From Ideas to Reality: Using AI to Perfect Your Custom Stickers

Stickr
4 min readOct 22, 2023

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Grid of AI Generated Galexy Stickers

We’ve seen a big jump in AI use this year, especially when it comes to creative stuff. This tech change is reshaping the way we use gadgets and express our ideas. One cool thing? Making custom stickers. With AI, making stickers feels fresh and exciting, bringing in tons of new possibilities.

How AI Works with Images

Basically, AI uses special formulas and lots of data to create or change pictures. Imagine a computer artist that’s looked at millions of photos. It knows a lot about shapes, colors, and styles. When you ask it to do something, it uses all it knows to get the job done. Unlike the old ways where artists had to draw every line and detail, AI can whip up designs super fast based on what you tell it.

But don’t worry, the old ways aren’t going away. Instead, we’re combining the best of both: human imagination and computer speed. This blend means we can make things we once thought were too hard or would take too long. With AI in the picture, the sky’s the limit for what we can design next!

Making Stickers with AI: How It Works

a. Just Type What You Want!

Diving into AI design is easy. Type something like “cute cat with a hat” or even “city skyline at sunset with bright lights,” and AI will turn it into art. It’s great for people who know what they want but aren’t great at drawing.

b. Doodles + Words = Magic

Not sure about your drawing? No worries. Sketch something basic and describe it with words. If you draw a simple tree and say “flowering cherry tree at night,” AI can turn it into something amazing. It’s the best of both: your idea and AI’s art skills.

c. Tweak Art with AI’s Help

Found art that’s almost perfect? AI can help change it up. Put the art into the AI and say something like “make the background look like evening” or “give it a cool old-timey look.” You’ll get a new spin on that design. It saves time and lets you play with tons of different looks.

Getting the Best Out of AI Designs

Want the best results from AI? It’s all about the details you provide:

  1. Be Clear and Detailed: Instead of just saying “dog”, try “golden retriever playing in fall leaves”. This gives a clearer picture for the AI.
  2. Say Exactly What You Mean: If you’re thinking of a big creature, be specific like “giant dragon with green scales” so there’s no confusion.
  3. Go for High-Quality Images: When using AI tools, pick the highest quality setting, especially if you’re going to print. A bigger image can be made smaller, but making a small image big can make it look blurry.

In short, the coolest thing about AI is how you can guide it. Give it clear details and watch your visions come to life. Your imagination is the only boundary!

Breaking Down Top AI Design Tools

Navigating the world of AI design tools can be overwhelming, so let’s break down three popular choices:

Mid-Journey Generator:

  • Pros: Super easy to use, no need to know coding.
  • Cons: It costs money every month and sometimes the designs can be a little unexpected.
  • Best for: Folks willing to pay for a few quality designs monthly.

Unstable Diffusion:

  • Pros: They’ve got a new, easy-to-use platform and a big online community ready to help on Discord.
  • Cons: Some of the content or chat might not be kid-friendly.
  • Best for: People looking for free designs and community advice.

Locally Hosted Stable Diffusion:

  • Pros: Reliable results and super private since it’s on your computer.
  • Cons: Needs a good computer graphics card and might bump up your electric bill. Some setup and basic coding know-how are required.
  • Best for: Tech-savvy folks with a good computer, wanting lots of designs and privacy

Bringing Your Designs to Life

Got a favorite picture from your AI art collection? Awesome! Now, let’s get that printed. It’s super important to choose a good custom sticker shop, especially since AI art can be super detailed. You want your stickers to look bright and last a long time.

If you’re feeling DIY, look up some online tutorials to print them yourself. But heads up, you should expect lower quality and you will need to spend some cash on good paper, a printer, ink, and other tools to start.

The digital world’s made making stickers so much cooler with AI. So dive in, have fun designing, and show off your creations. Remember, behind every great sticker is a cool idea.

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