I've been experimenting with AI content generation by using Stable Diffusion with different LORA's and ChatGPT. I've always loved worldbuilding and creating stories, and as such it's been interesting to try if it really can help you as an artist. I also love the fact that Stable Diffusion can be run locally on your own computer with your own hardware.
I do not like the idea of just taking what AI gives you and that's why I'm heavily directing it to generate images I want instead of just taking what it is good in. I come up with the story and characters first and generate images afterwards. But sometimes finding a great image really moves your story as you want to incorporate the idea of the place in it.
The story takes place in the planet Serenno, it's a planet in the Star Wars universe.
I used a browser based map generator to create a map which I drew the cities that are in Wookiepedia. Some of the Houses don't really have a backstory in the Star Wars Canon, so I wrote a long backstory on the history of the region.
Heres some images and text that bring flesh to the areas between Saffia, Borgin.
Road North from Saffia
Riverbend Hollow
"Riverbend Hollow is a quaint and secluded village nestled at the base of towering, verdant cliffs, their rocky faces softened by the rich greenery clinging to their sides.
The village comprises a handful of rustic wooden houses, their thatched roofs blending seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Winding dirt paths meander through the village, leading to small gardens and fields where villagers cultivate their crops. The air is filled with the earthy scent of the rainforest and the gentle hum of nature, punctuated by the distant calls of exotic birds."
Village Elder Thaldrin
"The village elder stands in the middle of a lush, verdant path, his wise eyes carefully observing the approaching adventurers. Clad in a green cloak that blends seamlessly with the surrounding foliage, his long white beard and hair flow gently in the breeze, giving him an aura of timeless wisdom. Elder's belt with various pouches and tools is strapped around his waist, suggesting his readiness for any situation.
His posture is serene yet authoritative, exuding a sense of quiet strength. The dappled sunlight filters through the canopy above, casting a gentle glow on his weathered face. He speaks in a gentle yet firm voice: "Who are you and what business do you have here?"
Though he does not appear threatening, there is a serious expectation in his gaze. The tranquil yet vigilant demeanor of the elder makes it clear that while the village is peaceful, it is not without its protectors. "
Old hallways
Caverns
Ancient ruins inside Aparian rainforest
Ancient overgrown bridge inside the Aparian rainforest
"the region affected by the catastrophic landslide and flood is now an overgrown, forest that hides remnants of old structures and statues. Lost treasures and artifacts are believed to be buried beneath layers of earth. The forest serves as a testament to the devastation of the past."
River Aparia sneaking it's way towards the City of Valentia on the western shore.
The northern fishing city of Borgin
" Borgin Harbor: The city's entrance and lifeblood, Borgin Harbor, is the largest bay in the region. It's a bustling center of activity with fishing vessels, trading ships, and Frostskippers coming and going. The harbor is guarded by two lighthouses, Borgin Lighthouse and Velenoria Lighthouse, on opposite ends of the bay. "
Fiyarroan dock inspector droid and scanner
Backroads of Fiyarro
Industrial Complex of Fiyarro a logistics hub of the planet.
AI can help you especially if you are a solo writer to bring more ideas to the areas and characters. Someone to bounce your ideas off of.
To generate images from those places is another story, as very heavy direction is still needed and sometimes hundreds of images before a suitable one is found. Stable Diffusion is quite nice as it's possible to install different LORAs to change the style of images that the SD generates and more easily focus the output towards something you are going for.
But the hard part is that SD models are quite heavily geared towards certain type of content production, sometimes turning the model around to create something you want takes more time than photobashing it together. One possibility is to teach your own model to generate images more towards the style you want.
Prompt wizarding is an interesting future profession. But is there an audience for AI images?