UPDATED: Using Midjourney to Enhance Your Traditional Photography with AI-Generated Backdrops!

In this video, the creator discusses the advancements in AI technology, specifically focusing on how Midjourney and Photoshop can be used to enhance traditional photography. The video provides an update from a previous discussion, highlighting the changes in AI and Photoshop that have made creating AI-generated backdrops and composite images more accessible and easier. The creator shares tips and tricks for using text prompts in Midjourney to generate specific images and then demonstrates how to use Photoshop's generative fill and neural filters to seamlessly integrate these backdrops with studio photography. The video showcases the potential of AI in creating unique and compelling photographic art, emphasizing the importance of staying on the cutting edge of technology to unlock new creative possibilities.

Takeaways

• 📈 **AI Advancements**: Significant changes have occurred in AI and technology in the past six months, particularly in AI-generated backdrops and Photoshop capabilities.
• 🎨 **Midjourney Focus**: The video focuses on using Midjourney, an AI program, to create backdrops from text prompts and then combine them with traditional photography in Photoshop.
• 💡 **Tips and Tricks**: The presenter shares tips for getting started with text prompts in Midjourney and how to understand their relationship with image creation.
• 🔍 **Explore Tab**: Midjourney's explore tab allows users to view and learn from other images and prompts created by the community, offering insights into successful text prompts.
• 💰 **Subscription Model**: Midjourney, like Adobe Photoshop, operates on a subscription basis, which viewers should consider based on their usage and needs.
• 📸 **Image Customization**: Users can customize the tightness of the image (portrait, full body, waist up, etc.) by adjusting the text prompt in Midjourney.
• 🔍 **Search Prompts**: The search prompts feature in Midjourney allows users to find specific styles or themes, like sports backgrounds, and see the prompts used to create them.
• 📱 **Mood Boards**: Midjourney can be used to generate images for mood boards, which can guide photoshoots and help recreate specific scenes or styles.
• 🖼️ **Composition Assistance**: Midjourney helps with the composition of composite images by providing a backdrop and suggesting the placement and scaling of the subject.
• 🔧 **Photoshop Tools**: The video demonstrates the use of Photoshop's generative fill and neural filter (harmonization) to seamlessly integrate the AI-generated backdrop with the subject.
• ⚙️ **Upscaling Images**: Midjourney's latest model allows for upscaling images, which can help hide visual flaws and provide higher resolution backdrops for composites.

Q & A

How has the AI and technology landscape evolved in the past six months as mentioned in the video?

The speaker mentions that a lot has changed in the world of technology and AI in the past six months, particularly in the areas of AI-generated backdrops and Photoshop capabilities. However, specific advancements are not detailed in the transcript.

What is Midjourney and how does it relate to the discussion in the video?

Midjourney is an AI program that allows users to create backdrops using text prompts. It is a subscription-based service, similar to Adobe Photoshop, and is used in the video to generate AI-generated backdrops for traditional photography.

How does the speaker suggest using the explore tab on the Midjourney website?

The speaker suggests using the explore tab to view images created by others, which can provide inspiration and insight into how specific text prompts relate to the generated images.

What is the significance of the 'upscale' feature in Midjourney?

The 'upscale' feature allows users to increase the resolution of the generated images. Initially, the images are 1024 pixels by 1024, but with the upscale feature, users can double or quadruple the resolution, which is particularly useful for larger backdrops.

How does the speaker use the generative fill feature in Photoshop?

The speaker uses the generative fill feature in Photoshop to remove the subject from the backdrop and fill in the background. This feature is used to create a clean stadium backdrop without the player in the scene.

What is the purpose of using the 'harmonization' filter in the neural filter section of Photoshop?

The 'harmonization' filter is used to blend the color and luminosity of the subject with the backdrop, creating a seamless composite. It helps to ensure that the colors and lighting of the subject match the backdrop for a more realistic final image.

What are mood boards and how does the speaker suggest using Midjourney for mood boards?

Mood boards are collections of images, colors, and textures that help set the style and mood for a project. The speaker suggests using Midjourney to create images for mood boards, which can then be used to guide photo shoots and recreate specific scenes or styles.

How does the speaker address the issue of visual flaws in the AI-generated images?

The speaker acknowledges that AI-generated images may have visual flaws, such as imperfections in the face. However, when using these images as backdrops, especially for soft-focused or blurred scenes, these flaws are often less noticeable and can be effectively hidden.

What is the aspect ratio used by the speaker for the AI-generated backdrops?

The speaker uses a 16x9 aspect ratio for the AI-generated backdrops, which provides a wide field of view suitable for traditional photography.

How does the speaker adjust the color balance and saturation in the final composite?

The speaker uses the color balance and Hue/Saturation adjustment tools in Photoshop to tweak the colors of the subject's jersey and the overall scene to match the backdrop more closely and to correct any color discrepancies introduced by the harmonization filter.

What is the speaker's opinion on the importance of staying updated with the latest technology and tools?

The speaker believes it is important to stay on the cutting edge of technology and to educate oneself with the latest tools, even if there is a cost associated with it. They find the advancements and capabilities of the tools over the past six months to be exciting and see great potential in their creative applications.

How does the speaker describe the creative possibilities with AI-generated backdrops?

The speaker describes the creative possibilities with AI-generated backdrops as being limited only by one's imagination. They emphasize the convenience and uniqueness of being able to create custom backdrops without having to photograph them in person or use stock images.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Introduction to AI and Midjourney

The speaker welcomes viewers back to their channel and reflects on the rapid advancements in technology and AI over the past six months. They discuss their previous video about creating backdrops using AI programs like Midjourney and combining them with photography. The speaker highlights the changes in AI and Photoshop and introduces the agenda for the video, which includes revisiting Midjourney, discussing tips and tricks, and showcasing the updated capabilities and ease of use.

05:01

🎨 Exploring Midjourney's Text Prompts and Image Creation

The speaker delves into the process of creating backdrops using text prompts in Midjourney. They mention that Midjourney is not free and requires a subscription, similar to Adobe Photoshop. The video demonstrates how to explore other images created by users in the software and how to use these as inspiration for one's own work. The speaker also discusses the use of prompts to generate specific types of images and the importance of understanding how text prompts interact with the AI to create desired visuals. They share their personal experiences and examples of using Midjourney to create various backdrops.

10:02

📷 Photoshop Techniques for Composites

The speaker transitions to discussing the use of Photoshop for creating composite images. They showcase how to use the generative fill feature in Photoshop to remove a player from a stadium backdrop and fill in the background seamlessly. The video also covers the use of the neural filter in Photoshop to harmonize the color and luminosity between layers, creating a more cohesive final image. The speaker provides a step-by-step guide on how to adjust hues, saturation, and color balance to achieve a natural-looking composite.

15:05

🌟 Final Touches and the Power of AI in Image Creation

The speaker concludes by demonstrating further Photoshop techniques, such as using generative fill to adjust the size of a subject and adding elements like arena lights to a scene. They emphasize the creative potential of tools like Midjourney and the importance of staying updated with the latest technology. The video ends with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content, subscribe for more, and follow the speaker on social media.

Keywords

💡Midjourney

Midjourney is an AI program that generates images from text prompts. It is a tool that allows users to create backdrops for photography without physically being at the location. In the video, the creator discusses how to use Midjourney to enhance traditional photography by generating AI backdrops and then combining them with studio photography to create a new piece of photographic art.

💡Text Prompts

Text prompts are the inputs or phrases that users provide to the AI in Midjourney to generate specific images. They are a crucial part of the process as they directly influence the output of the AI. In the context of the video, the creator shares tips on how to effectively use text prompts to generate the desired backdrops for photography.

💡Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a widely used software for image editing and manipulation. In the video, the creator uses Photoshop to combine the AI-generated backdrops from Midjourney with traditional photography. Photoshop's features, such as generative fill and neural filters, are highlighted as essential tools for creating seamless and professional composite images.

💡Composite

A composite in photography refers to an image that is made by combining multiple photos or elements to create a single, cohesive image. In the video, the creator demonstrates how to create composite images using backdrops from Midjourney and subjects from traditional photography, resulting in a unique piece of art.

💡Generative Fill

Generative Fill is a feature in Adobe Photoshop that uses AI to fill in selected areas of an image with content that matches the surrounding area. In the video, the creator uses this feature to remove a player from a stadium backdrop generated by Midjourney, allowing for a cleaner and more usable backdrop for composite photography.

💡Neural Filter

The Neural Filter is a feature within Photoshop that uses AI to apply various image adjustments, such as harmonization, which helps to blend the color and luminosity of one layer with another. In the video, the creator uses the Neural Filter to make the colors and lighting of the AI-generated backdrops match the subjects from traditional photography, creating a more natural and realistic composite.

💡Upscale

Upscaling in the context of image editing refers to increasing the resolution of an image while maintaining or improving its quality. In the video, the creator discusses the new upscale feature in Midjourney, which allows users to increase the size of their AI-generated images from 1024 pixels to larger dimensions like 2048 or more, without significant loss in quality.

💡Mood Boards

Mood boards are collections of images, textures, and concepts that help set the mood or style for a creative project. In the video, the creator suggests using AI-generated images from Midjourney as mood boards for photo shoots, allowing photographers to plan and recreate specific scenes or styles during their shoots.

💡Discord Server

A Discord server is a chat community on the Discord platform where users can interact, share information, and collaborate. In the context of the video, the creator mentions the Midjourney Discord server as a place where users can interact with the AI software, share their creations, and discuss their experiences with other users.

💡Aspect Ratio

The aspect ratio of an image or video is the proportional relationship between its width and height. In the video, the creator uses a 16x9 aspect ratio for the AI-generated backdrops to provide a wide field of view, which is particularly useful for creating immersive and cinematic composite images.

💡Imagination

Imagination refers to the creative faculty of forming new ideas or images in the mind. The video emphasizes the role of imagination in using AI tools like Midjourney, suggesting that the only limit to what can be created with these tools is the user's imagination. The creator encourages viewers to explore the possibilities and push the boundaries of what they can achieve with AI-generated backdrops and traditional photography.

Highlights

The video discusses the use of AI-generated backdrops in traditional photography, specifically with the Midjourney software.

A lot has changed in AI and technology since the last video, making the process of creating backdrops easier and more efficient.

Midjourney is a subscription-based service, similar to Adobe Photoshop, and is used to create backdrops from text prompts.

The explore tab in Midjourney allows users to view and learn from other people's creations and their corresponding prompts.

The video provides tips and tricks for using text prompts effectively in Midjourney to generate specific images.

Different terms like 'portrait', 'full body portrait', 'waist up', and 'midbody' can influence the tightness and focus of the generated images.

Midjourney's latest model 5.2 allows for upscaling of images up to four times the original size without significant loss in quality.

Visual flaws in renderings can be minimized when upscaling soft-focused or blurred images like stadium backdrops.

The video demonstrates how to use Midjourney-generated images as mood boards for photo shoots.

Photoshop's generative fill feature is used to remove the subject from a Midjourney backdrop and fill in the background seamlessly.

The neural filter in Photoshop, specifically the harmonization feature, helps in creating a seamless composite by matching color and luminosity.

The presenter shares a detailed process of adjusting hue, saturation, and color balance to blend the subject with the AI-generated backdrop.

An example is given on how to adjust the size of the canvas and use generative fill to modify the backdrop to better fit the subject.

The video shows how to add elements like arena lights to an AI-generated backdrop using Photoshop to enhance the final composite.

The use of AI tools like Midjourney and Photoshop's neural filter allows for the creation of unique and customized backdrops without the need for physical photography.

The presenter emphasizes the importance of staying on the cutting edge of technology and the potential it has for enhancing creative work.

The video concludes by highlighting the rapid advancements in AI and photo editing technology, encouraging viewers to keep up with these changes.