Vector Images and Document Layout Using AI
Illustrator's Generative Fill and Generative Patterns
I wrote this Generative Fill prompt to create the image in the oval:
"A dense rose garden with a stone wall and a white gate, an arbor with climbing roses over the gate, and a view of trees and sky behind the wall"
The shapes are very simple and rough. Illustrator does provide a 'Detail' slider, but even at maximum detail, it does not create a recognizable illustration of a rose garden, although it is charming. Also, there is no arbor, so my prompt failed and needs to be re-worded.
My Generative Pattern prompt for the background:
"small green leaves in 3 shades on a darker green background"
The Pattern Fill is very successful. It is very easy to create a simple, pleasing pattern for use in backgrounds or packaging, and they are seamless!
Document Layout in Adobe Firefly
Firefly Variations 1 and 2
Firefly offered 20 layouts is response to this prompt:
Attend our undergraduate degree program in Digital Multimedia and AI-aided Design and create your future now!
19 of the layouts are not usable.
Firefly Variations 3 and 4
Only one layout included enough of the text and visually supported the message (above, right). It is engaging because of the colorful image of a digital eye with streaming light, but it's also awkward, with dull color and random placement of rectangles and grids.
Human Redesign
The image and the grids inspired me. But AI is not yet able to design a layout. It requires a designer to select a template, re-construct it, choose appropriate fonts, and add consistent branding. Using the original image as a reference, I created two more images with Firefly's generative AI and layered them together to create a new image. (above right)
Human Redesign
Although I find the colorful digital eye engaging, the floral motif may not appeal to prospective male students, so I created two variations with darker, more tech-y photos that are copyright-free from Pexels. The photos are more boring, but I might jazz them up by increasing the saturation, or using AI or Photoshop filters. The text in all variations is a placeholder.
Building a Document with AI-generated Components
I used AI to produce both the image and the text. But I created the layout in Illustrator without using AI, because AI can't design (see above). There are thousands of templates available, but for this demo I built a simple arrangement with the photo on top, edge to edge, and the letter below. I united the image and text are by placing the headline on the image.
The prompt for Firefly's Generative Fill:
A group of male and female college graduates, wearing purple gowns and purple mortarboards with gold tassels, and the Manhattan skyline is in the background, detailed, watercolor style
Theme: "Concept Art." Technique: "Watercolor."
I provided a reference photo, which gave AI enough information to create a usable illustration. There were some small, typical errors that I repainted in Photoshop — floating diplomas, extra mortarboards and missing tassels. Even with that additional work, I still saved at least three-quarters of the time it would have taken me to paint it from scratch, from the reference photo.
The prompt for GPTChat:
"Write a brief letter from the president of Hunter College, congratulating the graduating students in the class of 2025, to be published in the commencement program."
The text was amazingly error-free, well-written, and included a great deal of accurate information about the college that was not in my prompt!
