To AI or not AI or more appropriately, what to do with starryai

So, we are getting back to it.  Took some time off for the holidays (did not normal holiday stuff), and did not put much time into music.  I did finish up the 2nd collaboration with Fencing Marlins (my portion anyway) and got it off to him.  It was a fun distraction (I do not have to make the loop, but jam to his stuff).  Hopefully this one gives him the sound he is looking for.

Also, as I want this album finished and out (let’s be honest, this one is not about musicality but will tell the story).  I am scratching my head a bit as the next song has a trick that might make it more complicated (and should be much more musical).  We are really looking forward to what comes next (and that is wrong, should be looking forward to what is in front of you).

So, to help it along, I have been looking into those other items.  In this case, the artwork.  With AI being all the rage, I figured I would give it a try.  So, I looked at some of the AI art options out there, and one jumped out at me.  That being starryai.  With a name like that, what else could we use.  It does not seem to rate as the top option, but it is easy to use, and was giving some good results (I have been playing with it a bit).

I was able to get good pictures of the AI robots (both the normal ones, and the special one we will introduce).  However, there was a problem.  The artwork I use for the spacecraft is built upon cartoons I did when they were being actively controlled.  Back then, the computer capabilities were not as strong, and lets be honest, I am not an artist (why I am looking at AI now).  So they are very simple.  This worked well for me.  The Aliens also came out very simple.  They are actually accurately drawn, but they are simple in themselves (basically just 2 balloons that contain their essence). 

With starryai I was able to get very intricate and detailed drawings.  This made the other ones look like they were done by finger painting.  So, I am working on much more simplified drawings (yes starryai does that as well).  This way it will all go together better.  We are hoping that once we get through this album and start doing our “Areas of Space” albums we can use starryai to create album covers that somewhat match what the album is covering (there we go again, looking beyond the current project).

So, to end, I think we need to focus on this album.  Planet AI deserves that much.