Redditor creates working anime QR codes using Stable Diffusion (arstechnica.com)

Article summary

A Reddit user created artistic QR codes using the Stable Diffusion AI image-synthesis model, which can still be read as functional QR codes by smartphone camera apps. The QR codes reflect anime and Asian art styles, and their functionality is possible due to the error correction feature built into QR codes. The technique used to create the QR codes involves training custom Stable Diffusion ControlNet models to maintain the QR code's data positioning while synthesizing an image around it. This discovery opens up new possibilities for digital art and marketing.

Main themes

• AI-generated art
• QR code technology
• Anime and manga styles
• Digital marketing
• Language and terminology
• Cultural differences

What commenters say

• The use of AI to generate artistic QR codes is a beautiful and impressive hack.
• The term 'anime style' is not entirely accurate to describe the images, but it is a decent compromise.
• The distinction between 'anime' and 'manga' is important, with 'anime' typically referring to animated images and 'manga' referring to comic book-style images.
• The use of ControlNet to preserve the important parts of the QR code was a key factor in the success of the project.
• The creation of artistic QR codes could have significant implications for marketing and digital art.
• The Romanization of Japanese words, such as 'anime', can be inconsistent and context-dependent.
• The definition of 'hentai' is different in Japan than in the West, and it is not a suitable term to describe the images in question.