Reviewing Leonardo.ai

App.leonardo.ai is an innovative Image content generation process assisted by a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) offering a wide range of features and capabilities.

The interface is modern, very much inspired by discord in the Web 3.0 style

In terms of performance, app.leonardo.ai delivers impressive results. For people not able to run SD at home, Leonardo is a good way to access several good quality models such as SDXL, RPG4, RealisticVision, Dreamshaper, etc ...

To access Leonardo.Ai, you can simply sign up by visiting their landing page and clicking on the ‘Create an account‘ or ‘Start using Leonardo‘ button. 

If this is your first time signing up, enter your first name and email and click the ‘Count me in’ button to be added to the early access waiting list. 

However, if you’ve already been granted access, you can click the ‘Yes, I’m whitelisted’ button which will take you to the web-app login.

Generating images will cost tokens (and the daily amount is 150) by tweaking the settings generating can cost as low as 1 token (disabling Prompt Magic, and Alchemy) otherwise a generation can cost 16 token, on a free plan all generated images will be made public.

An access to the community pages will list all generated images and if one catch your eyes it can be used as a base for a remix, or img2img ; other options such as 'remove background' or 'upscale' are also available.

Here is an example of a generated image:

with this settings:

Full body Portrait of Beautiful toned Megan Fox, high quality illustration in post apocalyptic , muscular, messy hair, award winning photo shoot 

and model 'Dreamshaper v7'

Deviantart and AI Artworks

DeviantArt is a popular online platform that allows artists and creators to share their work with a global audience. 

The website has a vast collection of digital art, traditional art, photography, and other creative works, making it an excellent resource for inspiration and networking. 

DeviantArt also has a strong community aspect, with groups and forums dedicated to various art styles, mediums, and interests. This allows users to connect with like-minded artists, get feedback on their work, and collaborate on projects. 

Additionally, DeviantArt offers various tools and resources for artists, such as tutorials, stock images, and brushes, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and professionals. 

Recently with the AI trends DeviantArt has implemented an innovative approach to AI-generated artwork. The website has a feature called "AI Generated Art" that allows users to upload artwork that has been created with the help of AI algorithms. 

This includes artwork generated with neural networks, machine learning, and other AI techniques. The artwork is tagged as "AI Generated" and is given a unique copyright status, which allows artists to retain ownership of their work while acknowledging the contribution of the AI algorithms. This approach is designed to recognize the role of AI in the creative process while ensuring that artists are properly recognized and compensated for their work. It's an interesting and forward-thinking approach that highlights the potential of AI in the creative arts.

Overall, DeviantArt is a fantastic platform for artists and anyone interested in the creative arts, and is definitely worth checking out.

But there is this little trick I found quite useful, when wanting to credit an artist for a picture, after downloading an image, you will in the file name a code that can be pasted into an url shortener and get back to the place it was taken from.

for example this file 'just_a_cute_cat_in_a_red_bag_by_trumanbrown_dfjtqpo-pre'

correspond to this picture :

Like this picture

it contains this code 'dfjtqpo'

and when adding this code to the url shortener fav.me/

like so fav.me/dfjtqpo

you will be redirected to the creator's page 

Pretty neat

Art and Sponge bob

Training a lora (stable diffusion) [part 1]

Step by step Lora Training

Training a model is very demanding, and the result is a minimum 2GB file ; while a Lora (Low-Rank Adaptation) will be less than 150MB.

Where to start?

I would recommend this google colab link

Linaqruf/kohya-trainer/blob/main/kohya-LoRA-dreambooth.ipynb 

Step 1:

Requirements: The preparation of a set of images, and texts (dataset)

Another requirements is a google account (to use the colab link and google drive)

Each image and text's name must match - the size of the images should be 512x512 pixels 

It is convenient to use https://www.birme.net/ to resize the dataset.

For the text, best is to give a little description on each file, or to use the img2txt feature and get the terms directly from the AI.

 Only 5 images (and texts) are going to suffice, but 15 or more will make the model more reliable.

Once the dataset is complete, put these files into a folder with the number of repeats (5 or 10) and the concept (something like exp, or person, or Bcloth, etc ...)

Once ready add the datasets into the google drive

Step 2: 

Open the colab trainer

Go to github.com/linaqruf/kohya-trainer

and pick Kohya Lora Dreambooth

To be continued ...

InvokeAI Unified Canvas

There is a certain frustration that comes after generating AI artwork ; it feels like a lottery, some prompts will return great images (but with a little defect here and there) and then there are many failed attempts, where the images are just not good, partly out of frame, or simply with deformities, or artifacts (purple blotches, weird eyes, weird hands, etc ...)

Surely, this is normal, and AI artwork is still in its infancy, or at least early ages ; it is still impressive. but as an artist, you need a little more control than just changing a word here and there, and pressing 'run' or 'launch' and hope for the best.

In the coming year, there probably will be some kind of a sketch application, and AI will then improve the images (man made) ; instead of asking the AI to do everything, this is probably what will be the definitive step forward.

controlNet is going in that direction, by helping an AI or strongly suggesting a pose to start with.

It can be based on a sketch. And then there is invokeai, which offer an environment for the creative minds. 

Creating content is so easy now

Cartoonists, musicians, voice actors, and more broadly every artists or content creators are now in competition with AI generated contents.

This is a game changer, and we have not completely understood or contemplated how much of a revolution we are seeing emerging ... in early 2023

It took me less than 10 minutes to create a new super hero from scratch, write a backstory, and several scenarios, in less than a day, I could self publish an entire comic book featuring this new Dark violet super hero ...

I used lexica.art, dreamlike and stable diffusion to get a different artstyle

lexica.art is crazy good

exica.art/prompt

prompt:

highly detailed portrait of a sewer punk lady student, blue eyes, tartan hoodie, white hair by gustav klimt , art neuveau, atey ghailan, by greg rutkowski, by greg tocchini, by james gilleard, by joe fenton, by kaethe butcher, gradient yellow, black, brown and pink color scheme, grunge graffiti tag wall background

https://lexica.art/

Run Stable Diffusion with your mac in one click

Everything is easier on a mac

once again it is...

download at https://diffusionbee.com/

DiffusionBee needs:

• Apple M1/M2 
• 16GB or RAM
• macOS 12.5.1 on higher. 
• Machines with Apple silicon are recommended.

Tsu interview : Anna Lioce (aka MisaLioce)

Q1: Can you introduce yourself (give a short bio) ?

I live in South Italy and I am a geek girl.
I love drawing comics with my husband (he is my favorite writer) and watching SCI-FI and horror series (always with him).
I've been drawing since I was a little child and I hope one day to become a professional comic artist.

Q2: What convinced you to join tsu.co?

I joined tsu because I'm interested in new media (I am a graphic designer and Marketing expert too).

Q3: What are the main tools of your trade?

I use Manga Studio and Photoshop.

Q4: What are the biggest struggles you encounter as an artist?

People!! People thinking that drawing is something easy and/or stupid!

Q5: What are your visions of art for the future?

For me, art will be web-based and shared with the world and other artists, giving people the unique opportunity to know other cultures and way of expression

Q6: Where can we find you on the web?

twitter : https://twitter.com/Misa0027
tsu: http://www.tsu.co/MisaLioce
Ghostbusted comics : http://www.staynerd.com/nerdstuff/stay-nerd-comix-attenti-a-quaynerd-06-ghostbusted-finale/

Thanks for the interview Anna Lioce,

you can join her network at http://www.tsu.co/MisaLioce

Tsu interview : Sara Elena Meloni

Q1: Can you give a short bio?

Hi, my name is Sara, in art SEM. I'm 26 and I'm Italian.
I did art school and academy of fine arts, painting, but i learned much from internet, tutorial, and virtual friends.
Now I make portraits on commissions, I teach courses of portraiture and I participate in art exhibitions in Italy, mainly in my region.

Q2: What convinced you to join tsu.co?

I'm here on tsu (SaraElenaMeloni_SEM) because I like to see and communicate with people that have my same passion: art.
Others socials networks are more dispersive.

Q3: What got you into art?

I know many people related to me, artists and art lovers.
Art is also a cure for depression in this period of economic crisis that is not working.
Art makes us live. And I thank the art every day.

Q4: What are the required qualities of an artist?

Depends, there are many different kinds of art. It starts from the dialogue and technique. A right mix of technical ability combined originality, communication and imagination should be ideal for an artist.

Q5: What are your visions of art for the future?

I do not know. The art is in all parts of the world, art can help entire peoples through communication.
Unfortunately, many people are far from art, art should be more interactive, go to the people who does not know and help them to live better.
The art makes the person feel good.

Q6: Where can we find you on the web?

I try to follow many social networks and blogs, the main ones are:
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sara-Elena-Meloni-SEM/44426639607
instagram: https://instagram.com/saraelenameloni_sem_art/
tsu: http://www.tsu.co/SaraElenaMeloni_SEM
deviantart: http://sarameloni.deviantart.com/
youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Coq_n7tq2p-N5MyBnkETA
twitter: https://twitter.com/semmy888
and my blog: https://saraelenameloni.wordpress.com/
Thank you =)

Thanks for the interview Sara Elena Meloni,

you can join her network at http://www.tsu.co/SaraElenaMeloni_SEM

Tsu interview : Giuseppe Marinello

 

Q1: Can you give a brief biography? 

 I live and work in Italy, I was born in a small southern town. I drew as a child but my training course was a bit 'slow and tortuous. Mostly because coming from a small urban center did not have people with to appreciate the drawing. Only later, around 27 years old, I decided to attend a school to learn the techniques of film and cartoon storyboard.  

Then I worked many years in the field of video games as a 2D pixel artist and advertising. Meanwhile, I was also the assistant in a study that dealt with comics and this was useful because it taught me to never abandon the classical technique (pencil and ink) to draw. I have done many commercials and storyboards for video games, but the problem is that the storyboard is a just a "task" so no one will ever know that you drew those things. People find about it only when you have them on your own design, where is your signature.  

Q2: What convinced you to join tsu.co? 

 I joined (tsu.co) because I was looking for something different from the usual social media. A place to put my work and admire the work of artists from around the world, with no particular barriers. TSU, from this point of view, is ... perfect!  

Q3: What got you into art? 

 This is the most difficult question: I think it all starts from a desire to emulate. As a child, I admired the designs of Romano Scarpa of Mickey Mouse or John Romita Spider Man. Then you think ... "I want to draw too!". But then life is much more complicated and paths can be quite tortuous.  

Growing up, then I change the references. So then was born the love for the classics like Alex Raymond or Stan Drake with the synthesis of Alex Toth and charm for women designed by Leone Frollo. It means that everything is mixed, you look up to so many influences. Today my design is the sum of many things that I have looked and I have assimilated.  

Q4: What are the qualities required of an artist?  

First of all, I think that today it is very easy to be an "artist". Anyone can open a page on a social network and defined himself as such. So the first quality you need is humility. The design is a challenge every day against their limits.  

I've seen guys with great talent completely lost and unseen and people with no particular talent being perceived or sometime becoming great artists. Especially in the comic industry, talent serves relatively : if your starting skill is good, you're lucky but must be fed with the technique and continuous study. So in a nutshell the qualities are : humility, patience, tenacity, desire to improve without ever thinking of having arrived. 
  

 Q5: What are your visions for the future of art?  

Today the art, with the web, is available to everyone. Every day I can discover new talent. I recently fell in love with a Russian painter contemporary Serge Marshennikov.  
Does the wonder of touching the oil paintings on canvas be more Realistic. Without the web, possibly I would not have known this painter : then my hope is that it is easier to educate the new generations to the art, to ensure that its value is not lost and will always remain a heritage to protect. All art! From drawing, sculpture, painting, music ... without distinction!

In my specific future, however, we will be publishing on the number 3 of "Black Death" comic published in Italy by Edizioni Inkiostro. 
I'm running out of inking tables and can not wait to see it printed. 
Thanks for the questions and ... greetings from Italy!

Thanks for the interview Giuseppe, please excuse in advance if there are some error in the translation (my Italian is a bit "rusty" to say the least).

you can join his network at http://www.tsu.co/marin_x

Tsu interview : Melissa Falconi

Q1: Let’s start with the common question, if you can introduce yourself.

Hi, my name is Melissa, I'm 22, I come from Italy, and I'm an office worker but I don't really like my work so I decided to frequent a master's degree in graphic and web design.
I love everything related to art and design, I love drawing and this has been my passion since I was a child.
I wish my passion will help me to find a work regarding art.

Q2: How did you get into tsu.co

I joined Tsu thanks to a friend and I find this social very helpful for artist like me because I saw many of them that I never knew, thanks to the large sharing of artworks.
I also found pages that help artists to promote their art without asking money and I think it's a nice idea.

Q3: What got you into art?

I always had a big passion, I love watching people and the world around me to find every single detail.

Q4: What are the required qualities of an artist?

I don't know, but I think that an artist has to be inquiring, he has to be interested to discover and being persevering in order to improve his skills.
Heart, passion and fantasy mixed together will be the perfect formula for creating perfect artworks.

Q5: What are your visions of art for the future ?

I can't see what will happen but I really hope that art will help people to be more creative and to open their mind to the world.
I hope that art will be considered more important, especially in my country (Italy), where it's so hard to find a work related to it.
I think art is the essence of the human being and it would be perfect if everyone could express it and share colors with others.

Thanks for the interview Melissa,

you can join her network at http://www.tsu.co/Menny_F

Tsu interview : Andrea Giovagnoli

Q1: Let’s start with the common question, if you can introduce yourself.

My name is Andrea , I'm a graphic designer and video maker who has a deep love for everything related to art and graphics in general.
I have two cats and a dog, they are my passion and i also love the world of anime and manga.

Q2: How did you get into tsu.co

I joined Tsu.co because a friend of mine, an artist, showed it to me and i thought it could be fun.
Well i'm not an artist but i live thanks to my "artworks", but this is another story.
I love art especially Japanese art and i admire many of my artists friends.

Q3: What are the required qualities of an artist?

Heart and passion, nothing else.

Q4: What are your visions of art for the future ?

I really don't know what can happen, i'm an expert of viral marketing and i can say that augmented reality and social media marketing will be the future of advertising,
but nobody can say how art will change in the future and i think that this the reason of art being wonderful

Thanks for the interview Andrea

you can join her network at http://www.tsu.co/gara1978