AI is one of the fastest advancing technologies today. As a seasoned designer, I have been using some form of AI for a very long time. Adobe introduced its automation feature many years ago, and it was groundbreaking because it meant that resizing and optimizing images could be done automatically in minutes, versus hours when done manually. Over the years since those early tools were launched, Adobe has been integrating many of its features using AI behind the scenes with its Sensei engine. Although we haven't noticed it as AI tools today, this technology has been more insidious, handling batch processes and complex computations to provide us with instant results. For me, one primary example of that is InDesign, and the "Adjust Layout" feature, among many others, has helped me create alternate-sized publications and datasheets for various regional print specifications, with US Letter and A4 being the two primary sizes. As well as fulfill other print and digital size needs.
Moving forward, today is unlike any other in history, where new AI tools emerge almost daily. Keeping up with this technology and the possibilities can be dizzying, but I have been able to distill a few tools I love to use, each with its own strengths, allowing one to create almost anything that comes to mind. I wanted to make something funny yet centered around a real subject. So I chose my own headshot and decided to give myself several humorous makeovers. For this animation, I used Google Gemini, Nano Banana, Claude AI, and Kling AI.
I used my camera to take a portrait of myself against a simple background. For optimal results, it's best to use a photo with as few background elements as possible. I then used Google Gemini's Nano Banana feature to give myself a hairstyle makeover. Using a simple prompt like: "Give the subject a mop-top hairstyle". Using this prompt, I created six different variations of myself with different humorous hairstyles. Experimenting with dreadlocks, mop-top, '70s big hair, and even some offbeat ones like Marilyn Monroe and a Viking hairstyle. Nano Banana excels at preserving facial features, a key strength that sets it apart from other AI tools, such as ChatGPT.
Once I had created all six hairstyle frames, I used Claud AI to generate a prompt that I would use in Kling AI to morph the images. Good prompts are essential to achieving the desired results. One of the key steps in the early ideation phase is to think of roles and tasks for the AI tool to take, and what the specialty of that particular tool is. Since this is a highly computational video/film-like animation, I gave Claude AI the role of "seasoned computational media expert and professional film director specializing in visual effects." It is also essential to specify a "task" and note which AI tools you plan to use. The full prompt looked like this:
"You are a seasoned computational media expert and a professional film director specializing in visual effects. Your task is to generate highly descriptive and effective text prompts for generative AI model Kling AI. I think your output must be concise, structured, and technically sound.
I need to create a video that morphs from my original photo to a new image where I have a dreadlock haircut. The original image has short, side-combed brown hair. I need a prompt for the Kling video model to create the transition. For the transition, I want a smooth, elegant change without any sudden cuts, and a soft, professional-looking light."
As a result, Claude AI generated a bulleted instructions list on what to include in my prompt, including keywords and must-have terms that are specific to Kling AI to understand the task it will have to commit.
This is the final prompt for each animated frame set I ended up using:
"A smooth transition from the starting image to the ending image. A cinematic, slow-motion shot with the camera gently panning from left to right. The subject's hair gracefully changes style and color in a single, fluid motion. Soft, professional studio lighting illuminates the scene. Smooth morphing, organic transformation, seamless transition, flowing motion, natural hair growth, professional cinematography, no cuts."
I used the prompt above to create five video animations of the morphing effect and then stitched them in After Effects.
Putting it all together to finish the video, I wanted to add a soundtrack. For this, I used Suno to create my own AI soundtrack to accompany the final video. Since this is in a retro hairstyle theme, I aimed for the music to reflect that mood. While working with Suno AI, I chose a new wave '80s synth-pop style. I then synchronized the track to match the video transitions, emphasizing the morphing changes.