemesis.

patrickkingart.com•2 days ago

Ok folks this is gonna happen. Not sure when but I'll make some tutorials for synthy art and put them on the SYNTHWAVE ULTRA channel. I'm thinking doing both Photoshop (since that's what I primarily use) and GIMP (since it's free). I'll do stuff like chrome text, neons, sunsets, photomanipulations

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