Picture technology utilizing AIs like Midjourney is shockingly good. However the AIs even have just a few weaknesses. On this article, I am going to present you how one can work round a kind of weaknesses.
We’ll learn to make two or extra characters with matching faces.
Face matching is surprisingly inconsistent, and there are just a few totally different methods that can be utilized. After I created my music promotion poses, I had to make use of some particular methods to get the graphics to work.
How we use Midjourney, InsightFace, and Adobe Generative Fill to create this look
In my article about utilizing AI to create an album, I glossed over the methods I used, giving a thousand-foot view of what they have been. However on this article, I’ll dive in and present you methods to make all of it occur, step-by-step.
Also, for this text, I’ll assume you’ve got signed up for and arrange your Midjourney account. In case you’re unsure how to try this, this text by ZDNET’s Lance Whitney will stroll you thru the steps: How you can use Midjourney’s web site to generate superb photos with AI.
First, I am going to present you what I did to create my photos, after which I am going to present you some further methods.
This method makes use of an current {photograph} as a part of the picture immediate, which provides Midjourney some steering on what to create. Since I needed my foremost album promotion photos to appear like me, I gave Midjourney a starter picture.
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Up till just lately, Midjourney solely ran in Discord. Now, there’s each an internet interface and a Discord interface. I nonetheless desire the Discord interface, so on this article I will be displaying methods to do these numerous steps utilizing Discord. Not all of those options will likely be accessible within the net interface.
Let’s get began by importing a starter picture. To do that, double-click on the plus icon on the backside of the Discord display (bear in mind, Midjourney runs in Discord), select your picture, after which hit return.
As soon as it has been introduced into Midjourney, right-click on the picture and choose Copy Hyperlink:
This hyperlink is what you will use in making ready your immediate. Subsequent, give Midjourney the /IMAGINE immediate, adopted by the URL, after which your spec. This screenshot of the set of 4 generated photos reveals what it seemed like after I entered the complete immediate. The highest left image is the picture I wound up utilizing for my profile.
Please notice that this set of photos was most positively not my first “roll” on Midjourney. Anticipate to do 5, 10, even 20 totally different tries earlier than you get one thing you want.
That stated, you’ll be able to see how the generated model (particularly the one on the higher left) seems to be moderately near what I appear like. Extra apparently, the leather-based jacket within the picture seems to be weirdly just like the one I have been sporting for the previous decade or so. How does it know?
Only for completionist’s sake, here is what may need been generated with out utilizing the uploaded picture as steering.
They’re all fine-looking gents, however they appear nothing like me.
You should utilize the starter-image trick for something you need. Here is what Midjourney thinks my little Yorkie Poo pup Pixel may need seemed like as a Scottish warrior prince:
Every quad of photos generated by Midjourney has its personal ID, referred to as a seed. If you wish to create future photos which can be just like an current Midjourney picture, you’ll be able to attempt referencing the seed ID. It would not all the time work, however it’s value a attempt.
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To get a seed ID, click on the grey smiley-face icon (1) on the higher proper of the picture the place you wish to get the seed. Then, within the search field, sort in :envelope: (2). Then click on on the envelope (3).
I do know it is utterly intuitively unobvious, however this course of will persuade Midjourney to ship you a message that incorporates the seed ID for the quad of photos you are working with.
It is unlucky that the seed is for the quad of photos, as a result of that makes it more durable to drill into the one picture you want. However it’s a place to begin.
For my promotion, I needed a picture of me standing in entrance of my automotive. I drive a pink Dodge Challenger and I believed that may be cool for my bio web page.
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This time, as an alternative of beginning with the precise picture of me, I used the generated profile picture as my place to begin. As proven above, I uploaded it and received its URL.
Then, I mixed the profile picture with the beforehand retrieved seed worth and a immediate, and after about 20 spins, I received this quad:
Discover the /think about immediate. The URL is originally, and the seed immediate on the finish had my seed quantity. That is how I tied the 2 photos collectively.
Whereas the picture on the decrease left was completely horrible, the one on the appropriate wasn’t unhealthy. Strictly talking, it did not look solely like me. However it did seize the identical thematic model as the unique profile picture, it was shut sufficient, and the automotive seemed good.
However this was not my face and most positively not my hair:
To get the faces proper, I used a device referred to as InsightFace, which additionally runs in Discord. Getting InsightFace arrange is its personal venture, and fairly than taking you down that rabbit gap right here, I am going to level you to the tutorial I used to get began.
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This video is from PIXimperfect. I actually like this channel as a result of the presenter showcases some wonderful picture tutorials, explicit on Photoshop options. So, do not simply watch the video — save the channel.
After getting InsightFace arrange, we will go to city. The method entails two steps: importing the face you wish to use, and importing the picture you need it utilized to.
To add the picture you wish to use, use the /saveid command.
Once you sort /saveid, you will be given a spot to add a picture. Then you should give that picture a reputation ID. I referred to as mine “daviddoor” as a result of I am standing in entrance of a door. Do not forget that ID since you’ll use it within the subsequent step.
Now, it is time for the face swap. Sort /swapid:
Add the picture you need the face to be utilized to. Then sort within the ID you created earlier. In case you’re fortunate, when you hit return, you will get a picture with the brand new face.
After all, the hair nonetheless is not proper.
Lastly, I wanted to repair the hair. For this, I dropped into Adobe Photoshop and used Generative Fill. Midjourney is nice for creating total photos. Photoshop Generative Fill is right for putting new imagery on high of current photos and having all of it bend collectively seamlessly.
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The important thing downside was all the additional hair beneath the ears. To get rid of that, I first introduced the Dave Head to one thing no person had ever seen earlier than: a bald me. I chosen the house simply the place I needed the hair eliminated, generated “bald”, and Photoshop did the work.
Then I chosen a smaller space and generated “curly hair”. This took just a few tries, however it labored out.
And, in spite of everything the assorted AI results, the ultimate image is beneath.
One fast notice: the hair right here would not fairly match the tutorial hair above. That is as a result of I needed to recreate the method for demonstration, and the AI all the time comes up with one thing barely totally different. That is the precise closing picture from my unique manufacturing course of, however the rightmost picture within the Three Daves graphic above reveals how new hair may very well be generated, even when it is not precisely the identical output.
Can I nonetheless use Midjourney without cost?
No. Midjourney not has a free tier. The plan I take advantage of prices $8 per thirty days. To date, I have not hit any limits with it, though it generally can take a short time for photos to be created.
What about InsightFace? Is it free?
InsightFace does supply some free credit. I’ve achieved 4 or 5 face swaps and have not used them up. It seems to take about three “credit” per face swap, and also you get 50 free credit.
The place does Picsi.ai match into all this?
So, whenever you run out of face swap credit, you will must subscribe to a Patreon account for Picsi.ai. There are two plans. The bottom $10 per thirty days plan seems to be like it’ll do superb for most individuals. As to the connection between InsightFace and Picsi.ai, it seems that InsightFace is an open-source venture, and Picsi.ai has created a usable Discord consumer for it. However I am certain extra will likely be revealed over time.
Have you ever used any of those AI picture instruments? What do you consider the face swap method? Does this spark any concepts for you? Tell us within the feedback beneath.
You may comply with my day-to-day venture updates on social media. Make sure to subscribe to my weekly replace e-newsletter on Substack, and comply with me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz, on Fb at Fb.com/DavidGewirtz, on Instagram at Instagram.com/DavidGewirtz, and on YouTube at YouTube.com/DavidGewirtzTV.
Disclaimer: It is best to think about the authorized penalties (e.g. copyright) of utilizing AI-generated photos earlier than implementing them into your work.
