What is Artbreeder and how to install it

Artbreeder is a cutting-edge AI-powered platform that enables users to generate, blend, and evolve images through a genetic algorithm. It allows for the creative manipulation of photos, portraits, landscapes, and even abstract art by altering “genes” of an image, giving rise to endless creative possibilities. While Artbreeder is primarily a web-based service, this guide will explain how to install and use its underlying codebase on Ubuntu for experimentation.

Before proceeding, make sure your system meets the following requirements:

Start by updating your Ubuntu system to ensure all packages are up to date:

Python is required to run Artbreeder scripts, so install Python and pip if you don't have them:

Verify the installation:

Artbreeder requires several Python libraries for image generation. Install these libraries by setting up a virtual environment:

Next, install the necessary libraries:

Artbreeder's core functionalities might be part of an open-source AI art generator, or you can access similar tools that allow local experimentation. Clone a related repository:

Make sure to adjust the repository URL based on the specific project you are working with (if Artbreeder's official code isn't available, use a similar generative art project).

Once you have the repository, install all project dependencies as listed in the requirements file:

This will create a basic image and save it as test_image.jpg.

For faster image processing, especially with large datasets or complex models, GPU acceleration is recommended. To install CUDA support, follow these steps:

After installation, check that CUDA is working:

Make sure to adjust the PyTorch installation to include GPU support:

Step 1: Creating a Base Image

With Artbreeder, the starting point is often a simple base image. You can generate this by running the following command, which uses default parameters:

Step 2: Blending Images

Artbreeder's primary feature is blending two or more images together to create new, unique outputs. Here's how to blend two images:

This command will merge the visual features of base_image.jpg and second_image.jpg, creating a new image stored as blended_image.jpg.

Step 3: Evolving the Art

You can evolve the generated art by adjusting the “genes” of an image. For example, to increase the sharpness or change the color tone:

This will create an evolved version of the original base image, introducing new stylistic variations.

Use Case: Generating Unique Portraits

Let’s explore a practical use case of generating AI-driven portraits by blending two images.

Download or select a portrait image (e.g., portrait1.jpg). This will serve as the content for the base image.

Choose a second image that contrasts the first one (e.g., portrait2.jpg). This will be the style source.

Run the blend command to merge both portraits into a new, original creation:

You can further evolve the portrait by adjusting the genes:

This will produce a finely tuned final portrait with altered visual properties.

Artbreeder is an extraordinary tool that allows users to create unique images by combining and evolving existing visuals. By installing and running it locally on Ubuntu, you can unlock its full potential and gain more control over the creative process. Whether you're an artist, AI enthusiast, or a curious developer, this guide equips you with the foundational steps to get started with Artbreeder’s fascinating world of AI-driven art creation.