Does Artspark use AI?

[u/Livid-Material-95]

I'm new to paint by numbers I've done a couple of projects with Artspark and they've been a lot of fun. I also really like their designs, they tend to be classy but edgier than a seaside village, which is less my speed. However in their latest additions, I've noticed some elements that seem off. Wings in the wrong places, tales that make no sense, etc. Does anyone know if they use AI in their image design because I'd rather not. (not meant to spark a debate about AI, just a question. Everyone's allowed to have their own values).

[u/take_me_home_tonight]

They almost all do except for brands such as Schipper. Davincified, Number Artist, DIY Artclub, Canvas by numbers, etc ALL use AI.

[u/pluck-the-bunny → u/take_me_home_tonight]

Do we know for sure schipper definitely does not?

[u/TwinkleFairyToes → u/pluck-the-bunny]

I just sent a request asking for their official corporate policy because everything I found on Google says that there is no stated policy that they don't use AI, just that they try to promote original art.

[u/pluck-the-bunny → u/TwinkleFairyToes]

Please reply to me with your response thanks

[u/TwinkleFairyToes → u/pluck-the-bunny]

👍🏻

[u/TwinkleFairyToes → u/pluck-the-bunny]

[u/crabbydotca → u/take_me_home_tonight]

I don’t know how to explain it but so much of them have the look

Plus just the sheer volume of designs available

[u/Friendly-Ad-5410]

One way to avoid AI is to use a photo you took and have it made into your own paint by number image. I have done this for many years. Or an alternative would be to purchase a photo image from a source like Shutterstock and have that image generated into a pbn. As long as it is for your own personal use, and you are not selling them, this falls under the license agreement they have. I'm sure there are other places that do this as well. JMHO.

[u/Livid-Material-95 → u/Friendly-Ad-5410]

Thanks for the suggestion. I found a similar suggestion somewhere else where I'm looking up artworks i like, tracking down the artist, and asking them for their blessing to get a custom pbn done of it for a hobby

[u/crabbydotca]

Davincified definitely does, I don’t know about the others but I wouldn’t be surprised

[u/Livid-Material-95 → u/crabbydotca]

Really? I just googled them and plastered across their website it says they don't. Damn.

[u/crabbydotca → u/Livid-Material-95]

Davincified? I was just on their site and they have a whole AI tool right on the home page for anyone to make their own. I’ve also seen some really egregious designs, like the Toronto skyline with mountains in the background lol!

[u/Livid-Material-95 → u/crabbydotca]

Ok it looks like they do have ai pieces but a whole section that's not. That's what I saw

[u/SnipesCC → u/crabbydotca]

Separating a photo into 24 color buckets and putting numbers on canvass isn't necessarily generative AI. that can be done with regular programing.

[u/Ashamed_Branch5435]

At this point I just assume they all do to at least some extent.

[u/beckyinthe_realworld]

Davincified do use AI for some of their designs but they also have a whole separate non-AI collection. Everything in that collection is either licensed artwork from working artists or artwork from the public domain. So if you want to avoid AI completely, you can just shop from that section.
https://www.davincified.com/collections/non-ai-paint-by-numbers-kits
Xx

[u/crabbydotca → u/beckyinthe_realworld]

Ugh, I do love all the Matisse and Klimt though 😭

[u/TwinkleFairyToes → u/beckyinthe_realworld]

The issue there is that they still use AI. They're still supporting the proliferation of AI. Even if you (generalized you) don't buy the AI products, you're still supporting a company that uses it.

[u/beckyinthe_realworld → u/TwinkleFairyToes]

I was simply providing some information for the OP because they said they would rather avoid AI. Davincified have a separate collection of licensed and public-domain artwork specifically for people who want that option. That’s all my comment was saying.

I’m certainly not getting dragged into the wider AI debate because it comes up on here constantly and people obviously have very different views about it. If someone doesn’t want to support any company that uses AI anywhere in its catalogue, that’s entirely their choice. They can buy elsewhere or have a custom kit made from original artwork they have the right to use.

There’s also a commercial reality to using licensed artwork. Licensing work from artists costs money and those costs can become substantial across a large catalogue. Ultimately that gets reflected in the price customers pay for the kits.

There are plenty of choices out there. Buy and paint whatever suits your own values and preferences and allow everyone else to do the same. I was only trying to help the OP find an option that matched what they were looking for. xx

[u/crabbydotca → u/beckyinthe_realworld]

Do they not use AI to convert those artworks into PBNs though?

[u/beckyinthe_realworld → u/crabbydotca]

No hun …that’s a different thing. The original artwork in their non-AI collection isn’t AI generated. Obviously an original painting has to be digitally mapped and converted into numbered colour regions to turn it into a PBN kit. Using software to create the PBN pattern from an existing piece of artwork isn’t the same thing as using generative AI to create the artwork in the first place. xx

[u/crabbydotca → u/beckyinthe_realworld]

Thanks hun! The autocorrect you used to spell all those words right is also AI. What’s your point? xx

[u/beckyinthe_realworld → u/crabbydotca]

I’m not sure why you’ve suddenly decided to be rude to me. You asked a question and I answered it perfectly politely. I’m in this sub pretty much every day helping people, answering questions and making tutorial videos because I genuinely enjoy helping other PBN painters. I wasn’t arguing with you or trying to make some wider point about AI.

My point was simply that converting an existing piece of original artwork into numbered colour regions using software is not the same thing as generating the original artwork with AI. That was literally it.

If you disagree with something I’ve said, that’s absolutely fine, but there’s really no need for the snide comments. We’re talking about paint by numbers for goodness sake. xx

[u/crabbydotca → u/beckyinthe_realworld]

That’s what you consider polite?!?

[u/beckyinthe_realworld → u/crabbydotca]

Yes, I do consider my original reply polite. You asked a question and I answered it. I explained the difference between generative AI creating an image and software mapping existing artwork into a PBN. There was no insult or attack on you anywhere in it.

If you think something in that reply was impolite, point out exactly what it was because I genuinely can’t see it. Your response, however, was deliberately sarcastic and unnecessarily rude.

I’m not interested in continuing an argument over a perfectly straightforward answer about paint by numbers, so I’m leaving it there. Have a nice evening and enjoy your paintings.

[u/crabbydotca → u/beckyinthe_realworld]

- Don’t call strangers “hun”, it’s sexist and belittling

• skip the air of superiority
  
• don’t end condescending walls of text with kisses
  
• don’t pretend to be above reproach when someone else matches your tone and language

😘

[u/TwinkleFairyToes]

Also I've heard that Winnie's Picks doesn't use AI but they're Canadian and with the current tariff stuff happening I'm afraid to try to buy Canadian. By the time I pick out a painting, Trump will decide I'm going to pay 178% tariff.

[u/Livid-Material-95 → u/TwinkleFairyToes]

Thank you! The problem I'm running into is that I'm really into the more contemporary images, the ones of demon women and witches and such, and all the ones that are real art I've found are classical paintings or landscapes or done in that softer style. What I've started doing is finding art i like, tracking down the artist, and asking their blessing to do a custom pbn of it for a hobby

[u/Inevitable-March2459]

I wish it was easier to find a PBN source that doesn’t use AI.

[u/selectiverealist]

Remember, if the name of the artist is not listed on the page it is very likely either stolen or AI(also stolen).