AI-Assisted Concept Art
Using image generators in the ideation stage
Also known as: AI concept art · Midjourney concept art · Stable Diffusion concept art · AI image generation game art · AI ideation · AI art workflow
Definition
AI-assisted concept art means using image generators such as Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Flux or Adobe Firefly to produce ideas, moods, color studies and references at speed. Artists use them mainly in early exploration, to see many directions fast, and then design the final piece by hand with their own composition, drawing and painting. Studios have different policies, and questions about training data, copyright and credit are still unsettled, so artists need to check the rules of their client or employer.
In production
Treat generated images as rough material for thinking, not as finished art, and keep your own drawing, design and painting skills, which studios still hire for. Check the licensing terms of any tool and your client's policy before using results, and be open about your process. Tools such as ComfyUI give more control, for example composition guidance from a sketch or 3D blockout. Fundamentals such as values, shapes and composition matter more than ever.
Learn AI-Assisted Concept Art in
Tools that use AI-Assisted Concept Art
See also
Mood Board
Collected references that set the look of a project
Thumbnail Sketch
Small, fast sketches for exploring ideas
Paintover
Painting on top of a 3D render or sketch
Concept Art
Visual design before 3D production
Photobashing
Building a concept by combining and painting over photos
Design Language
The shared rules that make a world feel consistent