Tips for Creating Images from Text with Stable Diffusion and NightCafe

 

The tips in this post are designed to help new users of text-to-images software. I have just over four months of experience in creating images from text. Mostly, I aim to visualize characters and scenes from my Sci-Fi and fantasy stories. I also make pretty pictures for fun.

When I began, I tested different online apps for creating images from text. You can see the results of my initial tests at:

https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2022/09/my-tests-of-different-apps-for-creating.html

My tests led me to set up an account with Night Café studio (https://creator.nightcafe.studio/create). I have created more than 1500 images in NightCafe. You can see my published images at https://creator.nightcafe.studio/u/AuroraSpringer

 

Stable Diffusion

To test my text prompts, I often use the free demo version of SD2.1 at https://huggingface.co/spaces/stabilityai/stable-diffusion

(Note, this site is popular and you might need to keep trying several times before you get in the queue.)

Stable diffusion usually requires negative prompts to create people or animals.

Example of the default negative prompt in NightCafe: ugly, tiling, poorly drawn hands, poorly drawn feet, poorly drawn face, out of frame, extra limbs, disfigured, deformed, body out of frame, blurry, bad anatomy, blurred, watermark, grainy, signature, cut off, draft

(You can edit the prompt as appropriate, e.g., for an image of a bird or a dragon, I might add ‘poorly drawn wings’.)

Advantages of NightCafe (from my perspective)

1. NightCafe provides a variety of methods for creating images.

It offers several different algorithms: Dalle2, Stable Diffusion (I use SD1.5 and 2.1), Coherent (CLIP-guided diffusion), Artistic (VGAN+CLIP; includes animate option to make videos), and Style Transfer.

Each algorithm has advanced options. Dalle has the fewest options, however, Dalle often produces images that more accurately represent what you wanted. 

2. You can evolve from a start image, alter the seed number, and create images in different proportions (square, portrait and landscape) suitable for social media.

3. You can choose from standard modifiers to create different artistic styles.

4. You can upscale and enhance images up to 8000x8000 for Print on Demand applications. (Important since many sites do not include this option.)

5. You choose whether to make an image public or keep it private.

6. You can use the images for commercial purposes even on the free plan.

7. The user interface is straightforward, and the user community is friendly. Members of the FaceBook group NightCafe AI Art offer advice on stable diffusion, tutorials and example prompts.  

The administrators are willing to adopt suggestions for improvements.

8. NightCafe has a flexible pricing model (Important if you wish to avoid a monthly fee.)

Each image costs 0.5 or more credits. Most methods are 1 credit to create a panel of 4 images. Dalle2 is 3 credits for a panel of 4 images, and SD2.1 is 4 credits per 4 images.

You can subscribe with a monthly fee, purchase credits, or earn credits.

You get 5 credits every day, and can add 2 more by voting in the daily challenges. You can earn credits by sharing an image and acknowledging @NightCafeStudio on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. This works well for me since I routinely post images related to my books on social media.

You can check the best of my images at my site for WhimsicalArt. These images are available as prints, magnets, T-shirts and other merchandise.  

(Most of these images are unaltered, although some required polishing with GIMP or Photoshop.)

I write science fiction and fantasy adventures entwined with romance. You can find a list of my published stories HERE.

Explore my Blog for background and excerpts.

I post regularly on Facebook,  Twitter,  YouTube,  Instagram  and TikTok

 

 

Alarik and Phoebe - Excerpt from Karrik for #wewriwa and#snippetsunday

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday. Sample the work of a new author. Read snippets of stories in different genres.

I’m continuing from my current work, Karrik, Book 6 of SciFi series, Taxyon Space. If all goes well, I plan to submit the book for pre-order soon. 

Over the past few weeks, I posted snippets from the first chapter where the crippled Karrik is unhappily confined to a room in a hospice run by the Pearl Sisters on the aliens’ home world of Rishalt. You can read last week’s excerpt at: https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2023/01/a-forlorn-cry-excerpt-from-karrik.html

This week I’m moving to the next chapter. This chapter introduces Karrik’s brother Alarik and his human companions. Their story began in Book 4, Alarik.

Many lightyears away in the Earther solar system, two people stepped into a quantum transporter on Jupiter’s moon, Europa.

The fleeting tickle vanished and the haze dissipated to reveal the vestibule of the Amethyst Starship. Clasping Phoebe’s hand, Alarik Kenton Tallis steered her out of the Qtrans alcove. Phoebe Wong, an Earther from the Martian colonies, had traveled with him on the space ferry to Europa and become his lover.

Glancing at him, Phoebe gave a tremulous smile. Her eyes shining with excitement, she murmured, “That felt really weird.”

“It always does,” Alarik said. “Our bodies were fractured into quanta and reintegrated here on the Amethyst Star.”

Nine sentences and a few more

“The Prime’s starship.” She touched the copper bracelet on her wrist, his gift and token of his love. “I’m glad you’re coming with us. I’d be terrified to face Prime Jadel alone.” They were traveling to Rishalt because the supreme Prime had summoned the three people associated with the recovery of a mysterious Eekrepisth object. As a precaution, the alien treasure was concealed in Phoebe’s bracelet.

He pressed her fingers. “By the Great Mother’s grace, I’m grateful we were not forced apart. Triarch Webale might have ordered me to resume my disguise and fly to Earth.”

Phoebe replied brightly, “And I could be on the starship with the colonists going to Zeta Three.” She shook her head. “I’d rather be with you.” Chuckling, she said, “Even though you’re not fabulously wealthy Rick Kent.”  

Please return to http://wewriwa.blogspot.com/ to sample the works of the other writers. 

All my stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for DigitalArt.

A forlorn cry - Excerpt from Karrik #SciFiRomance for #WewriWa and #SnippetSunday

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday. Sample the work of a new author. Read snippets of stories in different genres.

Here’s the next excerpt from Karrik, Book 6 of my SciFi series, Taxyon Space. I am on a second round of edits and hope to set up pre-orders soon.

Background: Karrik lost an arm and a leg in battle and he struggles to speak. He lives in a hospice on his homeworld of Rishalt. His two brothers are on Earth. In the last two excerpts, his oldest brother called (very long distance). Karrik managed to say, “Hello”, but he cannot say anything else. His brother ends the conversation, clearly disappointed.

You can read last week’s excerpt at https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2023/01/flummoxed-excerpt-from-karrik-for.html

He twisted onto his side, his intact hand flailing against the knotted edge of the swaying hammock. He wailed, a forlorn cry, bemoaning his losses.

“Hush.” The sister brushed his shoulder, “You are safe.”

Soothed by her gentle touch, he quieted.

She asked, “Would you like to go into the garden.” 

He forced the sounds through his lips, “Uh…Uh…ish.”

“Urish,” she completed the word for him. “Good.” She pulled the blanket off his body, eased him into a sitting position, and wrapped him in a white robe.

Ten sentences and a few more

A second sister appeared, padding softly in her bare feet and guiding a hovercart. 

The two sisters worked together to lift him out of the hammock and into the cart.

Helpless to prevent this humiliation, he moaned and wriggled.

“Hush, Karrik,” a sister said. “Why are you fussing? You like the garden.”

Burning with shame, he sobbed. They didn’t understand. He wanted to walk instead of being bundled into a cart like a dead fish.

This except ends the first chapter. In the next chapter, we switch to his brother Alarik. 

Please return to http://wewriwa.blogspot.com/ to sample the works of the other writers. 

Learn more about this Sci-Fi Thriller and Romance series at Taxyon Space

All my stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for DigitalArt.

 

Flummoxed - Excerpt from Karrik for #WeWriWa and #SnippetSunday

 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday. Sample the work of a new author. Read snippets of stories in different genres.

Here’s the next excerpt from Karrik, Book 6 of my SciFi series, Taxyon Space.

Background: Karrik lost an arm and a leg in battle and he struggles to speak. He lives in a hospice on his homeworld of Rishalt. His two brothers are on Earth. In last week’s excerpt, his oldest brother called (very long distance). Karrik managed to say, “Hello”, but he cannot say anything else.

You can read last week’s excerpt at https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2023/01/karrik-says-hello-excerpt-for-wewriwa.html

This excerpt follows:

Alarik said, “How are you today?”

Why did Alarik sound disappointed? Did his First not understand his difficulty in creating a word? Flummoxed by his inability to answer the question, Karrik merely uttered a frustrated moan.

After an interval, Alarik said, “I’ll call again later.”

The sister said, “He is improving every day. You should see him.”

“Calm seas, Sister.” The speaker clicked into silence.

Alarik had gone.

Ten sentences and a few more

Karrik felt bereft. Alone. Where was his brother? Neither Alarik or Baswin had visited him. Had they ever visited him? He could not remember. Not since his mind had awoken from a bleak, blank darkness. Their absence left him confused and lonely.

 This dialogue is a repeat of the same conversation in the earlier book, Alarik. In that case, the scene was described in Alarik’s perspective. Alarik is resigned to his brother’s disability, although he does not appreciate Karrik’s revived mental activity.

This month’s bargain book is Lured by the Lion – Discounted to 99c for the first time! 

Space opera and romance with a moody hero and pirates.

After the death of her ailing father, Jocelyn Navarre Yazzie is free to roam the galaxy in the Star Condor, the spacecraft she inherited from her deceased husband. A chance encounter with the crippled Leonardo Horlis changes her future. Leo Horlis suffers from a debilitating malady and expects to live for less than a year. Josie offers to transport him to the top medical center of the ultracivilized inner planets. Their attraction intensifies in the cramped quarters of her ship. But, Leo has a dangerous secret that threatens to terminate their voyage and their lives.

Can Josie and Leo escape the perils and vanquish the ghosts of their past to find happiness together?

 

Please return to http://wewriwa.blogspot.com/ to sample the works of the other writers.

All my stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for DigitalArt.

Karrik says Hello - excerpt for #WeWriWa and #SnippetSunday

 

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful holiday. 

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday. Sample the work of a new author. Read snippets of stories in different genres.

As promised, I’ll continue with excerpts from Karrik, Book 6 of SciFi series, Taxyon Space. This story has been a challenge to write with six pov characters, including the disabled Karrik. I’m working through the first round of edits where I add descriptions and transitions.

In my previous snippet from before the holidays, Karrik had woken from a nightmare of the attack that crippled him. He wonders about his brothers Alarik and Baswin. He doesn’t know where they are. See https://auroraspringer.blogspot.com/2022/12/snippet-from-karrik-for-wewriwa-and.html

This episode continues directly:

A woman entered. She wore white robes and a white headscarf covered her face, leaving only her eyes visible between the folds of the cloth. His nurse, one of the Pearl Sisters. They looked alike, each one distinguishable only by the color of their eyes and sound of their voices. This sister had blue eyes and a high-pitched voice.

He did not know their names. Had they ever told him? His memories had a big blank gap stretching between the crippling attack until the fuzziness of the present.

The Sister raised his head and held an object to his ear, saying, “Karrik, your brother is listening. Say hello to Brin Alarik.” 

Ten sentences and a few more

He pondered the sister’s instruction. At length, he forced out the word, “Hello.”

A loud voice sounded at his ear, “Karrik?”

The voice plucked at his memories. Was that his brother? His First, Alarik?

The familiar voice grew even louder, “Karrik, how are you feeling?”

Karrik. His name blazed in his mind. Alarik was calling him. He struggled to create the sounds of new words in his mouth. Nothing came out. Only gasps and grunts. At last, he resorted to the same sound he had made before, a shaky, “Hello?” It was a good word and pronounced clearly. He felt proud of this new skill, even if it was inappropriate as a response to his brother’s question.

Check out my previous posts for sketches of characters from my books.

This month’s bargain book is Lured by the Lion – Discounted to 99c for the first time! 

Space opera and romance with a moody hero and pirates.

After the death of her ailing father, Jocelyn Navarre Yazzie is free to roam the galaxy in the Star Condor, the spacecraft she inherited from her deceased husband. A chance encounter with the crippled Leonardo Horlis changes her future. Leo Horlis suffers from a debilitating malady and expects to live for less than a year. Josie is attracted to him, yet she cannot hope to compete with his beautiful deceased wife, whose portrait dominates his house. Sympathizing with his grief and illness, Josie offers to transport him to the top medical center of the ultracivilized inner planets. Their attraction intensifies in the cramped quarters of her ship. But, Leo has a dangerous secret that threatens to terminate their voyage and their lives.

Can Josie and Leo escape the perils and vanquish the ghosts of their past to find happiness together?

99c at Amazon  iBooks  B&N  Kobo  GooglePlay  Other  PRINT  AUDIO 

Please return to http://wewriwa.blogspot.com/ to sample the works of the other writers.

All my stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for DigitalArt.

Character Sketch 12: Captain Hawk

 

Black Hawk is a notorious space pirate and captain of the Rogue Star in my novella, Captured by the Hawk. His men catch Grey Kat hiding in their berth on the spaceport, and Hawk recruits her to steal one of the Emperor’s spaceships. This escapade morphs into a perilous chase across the galaxy. On the way, he discovers her alternate identity as Mistress Trina, beautiful daughter of the Solarian ambassador. The mutual attraction and banter between Hawk and Katrina adds a comic note to this exciting space opera.

Please comment to let me know if you like my sketches.

 

Second Chances in Space

A series of loosely connected novellas and short novels. Each story stars a widow and/or a widower, spies and/or space pirates.

Captured by the Hawk

Lured by the Lion

Stung by the Cobra

 

My stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

My novels and novellas are available in paperback as well as ebook. Many also have audio-versions. Check the individual titles in my book catalogue.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for WhimsicalArt.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.

 

Character Sketch 11: Katrina Sligo of Captured by the Hawk

 

Katrina uses different aliases in Captured by the Hawk. She is beautiful red-haired Mistress Trina Sligo, daughter of the Solarian ambassador, when she visits the imperial court. In secret, she haunts the sleezier spaceports disguised as Grey Kat and steals the Emperor’s codes. In this role, she is captured by strangers and taken to Captain Black Hawk’s ship. Hawk is a notorious space pirate and he bargains for her expertise in stealing codes. But, their heist goes terribly wrong and the Emperor’s troops pursue them across the galaxy in this fun and fast-paced space opera.

 

Second Chances in Space

A series of loosely connected novellas and short novels. Each story stars a widow and/or a widower, spies and/or space pirates.

Captured by the Hawk

Lured by the Lion

Stung by the Cobra

My stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

My novels and novellas are available in paperback as well as ebook. Many also have audio-versions. Check the individual titles in my book catalogue.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for WhimsicalArt.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest. 

 

Character Sketch 10: Growler, the Black Jaguar in my Secret Supers Series

 

Growler is a large black jaguar cat and the animal companion of Toby Ryan in my Secret Supers series. He flies with Toby to search for villains. As a super-powered animal, Growler can shift into a winged cat or a black motorcycle. The flying horse, Rockette, calls him boss cat, since Growler sends instructions to the super-animals. 

Here's a picture of Toby and Growler.

Please comment to let me know if you like my sketches.

 

Secret Supers

Fantasy adventure & romance. Teen superhero, Starrella, and her flying horse combat alien killers.

Super Starrella, Book 1

Starrella Falls, Book 2

Gargoyle Hunt, Book 3

Starrella and the Lost Girl, Short story

My stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

My novels and novellas are available in paperback as well as ebook. Many also have audio-versions. Check the individual titles in my book catalogue.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for WhimsicalArt.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.

Character Sketch 9: Toby Ryan

 

Toby Ryan is the hunky biker with many secrets when Estelle meets him near the beginning of the first book, Super Starrella. They are both students at the same university, and she gradually discovers his secret identities. He runs the Jags gang as a cover for the secret supers, a vigilante group with super powers. His birth name is Tobarian, and his ancestors came from a distant planet. His on-and-off romance with Estelle adds poignancy to their adventures. They contend with hostile aliens in different shapes in the three main stories of the series.

Please comment to let me know if you like my sketches.

 

Secret Supers

Fantasy adventure & romance. Teen superhero, Starrella, and her flying horse combat alien killers.

Super Starrella, Book 1

Starrella Falls, Book 2

Gargoyle Hunt, Book 3

Starrella and the Lost Girl, Short story

My stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

My novels and novellas are available in paperback as well as ebook. Many also have audio-versions. Check the individual titles in my book catalogue.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for WhimsicalArt.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.

Character Sketch 8: Estelle Wright aka Super Starrella

 

Estelle Wright is a freshman at college. In the first story, Super Starrella, she gains superpowers and the flying horse Rockette. Estelle adopts the alias of Super Starrella and flies over the streets at night searching for the villains. Estelle is aided by hunky biker, Toby Ryan. Their budding romance turns rocky in the second book, Starrella Falls, and revives in the third, Gargoyle Hunt. The first two stories are set in and around a fictious version of Atlanta, Atalanta, and the third story moves to Oxford, UK.

Here's a picture of Estelle riding Rockette.

Please comment to let me know if you like my sketches.

 Secret Supers

Fantasy adventure & romance. Teen superhero, Starrella, and her flying horse combat alien killers.

Super Starrella, Book 1

Starrella Falls, Book 2

Gargoyle Hunt, Book 3

Starrella and the Lost Girl, Short story

My stories are discounted at my direct BookStore.

My novels and novellas are available in paperback as well as ebook. Many also have audio-versions. Check the individual titles in my book catalogue.

Find prints, T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise at my site for WhimsicalArt.

View my pictures and videos on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Pintrest.