As more companies and makers begin incorporating AI (artificial intelligence) elements into their selling experience, it can be difficult to sort out a genuine product or pattern from an “AI-enhanced” image. How can you tell what a real product being sold is versus an image that’s been created using AI? With the holiday season underway and more people than ever shopping online, it’s important to do your research so that you can avoid being scammed on sites like Etsy. That’s why we’re sharing some quick tips to follow so that you can more easily spot whether a pattern is real or if a product image is just a little too good to be true.
Start Digging
Craft Industry Alliance published a fascinating article earlier this year titled “Etsy’s AI Problem” that discusses how junk sellers are crowding Etsy’s search results. While this article doesn’t focus on sewing and quilting patterns specifically (the author, Grace Dobush, uses crochet as an example), it does discuss how these AI images are sprinkled amongst actual patterns, which can make it difficult to differentiate what is a real product image. According to Dobush, Etsy has a mixed approach to policing AI, stating, “Currently, shops can be shut down for using photos that accurately depict their products, but selling AI-generated designs currently otherwise doesn’t break any rules.”
If you find a pattern that looks appealing but almost seems slightly too perfect, how can you tell whether the pattern or product images are AI-generated? The time has come to start digging. Firstly, look at reviews on the pattern you’re specifically buying. Does it have a low rating? Are there complaints from other buyers about how the end product is vastly different than the pattern image? Does the product description seem like it was written by a real person, or it is a bunch of keyword heavy jargon? Next, hop over to the shop’s main page, in which you can see the seller’s overall rating. This is by no means a definitive vetting process, but it can help narrow down problematic sellers.
Testing, Testing
One way in which AI-generated patterns differ from traditional sewing or quilting patterns (or crochet or knitting patterns) is that AI-generated patterns are often not tested before being sold. Pattern testing from sellers involves experienced crafters testing the patterns for accuracy, as well as for a range of sizes. Similarly, patterns can be edited by a technical editor who is skilled in checking that all pattern information is correct and easy for those purchasing a pattern to follow. For example, all of our patterns are tech edited and our technical editor is credited in each issue’s masthead.
Locating whether a pattern has been tested or not can be tricky, as this information is not always disclosed on an Etsy seller’s page. Sewing and quilting designers do typically disclose this information on their Instagram pages or on their own blogs or sites, however, so if you’re ever feeling unsure about a pattern’s accuracy, you may try checking in those locations. Reddit and Facebook also host several groups dedicated to crafting and can be a good place for feedback from other crafters about a pattern’s accuracy.
Playing Image Detective
One easy way to tell whether a pattern image is real or AI-generated is by closely examining different elements of the product image. Julia Wachs, in an article on her site titled “How to Spot AI Generated Quilt Patterns”, breaks down how pattern mills on Etsy operate. She states, “These are shopfronts that quickly produce a pattern without any sort of testing or vetting, and then put it on the market with an AI-generated or stolen image for a very tempting price.” Her excellent article focuses on FPP (foundation paper piecing) patterns that are AI-generated, providing readers with examples of “tells” in AI-generated images.
When you’re shopping online for sewing or quilting patterns, look for the details in the finished project photos. Are elements of the photos wonky, such as lines that don’t match up, details that appear out of nowhere, or patterns that appear to be incredibly complicated but are listed at a very low price? Is there an actual full photo of the finished product? If you are looking at, say, a stuffed animal pattern, does the photo look too detailed or strangely blurred around the edges? These can all be signs of AI-generated images. Again, on Etsy for example, this is allowed but must be disclosed by the seller.
We hope you’ve found our quick list of tips helpful for navigating the ever-growing world of AI-generated images. It’s important to do your research when purchasing patterns online to make sure that what you’re seeing is an accurate representation of what you’re purchasing. What have been your experiences with AI and crafting? What tips do you have for your fellow sewists and quilters? Be sure to leave a comment below!