Can AI Dream in Color? Explore Firefly, Flow, and Future Visionaries

Hello Friend,

Welcome back to the Generative Path, your weekly infusion of AI-powered creativity curated by ZenRobot to keep you ahead of the curve with the latest tools, trends, and techniques.

Quick update! ZenRobot’s Generative AI Masterclass is filling up fast with June registrations now open. Designed for creatives and curious minds, this 4 week experience will help you unlock the full potential of generative AI.

Want the full rundown? Get the info pack here.

Back to the program… This week, we’re putting the spotlight on Adobe Firefly, exploring the power of generative recolour in Illustrator, and tuning into il:lo Radio for your perfect flow state. We’re also featuring a visionary creative director blending 20+ years of design with the next era of AI. Let’s dive in!

Feature of the Week: Adobe Firefly

Adobe Firefly is a generative AI tool designed to support, not replace, creative professionals. Integrated into tools like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe Express, it lets you generate art, edit images, and create content using simple text prompts, without leaving your workflow.

Unlike many AI tools, Firefly is trained on licensed Adobe Stock and public domain images, so everything you make is safe for commercial use.

It powers features like Generative Fill in Photoshop and color variations in Illustrator, making tasks faster while keeping you in creative control. Firefly Boards adds collaborative visual brainstorming, and Adobe is expanding it into video and 3D workflows. Firefly helps creatives work faster, safer, and smarter, without sacrificing originality.

Creative Hack: Generative Recolour with Adobe Firefly in Illustrator

Want to give your vector designs a fresh look without altering the original structure? Adobe Firefly’s Generative Recolor feature in Illustrator is the perfect tool. It works with SVG vector files and allows you to change the colors of your design while preserving the integrity of the vector elements.

• Open your vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator.

• Edit → Edit Colours → Generative Recolour.

• Type a prompt such as “soft pinks” or “trippy disco”

• Firefly will instantly generate multiple color options.

You can easily experiment with various color palettes and moods, whether for a brand update or a seasonal theme, without changing the actual vector design. Once you're happy with the colors, you can apply them directly to your design, saving you time and letting you explore creative possibilities with ease.

Community Spotlight: Chad Lauffer

This week, we highlight Chad Lauffer, a seasoned creative director and founder of Chad Lauffer Inc., who blends 20+ years of design experience with the power of generative AI.

From his Atlanta studio, Chad uses tools like Midjourney, DALL·E 3, and Stable Diffusion to turn ideas into bold visual stories. His series, The GenAI Files, showcases how AI and human creativity can work together to push design forward.

Recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Top 100+ AI Creatives, Chad reminds us that the future isn’t man or machine, it’s both, working side by side.

This Week’s Flow State: il:lo Radio

Step into the layered, melodic world of il:lo Radio this week on Spotify. With its fusion of intricate rhythms, warm synths, and subtle downtempo energy, this playlist offers a perfect soundscape for deep concentration and creative flow. Whether you’re zoning into a project or easing into your day, il:lo’s immersive textures keep you grounded without distraction. Press play and let the momentum build.

AI Trend: Can AI See What We See?

Curious to see how ChatGPT recreates photos? It tries to transform snapshots into AI-generated versions, but it doesn't quite get them exactly right. Explore the charming discrepancies in AI creations!

AI vs. Reality: Can You Tell the Difference?

Last week’s AI vs. Reality reveal is in! If you spotted the bottom image as AI generated, nice catch. It was created with Midjourney, and side-by-side, it’s a powerful reminder of how convincingly generative AI is blurring the line between real and rendered.

We’re back with a fresh set of images to challenge your creative radar. Can you spot the AI-generated shot from the real one? Scroll through, trust your instincts, and make your pick. We’ll reveal the answer in the next issue, stay curious!

Join the Conversation! AI is constantly evolving, unlocking new creative possibilities every day. What caught your attention this week? Hit reply and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Follow ZenRobot for more AI insights, and if you found this interesting, share it with someone who would too.

Stay curious,
David and Ross