HOPE! Real Artists Can Triumph Despite the Rise of AI Art on Zazzle and Print-On-Demand - Here's How

[CreativeLeahG]

Hey there, fellow Zazzlepreneurs,

Having seen the wonderful 'organic' artworks of our recent contest winners I have been giving some thought to the rise of AI art on Zazzle and other platforms (there have been a few topics on Zazzle forum recently regarding AI Art), reflecting on the concerns of natural artists who create their own art with brush, pencil, chalk and pen. And I wanted to give some reassurance that this will come full-circle so that YOU once more hold the cards and have the greater value.

Before getting into it, let me emphasize that your concerns are valid, and they're shared by artists all over the world. There's a sense of unease, a feeling of 'will our art be overshadowed? Can our authenticity compete with AI?' These questions are entirely natural, and I hope to address them and provide some insights to help you navigate this evolving landscape.

Firstly, what is AI Art and why is it capturing the spotlight?

AI art, in simple terms, refers to artworks created with the assistance of artificial intelligence algorithms. These algorithms are programmed to analyze vast amounts of data, learn from it, and generate art based on the patterns and styles they've learned. This can range from creating entirely new pieces to imitating the styles of famous artists and lesser-known ones. The allure of AI art (for the buyer) is partly due to its novelty.

People are fascinated by the idea that a machine, a non-human entity, can produce something as deeply human as art. There's a curiosity to see what AI can create and how it mimics or deviates from human artistic expression.

BUT there is the flip side in that the buyer doesn't know (in all cases) that the art is NOT human-made. AI can now mimic watercolors which is one of the hardest (in my opinion) to recreate without it being a clear 'machine effort' and yet it is seemingly being accomplished.

A few key concerns

Competition with Machines: The very existence of AI-generated art raises the fear that you'll have to compete with machines for recognition and value in the art world. Will your art still be appreciated when AI art can be generated at the push of a button?

Devaluation of Creativity: There's a concern that AI art might lead to a devaluation of human creativity. If machines can replicate styles and techniques, what happens to the artistic uniqueness that has always been at the core of human-made art?

Loss of Artistic Identity: Artists often put a piece of their soul into their work. The worry is that as AI art gains prominence, you might feel a loss of identity or that your art no longer carries the same emotional depth.

Accessibility vs. Exclusivity: AI art, being digital, is incredibly accessible. It can be shared instantly, printed at will, and even modified with ease. In contrast, traditional art often carries an air of exclusivity, which might be jeopardized by the mass availability of AI-generated art.

Copyright and Authenticity: When AI generates derivative works, questions about copyright and authenticity arise. Who owns these new creations, and how do you prove the authenticity of the original work?

Artistic Integrity: Artists often have a vision and a message they wish to convey through their art. The fear is that derivative AI-generated art may not capture the essence and intention of the original piece.

Commercial Implications: If AI can create art that is similar to existing pieces, what happens to the value of the original art? Will it be perceived as less unique or less valuable?

It is a lot cheaper! Prices for graphics packs containing digitally generated art is ridiculously low. Thousands of images for under $10 and often with resale rights because the creator does not have the 'connection' to their AI art that a regular artist would due to it being created in seconds and they can recreate hundreds more in a single day. They themselves do not value their AI art.

These concerns are very real, and it's crucial to acknowledge them. AI's impact on the art world is undeniable, but it's also important to understand that there are ways to navigate this while retaining the essence of what makes your art unique.

Sounds impossible? It isn't!! Take a lesson from history!

One thing that has been a constant in the art world and how it holds the key to preserving the value of your art – scarcity.

The concept of scarcity is not new in the world of art. In fact, it's a principle that has been driving the value of artworks for centuries. The basic idea is that the rarer an artwork is, the more valuable it becomes.

Scarcity Facts

Historical Artifacts: Think about historical artifacts such as the Mona Lisa, the works of Vincent van Gogh, or Michelangelo's sculptures. Their value is immensely high not just because of their artistic excellence but also because they are one-of-a-kind pieces. There's only one original Mona Lisa, and that uniqueness adds to its mystique and value.

Precious Stones: Precious gemstones like diamonds, sapphires, and emeralds also operate on this principle. The rarer the stone, the more it's worth. Artificial diamonds may look the same, but they don't carry the same allure because they're not as scarce as natural diamonds.

Art Curation: Art curators have long known the power of scarcity. They limit the number of exhibitions, prints, or displays of a particular artwork to create a sense of exclusivity. This not only maintains the artwork's value but also builds excitement and anticipation among art enthusiasts.

So, how can you leverage the scarcity principle in the context of AI-generated art and derivative works?

One of the most significant advantages you have as artists and creators is the authenticity of your work. Make it a point to emphasize that your art is born from your personal experiences, emotions, and creative journey. Your customers will value the authenticity and uniqueness of your art.

You can do this via:

• Profile Bio
• Collection details
• Product description
• Craft a BIO-style Media image to accompany ALL your products! This is essential to let all your customers know that this art is hand generated and YOU are your own brand! Perhaps in the future Zazzle can implement a feature that will allow us to add a generic media image to ALL products or to those we select 'enmasse' to avoid the arduous task of trying to add retrospectively to thousands of products  @James ?
• Create Showcased Videos: Videos offer an intimate glimpse into your creative process. They allow your audience to connect with your art on a deeper level, seeing the passion and effort you put into every piece. It reinforces the idea that your art is organic and created with love and care.
• Add Your Signature: Your signature is not just a formality; it's a mark of authenticity. Sign your work, both physically and digitally. It's your personal stamp, a guarantee that each piece is a unique expression of your talent.  With the rise of AI art this is imperative! it will not devalue your art it will increase it's value.

In the face of AI-generated art and derivative works, remember that your originality is your greatest asset. Your art has a story, a depth of emotion, and a personal touch that AI cannot replicate. In an evolving art world, your work will continue to shine brighter, just as scarcity has always added value to artistic treasures. Your art will forever be a beacon of authenticity in a world of machines.

This might not seem the case now, BUT as AI increasingly begins to dominate Print-on-demand sites and every other corner of the art world, it will become the case, so hang in there!!! I am rooting for you.

Ps. With regard to photographers, you should also start to add signatures to your work and apply the same details as advised above to ensure your customers know that YOU and not AI (or public domain) are the origin of the art.

[Jadendreamer13]

Thank you, Leah for this fabulous post on AI art vs. traditional art. 

[ElizabethR]

Good points

Just to add. I read a book about early photography. When photography first started, many thought that was the end of painting and drawing.

[KeegansCreation]

Excellent point. Many thought photography would be the end of painting and drawing. But what actually happened was traditional artists moved away from realism (where photography was the competition) and invented impressionism, fauvism, modernism, cubism etc. Perhaps something analogous will happen now.

[CreativeLeahG]

Very interesting indeed! 

[SelkiesSong]

I know this is old, but this is grossly false equivalent. It's also horrifically offensive to professional photographers.

There are still skills to be learned to do photography well. It's not a "point, click, done" process.

Meanwhile, AI image generation is a glorified google image search. If you're against people finding random images online and dumping it on Zazzle, you should be against the use of AI generation as well. It's literally the same thing.

[ColsCreations]

It's literally not the same thing at all. Do a Google image search and find me an image of 'a zebra-mouse hybrid wearing a pink rain jacket, dancing in the snow, art deco style' ...

[Sara_H]

@ColsCreations 

(just in case any googles that - best I could do)

[grafXthings]

Disturbing! The zebra has claws. 🙄

[KeegansCreation]

Good advice. As ElizabethR brings up, photography was not the death of traditional art. Instead it pushed those artists to go somewhere that photography couldn't compete- creating the modern art movements. Your advice is solid in that people should go somewhere that AI can't compete- the personal. 

[JLynnW]

Thanks for mentioning photographers and photography. Sometimes it feels that photography is forgotten as an art form and AI threatens it more than any other form. Each photograph may just be a fraction of a second of time, but it is a portion of a life to be treasured and not to be forgotten hopefully.

[CreativeLeahG]

Absolutely it must not be forgotten and I'm glad of @ElizabethR  and @KeegansCreation mentions re the impact photography had on art back in the day (and still today), so I've added some extra thoughts to this conversation here (via my blog) for greater feedback from the art community generally. Can page to bottom for the update.

[ElizabethR]

You can combine photographs side by side or on top of each other with lower opacity on the top layer(s). It seems to me it will be easier to change opacity to the perfect level on a graphic design program than on AI.

[SpiralGiftsPlus]

And truly great photographs can take a lot of planning for lighting conditions, including time of day, weather, etc. ! 

Not that I have done that ! 🙂

[ievajen]

and you can type same words as "soft afternoon light" etc and get tops picture and if manipulating real photo with generative fill it's very often top notch matching lighting pleasing colors 

[mylittleeden]

I think good photographers will be moving out of the generic photo space and earning more from photoshoots with real people in them... It is a shame because a well lit and composed photo is an art form and craft, few can do it really well.

[Karin]

These are great ideas. I only use original nature photography, graphic design, and art for my products. I would be glad to emphasize this in some way in my stores, so I am considering using some of the ideas. And it would be great if Zazzle could help.

By the way, I think original art (photography, drawing, graphic design) made by humans will last. 

[mylittleeden]

That is something I would like too. At my part time work I have access to stock libraries and it is becoming harder and harder to do an image search and not get AI. They now state if it is AI or not it kinda works or helps. I wonder if Zazzle would consider this to assist artists? I feel for photographers and original traditional medium artists like myself, the market is going to get worse and it will be a struggle to keep up, quality hand created art takes time. It will come down to customers do they place any value on hand created art and designs and quality real photographic work? I don't know to be honest. I sell more of my graphics than my original paintings and drawings on products so I am not very hopeful...

[CreativeLeahG]

I have had a great comment left on the blog post which illustrates the importance of following the steps outlined here! You can view the comment left by a guest reader here.

[KeegansCreation]

Another place that non-AI art (including digital painting, 3D and vector) out-competes AI is size. AI looks great right out of the box as long as you don't zoom in too much. When you zoom way in wonkiness, improper lines and various artifacts become apparent. It can be used as-is for postcards, invites, cover photo backgrounds and other small things that don't exceed 5x7. Once you upsize it past 5x7, the flaws pop out.

However, photographs, scans of physical art and digital paintings can be increased quite large indeed without a loss in quality (assuming you use a good upscaling program). This means that non-AI art can compete quite well on large products such as large posters and canvas art, tapestries, duvet covers, area rugs and really anything that exceeds 5x7.

There is a way to make AI images suitable for large products and I do it, but it takes days to weeks. I'll completely paint over it with Photoshop paintbrushes, converting it into a digital painting. Or I'll take it into Illustrator and re-do it as vector shapes. The AI image becomes just a reference on a lower layer that I deviate from as needed. I cede the AI speed advantage to get better quality. So why do I bother? Because AI can come up with some quite fantastical versions of an idea that I wouldn't have thought of and it is far better than me at coming up with a color palette. Color choice is one of its' unsung strengths.

AI strengths: speed, palette, fantastical weirdness

AI weaknesses: since it wasn't made by a person it is impersonal, upscaling reveals bizarre imperfections

tl:dr  Your non-AI art can be upscaled to fit very large products. This isn't possible with AI unless hours, days or weeks are spent re-making it, ceding the speed advantage.

[CreativeLeahG]

Great points thank you!

[ievajen]

this reminds me discussions about 20 years back - film vs digital:)

[sm]

Once you post original art online, it will be scraped by their AI and used to create similar images. Adding a signature or watermark is useless because people can easily remove them with AI (or without). Customers will soon be creating their own AI because it is a fun thing to do. They don't care about original works done by designers because they'll be believing they will be creating the original work and have a sense of ownership towards it, even if the law says they don't. Our only hope will be for a legal framework to be set that makes AI seek permission to use any image. Who knows what the outcome of any legal battle will be. Australia has decided AI can own patents so who knows what will happen to copyright laws with reference to AI. It will either protect the artist or it will change existing copyright laws where it doesn't favour the artist at all, even with original works. We shall see what happens. 

[CreativeLeahG]

I can see that this will be the case but I do also believe that in the long run, customers will come to once more value hand-created artworks in higher regard. Or at least we can do our best to ensure hand-created artworks are seen as the 'higher-value' option for those who are a little more discerning.

[sm]

We are talking about Zazzle though. Some people may still value original artwork (not prints) when they are hanging them on their wall. But Print on Demand... mugs, invitations... they won't care about hand created works, they just want something that's cool, pretty, trendy, their style etc. 

AI is pretty rubbish at the moment and you have to work it to make it useable but it's come a long way in just a few months. The only way (with the laws or the lack of them) to protect our original works right now, is to not put them online at all, especially not on a POD or microstock site. 

The majority of people these days don't value original work. I have about 20 original paintings in storage that I saved from a skip bin that my hubbie's company threw out to replace with new art. Some are valued more than $20,000. But before I knew their worth or even knew they were originals, I put them online for free to get rid of them because I had limited space from all the other valuable stuff they threw out. No one wanted them (as prints) . The majority of people these days are looking for something to match their décor and now with AI, they can pump out dozens of things that are a close match to what they want. In a year, it will be easier and better than it is now. The only hope we have is that the law protects us, but I'm not holding my breath that it will. So for me, it's best not to participate at all with anything knew until I know where we stand, from a legal standpoint. I wish they'd hurry up with the lawsuits already.

Until then, that doesn't mean I can't create. It means I can't put anything that's worth anything to me on Zazzle. I don't put my original paintings online anyway, so that doesn't affect me at all but even my graphics, many take time and there's no way I will just put them out there only to have some company immediately scrape and steal it with their AI and then pumping out hundreds of similar works in minutes. There are heaps to do on Zazzle (like covers and collections) if/when I get motivated, so there is no need to put anything new here for the time being. And I can still paint my paintings which gives me more satisfaction and reward.

At the moment I find AI disgusting and refuse to use it, not because the technology is bad, but because I know that it's ripping off artists' livelihoods without seeking their permission and then compensating them fairly. If it was all legit and truly ethical (not some soulless microstock company pretending that it is ethical while compensating their contributors with a one time ridiculously low payment and demanding they agree or bugger off), I wouldn't have an issue with it and I would be happy to dabble in it myself. But until then, it's the most hideous thing I've ever seen and to see even artists jumping all over it so that they are not left behind, knowing that it is going to destroy other original artists, makes me sick to my stomach. I value art and I respect artists. Sadly not many do these days and it will just get worse because most companies are pushing for AI. Graphic Designers are being pushed to use it and pump out work faster and despite them still having to take time to fix the things it can't do well, companies still push for it so that they're up with the times.  They know eventually it will be even faster than creating from scratch or looking for images out there.

[chefcateringbiz]

AI art is just another pool of designers to compete with, just as there are tons of designers here to compete with; what's the difference if it was made by a person or a bot; Boomers might care if it's been done by a person, but the new generations are already plugged in, spend all their time on their phones and care less about human interaction as the years pass and tech becomes more sophisticated. These new tech addicts aren't my customers anyway. My customers are people who make food and crafts, and others who need someone else to generate their ideas. I personally don't want to learn how to make AI create something for me. I'm DONE with new technology unless my current software needs updating, and luckily I'm old enough not to have to worry about being trendy. Eventually the copyright thing will become chaos, and you'll be paying premiums for using corporate AI services or they'll sell your soul to advertisers. Oh, and good luck to everyone who has to deal with Skynet later.

[Hermosaman]

A very interesting piece outlining the concerns and worries about AI. I have been submitting  my photos and photo art to various sites including Adobe and fine art America for some time. I have also been exploring the power of AI in art production, inspiration and creativity. In many instances it has prompted me to be more creative using patterns and subjects I may not have originally considered. I can then use my photo editing programs, such as photo shop to enhance the outcome or edit and add text to something created by AI and then moulded more to my liking. What I have always done when publishing any of these new creations is to make sure there is every indication the image is created in AI. Although I agree with every concern in the post I also think it can be stimulating, both in suggestions and images, to the creative flow. 

[Barbara]

You can always spot AI because there's a plastic aura tot it, but not just in the visual arts. It's also in speech (pay attention to the narration now being used on YouTube), in writing (like puking out words), and Lord help us, now in music so perfect that it bores the socks off you (a plethora of lazy musicians on Spotify). The things that AI can do have been blossoming exponentially. It will get worse, and it's doubtful any laws can help. I saw a phenomenal "deep fake" a few months ago that took me about a minute to recognize because it was so good, but I was familiar with the person, his expressions, his speech patterns, the way he held himself. It was spooky. Many in the audience didn't know what it was because they weren't familiar with the man. People looking at art or listening to music are already unfamiliar unless they have a deep appreciation of these things already.

AI is becoming an offensive behemoth barreling down on us. However, it as yet can't write a novel, compose a symphony, give a speech, or paint like Rembrandt. I've often thought that AI isn't the problem; rather, it's our taste, our sense of what's beautiful, but that's nothing new.

As the saying goes, this too shall pass, but in the meantime, keep your best art off the internet.

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[LFL]

Many (not all) AI users do not know how to critique their own computer generated image or just buy any image without looking at it closely. AI does NOT mean click & upload. You still have to correct anything if it is flawed, if you want to be taken seriously as a designer which only a small amount of AI users do.

Many AI users simply click to get the generated image and then upload. Limbs missing or an additional limb appearing in the back that they either missed or didn’t think anyone would notice on animals and humans is common. Or, one limb is skeleton thin while the other is balloon-bloated is also common. Fingers that look like claws and bend backwards happens. Lots of missing or additional fingers/thumbs with many hands deformed into 2 pieces if you look closely so it is not even humanly possible to have a hand like that. Thumbs have the top part missing. Animals are so veiny you wonder if the veins will pop at any minute. I saw a religious painting knock off from an original vintage piece via AI and if you looked at the angel faces, the facial features were misplaced and in pieces which is outright disrespectful.

Many users do not know how to edit these images. So if another person says to these AI’ers “this or that” is off, they just click to get another image generated (no editing). Then they generate another image that has yet another flaw which again they don’t know how to correct. That is not art or design. It is the laziest and most absolute ZERO pride these people have in what they upload.

[KeegansCreation]

This is true. I have seen many examples of both AI designs that were well edited and those that were not. I suspect the divide is between those that had been doing designs for awhile  and folded AI into their workflow and those who never did designing before AI so all they can do when it throws out something wonky is re-roll until something closer to passable comes up. Some AI programs have editing (i.e. you re-roll just a tiny part of the image which tends to work better than re-rolling the whole thing) but that tends to come with a subscription price. 

Generate and upload with nothing in between is always a mistake.

I have 3 main techniques for editing AI.

1)Take it into Adobe Illustrator and trace over it with the pen tool. 

2)Take it into Corel Painter and paint over it.

3)Take it into Adobe Photoshop and tweak it with Photoshop's tools which now include some AI tools. 

I don't think that AI is inherently uninspired and unartistic simply because it is a machine rather than a human. It can spit out interesting and unexpected things because it isn't human and is using a different approach to how to "conceive" of an image than humans do. Sometimes giving it complex and bizarre prompts can give something exciting and unexpected. I have a friend who has been building his own computers since the '70's and is brilliant with math. He can make AI do things that are mind blowing. I wish he would sell on Zazzle but he wants no part of that.

But 90% of people are generating "pretty woman with tight clothes" or "dog skateboarding" with predictably dull results. AI is a great tool for ideation, composition and color palette (one of its' strengths). It also makes good faux template photos (if you are careful) but if workflow speeds up too much, you aren't editing enough.

[Barbara]

Your method for working with AI is how I often work with my own sketches. I scan them into Photoshop, then tweak the lines and flesh it out. I've tried doing it with photos, and I don't do well with them.

I've seen a number of AI images that have been worked on, correcting the errors. They remind me of what's called "auto tuning" in ProTools, a program used by music producers. Every note played or sung is tuned until spot-on, but I believe it's the little inconsistencies that give life to a piece. Perhaps you're doing something opposite to this when correcting your AI images in the sense that you're inserting those tiny errors, making it seem more real.

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