Scaling Midjourney AI art for PRINT with Topaz Labs Gigapixel

Dan Catt
23 Jun 202212:05

TLDRThis video explores the synergy between Midjourney AI, which generates images from text, and Topaz Gigapixel AI, a specialized image upscaling tool. The narrator discusses the benefits of printing digital art, demonstrating how these AI systems can work together to produce high-quality, large-scale prints. The process involves using Midjourney to create images and then enhancing them with Gigapixel for better detail and resolution, suitable for archival printing. The video also compares the results of scaling images with Photoshop versus Gigapixel, highlighting the superior quality of the latter for printing purposes.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 Midjourney AI is a machine learning system that creates images from text descriptions.
  • 🔍 Topaz Gigapixel AI is a specialized machine learning system for enlarging images without losing quality.
  • 🖼 The speaker advocates for printing digital artwork to appreciate it under different conditions and catch details not seen on screen.
  • 🎨 Midjourney AI has been trained on a variety of images and can generate images based on concepts like 'a tree' or 'a tree by Jeff Koons'.
  • 🌲 The AI's image generation process involves creating and scoring many small images, then scaling up the most representative ones.
  • 📈 The computational cost of generating high-resolution images is high, which is why the output images are typically small.
  • 🖼 Scaling up small images for print can be attempted with various methods, including printer software, Photoshop, or specialized AI like Topaz Gigapixel.
  • 🏞 Topaz Gigapixel AI is trained on photographic subjects and uses this knowledge to intelligently upscale images, making them suitable for print.
  • 🖼️ The speaker demonstrates the effectiveness of Topaz Gigapixel AI in enhancing the quality of an image generated by Midjourney AI for printing.
  • 📊 A comparison between scaling with Photoshop and Topaz Gigapixel AI shows the latter's superior ability to maintain image quality at higher resolutions.
  • 🌐 The speaker is not sponsored by Topaz Labs and purchased the software independently, emphasizing the practical use of AI for artists.

Q & A

  • What is Midjourney AI and what does it do?

    -Midjourney AI is a machine learning system designed to convert words into images. It has been trained on numerous images and can generate images based on descriptions or concepts provided to it.

  • What is Topaz Labs Gigapixel and how does it differ from Midjourney AI?

    -Topaz Labs Gigapixel is a machine learning AI system specifically designed to upscale images. Unlike Midjourney AI, which generates images from descriptions, Gigapixel's purpose is to enhance the resolution of existing images without losing quality.

  • Why is the author a fan of printing digital artwork?

    -The author believes that printing artwork allows for a different connection to the work, as it can be viewed under different conditions throughout the day. It also helps in spotting details and issues that may not be apparent on a screen.

  • How does Midjourney AI generate an image?

    -Midjourney AI starts by creating many tiny images with random pixels and then scores each one to see which looks most like the concept it's trying to represent. It selects the best one, doubles its size, fills in missing pixels, and repeats the process until it achieves the desired result.

  • What is the computational process like for Midjourney AI when generating images?

    -The process is computationally expensive because it involves generating hundreds or thousands of images with random pixels and then scoring them to find the best match for the concept. As the image size increases, the computational cost grows exponentially.

  • Why are the images generated by Midjourney AI small in size?

    -The images are kept small to manage computational costs. Midjourney AI generates smaller images and relies on the user to select the best one before committing to creating a larger version.

  • What is the typical size of an image generated by Midjourney AI and why might it be insufficient for printing?

    -A typical image from Midjourney AI might be around 2048 pixels by 1024. For printing, a resolution of at least 150 to 300 pixels per inch is needed. With such an image size, the maximum print size would be around 7 inches, which is often too small for wall-sized prints.

  • How does Topaz Gigapixel AI upscale images compared to general image editing software like Photoshop?

    -Topaz Gigapixel AI is specifically trained on photographic subjects and uses machine learning to intelligently upscale images, filling in pixels in a way that maintains the essence of the original subject. In contrast, general software like Photoshop may not have the same level of subject-specific intelligence and could result in a less accurate upscale.

  • What are the options for upscaling an image for printing purposes?

    -There are three main options: 1) Send the image to the printer and let the printer software upscale it, 2) Use general purpose image editing software like Photoshop to upscale the image, and 3) Use specialized image scanning software like Topaz Gigapixel AI, which is designed specifically for upscaling images.

  • What is the author's experience with using Topaz Gigapixel AI to upscale a Midjourney AI generated image?

    -The author found that Topaz Gigapixel AI significantly improved the quality of the upscaled image compared to using Photoshop. It was able to maintain details and the essence of the original image, making it suitable for printing at a larger size.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Combining AI Systems for Enhanced Image Creation and Printing

The script introduces two AI systems: Mid Journey, which generates images from textual descriptions, and Topaz Gigapixel, which upscales images. The speaker discusses the limitations of AI-generated images for print, which are typically small and pixelated. They propose a solution to combine these AIs to create high-quality, print-sized images. The process of Mid Journey's AI is explained, which involves generating and scoring numerous small images before scaling up the most promising ones. The computational expense of this process is highlighted, as is the need for a more efficient method to upscale images for print quality.

05:00

🖼️ Enhancing Print Quality with Topaz Gigapixel AI

The second paragraph delves into the capabilities of Topaz Gigapixel AI, which is specialized in upscaling images without the need for computationally intensive generation of multiple image variations. The speaker demonstrates how this software can enhance the quality of an AI-generated image, making it suitable for printing at larger sizes. They compare the results of upscaling using Topaz Gigapixel AI with those of a general image editing software like Photoshop, showing the superior performance of the former in maintaining image quality and details at larger sizes.

10:09

🎨 Utilizing AI Chaining for Artwork and Printing

In the final paragraph, the speaker summarizes the process of using AI systems in tandem for creating artwork. They suggest starting with an AI that generates images to a certain size and then using a specialized scaling AI like Topaz Gigapixel to upscale the image further for printing. The speaker emphasizes the practicality of this method for artists and photographers looking to print their work, and they also mention their personal experience with Topaz Labs' software, which they use and pay for independently. The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content and an announcement of the speaker's upcoming holiday break.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Midjourney AI

Midjourney AI is a machine learning system that specializes in transforming textual descriptions into visual images. In the context of the video, it is used to generate artwork based on concepts provided by the user, such as 'a tree by Jeff Koons.' The AI does not understand the actual concept of a tree but recognizes patterns in images that have been tagged with such descriptions, creating a unique interpretation of the request.

💡Topaz Labs Gigapixel

Topaz Labs Gigapixel is a machine learning AI system designed to upscale images, making them larger without losing quality. It is particularly useful for enhancing the resolution of images generated by AI like Midjourney, so they can be printed at a larger size suitable for display. The software is trained on a vast number of photographs, allowing it to intelligently fill in details and maintain the integrity of the upscaled image.

💡Print Size Images

Print size images refer to digital images that are large and high-resolution enough to be printed at a size that is visually appealing and maintains detail when viewed in person. The video discusses the challenge of scaling AI-generated images to a size suitable for printing, such as 20 inches by 10 inches, which is a common preference for displaying artwork.

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that enables computers to learn from and make decisions based on data. In the video, both Midjourney AI and Topaz Gigapixel utilize machine learning to perform their specialized tasks of image generation and upscaling, respectively. They 'learn' from existing datasets to create new content or enhance existing images.

💡AI System

An AI system, as discussed in the video, is a software application that uses artificial intelligence to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as understanding language, recognizing patterns, or creating art. The video features two AI systems, each with a distinct purpose: one for creating images from text and another for enlarging images.

💡Image Upscaling

Image upscaling is the process of increasing the resolution of an image, making it larger without losing detail or clarity. The video demonstrates how Topaz Gigapixel AI can upscale images generated by Midjourney AI, allowing them to be printed at a higher quality and larger size than would be possible with standard methods.

💡Archival Quality

Archival quality refers to the durability and longevity of printed materials, such as photographs or artwork. In the context of the video, archival paper and ink are used to ensure that the printed AI-generated images will not fade and maintain their quality for up to 200 years. This is important for artists who wish to create lasting physical copies of their digital work.

💡Pixels

Pixels are the smallest units of a digital image or display. The video explains that when an image is upscaled, the number of pixels increases, which can affect the image's clarity. The AI systems discussed in the video work with pixels, either generating new ones or intelligently filling in details to enhance the image's resolution.

💡Computationally Expensive

Computationally expensive refers to tasks or processes that require a significant amount of computing power or resources. The video mentions that generating AI images at a large scale is computationally expensive because it involves creating and evaluating numerous image variations to achieve the desired result.

💡DPI

DPI, or dots per inch, is a measure of spatial printing or video dot density. In the context of the video, a higher DPI (such as 300 DPI) is desirable for printing high-quality images where each inch of the print contains 300 individual dots. The video discusses the importance of DPI in relation to the size and quality of AI-generated images for printing.

Highlights

Midjourney is a machine learning AI system designed to turn words into images.

Topaz Gigapixel is an AI system for scaling up images.

Combining Midjourney and Topaz Gigapixel can create high-quality print-sized images.

Printing artwork provides a different connection to the work and reveals details not seen on screen.

Midjourney generates images by iteratively scoring and refining tiny pixel groups.

Midjourney's process is computationally expensive due to the generation of multiple image variations.

Scaling up images for print requires a resolution of at least 150-300 pixels per inch.

Topaz Gigapixel AI is trained on photographic subjects, making it adept at enhancing image details.

Gigapixel scales images without needing to generate multiple variations, unlike Midjourney.

Using Gigapixel on an AI-generated image results in a significant improvement in quality.

Photoshop's scaling capabilities are compared to Topaz Gigapixel, showing the latter's superiority.

Topaz Gigapixel AI can scale images up to 600 percent, resulting in large, high-quality prints.

The video demonstrates the practical application of using AI to enhance and scale digital art for printing.

The presenter has successfully printed AI-generated images using the combination of Midjourney and Topaz Gigapixel.

The video provides a tutorial on how to use AI for creating print-ready artwork.

The presenter emphasizes the value of printing digital art and the role of AI in enhancing the process.

The video concludes with a recommendation to try Topaz Gigapixel for scaling AI-generated art.