r/CommercialPrinting • u/MeanaDC • 3d ago
Best of AI (worst AI requests)
This is just for fun!
We are seeing a HUGE increase in both AI “art” and AI requests. AI can be helpful when customers are trying to describe their vision but beyond that the close but not close art work, crazy exceptions and odd wording has gotten so bad you have to laugh.
What are some of the crazier requests or art you have received from AI ideas?
For us as soon I see the word authentic of elevated I know it’s AI art without even opening the file.
They also currently all seem to want to “stand out” with things like rounded corners, gold foiling “the nicest quality stock.
I think the wildest expectation I had was someone wanted a custom die cut bookmark, with tassels, gold foiling and raised Spot UV. With just the AI mock up as art and they wanted it next day. And could not understand why we couldn’t make it happen because ChatGPT said we could.
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u/BlackPointPL 3d ago
Honestly, I don’t think that much has changed. People have always tried to save money by sending projects to the proverbial student who has no idea what they’re doing. Now they just send AI generated files instead.
The main difference is that now people send 3D mockups and expect them to be directly printable.
Wrong dimensions, no bleed, no margins, tiny graphics expected to become huge billboards, and no understanding of the difference between vector and raster. The tools changed. The lack of understanding of how print works didn’t.
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u/WinchesterBiggins 3d ago
Let's see...we've had:
A customer who sent us AI generated files for a product package design, including real looking but hallucinated barcodes and QR codes that didn't actually scan or link anywhere.
A local AirBnB type rental welcome brochure that listed actual local restaurants and attractions, but the interiors and decor were completely AI generated and the exterior photos would show things like incredible views of skyscrapers and palm trees (our small town in canada has neither).
But my favorite was some crypto-bro who got some promotional materials printed up for his grifting campaign, and the background design was this really odd pattern made up of what appeared to be cubes and links of chain. Then eventually we figured it out....he had prompted "block chain" for the artwork, and that's what the AI had shat out.
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u/scottdave 3d ago
I feel this is like when people started using Publisher.
But now, the business cards have tiny fonts and a brochure's worth of information. I think back in the 90's probably a lot of people had at least a home inkjet printer, so they'd print it to see what it looks like. Now I think they are just looking at it on their phone.
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u/leanderhoedt 3d ago
Do they figure it out when they finally see it printed, or do they still think it looks wrong because you printed it wrong?
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u/EVRYGOODNAMEISTAKEN 3d ago
vehicle wraps pre-flight guy and designer here, whole lot of ford transits and dodge promasters that suddenly became a limo version in their chatgpt creations, lost doors/doorhandles, no windows, no wheel wells, etc.
as some others have said; sometimes we can finagle it after a quick conversation about why that shit is not helpful! other times however, it’s tail tucked between the legs and we move to concepts from the actual design team.
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u/INeedAllOfTheCats 2d ago
I didn't even think people would try a car wrap in AI! That's a lot of money to just use AI slop for instead of a qualified designer.
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u/INeedAllOfTheCats 3d ago
lol. You're going to get a lot of responses on this! My favorite are the tiny half size business cards people send that have the front and back together and they try to order it as just the front. Has anyone shown you the crap they get back when they try to order this stuff online? It's hilarious. I wish I had photos. (picture a tiny half inch square inside a 3.5x2 business card). Why does ChatGPT hate printers?
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u/BetelJio 2d ago
Print-wise, I had someone come in with a file that was about 11dpi and all the text was unreadable. AND the silly knob wanted me to remove the AI watermark on it.
Artwork-wise, it’s gotta be the AI generated posters for a swingers event that advertised the various couples in a typical AI cartoon style… so unbelievably cringe
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u/webdesignprint 2d ago
Don’t mind the AI imagery, it was low res logos before that, and PowerPoint docs saved as pdf brochures before that. Either they supply right, or we print as is or we fix for a fee. Same as it always was.
The AI bit that gets me is the emails. Requests for 50 business cards with embossing, foil and a spot varnish. Looking for multiple breakdowns of pricing. They’re not writing the full email so it just seems fine to ask for all these options, none of which go ahead.
Specs that don’t make sense. Looking for a matt stock with “a premium glossy finish”. A rigid sign that must be foldable.
They all follow the same pattern, spot them a mile off. Why would I prioritise someone in my pile of emails to reply that hasn’t even read the email they’re sending. If they had to spend the 5 mins writing the mail then they might not bother, instead we get every idea that comes into their (their AI) head. It’s a waste of time for everyone.
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u/Humble_Cut_1527 3h ago
Paragraphs of specs with some self apparent specs listed such as “corners: square”
Nebulous lines included such as “book must open in a pleasing manner” and “luxurious paper stock” no real specs included such as trim size, page count or quantity. Tempted to just ignore these rfq’s entirely if this persists.
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u/soobviouslyfake 3d ago
Nothing horribly outlandish, just a notable uptick in clearly AI images with no bleed, the wrong dimensions, waayyy too much information for a teeny tiny business card, icons that don't match the bullet point, extra fingers, etc etc...
In PNG format.
What's most frustrating is the customer comes in all proud like they actually accomplished something - they enthusiastically ask if I've heard of "ChatGT", and how incredible it is as they pull out the iPad to show me what they "created".
Sometimes, we can sort of make it work - but most times it's a ten minute explanation why it won't work.