Impressions - May/June 2024 - 47

they do. Art, photography and printing vocabulary words
go a long way with these tools.
* Don't be afraid to mix and match words in prompt sequences.
Even non-logical ideas can produce a result, sometimes an
amazingly good one.
* Play like a child with a new box of crayons. Just create.
* Google and a good thesaurus are your new best friends.
Look up words and try them.
* The best images usually come from remixing/editing the
results and pushing the images. You will often get good
results with the first attempt. However, four or five remixes
or some additional prompt edits can deliver results that are
nothing less than amazing.
* Set aside five or 10 minutes every day to try at least one new
thing. Consistent practice will deliver an understanding of
the tools. Try to create images you will use in your work.
* There are plenty of resources out there to help you. Watch
videos, read newsletters and articles or share ideas with
colleagues or friends.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
In addition to helping spur greater creativity, AI tools can help you
become more profitable. These platforms significantly reduce the
time required to generate artwork, allowing your creative team to
experiment and innovate. This efficiency can translate into cost
savings, higher throughput and the ability to produce that much
more work in a given day.
On the sales and marketing side, AI can allow your creative
team to create better images as well.
Without AI, a single elaborate design can take hours to create,
whereas that same job might be whittled down to 15 or 20 minutes
with AI. Next thing you know, those same projects and ideas
your shop never seems to be able to get to in a timely manner are
already slotted into your design schedule.
What's Possible
Although drawings, graphics, designs and logos represent the most
obvious kinds of designs that can be achieved, these kinds of AI
tools can be used for virtually any other image or collection of
images you can dream up as well. Think background textures, like
wood, stone, glass or concrete; useful creative nuggets like camouflage
or embroidered flowers; or even simple bandana patterns.
Do you need a doodad thingamabob to fill in a corner or add a
bit of funky weirdness to a design? You're now only a few words
away from something that might fit into whatever is floating
around in your head or doodled on a post-it note. A set of alien
icons? A plastic bobblehead lion in a football uniform? A 1950s
beach poster? Pretty much anything and everything is possible
with the right prompt words.
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
Uncle Ben from Spiderman was right. Just because you can do
something doesn't mean you should. Yes, you can use any artist,
corporation, public figure, logo, brandmark or idea as the basis
for your prompt sequence. The question, though, becomes, " Do
you own that or have you licensed the rights to use that piece of
intellectual property? "
No? In that case, slow down, partner! You're going to want to
curb your impulse to create images that could get you into legal
trouble. Granted, these tools will imagine and deliver anything
matching your prompt words. Micky Mouse? You bet. Mickey
A professional designer using these
new tools will create and iterate better
images than someone without that
kind of creative eye-it's only natural.
Mouse eating a taco with a side of guacamole? Coming right up,
all in under a minute.
The problem is this: using these kinds of images without permission
is a great way to you get yourself into a world of hurt with
an army of flesh-eating lawyers.
The Workflow With AI
Let's face it: we all use different tools and methods as part of own
design processs. Can I write a perfect workflow that matches what
you do in your business? Probably not. What follows, though, is
a generalized one that may spark an idea for how you can start
integrating AI into your work.
Project: Rockdale Blue Knights
Scope: Create a T-shirt design on a black shirt with the Rockdale
Blue Knights logo as a left chest and a knight image on the
back in an action pose. Add the Rockdale Blue Knights logo in
a matching color.
Shirt Color: Black
Screens: (Underbase White, PMS 7702 left chest) + (Underbase
White, Cool Gray 4, PMS 7702, White full back)
Workflow
1. Create a thumbnail idea of the Rockdale Blue Knights
back print. This will feature a standing knight with a battle
axe and a shield in the background, and the Blue Knights
logo centered in the foreground.
2. Go to an AI platform, like Midjourney.
3. Enter the prompts: Menacing knight, full plate armor, wicked
great axe, giant shield, dynamic action pose, ready for battle,
cinematic lighting, fantasy art style, detailed, textured, high
contrast, light blue reflections, black and white, isolated,
flat black background, -ar 3:4 -stylize 100 -v 6
4. Midjourney produces a series of images. Remix and work
the image until something is acceptable. Total time: 2 or 3
minutes.
5. Upscale and download.
6. Open in design software, such as Photoshop, Affinity Photo
or Corel Draw.
7. Edit the image to prep for separation. Total time: 10 minutes.
8. Add logo. Flatten and create a demo mockup. Total time:
1 minute.
9. Send to the client for proof.
10. Total time invested: 14 minutes.
11. After the client approves, separate the file. Total time: 5
minutes per color.
12. Total time for creation and art separation: 29 minutes.
Bottom line: with the help of an AI image creator, you'll be
able to knock out best-selling art that will make your customers
extremely happy. What are you waiting for? 
Marshall Atkinson is a veteran designer, custom apparel decorator, business
coach and principal of Atkinson Consulting, (atkinsontshirt.com). This past
year he launched the online " Midjourney: Elevating Print Creativity Newsletter. "
May/June 2024
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http://www.atkinsontshirt.com
Impressions - May/June 2024

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