Using AI image as a cover for the model - NOT OK, it’s deceiving
Using renders as covers - OK with caveat
Using near photorealistic renders - OK with caveat
Using near photorealistic renders where due to render properties the object does not appear as it would in real life and thus deceiving user - NOT OK
Using AI image as a cover and then using image to ai to generate model, making the end result somewhat resemble the AI image but in very deceiving manner - Very much not ok
Boiling down the above to core issue: the cover image should not deceive user by misrepresenting the model. Things like requiring post processing (be it as simple as removing supports up to requiring glue-ups and hand-painting the model) are totally OK IMHO.
At least you are being honest admitting and calling it AI trash . That’s a start, even a weird one, but a start!
Now do the right thing and make the next models better and respond to those comments of those who get you downloads and makes you earn points instead of reporting those said comments to remove them.
Anyway, off to the other topic i go until @MakerWorld makes an appearance in this one to clarify some points.
Everything will be sorted out. I let other people do their stuff without crying about it in as many topics as possible, reporting what the keys produce or saying nonsensical things with fake accounts.
The “trash” thing was ironic. But if you’ve already seen it, there are now some creators coming along who are doing the same thing. It’s best to delete everything that is somehow successful (disturbing) until only models with real photos of circles with logos of well-known protected brands remain. But I’m now withdrawing from this discussion. I still have a lot of ideas to implement. Have a good time…
man now you are overstepping, the vast majority of your designs can be made in under 15 minutes in fusion, they are very basic - and look very basic printed and not on a ai generated image, so before criticizing others design choices look inward
That you think “successful” models have to mislead users.
Are you going to look at my models and attack them also? That seems to be your “modus operandi”. Instead of defending or updating your own models, just looking for flaws in others to take the attention away from what we are discussing?
Disturbing, indeed…
(I do apologize for pulling one word out of context from your response. But that one word did sum up exactly what we are trying to discuss here.)
This is not a criticism of any model. My opinion: It doesn’t matter whether it took someone 5, 10, 15 minutes or three days to create a model. Nor how often he releases new designs. The downloads will decide what is practical and usable. There are some great creators here who create really great models. Including you. I haven’t downloaded any of your work yet, but I enjoy seeing it in my feed.
Okay, I wanted to get rid of that. But now I’m out of the forum here.
I agree with Doc on this point: sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. Also amount of time is very subjective. What might take an expert modeler 5 minutes could take a novice 1 hour.
I don’t think it’s relevant to the topic at hand (ai thumbnails) but we shouldnt descredit models just because they were too easy or simple to make.
You are right about the point that we shouldn’t discredit models just because they were too easy or simple to make. That was exactly what he made 3 answers above, discredit other models because… “they are circles with logos”
If you need an AI cover/pic to entice people to download your model, then that says quite a bit about you, your confidence in your quality, and your model itself.
Yes people will download. They can’t see what they’re getting until it is downloaded, especially if they print from Handy. Some are new and don’t think about looking at the 3D print view. You’re willingly deceiving. If you are deceiving then you are aware of a problem and preying on those that aren’t versed enough to care, or those that don’t know better.
Tossing symantics out the window does not make an argument. There is not “Absolute Truth”, there is Truth.
It either is, or it is not. The model is as represented, or it is not. A or B. There’s no inbetween. Misrepresenting is not truth. Not stretching the truth. Misrepresenting is misleading and misleading is wrong and a lie. No grey area. If you defend using AI as cover or as the actual print, buring the actual print beind renders, then you are intentionally decieving. You bury it because you don’t have confidence in yourself, or your model.
In that, you sholudn’t be uploading unless you clearly label each pic as “AI Generated” or “Render”.
I agree, but if you call out someone for “only designing circles” you are putting yourself in the position of receiving the same evaluation, and one thing is not more basic than another
That being said, I do like minimalist design, especially Japanese aesthetic, so I don’t have anything against simple lines, but this is neither here nor there in regards to what this thread is about, it has gone sideways, and not on the topic that for me seemed interesting to discuss, which is what published guidelines should be in place
But yeah people are entitled to download whatever they want, and to be honest I think there is too much focus on number of downloads and points anyways, I like design and 3D printing and that’s it
I don’t think this thread represents the whole makerworld user community, in fact, I would say the topic attracts people that against it more than people that aren’t, so those voices are not being heard - much like people posting about having issues with their printer but not as many posts about people not having issues with their printer, which would be far greater in reality (otherwise Bambu would not be successful). Not to mention the aggressiveness and vitriol expressed in the threads which would dissuade those people from interacting.
Let the people decide with Bambu whether they find it an issue, don’t decide for them. And maybe live outside this forum a little.
Absolutely agree. I think AI images are deceptive, and how they’re used matters, if we are to build trust in MakerWorld. I’ve noticed the increase in AI images too-causes me to scroll past. I’ve seen the dramatic download numbers for these creators as well. I appreciate the enormous amount of creativity / talent here & on other sites, but I’ve joined MakerWorld. So, for me this behavior is pretty demotivating & discouraging. Not a complaint, simply one new-guy opinion.
I’m new, so I read a lot of threads with great interest. I’m not an accomplished designer, a 3Dprinting expert, a software engineer nor an AI expert so normally I have nothing constructive to add. Just adding another voice of agreement, as the subject transcends those things. I’m just a regular consumer & aspiring designer, here to learn & help if I can. Enjoying the perspectives of accomplished designers and established community members.
Excited to be a part of such a vibrant community. Appreciate the dialogue!
Wholeheartedly agree @Henlor. Really love what the bambu lab ecosystem has done to disrupt, elevate & drive the 3D printing community. As @Johnny_Bit you mention it brought me back to 3D printing & re-booted my affinity for design. Feel like I’m standing on the shoulders of giants and I’m blown away by the talent & help available here.
Let’s remember our first hours when we came from a regular printer like CR10 or CR20, Ender. So I can remember. I was satisfied with the prints, it was the best thing I had after the Anet A8. Then came X1C. And I was amazed at how clean the prints became. Faster and better than on a CR20, which had already had some printing time behind it. However, not suitable in some things with standard settings. And then I started to look. And I could eliminate some things through print settings and create even better prints. Today I am working on the fact that even irregular layers are no longer recognizable. I get annoyed when a step in the layers can be seen in the model.
Probably it is amazing for newcomers to 3D printing, who initially only print, that they get anything out of the printer that they would not have thought possible. They will not recognize whether the print is really good or bad. That’s why they don’t care at first. They continue to load models that are quick to print. On the X1C the sample models were similar. I remember that I also looked at what didn’t take so long to see a result. The model had to be printable quickly and only secondly really interest me. The reason why I no longer have any of the initially printed models is that they were all thrown in the trash. So if Bambulab manages to win over more and more newcomers, such simple designs will probably also be downloaded frequently, as long as they look interesting and good on the picture where they are presented. Some people jump on the bandwagon and make exactly such models for such people. It is also the case that users who are not so good at 3D printing intuitively meet the needs of other similar users with their designs. And then they are successful. A clever move is when they then get help from experienced people to get print settings for their models that at least work to make money with their designs. Either on eBay or with affiliate links. Only these people should be humble and not confuse success with extensive knowledge or even special design skills. They should stay grounded.
With you Josh. Been burned by Amazon more than once . Can’t seem to learn my lesson. I value integrity. Generally believe to each their own. But I think we are living in a low trust society. Once lost its difficult to regain.
This seems like it’s directed at specific users and i get it. I am one of those and i already gave my opinion on why i hate this kind of behavior. I was one of those people that got deceived and wasted time and material.
But, as always, no one comes to a forum just to open a topic saying “oh wow, that print is amazing”, or the whole forum would be cluttered with “positive reviews” and that’s not what it serves for.
Again, me personally, i am just waiting on @MakerWorld to come and address this matter and also to clear out if there is bias to certain creators or not and if the said creator having contacts with bambu lab give him the right to do what he wants. Those 2 are my biggest concerns, with the added AI generation of a model that does not correspond to the printed object at all.
As for you, i don’t know you as you don’t know me, but you make it seem like you are defending this person with everything possible, with no reasoning and ignoring what is wrong in the front of your eyes. Being a fan of his work does not mean that he should be right at all.
Well, just waiting for another day and will be roaming the other interesting topics too, since they deserve also my opinions.
. That’s a start, even a weird one, but a start! 
. Can’t seem to learn my lesson.