Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the role of AI-generated images in the world of miniatures and dollhouses. As someone who spends hours building, photographing, and sharing real miniature creations, I’ve noticed something: in this community, authenticity really matters. People want to see the real thing. And honestly? I get it.
But we’re also living in a time where AI images are popping up all over social media. That tree stump tavern picture I shared above? Yep—AI. It came up in a Facebook group where people were debating whether it was real.
To prove my point, I had a bit of fun with it: I recreated the same kind of image and swapped out the AI-generated person with a photo of myself. I know—just to show how easy it is to generate convincing variations. And it worked—it made it clear the original was AI too. Discussion finished, lol. Do I look like the screenshot in my video? hahaha
( ==> This picture is based on the thumbnail of my video, where I show my crafting place )
Now, I know this is a controversial topic. Many miniature fans really dislike AI-generated content. And I can understand that—especially when it’s posted without saying it’s AI, or worse, passed off as a real creation.
That said, I’ll be honest: I do use AI images occasionally. Not to pretend I made something, but for practical reasons. For example, when I’m writing a blog post about a specific crafting product, like for example using a laser cutter machine for dollhouse kits, or a general concept, and I can’t find a copyright-safe image, I’ll use an AI version instead.
I don’t want to "steal" images from the internet, and I don’t always have the time or budget to create custom visuals for every single post. So in that sense, AI is actually useful.
Another upside? Inspiration. If I’m stuck on a design idea—say I want to build a fantasy house or decorate a miniature fairy house—I sometimes use AI to brainstorm shapes, colors, or layouts. It helps get my imagination going, even if I don’t copy the image directly.
But I’m also very aware that AI shouldn't replace real miniature work. The heart of our community is in the real craftsmanship, the trial and error, the glue on your fingers. That part can’t be faked.
So now I’m curious:
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Where do you stand on this?
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Have you ever used AI in your miniature projects—for mockups, blog posts, or fun?
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Is there a place for it, as long as we’re honest about it?
Let’s talk about it—respectfully, of course. I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts.
Happy crafting!
Lizzy
