Digital tools and artificial intelligence in concept art
Heikkinen, Sonja (2022)
Heikkinen, Sonja
2022
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202301271720
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202301271720
Tiivistelmä
Concept art is a form of visual communication to express ideas and designs. In the video game industry and production pipeline, it is meant to solve the early design puzzles for other visual artists such as 3D modelers, texture artists, level designers and programmers. The term concepting is made for creating and visualizing something that has never existed before. Concept art is often discussed whether it is pure art or not because of its focus on conveying ideas rather than creating an art piece and whether it relies too much on shortcuts when it is expected to do the latter. This discussion is caused by a misunderstanding of the true meaning of the profession in practice. The common knowledge of the methods used in realistic looking concept art are often covered only in the field, miscommunicated in education. The information about the digital tools that could help creating realistic looking concept art are generally not taught. The beneficial use of photobashing and 3D models are essential shortcuts for fast visual imagery of ideas. Therefore, many people are not aware of how concept art is made most efficiently in tight deadlines and do not understand what is its importance in early production.
This thesis project was inspired by the author’s interest towards the technical process of creating realistic looking concept art and finding ways to produce it more efficiently. The outcome of this thesis can help both experienced and beginner visual artists to learn about different methods and potentially inspire the use of them. A large portion of this thesis project also seeks the possibilities for people in the game industry with no previous skills with art or 3D to be able to express their ideas through AI. The thesis explores the usability of AI for concepting and studies if it could be beneficial in early game development process in its current state or possibly in the near future. This exploration has been done by analysing the effectiveness of currently existing AI concept art and producing new concepts with the AI for the sake of this thesis. Ethical analysis of the use of AI for creating art was made by performing empirical research online to gather data of its recognition as an art form. Lastly, the author of this thesis interviewed industry concept artists to share their experience and knowledge about the use of digital tools for concept art and gathered their opinions on using AI as a tool for their profession.
This thesis project was inspired by the author’s interest towards the technical process of creating realistic looking concept art and finding ways to produce it more efficiently. The outcome of this thesis can help both experienced and beginner visual artists to learn about different methods and potentially inspire the use of them. A large portion of this thesis project also seeks the possibilities for people in the game industry with no previous skills with art or 3D to be able to express their ideas through AI. The thesis explores the usability of AI for concepting and studies if it could be beneficial in early game development process in its current state or possibly in the near future. This exploration has been done by analysing the effectiveness of currently existing AI concept art and producing new concepts with the AI for the sake of this thesis. Ethical analysis of the use of AI for creating art was made by performing empirical research online to gather data of its recognition as an art form. Lastly, the author of this thesis interviewed industry concept artists to share their experience and knowledge about the use of digital tools for concept art and gathered their opinions on using AI as a tool for their profession.