Microsoft Research Asia and Peking University have developed COLE, an AI tool that generates high-quality graphic designs based on text prompts.
Graphic design is an art form that requires creativity, expertise, and attention to detail. However, a new tool called COLE, developed by a team of researchers at Microsoft Research Asia and Peking University, has the potential to disrupt the profession. COLE uses a combination of AI models and an open-source graphics renderer to generate graphic designs based on text prompts. This article explores the capabilities of COLE and its implications for the future of graphic design.
COLE: A Framework for AI-Generated Graphic Designs
The team behind COLE combined different AI models, including fine-tuned versions of Meta’s Llama2-13B, DeepFloyd IF, LLaVA1.5-13B, and GPT-4V, to create a framework for AI-generated graphic designs. The researchers trained their background modeler AI on 100,000 high-quality raw graphic design images from the internet. COLE is more than just a product; it is a framework that allows users to generate graphic designs by typing in text prompts.
Auto-Generated Designs with Editable Elements
One of the impressive features of COLE is its ability to produce images with distinct editable blocks for texts and objects within the image. This means that users can easily change the text displayed, the font, or even introduce new visual elements without having to revise the entire design or export it to another program. COLE provides a flexible editing space within the framework itself, allowing for easy customization.
Competitive Quality and Promising Results
The results generated by COLE are of very competitive quality, even when compared to the latest text-to-image generators like OpenAI’s DALL-E 3. The researchers tested COLE on 200 different graphic design projects, ranging from advertisements to event promotions and marketing materials. COLE was found to be particularly effective in generating covers, headers, and posters. While COLE has its limitations, such as the inability to change the arrangement of typography blocks or include multiple typography block placements, the researchers are actively working on addressing these issues in future iterations.
The Future of Graphic Design
The of COLE raises questions about the future of graphic design. Does it threaten to put graphic designers out of work? The answer is both yes and no. COLE was designed to allow users to refine the output and integrate human expertise when necessary. Graphic design training and expertise will still be valuable in getting the best results from the AI framework. However, COLE also enables those without graphic design training to generate high-quality designs, potentially democratizing the field.
Conclusion:
COLE, the AI tool developed by Microsoft Research Asia and Peking University, has the potential to revolutionize graphic design. By combining different AI models and an open-source graphics renderer, COLE can generate high-quality graphic designs based on text prompts. While it may not replace the need for graphic designers, COLE offers a powerful tool that allows both professionals and non-professionals to create stunning designs. As COLE continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the future of the graphic design industry.
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