Digital

Work which is non-printed by its core goal

AI & Avatar video Creation

| JVS

Last year, I completed a full study and art project exploring AI-driven image creation for magic cards. ChatGPT helped generate most of the card content, and although I did quite a bit of editing, it was a truly eye-opening experience. Since then, I hadn’t spent much time experimenting with AI — until yesterday. I clicked on an ad offering free AI-generated videos to boost product sales, so I gave it a shot. I was genuinely impressed with the results! Check out the video below. There are plenty of companies offering similar services now, but this one allowed me to create my first video completely free. Videos aren’t available on this account for some reason? So you will need to head over to my Facebook! page.

Sticker Mule Alternative source List

| JVS

If you boycott Sticker Mule, you might ask yourself, “What companies can I use instead of StickerMule?” Well, Someone (Caspercarr) on Reddit composed a decent list of 22 Sticker Mule-like service companies (see below). I have not vetted the list but we as designers/producers of art should all begin trying these new companies instead of Sticker Mule.

BrickCityPrinting
DeathByStickers
JakPrints
MOO
RockinStickers
ShirtingSpree
StandOutStickers
StickerAndCo
Sticker App
Sticker Giant
StickerInvasion
StickerJunkie
Sticker Ninja
StickerPro USA
Sticker shuttle
Stickerwize
StickerYou
StupidRadMerch
The Sticky Brand
VinylStatus
Vista Print
Vograce

Eisheth Zenunim, Jerry’s Rep

| JVS

LAST CARD: This is the last card to be added to this page. The amount of writing and development time was considerable in this project – each card was a mini project.

OVERALL: This card was one of the cards printed on metal and contained a QR code. The name Eisheth Zenunium came from an internet search of top popular demon names. This card is from a parallel set of directional series called ‘Jerry Directionals’. This set was similar to UX directionals but the signage was my name instead of UX.

(NEW) AI IMAGERY: This image is one of the top images due to the great composition. Unlike other card images, there is a lot of fire to show the extent and power of the wizard mage. Anytime a figure is emersed in fire without burning, there is a good understanding of the blowback that might be coming your way. The book of Jerry is hot! I needed to photoshop the QR code on the Jerry book. I was pleased that the QR codes work when reversed out of imagery. My only nit is the armor shine is rather white considering the amount of flame surrounding the figure but the white highlights do bring more focus to the figure.

Azazel, Jerry Manager

| JVS

OVERALL: The second to the last card for the full series. The name Azalea came from an internet search of top popular demon names. This card is from a parallel set of directional series called ‘Jerry Directionals’. This set was similar to UX directionals but the signage was my name instead of UX.

(NEW) AI IMAGERY: The background is in a gloomy forest, only light appears to be natural canopy lighting. Unlike other signs, this one has an arrow shape to it. The leather-clad figure seems like a wizard being there is no apparent sharp weapons – the stave has a pointed tip but the figure doesn’t appear dressed for combat. Most interesting feature in the composition is the lighting on the figure – well placed shadows accent the attributes of the figure. I held back an urge to add glowing eyes. The slight flowing wind is shown in the hair and cape. It’s also interesting that she appears to be walking away from the signs direction but she’s my rep and doesn’t need to be near me if she’s out representing me. Overall there is a lot of mystery in this composition which is why I really enjoyed it.

Syr Velasco, UX Champion

| JVS

OVERALL: This card is from a set of directional series called ‘UX Directionals’. Where the main figure is holding signage.

(NEW) AI IMAGERY: This image was chosen for the overall dark elements. The typical iconic knight is shrouded in darkness and dark metal armor. The figure is facing away from us showing their backside. The silhouette wonderfully depicts the sharp outlines of the armor. Armor highlights hint of a well lit canopy. The background is odd being it has some indoor/outdoor elements. There is a hint of a fire light in the lower right corner and warm highlights on the lower-right area of the knight. The signage design appears custom made for the armor. The UX font and color are the color-cool elements in the composition making it stand out amongst the overall gloomy composition.

Naamah, Hiring Manager

| JVS

OVERALL: The name Naamah came from an internet search of top popular demon names. This card is from a parallel set of directional series called ‘Jerry Directionals’. This set was similar to UX directionals but the signage was my name instead of UX. 

(NEW) AI IMAGERY: Background is great – blueish, dark forest, very gloomy with a small amount of warm lighting on the bottom left to indicate a fire nearby. The backlighting gives contrast to the figure and really defines the edges to the figure and the signage. The glowing eyes of the warlock make the scene complete. The crazy ornamentation of the sign is really cool visually by the somewhat spiky and organic sign design. The font is crazy weird and looks like magic created it. Overall a really nice composition for a leave-behind card.

Syr Velasco, UX Champion

| JVS

OVERALL: This card is from the UX Design series called ‘UX Directionals’.

(NEW) AI IMAGERY: This composition made it to the ‘print round’ due to the fact that the figure is a traditional white Paladin. The figure is iconic and makes for a solid fantasy position in imagery. Great traditional image to hand out as a business card. The light and shiny armor with gold trim work well for executive security for high government officials. The sign is bright with black UX lettering. The background is placed inside a castle or church. The shadowing is great and cuts the paladin down the middle.

Cute and Stupid

| JVS

OVERALL: Not the actual name of the card, but towards the end of the AI Imagery section, it became clear the name should have been something besides Syr Velasco, Waypoint Advisor. This card is from the UX Design series called ‘UX Directionals’. This is the non-spicy kinda moppy me version. No sexy armor, just a dude in a hood peddling his credentials. I didn’t note this earlier, but the ‘leave behind’ series also is differentiated by my logo where magic ‘faction’ watermark resides on normal Magic cards. My logo on a green background is on the back (see image below).

(NEW) AI IMAGERY: When the AI tool first showed me this image, I was totally thinking it was not selling point to show some dude in a rain-poncho with a sign. Something stuck about how plain and lackluster the image was. This was the very lowest G version of all the imagery – no fashionable sexy combat armor – no boob-armor adorned warlock characters at all. – Just a dude in a hand-made unadorned rain poncho holding a QR code sign pointing with an arrow at his sorry self in the middle of dark and dank forest. If any image represented me visually in my quest for employment, it would be this image. The AI put another X in UX which I found kinda cute and stupid at the same time – like my current situation…cute and stupid. In hindsight, that should have been the name of the card….’Cute and Stupid’ … lol. There is a UXX which is the User Experience Experience which focuses on UX practitioners and how there life and experience is viewed.

Eisheth Zenunim, Jerry’s Rep

| JVS

OVERALL: This card is from the UX Design series called ‘UX Directionals’. Based on the image, this card had two versions based on QR code location. These were created to show the focus of UX by having a fantasy character hold a UX sign. I didn’t note this earlier, but the ‘leave behind’ series also is differentiated by my logo where magic ‘faction’ watermark resides on normal Magic cards. My logo on a green background is on the back (see image below).

(NEW) AI IMAGERY: Double card variants! I really liked both of the layouts and ended up printed both. The signage in both versions produced by the AI is really interesting. This AI produced imagery giving the figure two sign objects. I added a QR code the the tablet. The overall composition is remarkable in how all the objects float well in the given small space. I needed a QR space and the extra ‘signage object’ worked well. Even with the distorted QR code, it still works. Most notable is the highlights on the figure suggesting there is a good amount of moonlight off-scene. The ‘fashionable armor’ while impractical for close combat, does have an interesting construction from a compositional viewpoint. As for armor engineering in medieval skirmishes we may want something better however, I’m assuming if you were wearing this armor, you’d have some mystical advantage which would stop most opponents from getting very close.