It feels like AI is everywhere at the moment and its power is certainly very hard for anyone to ignore. So like many, we've been integrating AI tools to see where they can help.
Our baseline assumption has always been that AI is not a replacement for production but another tool in our toolbelt. When used with clear intent it can speed up decisions before more labour intensive work begins. However, when it’s used without proper clarity it has the potential to create more noise.
Join us in our small series where we look at how we're practically using AI in our studio today.
Tool Focus: Midjourney in Look Development.
An obvious place to use AI is for very quick look development. We started this process a few years back and built it around Midjourney, an image generation tool which is still a great for this task.
Previously, look development would involve a few days of 3D work using a team of designers. One or two useable compositions and perhaps a lighting idea would arise and from there we would start to zone in on what works.
Tools like Midjourney allow us to condense this phase into one or two days, using far fewer resources. Using our own renders as a small training set, we can generate hundreds of options allowing us to explore composition, framing, and texture quality before our final scenes are built in 3D.
At the end of the day, we still need to be precise and mindful in choosing what works. With so many potential directions, this part of the process really requires a critical mind to direct the team. We believe the power for a small studio lies in combining these skills, cutting down on time while maintaining creative integrity along the way.
AI Look Selections to final 3D renders
