101

(10 replies, posted in Print Media)

Rather than dump surplus books, a better alternative is to have a book sale, selling the books at very low prices. I have seen it happen. I bought some myself.

Conserving artwork in a new text file format

I write to suggest that those of us who are interested design a way to store artwork designs in a text based format that is open source and simple.

That way the artwork will not be vulnearble to future non-availability of software in the way that artwork recorded in a proprietary format is.

I suggest a format that is much like a loopless program written in the Algol 60 programming language.

So, for example,

Rectangle(100, 200, 500, 300);

none of the width=500, items that need decoding and that take up lots of space.

A numbers only procedure call for each preset shape type.

I know that it will need more complexity for other items such as custom shapes, and I know that initially there will not be any software that can read such files nor write them.

But if people are interested and join in with enthusiasm we might be able to produce something good here in this forum.

The specification will be public, can be sent for Legal Deposit at the British Library, and all artwork conserved in that format will not be vulnerable to being lost if proprietary software ceases to be available.

Do it here, do it now and maybe it can become a widespeard format with good software support in the future. Such software might be produced by a business that charges for the software, but people's artwork would not be vulnerable to the decisions of a business.

Ali wrote:

The issue was whether or not the art is original. As there is no artist involved, then it cannot be considered as art. That's my point. You may choose to think otherwise, but you won't persuade me that these are works of art.

Well, if it is not a work of art, what is it?

I am asking what you are both claiming has been stolen.

For the avoidance of doubt I have never purported that I am the artist of any picture that has been produced by an AI system as a result.of my text prompt.

I state that I authored the prompt, which is true.

Ali wrote:
JAmedia wrote:

The title of this thread is an oxymoron.  Bing Chat AI can not create original artwork.
EVERYTHING it creates is using data from a lot of stolen work..

My thoughts entirely.

So what work are both of you claiming was stolen to produce this picture that was requested to be produced in the style of Claude Monet?



https://i.postimg.cc/w1KrZmBp/306fe61d-67d6-4d14-bef2-c6c566cf4641.jpg

107

(1 replies, posted in Mathematics & Science)

The T Puzzle

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nqNsSLdTmfY

JAmedia wrote:

The title of this thread is an oxymoron.

Regardless of one's views of AI generated art, does the title of this thread have the  format of an oxymoron?

Continuing, JAnedia wrote:

Bing Chat AI can not create original artwork.
EVERYTHING it creates is using data from a lot of stolen work..

Well, please consider the following picture, requested to be painted in the style of Claude Monet..


https://i.postimg.cc/5XVjXcsC/306fe61d-67d6-4d14-bef2-c6c566cf4641.jpg

That picture is original.

The works of Monet are out of copyright, so it is not stealing.

The picture was requested as an experiment so as to observe whether the AI system would produce a picture that is fantasy.

https://i.postimg.cc/ZCf5j9HC/Copilot-20251004-231622.png



Please produce a painting of a cylindrical plant container with an added very flat prominent front panel that is moulded as an additional part of the plant container, with a reproduction of an original painting in the style of Claude Monet of a pink waterlily in flower upon that front panel. On the side of the plant container, a line drawn circle as a placeholder logo, the Placeholder branding and details of the painting. The container a dull white. There is a Monstera Delicosa plant with green foliage that is in a red plastic pot. The red plastic pot is placed in the container. An oblique view with the plant container on a plain wooden table. The fictional Placeholder branding and its plain line drawn circle logo so as to respect the intelletual property rights of the real software company.

https://i.postimg.cc/kVmdqqXx/Copilot-20251004-225856.png

111

(82 replies, posted in General Discussion)

Solly wrote:

This site is a refreshing as my just completed autumn walk. Thank you for making this possible, Alfred.

This website forum
A completed autumn walk
Refreshing are both

That is a wonderful thing about this forum, Alfred responds promptly and helpfully.

William wrote:

Whether it does or does not, either way the illustration is problematic for one reason or another.

If the planter has a drainage hole then it needs a drip tray beneath it.

If the planter does not have a drainage hole, then the plant needs to be in a pot that is placed in the planter, which is probably not then properly called a planter, yet acts as a decorative container and the drip tray for the pot.

Ali wrote:

That's probably because the English are obsessed with tea!

Even mentioning tea in a version of a famous song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnK167TymV0

115

(10 replies, posted in Print Media)

You might like to have a look at the following website.

https://viking-virtualprinthouse.co.uk/

I have not bought any books from them thus far, but I have bought A3 laser colour prints on 350 gsm paper and they are beautiful. They arrived in a nice thick cardboard portfolio pack, no dented corners on the prints.

Alfred wrote:
William wrote:

Also, I have realized that the designs for the planters need modifying - can you work out why?

Your question is (deliberately?) rather vague. Are you referring to aesthetics or practicality? If the former, what do you feel is wrong with them? And if the latter, are you talking about manufacture or usage?

The paintings on the panels are what Copilot generated, other paintings could be used.

The problems relate as to whether the planter has a drainage hole or not.

Whether it does or does not, either way the illustration is problematic for one reason or another.

Here are some pictures Copilot produced as a result of my prompts. They are designs for merchandise for an art show sponsored by a company that produces desktop publishing software. The circle logo is included as a placeholder for the logo of such a company. Also, I have realized that the designs for the planters need modifying - can you work out why? Hey ho they may never get produced as products, though they might be, but here are the pictures.



https://i.postimg.cc/KRHt4dm4/Copilot-20250828-135019.png



https://i.postimg.cc/XBNYg7c9/Copilot-20250828-142053.png



https://i.postimg.cc/xqW0CRW0/Copilot-20250831-153605.png



https://i.postimg.cc/1nkL9W4K/Copilot-20250831-153622.png

A short video of a man building a dam

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/v6w0Fj6CzAI

Copilot wrote as follows about the picture.

Here it is — the art exhibition on Laputa! A surreal and fantastical showcase set among moss-covered ruins and cascading waterfalls, with vibrant paintings and curious guests beneath the floating island’s gaze. Let me know if you’d like to explore the artworks in more detail or imagine the artists behind them.

The prompt for that picture was as follows.

An art exhibition on Laputa.

However, it was some way into a conversation with Copliot where several pictures for Affinity in the Alps had been produced, including for the après-giclée party, and I, enjoying the imaginary scenario, decided to ask for a picture of an art exhibition on Laputa.

https://i.postimg.cc/N5KQvyLW/Copilot-20250819-002105.png

122

(23 replies, posted in Art & Literature)

Thank you.

123

(23 replies, posted in Art & Literature)

Alfred wrote:

Why not include a smiley here? Just type a colon followed by a closing parenthesis. smile

...

Because my previous experience of pasting emoji into this forum as that it doesn't work.

124

(23 replies, posted in Art & Literature)

The sequence of transcripts has now ended.

125

(23 replies, posted in Art & Literature)

On 15 August 2025, William Overington posted

Copilot output lots hashtags as part of its output.

Various hashtags, some of which reference Affinity in some way and some which are more general.

#AffinityInTheAlps

#MadeWithAffinity

#DigitalArtSummit

#AprèsGiclée

#AffinityDesigner #AffinityPhoto #AffinityPublisher

#SwissArtScene



Copilot output some text, then asked me if I would like (then named something like Press Release, or the following example)

> Would you like me to turn this into a short film script or a promotional piece for an art magazine?

I answered simply

Yes please

each time and lots of output was produced.

Then I did a New and tried again with the same initial prompt.

This time I was offered a fictional interview with one of the artitsts, I chose that and it was produced. Not me doing the interviewing, Copliot produced text for both the interviewer and the artist.

quote of part of interview

Interviewer: What drew you to Affinity software for this kind of work?

Tobias: Speed and freedom. I used to feel boxed in by subscription models and bloated interfaces. Affinity gives me the tools without the noise. I can sketch, layout, and export without ever leaving the zone. Plus, the precision is perfect for when I do want to break the rules intentionally.

end of quote of part of interview

I know that there is pushback against generative AI, but that seems good about Affinity products.