How to Create an AI Logo, Prompt Hacks and Print Ready for Midjourney

Rob Shocks
22 Feb 202309:55

TLDRDiscover how generative AI can streamline the logo design process for entrepreneurs and creatives. The video explores using Midjourney, a popular AI model, to create illustrative and detailed logos suitable for sports teams and gaming. Learn how to refine AI-generated outputs for simplicity and reproducibility, and integrate them with traditional design tools like Illustrator for final touches. The host also discusses the value of AI in the creative process and the current limitations in fully automating brand design.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 The video discusses the use of generative AI in logo design, highlighting the benefits and potential shortcuts it offers to entrepreneurs, product developers, and creatives.
  • 🔍 Midjourney is identified as the most stylistically suitable AI model for logo design due to its illustrative and detail-rich output, making it ideal for sports teams, gaming, and other stylized areas.
  • 📝 To start using Midjourney, one must sign up for Discord and accept the terms and services, then choose a 'Newbie' room to begin experimenting with prompts.
  • 📈 The script provides a step-by-step guide on how to refine AI-generated outputs to simplify them for better logo design, emphasizing the importance of keeping logos simple and recognizable.
  • 🖌️ It's important to note that Midjourney does not handle text well, so any text elements in a logo need to be added and adjusted manually in a vector graphics software like Illustrator or Canva.
  • 📐 The video suggests using specific keywords to guide the AI in creating the desired type of logo, such as 'word mark', 'letter mark', 'abstract', etc., which can influence the AI's output.
  • 🔑 The script introduces the concept of 'prompt hacking', where one can refine AI prompts to achieve more simplified and 2D vector outputs suitable for logos.
  • 🌐 The video mentions the use of different styles and themes, such as Japanese style or pop art, to diversify the AI-generated logo concepts.
  • 🎨 It also touches on the ethical considerations of using other artists' styles as prompts for AI, raising questions about originality and inspiration in design.
  • 🛠️ The process of turning an AI-generated image into a vector graphic suitable for print and other media involves using software like Illustrator to 'image trace' and refine the design.
  • 💡 The conclusion of the video suggests that while AI can aid in the creative process for logo design, it's not yet a complete replacement for human skills and expertise in branding.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the video transcript?

    -The video transcript focuses on how to use generative AI, specifically mid-journey, to create logos and the value it adds to the logo design process.

  • Why is mid-journey considered the best for logo design among the three popular models mentioned?

    -Mid-journey is considered best for logo design because it has the most stylistic and illustrative style, producing concepts that are very illustrative and detail-rich.

  • What are the initial steps to start using mid-journey for logo creation?

    -The initial steps include signing up to Discord, accepting terms and services, and choosing a Newbie room to start experimenting with prompts.

  • How can one upscale a particular image from mid-journey?

    -To upscale an image, one can choose the image they want to upscale and then use the mid-journey bot to request an upscaled version.

  • What are the limitations of using mid-journey for creating logos?

    -The outputs from mid-journey are very detailed and may not be simple enough for a good logo mark, which needs to be recognizable across multiple distances and sizes and reproducible on various media.

  • What kind of keywords can be used to simplify the output from mid-journey?

    -Keywords such as 'on white background', '2D', 'simple vector', 'no tag', 'no realistic details', or 'no shadows' can be used to simplify the output.

  • What are the five types of logos mentioned in the transcript?

    -The five types of logos mentioned are word mark, letter mark, letter forms, abstract, and emblem.

  • How can one refine the AI-generated logo to make it more suitable for reproduction?

    -One can refine the logo by using specific prompts that emphasize simplicity, minimalism, and the absence of shading or detail, and then vectorizing the image in a program like Illustrator.

  • Why is it necessary to use a different program to add text to the AI-generated logo?

    -Mid-journey does not handle text well, so it's necessary to use a vector graphics program like Illustrator, Canva, or Inkscape to add legible text with a chosen font.

  • What are some additional styles and techniques mentioned in the transcript for creating logos?

    -Some additional styles and techniques include using Japanese style, black and white prompts for simplicity, pop art style, psychedelic style, and using famous artists' styles as prompts.

  • What is the final step in the process of creating a logo using AI and vector graphics software?

    -The final step is to import the AI-generated image into a vector graphics program, use image trace to convert it into a vector graphic, refine the design, and add text to complete the logo.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Leveraging Generative AI for Logo Design

The speaker explores the use of generative AI in the branding workflow, specifically for logo creation. They discuss the value of AI in this process and compare three popular models, finding 'mid-journey' to be the most suitable for logo design due to its illustrative style. The speaker guides through the process of using mid-journey on Discord, from signing up to refining prompts for simpler and more reproducible logo outputs. They emphasize the importance of simplicity in logos for brand recognition across various mediums and suggest using specific keywords to achieve the desired logo style. The paragraph concludes with a demonstration of how to refine AI-generated images into simple, vector-based logos using software like Illustrator.

05:02

🛠 Refining AI-Generated Logos for Practical Use

This paragraph delves into the practical application of AI-generated logos, discussing the limitations and potential of using AI in the design process. The speaker shares their experience with the 'mid-journey' model, noting its inability to handle text and the need to refine outputs for simplicity and reproducibility. They provide examples of how to prompt for different logo types using specific keywords and styles, such as Japanese style or pop art, and demonstrate how to use image tracing in Illustrator to convert raster images into clean vector graphics suitable for print and digital media. The speaker also touches on the ethical considerations of using other artists' styles as prompts and concludes by discussing the current state of AI in logo design, suggesting that while it can inspire, the process is not yet fully automated and requires a combination of AI and human expertise.

Mindmap

Keywords

AI Logo

AI Logo refers to the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of logos, which are the visual symbols representing a brand or company. In the video, the creator explores the integration of AI into the branding workflow to accelerate the logo design process, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges of using AI in this creative field.

Midjourney

Midjourney is identified as one of the three popular AI models mentioned in the script, known for its stylistic and illustrative style, making it well-suited for logo design. The video discusses how midjourney can produce detailed and rich concepts, particularly suitable for sports teams, gaming, and other stylized areas.

Discord

Discord is a communication platform where the user interaction with midjourney takes place. The script describes the process of signing up for Discord and using it to input prompts and receive AI-generated outputs, which is a key step in the logo creation process discussed in the video.

Prompts

Prompts are the textual inputs given to the AI to guide the generation of specific outputs. In the context of the video, prompts are used to instruct midjourney on the style and elements desired in the logo design, such as 'cartoon' or 'on white background 2D simple vector'.

Upscale

Upscaling in the video refers to the process of enhancing the resolution or detail of an AI-generated image. The script mentions choosing to upscale a particular image to improve its quality, which can be important for achieving a high-fidelity logo design.

Simplicity in Logos

Simplicity is emphasized as a crucial aspect of effective logo design. The video explains that while AI can produce complex and detailed outputs, a good logo should be simple, recognizable at various sizes, and reproducible across different mediums, which often means limiting the color palette and design elements.

Vector Graphics

Vector graphics are used in logo design for their scalability and clean lines. The script describes the process of converting a raster image from AI output into a vector format using Adobe Illustrator, which is essential for print-ready logos and for maintaining quality at different sizes.

Illustrator

Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editing software mentioned in the script as the tool used to refine and finalize the AI-generated logo designs. It allows for the manipulation of images into clean, scalable vectors and the addition of text to complete the logo.

Branding Workflow

The branding workflow refers to the series of steps involved in creating a brand's visual identity, including logo design. The video discusses how AI can be incorporated into this workflow to expedite the process, offering shortcuts and hacks for faster logo creation.

Reproducible

Reproducible in the context of the video means that a logo design can be consistently reproduced across various platforms and materials without loss of quality or detail. The script emphasizes the importance of creating logos that are simple and adaptable for different uses.

Japanese Style

Japanese style is one of the artistic styles explored in the video for generating logo ideas. The script mentions using keywords like 'Japanese style' to prompt the AI for outputs with a distinct aesthetic, which can then be refined and vectorized for logo design.

Highlights

AI can assist entrepreneurs, product developers, and creatives in the logo design process.

Midjourney offers a stylistic and illustrative style, making it ideal for logo design.

To begin with Midjourney, sign up for Discord and accept the terms and services.

New users should join a 'Newbie' room in Discord to start experimenting with prompts.

Upscaling in Midjourney can enhance the detail of generated images.

Midjourney's outputs are rich in detail but may not be suitable for all branding needs.

A good logo should be simple, recognizable, and reproducible across various mediums.

Prompts can be refined to simplify AI-generated outputs for logo design.

Keywords like 'on white background', '2D', 'simple', and 'vector' can help produce cleaner logos.

Understanding different types of logos can guide the use of appropriate keywords in prompts.

Midjourney does not handle text well, requiring manual adjustment in design software.

Japanese style prompts in Midjourney can produce simple and effective logo designs.

Using famous artists or logo designers as prompts can inspire unique AI-generated outputs.

Pop art and psychedelic styles can be explored for creative logo design inspiration.

Image tracing in Illustrator can convert AI-generated images into clean vector graphics.

The number of colors used in image tracing is crucial for achieving a clean logo design.

Midjourney can provide inspiration for logo designers but may not fully automate the process.

For those on a budget, AI-based platforms like Brandmark and Looker offer quick branding solutions.

The video concludes with a discussion on the ethics of using other artists' styles as prompts and the future of automation in logo design.