Sketch to AI Render Tools (That Actually Work)

Architecture for Thought
2 Jun 202311:21

TLDRIn this episode of Architecture for Thought, the host explores two AI-powered programs capable of converting hand sketches into photorealistic renderings. The first, PromeAI, is tailored for architects and product designers, offering a Sketch Rendering tool that uses ControlNet to maintain the original sketch's geometry. The host demonstrates the tool's capabilities by uploading a digital sketch and applying various styles and materials, such as 'Copper Metal,' to generate detailed architectural images. The second tool, MNML-AI, also targets architects and designers, providing a Sketch Image generator with options to refine the AI's output. The host appreciates the increased user control in these tools, which is essential for architects to integrate them into their workflow. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to experiment with these tools and share their creations.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The video introduces two AI programs that convert hand sketches into photorealistic renderings using ControlNet for image geometry locking.
  • ✍️ The presenter uses Tayasui Sketches for digital hand sketching, emphasizing the importance of sketching for quickly getting ideas down.
  • 🏡 The sketch featured is inspired by a competition brief from Icon, a 3D printing company, to design an affordable home for 3D printing.
  • 📲 For the AI rendering process, sketches should be devoid of color to work best with the tools mentioned.
  • 🚀 The first tool, PromeAI, is aimed at architects and product designers, offering features like Sketch Rendering, Erase and Replace, and Background Diffusion.
  • 🌌 PromeAI allows users to input prompts and select styles, offering options like Modern, European, Harmony, or Texture for the rendering.
  • 🔍 The Erase and Replace feature in PromeAI enables users to make specific adjustments to the AI-generated images, such as replacing elements like windows.
  • 🪟 The video demonstrates how PromeAI maintains the original sketch's geometry and design intent, even with added elements like glass windows.
  • 📈 The second tool, MNML-AI, also targets architects and designers, providing an AI image generator with options for architecture, interiors, and landscapes.
  • 💡 MNML-AI offers a prompt enhancer for better results with short prompts and allows users to omit unwanted features in the generated images.
  • 🔄 Both tools provide user control, which is crucial for architects and designers to trust and integrate these AI tools into their workflows.
  • 🔮 The presenter expresses excitement to see how users will utilize these tools, indicating the potential for creative and practical applications in design.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is an introduction to two programs that can convert hand sketches into photorealistic renderings using artificial intelligence.

  • What is the name of the app used for digital hand sketching in the video?

    -The app used for digital hand sketching is called Tayasui Sketches.

  • What is the purpose of using a sketch that is void of any color?

    -The purpose of using a colorless sketch is because most of the tools for sketch to photorealistic renderings require a void of color to accurately interpret the sketch.

  • What is the name of the first program discussed in the video for converting sketches to photorealistic images?

    -The first program discussed is called PromeAI.

  • What is the name of the second program mentioned for sketch to image conversion?

    -The second program mentioned is called MNML-AI.

  • What feature does PromeAI offer that allows users to modify parts of the generated image?

    -PromeAI offers an 'Erase and Replace' feature that allows users to modify parts of the generated image.

  • What is the significance of using ControlNet in the mentioned programs?

    -ControlNet is used to lock the image geometry and deliver the exact hand sketch in a photorealistic form, ensuring the AI tools maintain the designer's intent.

  • What is the 'Prompt Enhancer' feature in MNML-AI?

    -The 'Prompt Enhancer' in MNML-AI is a feature that works best with short prompts to improve the quality of the generated images.

  • What is the 'Redesign' level in MNML-AI?

    -The 'Redesign' level in MNML-AI is an upscale option that allows users to refine and enhance any of the generated images.

  • What does the video suggest about the future of AI tools for architects and designers?

    -The video suggests that future AI tools for architects and designers will focus on giving more user control, which is essential for integrating these tools into their workflows.

  • What is the importance of sketching in the context of AI tools for design?

    -Sketching is important as it allows designers to quickly get their ideas down on paper or digital medium, and AI tools that can convert these sketches into photorealistic renderings can better hold true to the designer's original intent.

  • What is the viewer encouraged to do if they are interested in more tutorials on sketching techniques?

    -The viewer is encouraged to leave a comment if they are interested in more tutorials on sketching techniques, and the channel may feature more concept and sketch work in future videos.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to AI Sketch Conversion Tools

The video begins with an introduction to two AI programs capable of transforming hand sketches into photorealistic renderings using ControlNet for image geometry locking. The presenter emphasizes the importance of maintaining the designer's intent and showcases a time-lapse of a digital hand sketch created using Tayasui Sketches. The sketch was inspired by a competition brief from Icon, a 3D printing company, which challenges designers to create a home under $99,000 that can be printed with their technology. The presenter discusses the use of various sketching techniques and tools, such as shadowing and effects, to add depth to the sketch. It is noted that for the AI rendering, the sketch should be devoid of color, which was only used for the presenter's understanding of depth and shadowing.

05:03

🏢 Exploring PromeAI's Sketch Rendering Tool

The presenter dives into the first program, PromeAI, which is tailored for architects and product designers. The focus is on the Sketch Rendering tool, with a brief mention of other features like Erase and Replace, Background Diffusion, and upcoming AI Outpainting and AI Chat Artisan. The presenter demonstrates how to use the tool by uploading a sketch and entering a detailed prompt for the AI to generate a photorealistic image. The tool offers various styles and options to customize the rendering, such as material changes from black concrete to Copper Metal. The presenter also explores the Erase and Replace feature to modify the storefront and glass sections of the sketch, noting the quick generation of options and the program's ability to maintain the original sketch's geometry and design intent.

10:08

📈 Testing MNML-AI's Sketch to Image Generator

The video moves on to the second tool, MNML-AI, which also appears to be designed with architects and designers in mind. The presenter selects the Sketch Image generator and uploads a sketch, providing a prompt for the AI to generate an image. The tool offers options like prompt enhancer, negative prompt, and redesign level for more control over the final image. The presenter notes that while the generated image deviates slightly from the original sketch's geometry, it offers a balance between user control and AI interpretation. The presenter acknowledges that future releases of similar tools are expected to provide even more control to users, which is essential for integrating these tools into architectural and design workflows. The video concludes with the presenter expressing excitement to see how viewers will utilize these AI sketch conversion tools.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡ControlNet

ControlNet is a technology mentioned in the video that is used to lock the geometry of an image, ensuring that the artificial intelligence tools can accurately convert hand sketches into photorealistic renderings. It is crucial for maintaining the original design intent in the transformation process. In the script, it is noted that both programs being discussed utilize ControlNet to deliver the user's exact hand sketch in a photorealistic form.

💡Photorealistic renderings

Photorealistic renderings are digital images that are created to closely resemble real-life photographs. They are generated through sophisticated software that simulates the behavior of light and materials to achieve a high level of detail and realism. In the context of the video, the host discusses how AI is being used to convert hand sketches into these types of renderings, which is significant for architects and designers who want to visualize their concepts with great accuracy.

💡Tayasui Sketches

Tayasui Sketches is an app used for digital hand sketching. It is highlighted in the video as the preferred tool for the host's digital sketching needs. The app offers a variety of tools, layers, and marquee tools that allow for copying and pasting parts of the drawing. It is used to quickly get ideas onto a digital canvas, such as an iPad, and is particularly useful for designers who want to maintain the spontaneity and creativity of hand sketching in a digital format.

💡3D printing

3D printing is a process of creating three-dimensional objects from a digital file. The host of the video expresses a passion for 3D printing and mentions a competition brief by Icon, a 3D printing company, to design a home that can be printed using their equipment. This ties into the broader theme of the video, which is about using technology to bring design concepts to life in innovative ways.

💡Sketch to AI image conversion

This refers to the process of converting a hand-drawn or digital sketch into a finished image using artificial intelligence. The video showcases two programs, PromeAI and MNML-AI, that are capable of this conversion. The process is important for designers as it allows them to quickly and effectively visualize their ideas in a more polished and realistic format.

💡PromeAI

PromeAI is one of the two programs featured in the video that specializes in converting hand sketches into photorealistic images using AI. It is described as being particularly useful for architects and product designers. The platform offers various tools, including Sketch Rendering, Erase and Replace, and Background Diffusion, which cater to the specific needs of creating detailed and accurate architectural visuals.

💡Erase and Replace

Erase and Replace is a feature within PromeAI that allows users to modify parts of their sketch that they are not satisfied with. By erasing certain elements and replacing them with others, such as changing a black concrete façade to a copper metal or adding large glass windows, users can refine their AI-generated images to better match their design vision.

💡MNML-AI

MNML-AI is the second tool discussed in the video, which also focuses on architects and designers. It offers an AI image generator that can take a sketch and convert it into a more realistic image. The platform provides options for controlling the outcome, such as using a prompt enhancer and a redesign level, which gives users more flexibility and control over the final image compared to other image generators.

💡Prompt enhancer

The prompt enhancer is a feature within MNML-AI that is designed to improve the quality of the AI-generated images by working best with short prompts. It can be unchecked if the user feels confident in crafting their own prompts, but for those who are less experienced, it can help guide the AI to produce more accurate and desired results.

💡AI concept generator

An AI concept generator is a tool that uses artificial intelligence to create design concepts based on user input. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a feature of MNML-AI that operates on chat GPT, suggesting that it can generate design ideas through a conversational interface, which could be a valuable asset for designers looking for inspiration or a starting point for their projects.

💡User control

User control refers to the ability of the user to influence and direct the output of the AI-based tools. The video emphasizes the importance of user control for architects and designers, as it allows them to trust and integrate these tools into their workflows. Both PromeAI and MNML-AI offer varying degrees of user control, which is seen as a positive development for the adoption of AI in the design industry.

Highlights

Two AI programs can convert hand sketches into photorealistic renderings using ControlNet to maintain image geometry.

The importance of preserving the designer's intent with AI tools is emphasized.

Digital hand sketching is considered a quick way to get ideas down, with the use of the Tayasui Sketches app.

The video features a time-lapse of digital sketching inspired by a 3D printing company's competition brief.

Sketching techniques and tools, such as shadowing and effects, are discussed for creating depth in sketches.

For the AI rendering process, sketches should be devoid of color.

PromeAI is introduced as a platform potentially geared towards architects and product designers.

PromeAI's Sketch Rendering tool allows customization with prompts and styles, such as 'European' for the best fit.

The Erase and Replace feature in PromeAI enables users to modify parts of the rendering they are not satisfied with.

MNML-AI is another platform that seems more focused on architects and designers, offering various tabs for different design aspects.

MNML-AI's Sketch Image generator provides user control over the generation of images from sketches.

The Prompt Enhancer in MNML-AI is designed to work best with short prompts and can be toggled by users.

Negative Prompts in MNML-AI allow users to omit unwanted features from the generated images.

The Redesign level in MNML-AI is an upscale option for refining generated images.

User control is identified as crucial for architects and designers to trust and integrate these AI tools into their workflows.

Future releases of Midjourney are expected to focus on giving more user control over prompt engineering.

The video concludes by encouraging viewers to explore and utilize these AI sketch to image tools in their design processes.