Scaling Midjourney AI art for PRINT with Topaz Labs Gigapixel

Dan Catt
23 Jun 202212:05

TLDRThe video explores the synergy between Midjourney AI, which generates images from text, and Topaz Labs Gigapixel, an AI that upscales images. The creator discusses the benefits of printing digital art and demonstrates how to enhance small AI-generated images for print quality using Gigapixel AI. The process involves training on photographic subjects to intelligently upscale images, resulting in high-quality prints without the need for powerful computing resources. The video concludes with a comparison of the AI upscaled image versus a standard Photoshop enlargement, highlighting the superior quality of the former.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Midjourney AI is a machine learning system that turns words into images.
  • 📈 Topaz Gigapixel is an AI designed to upscale images, making them suitable for larger prints.
  • 🖼️ Printing digital art can provide a different connection to the work and reveal details not seen on screen.
  • 🌲 Midjourney AI generates images by creating and scoring thousands of tiny pixelated versions of an image, then scaling up the most accurate one.
  • 🚀 The process of generating images with Midjourney AI is computationally expensive, resulting in small images that look good on screens but not for print.
  • 📏 A typical image from Midjourney AI is small (2048x1024 pixels) and not large enough for high-quality prints.
  • 🧩 Topaz Gigapixel AI can upscale images by 600%, which is useful for creating larger prints from smaller digital art.
  • 🏞️ Topaz Gigapixel AI has been trained on a variety of photographic subjects, which helps it in accurately upscaling images.
  • 🖌️ Photoshop and other general-purpose image software can upscale images, but specialized software like Topaz Gigapixel AI provides better results for print.
  • 📈 Using Topaz Gigapixel AI after generating an image with Midjourney AI can create high-quality prints up to 40 inches wide at 300 DPI.
  • 🌐 The combination of Midjourney AI for image creation and Topaz Gigapixel AI for upscaling is a powerful workflow for digital artists and photographers.

Q & A

  • What is Midjourney AI and how does it work?

    -Midjourney AI is a machine learning system designed to generate images from textual descriptions. It has been trained on numerous images and associated concepts, such as what a tree looks like across various artists' interpretations. The AI iteratively creates tiny images, scores them based on how well they match the target concept, and then scales up the most promising ones, filling in details until it produces a final image that fits the description.

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

    -Topaz Labs Gigapixel is another machine learning AI system specifically designed to upscale images. Unlike Midjourney AI, which generates images from text, Gigapixel's purpose is to enlarge images while maintaining or improving their quality. It has been trained on a variety of photographic subjects to effectively enhance image details during the upscaling process.

  • Why is printing artwork important for artists and photographers?

    -Printing artwork allows artists and photographers to see their work in a different light and under various conditions throughout the day. It provides a physical connection to the work that isn't present on a screen, and it can help spot details or issues that might not be as noticeable digitally.

  • How does Midjourney AI handle the computational expense of generating images?

    -Midjourney AI manages computational expense by starting with small images and generating hundreds or thousands of tiny pixel groups. It scores these based on how well they represent the concept and gradually scales up the most promising images, focusing computational resources on fewer versions as the process continues.

  • What are the limitations of the images generated by Midjourney AI in terms of size for printing?

    -The images generated by Midjourney AI are typically small, which is suitable for screen viewing but not for large-scale printing. Due to the computational expense of generating larger images, the AI produces smaller images that require upscaling for print purposes.

  • What are the typical methods for upscaling images for printing?

    -There are three common methods for upscaling images: 1) Letting the printer software scale the image up, 2) Using general-purpose image software like Photoshop to scale the image, and 3) Using specialized image scanning software like Topaz Gigapixel AI, which is designed specifically for upscaling images.

  • How does Topaz Gigapixel AI enhance the upscaling process compared to other methods?

    -Topaz Gigapixel AI enhances the upscaling process by using machine learning trained on hundreds of thousands of photos. It effectively fills in the details and enhances image features like landscapes and portraits, resulting in higher quality images compared to generic upscaling methods.

  • What is the significance of using archival quality ink and paper for printing?

    -Archival quality ink and paper are used for printing to ensure longevity and quality. They are designed to last for many years without fading, providing sharp details and vibrant colors. This is particularly important when printing pixelated images, as any imperfections will be more noticeable.

  • Can you provide an example of how Topaz Gigapixel AI interprets and upscales an image?

    -In the script, an example is given where a small, pixelated image of a landscape with a field of flowers, snow-topped mountains, fractal pink fluffy clouds, and spaceships is upscaled by Topaz Gigapixel AI. The AI interprets the pixels and fills in details to create a more realistic and detailed landscape, enhancing the image quality for printing.

  • What is the practical size range for printing images upscaled by Topaz Gigapixel AI?

    -Topaz Gigapixel AI can upscale images up to 600 percent, taking an original image to over 12,000 pixels wide. At a standard printing resolution of 300 DPI, this allows for prints as large as 40 inches or about a meter, which is suitable for most display purposes.

  • How does the video creator suggest chaining AI systems for optimal image generation and upscaling?

    -The video creator suggests using the AI system best suited for the initial image generation and then chaining it with a specialized upscaling AI like Topaz Gigapixel. This approach allows for efficient use of computational resources and results in high-quality images suitable for large-scale printing.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Harnessing AI for Art: Mid Journey and Topaz Gigapixel

The video discusses the integration of two AI systems: Mid Journey, an AI designed to create images from textual descriptions, and Topaz Gigapixel, an AI specialized in enlarging images. The speaker is a fan of printing digital artwork and believes it offers a deeper connection to the work. Mid Journey is trained on numerous images and can generate concepts like 'a tree' or 'a tree by Jeff Koons'. It starts with tiny pixel images and iteratively refines them to match the desired concept. However, due to computational constraints, the output images are small and not ideal for printing. The speaker explores the possibility of printing Mid Journey's AI-generated images and discusses the limitations of scaling up these images using standard software versus specialized AI like Topaz Gigapixel.

05:00

🖼️ Scaling AI Art for Print: Comparing Methods and Results

The speaker compares different methods to scale up AI-generated images for printing. They mention that using a printer's software or general image editing tools like Photoshop to scale images up can result in pixelation and loss of quality. In contrast, Topaz Gigapixel AI, which is trained on photographic subjects, can upscale images effectively by filling in pixels in a way that maintains the essence of the original scene. The video demonstrates how Topaz Gigapixel enhances an AI-generated landscape with fields, flowers, clouds, and spaceships, turning a few pixels into a detailed and printable image. The speaker then compares the results of scaling up using Photoshop and Topaz Gigapixel, showing the superior quality of the latter.

10:09

🎨 Utilizing AI Chains for Enhanced Artwork Printing

The video concludes with the speaker's recommendation to use AI chains for generating and scaling artwork. They suggest starting with an AI like Mid Journey to create an image and then using a specialized scaling AI like Topaz Gigapixel to enlarge the image for high-quality printing. The speaker shares their personal experience with Topaz Gigapixel, emphasizing that they are not sponsored and pay for the software themselves. They demonstrate the impressive results of scaling an image up to 12,000 pixels wide, suitable for printing at a large size. The video ends with the speaker expressing gratitude for their growing subscriber base and announcing a temporary break due to a holiday, promising to return with more content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Midjourney AI

Midjourney AI is a machine learning system designed to generate images from textual descriptions. It is trained on a vast array of images and associated concepts, allowing it to create visual representations based on user input. In the video, the creator uses Midjourney AI to produce images of various subjects, such as a tree by Jeff Koons, demonstrating how the AI interprets and visualizes abstract concepts based on its training data.

💡Topaz Labs Gigapixel

Topaz Labs Gigapixel is a specialized machine learning AI system that upscales images to create higher resolution versions. It is trained on a diverse set of photographic subjects to intelligently fill in details as it enlarges images. In the context of the video, Gigapixel is used to scale up the small images generated by Midjourney AI, making them suitable for print without losing quality.

💡Print

Print, in the context of this video, refers to the process of creating physical copies of digital artwork or photographs. The speaker emphasizes the importance of printing work to appreciate it under different conditions and to spot details that may not be evident on a screen. The video explores how AI can be used to enhance the quality of images for printing purposes.

💡AI System

An AI system, or artificial intelligence system, is a software that performs tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as recognizing patterns, learning from experience, and making decisions. In the video, two AI systems are discussed: Midjourney AI for image generation and Topaz Gigapixel for image upscaling, both of which are used in conjunction to create high-quality printable images.

💡Image Generation

Image generation is the process by which an AI creates new images based on input data or instructions. Midjourney AI exemplifies this by turning textual descriptions into images. The video script illustrates this with examples like generating an image of 'a tree by Jeff Koons,' showcasing how the AI uses its training to interpret and create visual content.

💡Upscaling

Upscaling refers to the process of increasing the resolution of an image, typically to make it larger without losing quality. Topaz Gigapixel AI is specifically designed for this purpose, as it upscales images generated by Midjourney AI to a size suitable for printing, as demonstrated in the video when comparing the results of upscaling with and without Gigapixel.

💡Pixels

Pixels are the smallest units of a digital image, and they determine the image's resolution. The video discusses the importance of pixel density for printing, mentioning that a higher pixel count allows for larger prints without visible pixelation. The script uses the term to explain the limitations of the original AI-generated images and how upscaling improves them.

💡Archival Quality

Archival quality refers to the longevity and durability of printed materials, such as photographs and art prints. In the video, the creator mentions printing on archival paper with archival ink, which ensures that the prints will not fade for many years, thus maintaining their quality over time.

💡Computationally Expensive

Computationally expensive refers to processes or tasks that require significant computational power or resources. In the context of the video, generating high-resolution images with AI is described as computationally expensive due to the need for creating and evaluating numerous image variations, which is why the AI-generated images are initially small.

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a subset of AI that enables computers to learn from and make decisions based on data. Both Midjourney AI and Topaz Gigapixel utilize machine learning to perform their tasks. The video explains how Midjourney AI has been trained on images to understand concepts and generate new images, while Gigapixel has been trained to recognize and enhance photographic subjects.

Highlights

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

Topaz Gigapixel is an AI system designed to upscale images effectively.

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

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

Midjourney has been trained on a variety of images and artist styles.

The AI generates images by creating and scoring tiny pixel groups.

Midjourney's process involves iterative scaling and scoring to refine the image.

Computational expense limits the size of images Midjourney can generate.

Small images are not ideal for printing larger formats.

Gigapixel AI can upscale images without the need for extensive computational resources.

Gigapixel has been trained on photographic subjects, enhancing its ability to upscale images.

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

Photoshop's scaling capabilities are outperformed by Gigapixel AI for AI-generated images.

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

The video demonstrates a practical application of combining AI systems for art creation and scaling.

The author is not sponsored by Topaz Labs and independently chose the software for its effectiveness.

A trial version of Topaz Gigapixel AI is available for users to test its capabilities.