AI vs reality. (1 Viewer)

[villagehorse]

Just interested in what forum members feel about using AI or photo shop etc, in creating a scene. Obviously it’s possible these days, to take just images of TS and the like and simply transpose them on an artificial surface/background. By doing this, whilst looking really good, it sort of negates the idea of collecting. I am happy to crop my photos, but prefer to use backboards and terrain mats and sometimes at best try to hide figure bases. Maybe that’s old fashion these days. I guess there can be a compromise to use some of each method , but the line seems to me to be blurry on how much is too much. So where to you guys draw the line if you decide to post a TS scene? Robin.

 

[wayne556517]

I think it's ok to remove background but I'm finding editing in my own picture is more fun and does less alterations to original pic.
If you use AI to much it alters your original picture to much, but it can be fun and pretty simple for great results.
Not a fan of moving, walking, talking etc but static effects can add a bit more realism.

 

[Horus]

Interesting question Robin.
Whilst I enjoy looking at other collectors photos that have an AI element as it can make a scene more realistic, such as the weather effects Wayne sometimes adds to his photos which add realism, such as the rain effected he added a few years back to a Battle of Long Tan scene I did. It really took it to a new level.
I like you don't do anything other with my photos than basic photo shopping like lightening or darkening a scene, and the background is the only artificial thing, often being a photo from the Internet, since the right background can really help set the scene for the story you're telling with your diorama, with different levels of realism, depending on our skill levels, and there are some very accomplished modellers out there whose diaramic displays are works of art.
Think of the photos Victor posted yesterday in a different thread of a modellers competition in Malaysia, each entry brilliant in its own right, and those that had an appropriate background behind them really took their entries to a higher level in my opinion.

Though of course many of us have neither the room or inclination to make dioramas and are more likely to invest the time doing one, if it's going to be on display until a time we decide to do something else.
if you are wanting to just show off the Toy Soldiers or Vehicle, then no background or ground work is necessary, and we all have our own thoughts.

Using AI to improve a scene can certainly make a difference assuming of course that you have spent time learning how to use it and become familiar with it because it's something that interests you and you feel it can help you with what you're trying to achieve, it only does it as a picture, it doesn't do anything to someones entry at a modellers competition at least as yet. Perhaps it will in the future, but that would be just mean making a new category.

 

[villagehorse]

Remember this one Steve, Wayne did such a good job on this scene using a rain effect for the rubber plantation, so appropriate. I would have used this one myself if I had it. Robin.

 

[Horus]

Remember this one Steve, Wayne did such a good job on this scene using a rain effect for the rubber plantation, so appropriate. I would have used this one myself if I had it. Robin.

Yes, it really added to the scene by conveying the misery of the whole thing with nature adding its finishing touches.

 

[Desertkiwi]

I think it's ok to remove background but I'm finding editing in my own picture is more fun and does less alterations to original pic.
If you use AI to much it alters your original picture to much, but it can be fun and pretty simple for great results.
Not a fan of moving, walking, talking etc but static effects can add a bit more realism.

 

[Panzer ace]

Great stuff online via a forum viewers etc., however it falls short in reality when you look at your own displays in-person.

 

[fmethorst]

As someone who has created scenes for over 15 years I have a bit of experience with this subject.

Early on, I didn't have backgrounds or groundwork so I tried extracting foregrounds from pictures and pasting them onto pictures I found online. For me, it was way too much work to try to get lighting correct and clean up all the artifacts. I eventually stopped using the digital backgrounds and switched to large pictures (72" x 24"). I hung these on the wall behind my scene. These were much easier to work with. You still have to light the scene correctly to ensure it matches the background, but this is part of the composition process anyway. Cleanup is much easier now, as it involves removing any reflections from the picture.

Once I had some decent sized ground work, things became even easier. Essentially place the figures/models/accessories in the various places and shoot. Scene cleanup consists of digitally painting out any figure bases, removing any background reflections, and digitally extending any part of the scene missing background or groundwork. For instance, if you shoot a low angle obliquely across your groundwork, you will often be missing a portion in the front or corner of the picture. This can be digitally filled in (particularly these days with AI). The other option is a tighter crop,, but this can result in an unbalanced picture. This is the reason, all my groundwork is setup on an angle, to reduce having to shoot obliquely across it.

Occasionally I will layer in some fog, essentially consecutive layers of translucent grey (10% opaqueness) with increasing foreground excluded.

Aside from that, I reduce color saturation and tweak brightness and contrast. Lastly I apply some sharpening, which helps with shallow depth of fields.

In the following pic, I used AI to assist filling in the leaves in the bottom right corner of the picture (in front of the plants) as that was the edge of the groundwork. It took many tries and I still had to manually adjust the result I kept. This allowed me to maintain the image composition.

 

[Louis Badolato]

Frank,

You have long been the master of toy soldier photography!

 

[mestell]

I'm very impressed with what AI can contribute to our hobby. There are some truly masterful members here who have shared some stunning results, such as Rafael. His creations are incredible looking and what he posts on the JJD collectors Facebook group are even totally animated with sound. I have even played around with it myself trying to animate my own photos but at a very basic elementary level using the AI photo editing feature on my Pixel Pro-10 Android phone. With all that said though, AI is not something I want to really pursue. To have all the capabilities of AI at your disposal usually requires a subscription to a service that I'm not willing to invest in. I enjoy creating my own permanent displays and that's good enough for me.
Mike

 

[Desertkiwi]

Like any tool AI has its place and it’s fun to see those members willing and able to use it and share the results. It does take the hobby to a new level of interest and who knows may even attract new collectors.

From a personal perspective I have no real desire to use it and quite happy throwing together something on a base and having a play with a background, a few figures, a building and maybe a vehicle or two.

 

[wayne556517]

I also like when the "Toy soldier" part of the diorama isn't lost, realistic with the TS twist.
I've just purchased some old fields of battle sets I have wanted for years and they will need an AI background added to my idea I've had in mind for years.

 

[Panzer ace]

I enjoy the photos and displays that use AI.

However…..

It all reminds me of when people airbrush their faces and put a mansion in the background for their Christmas cards.

Then I go to their house for dinner and realize they are old and live in the suburbs.