Editor’s note: Ten days after this newsletter published, LensGo announced it was closing shop on July 3. Anyone who has a paid subscription will be refunded.
As we head into summer, I wanted to share some of the tools that don’t get as much attention as others. These are two of my favorite “under-the-radar” tools to use: LensGo and Latte Social:
1.LensGo.ai
LensGo is a web-based Stable Diffusion AI app that allows us to train our own models using our own photos. This helps us create consistent characters in images and videos we create, which has been an issue in AI-based image generators.
LensGo lets you create videos and images. It’s useful for a web video producer or designer building a magazine cover or some type of animated image to run with a package. You can design right in the tool or connect it to Discord. Start with a free account but you can upgrade to plans that begin at $6 monthly.
Prompts from our training video below:
Images
Prompt example: Astronaut on Mars During sunset
Prompt example: The Mandalorian standing in front of his spaceship, looking off into the distance. Two suns set behind him, in the background.
Or upload a few of your own images and see what you get!
The toolbar on the left gives you tremendous powers: You can set aspect ratios, select what format (Pixar, etc.) you want to animate in, and go from there.
You can practice with these tools by uploading some photos or videos and convert them into animations.
That’s also the first step in training the tool to create consistent characters. Chase Lean posted this step-by-step on Twitter to show us how:
Go to LensGo, which lets you train 3 custom models free every month.
Click “Train Custom Model“
Upload 10-20 images of yourself or a character you want to train the model on and click “Start“
After giving the app 20 minutes to train on your photos, come back and type simple prompts to generate consistent AI characters in any setting.
Once trained, the tool should produce consistent characters when you tell it to.
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2. Latte.social
A new era of video creation: From text to full-length video, Latte turns your ideas into reality by combining AI-generated visuals, music and realistic voices. It also features a useful prompt-driven editing suite.
Prices start at $11.25 per month, billed annually, though you can try it out for free (videos limited to 20 seconds)
Prompt example: Fighter jets from the movie Top Gun flying low across the horizon just meters above the ocean. They flow low over landfall before cutting between two tall mountains just off the beachfront. The sun is low on the sky behind them.
Training Video
Want to see how LensGo and Latte.social work? Play this short video that tests out the prompts above.
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Want Custom Training?
Contact Mike Reilley at mikereilley1 (at) gmail (dot) com to schedule an AI tools training for your staff.
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More AI Tools and Other Resources
Does It Exist
This search engine helps you generate ideas and find if a tool or app already exists.Atlas.co
A collaborative GIS and mapping platform in the browser. Build, share, and edit maps.ShadeMap
Every mountain, building and tree shadow in the world simulated for any date and time. Great for fact-checking images.
Video
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Textbooks
The Journalist’s Toolbox
My new book, “The Journalist’s Toolbox A Guide to Digital Reporting and AI” was published by Routledge in December. You can order it here,
Data + Journalism
Samantha Sunne and I co-authored a textbook, “Data + Journalism” that’s available now on Routledge. (Order here). It’s an introductory- to intermediate-level guide to learning data storytelling from A to Z.
In Quotes …
“Is it perfect? No. Is it as good as my executive team? No. Is it really, really valuable, so valuable that I talk to ChatGPT every single day? Yes.” — Jeff Maggioncalda, CEO, Coursera
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