AI's Struggle with Noir: Can Machines Capture the Gritty Charm? with Stability-ai-ultra
- 10 minutes read - 1994 words
Table of Contents
Film noir, with its stark contrasts, shadowy figures, and gritty realism, has captivated audiences for decades. But can AI truly capture the essence of this iconic style? This article explores the capabilities and limitations of generative AI in recreating the visual language of film noir, analyzing its performance in capturing camera angles, shot types, and the overall mood of the genre. We’ll examine how AI excels in technical aspects but struggles to capture the artistic vision that defines film noir, highlighting the ongoing quest for AI to truly understand and replicate human creativity.
Created with: stability-ai-ultra
Lost in the Neon Rain: A Man’s Shadowy Journey
A solitary figure in a trench coat navigates a rain-slicked alleyway, illuminated by the vibrant glow of neon signs. The scene exudes a sense of mystery and intrigue, with the play of light and shadow adding a dramatic touch. Prepare to be drawn into a world of shadows and secrets.
Prompt
Film noir: Gritty, determined, melancholic ; A lone detective; medium shot; Heroism; A dimly lit alleyway with rain pouring down, neon signs reflecting in puddles.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A man in a trench coat walks down a dark, wet alleyway. The alleyway is lined with brick buildings and lit by neon signs.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mode : mysterious, noir, moody
Quality
Entropy : 6.66
Noise : 112
Prompt Clip Score : 0.33
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.80
Image errors : The image appears to be generated by AI, particularly the rain and the reflections on the wet pavement.
A Serene Stroll Through a Lantern-Lit Street
A man walks down a narrow street, bathed in the warm glow of red and yellow lanterns. The inviting aroma of food stalls fills the air, creating a nostalgic and serene atmosphere. As he walks towards the light at the end of the street, a sense of mystery and intrigue lingers.
Prompt
Film noir: Suspenseful, mysterious, thrilling ; A shadowy figure escaping through a maze of narrow streets; long shot; Adventure; A bustling night market with flickering lanterns and crowded stalls.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A man walks down a narrow, bustling street lined with food stalls and illuminated by hanging lanterns. The scene is set in an Asian city at night, likely in China.
Aesthetic Score : 0.8
Mode : nostalgic, warm, mysterious
Quality
Entropy : 6.64
Noise : 93
Prompt Clip Score : 0.28
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.30
Image errors : There are some artifacts visible in the image, mainly in the blur effect on the background. The image also appears slightly oversharpened, resulting in a slightly artificial look.
Will Luck Be On Your Side? A Handful of Spades Holds the Answer.
A close-up shot of a hand holding three cards - King, Ace, and Jack of spades - captures the thrill of the game. The blurry background of slot machines adds to the suspense, leaving you wondering what fate holds for this player.
Prompt
Film noir: Intense, suspenseful, dangerous ; A gambler’s hand holding a pair of aces; close-up; Gaming; A smoky, dimly lit casino with flashing lights and the sound of slot machines.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A hand holding three cards, two kings and an ace, all of spades, in a casino setting with slot machines in the background.
Aesthetic Score : 0.6
Mode : mystery, luck, excitement
Quality
Entropy : 5.70
Noise : 77
Prompt Clip Score : 0.27
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image is slightly blurry, particularly in the background, and the colors are a bit washed out, creating a less than ideal visual quality.
Lost in the Rain, Chasing Memories
A classic car races through the downpour, its headlights cutting through the gloom. The road stretches endlessly ahead, leading to a solitary building with warm, inviting windows. A sense of longing and mystery hangs in the air, as if the car is carrying a story of forgotten dreams and a journey towards an unknown destination.
Prompt
Film noir: Lonely, melancholic, atmospheric ; A vintage car speeding through a deserted highway; wide shot; Tourism; A desolate, rain-soaked landscape with a lone motel in the distance.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A classic car drives down a lonely, wet road towards a house with lights on in the distance. The sky is overcast and the atmosphere is somber.
Aesthetic Score : 0.8
Mode : nostalgic, melancholic, lonely
Quality
Entropy : 6.80
Noise : 97
Prompt Clip Score : 0.36
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.00
Image errors : No major errors. The image is sharp and well-composed.
Lost in the City Lights
A woman gazes out of a bus window, her reflection lost in the rain-streaked glass. The city lights shimmer below, creating a melancholic scene of solitude and introspection.
Prompt
Film noir: Nostalgic, melancholic, introspective ; A woman looking out of a train window at a passing cityscape; medium shot; Travel; A dark, rainy cityscape with towering buildings and flickering streetlights.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A woman sits by a window on a bus or train, looking out at a rainy city street at night. The lights from the street lamps and cars create a warm glow, while the raindrops on the window create a sense of melancholy.
Aesthetic Score : 0.8
Mode : melancholy, contemplative, nostalgic
Quality
Entropy : 5.90
Noise : 74
Prompt Clip Score : 0.35
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image appears to have some minor digital noise, particularly in the darker areas of the image.
Shadows and Secrets: A Family’s Tense Gathering
A dimly lit room, a single lightbulb casting long shadows, and a family standing in a tense tableau. The peeling walls and cluttered space add to the sense of mystery and gloom, hinting at a story waiting to unfold.
Prompt
Film noir: Intimate, tense, claustrophobic ; A family huddled together in a dimly lit room; medium shot; Family; A cramped apartment with peeling paint and a flickering gas lamp.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A black and white photo of a family in a dimly lit room. The father stands in the foreground, looking at the camera. Behind him are his wife and two children, all standing close together. The light is coming from a single bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting a soft glow on the family.
Aesthetic Score : 0.6
Mode : tense, dramatic, melancholic
Quality
Entropy : 5.85
Noise : 85
Prompt Clip Score : 0.31
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.10
Image errors : The image is grainy and appears to be slightly overexposed. The light bulb seems to be shining too brightly.
Lost in the Neon Rain
A solitary figure navigates a rain-soaked city street, bathed in the vibrant glow of neon signs. The atmosphere is heavy with mystery and isolation, as the downpour amplifies the urban energy.
Prompt
Film noir: Mysterious, brooding, contemplative ; A detective’s silhouette against a window, cigarette smoke swirling around him; low-angle shot; Heroism; A rain-soaked city street with neon signs reflecting in the puddles.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A lone figure in a trench coat walks down a rain-slicked street in a neon-lit city. The rain creates a sense of solitude and mystery. The reflections of the neon signs in the puddles add to the city’s ambiance.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mode : mysterious, lonely, urban
Quality
Entropy : 6.67
Noise : 99
Prompt Clip Score : 0.37
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 1.00
Image errors : The image has some minor artifacts, such as a slight blur in the background.
Shadow of Suspense: A Hand, a Gun, and a Dark Alley
A chilling image of a hand gripping a gun in a dimly lit alleyway. The silhouette of the hand creates an air of mystery and suspense, hinting at a story waiting to unfold in the shadows.
Prompt
Film noir: Suspenseful, dangerous, threatening ; A close-up of a hand holding a gun, the barrel pointed at a shadowy figure; extreme close-up; Adventure; A dark, smoky back alley with a flickering streetlight.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A person holding a gun in a dark alleyway with a streetlight in the background.
Aesthetic Score : 0.2
Mode : dark, suspenseful, dangerous
Quality
Entropy : 6.21
Noise : 72
Prompt Clip Score : 0.29
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : The image has a lot of noise and grain, and the lighting is uneven. The details are also not sharp and the colors are muted.
The Spin of Fortune: A Close-Up Look at Roulette’s Thrilling Dance
Feel the rush of anticipation as the roulette ball spins, its path uncertain. This close-up shot captures the heart of the game, with the blurred background highlighting the excitement of the casino floor. Glamour, excitement, and anticipation all converge in this single moment.
Prompt
Film noir: Intense, suspenseful, unpredictable ; A roulette wheel spinning, the ball landing on a single number; close-up; Gaming; A dimly lit casino with the sound of chips clinking and people whispering.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A close-up shot of a roulette wheel in a casino, with blurred figures of people in the background.
Aesthetic Score : 0.7
Mode : elegant, mysterious, exciting
Quality
Entropy : 6.20
Noise : 75
Prompt Clip Score : 0.30
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : No noticeable errors in the image.
A Lone Figure Braves the Storm, Seeking Hope in the Lighthouse
A solitary figure walks towards a distant lighthouse on a wooden pier, battling the elements on a stormy day. The image evokes a sense of melancholy and somberness, yet also a glimmer of hope as the figure perseveres, with the lighthouse serving as a beacon of guidance.
Prompt
Film noir: Lonely, melancholic, atmospheric ; A lone figure walking down a deserted pier, the ocean waves crashing against the pilings; long shot; Travel; A foggy, desolate coastline with a lighthouse in the distance.; cinematic
Characteristic
Shot : A lone figure walks towards a lighthouse on a wooden pier extending into a stormy sea. The waves crash against the pier, and the atmosphere is misty and dramatic.
Aesthetic Score : 0.75
Mode : mysterious, dramatic, hopeful
Quality
Entropy : 6.84
Noise : 83
Prompt Clip Score : 0.32
AI Evaluation
Likelihood of AI : 0.20
Image errors : The image has some noise and artifacts in the background, particularly around the water.
Conclusion
The results show that the generative AI model performed well in terms of camera position and shot analysis, but struggled with aesthetic analysis. Here’s a breakdown:
Camera Position:
- Score: 0.48
- Interpretation: This score falls below the “good” range of 0.5 to 0.75. It suggests that the model’s ability to accurately interpret and reproduce camera positions from the prompt is somewhat lacking.
Shot Analysis:
- Score: 0.58
- Interpretation: This score falls within the “good” range of 0.5 to 0.75. It indicates that the model is generally capable of understanding the scene described in the prompt and creating images that reflect the intended shot type.
Aesthetic Analysis:
- Score: 0.29
- Interpretation: This score is significantly below the “very good” range of -0.2 to 0.1. It suggests that the model struggled to match the expected aesthetic of the image as described in the prompt. This could mean the generated image had a different style, color palette, or overall feel than what was intended.
Overall:
While the model shows promise in understanding camera positions and shot types, it needs improvement in capturing the desired aesthetic. This suggests that the model might be better at replicating technical aspects of a scene but struggles with capturing the artistic vision.
Sources:
- https://heartofnoir.com/knowing-noir/aesthetic-of-noir/
- https://www.yellowbrick.co/blog/film/maximizing-the-visual-impact-unveiling-the-art-of-film-aesthetics
- https://www.questjournals.org/jrhss/papers/vol10-issue8/1008255260.pdf
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/3331672
- https://www.cinepoetics.fu-berlin.de/activities/workshops/2020-12-ws/index.html
- https://resource.download.wjec.co.uk/vtc/2016-17/16-17_1-22/eng/Part%201%20What%20is%20Aesthetics.pdf
- https://stability.ai