AI Art for Prototyping
Summer’s AI art generation is designed specifically for game development prototyping. It’s not about creating final production art—it’s about getting your game playable and testable quickly. Realistic Expectations:- AI art works best for simple, clear concepts
- Complex or stylized art may need refinement
- Perfect for placeholders and iteration
- Not suitable for polished, commercial releases
- Basic character sprites and animations
- Simple environment backgrounds
- UI elements and buttons
- Concept exploration and mood boards
- Complex character designs with personality
- Detailed environment art
- Brand-consistent visual style
- High-quality promotional materials
Getting Started
1
Open Art Creation
In Summer, go to Art → Create New Asset or visit summerengine.com/art/create
2
Choose Your Style
Select from preset styles like Realistic, Cartoon, Anime, Pixel Art, Low-Poly, or Fantasy
3
Write Your Prompt
Describe what you want to create in natural language
4
Generate and Refine
Click Generate and iterate until you get the perfect result
Writing Effective Prompts
Basic Structure
Start with the main subject, then add details about style, mood, and composition:Examples
Character SpritesStyle Presets
Each style is optimized for different game genres and aesthetics:Realistic
- Best for: Modern games, simulators, realistic environments
- Characteristics: Photorealistic rendering, detailed textures, natural lighting
- Example: “Realistic brick wall texture with subtle wear and weathering”
Cartoon
- Best for: Family games, mobile games, casual titles
- Characteristics: Bright colors, simplified shapes, friendly appearance
- Example: “Cartoon treasure chest with golden coins spilling out”
Anime
- Best for: JRPGs, visual novels, character-focused games
- Characteristics: Stylized proportions, vibrant colors, expressive features
- Example: “Anime-style magical girl character with flowing blue hair”
Pixel Art
- Best for: Retro games, indie titles, 2D platformers
- Characteristics: Sharp pixels, limited color palettes, nostalgic feel
- Example: “16-bit pixel art sword with glowing enchantment effect”
Low-Poly
- Best for: Mobile games, minimalist aesthetics, performance-focused titles
- Characteristics: Flat colors, geometric shapes, clean edges
- Example: “Low-poly mountain landscape with simple geometric trees”
Fantasy
- Best for: RPGs, adventure games, medieval settings
- Characteristics: Magical elements, medieval themes, rich details
- Example: “Fantasy spell book with glowing runes and leather binding”
Advanced Features
Prompt Enhancement
Summer can automatically improve your prompts using AI:Reference Images
Upload reference images to guide the style and composition:- Style Reference: Match the artistic style of an existing image
- Composition Reference: Use the layout and structure as a guide
- Color Reference: Extract color palettes from reference images
Regeneration Options
- Regenerate: Create a completely new version with the same prompt
- Refine: Make subtle adjustments to the current result
- Variations: Generate multiple versions to choose from
Asset Metadata
When creating assets, provide detailed information for better discoverability:Required Information
- Title: Clear, descriptive name for your asset
- Asset Type: 2D Image, Texture, Sprite, UI Element, etc.
- Tags: Keywords that help others find your asset
Optional Details
- Description: Detailed explanation of the asset and its intended use
- License: How others can use your asset (Free, Commercial, Attribution, Contact)
- Visibility: Public (visible to all) or Private (only visible to you)
Best Practices
For Game Sprites
- Specify the intended use: “for 2D platformer game”
- Include pose/direction: “facing right, idle pose”
- Mention transparency needs: “on transparent background”
For Textures
- Always specify “seamless” or “tileable” for repeating textures
- Include resolution hints: “high resolution”, “detailed”
- Mention intended surface: “for stone walls”, “metal armor texture”
For UI Elements
- Specify the UI context: “game menu button”, “health bar design”
- Include state variations: “normal, hover, and pressed states”
- Mention size considerations: “scalable vector style”
For Concept Art
- Set the scene: “wide landscape shot”, “character portrait”
- Include mood descriptors: “mysterious”, “heroic”, “peaceful”
- Specify viewing angle: “from below”, “bird’s eye view”
Common Issues and Solutions
Blurry or Low-Quality Results
- Add “high quality”, “detailed”, or “sharp” to your prompt
- Try regenerating with a more specific style preset
- Use reference images for better guidance
Wrong Style or Aesthetic
- Be more specific about the art style you want
- Try different style presets
- Include negative prompts: “not cartoon style” or “avoid realistic rendering”
Unwanted Elements
- Be specific about what you don’t want: “no text”, “no people”, “clean background”
- Use composition terms: “centered”, “isolated object”, “simple background”
Inconsistent Results
- Save successful prompts for reuse
- Use reference images for consistency
- Create variations of working prompts rather than starting over
Integration with Projects
Generated assets can be used immediately in your Summer projects:- Direct Import: Assets are automatically available in your project browser with clear “AI-Generated” labels
- Prototype Workflow: Perfect for rapid prototyping and testing gameplay mechanics
- Batch Generation: Create multiple related placeholder assets with consistent styling
- Transition Planning: Summer can help you identify which AI assets to replace with human art later
Pro Tip: Use AI art to get your game playable quickly, then gradually replace key assets with human-created art as you approach release. This hybrid approach lets you validate your game concept without upfront art costs.