S1. Ep28 - Nano Banana: Transforming Image Editing Forever

Katie: Welcome to the AI Automations for Business Podcasts. We're your hosts, Katie and Null, and we'll be discussing how you can use AI for your business along with the latest news, updates and automations to help you stay ahead of the curve, allowing you to grow and scale your business more efficiently. Please be sure to subscribe and I hope you enjoy this episode. Hello, welcome back to another episode. We are so excited that you. are here. Hi, hello, I'm Katie, and I've got Noel here with me. Hey, Noel.

Noel: Hello.

Katie: Noel, this week, you've gone a bit bananas.

Noel: I have, yes. Only in a small way, though.

Katie: Only in a nano way.

Noel: Exactly, yes.

Katie: Okay. So that is exactly what we're talking about, nano banana.

Noel: Yes, yeah. There's been a lot of talk about it, quite a bit of hype. But,

Katie: yeah. I think in this episode

Noel: we're going to cut through all of that.

Katie: Let's start from the very beginning.

Noel: Yes.

Katie: What is no banana?

Noel: I mean, it's a silly word to start off with, isn't it?

Katie: I can't believe we're talking. It's going to say, though.

Noel: It is. It is. Yeah. There's been lots of memes with glowing bananas and banana characters. So, well done, Google. Well done. Tip my cap to you. Well, it was very good marketing. But what it is is a new AI model for image editing and also image creation. And, yeah, it's kind of taken people a bit by surprise with how good it is. So, yeah, I've gone off and had a good go myself and then seen what it can and what it can't do. But, yeah, I have to say, pretty impressed so far.

Katie: So far, so good.

Noel: Yeah.

Katie: Yeah. I think as well, like what I've seen of it, I think it's quite cool. I think it's really good if you've got a product-based business. Definitely,

Noel: yeah. Yeah, anything that's like that or maybe even like digital art products or anything sort of digital-ish, then yeah, that could work really well.

Katie: Yeah, like a digital planner or digital art. Yes, exactly, yeah.

Noel: I think the key power to this is. this editing ability. So there's been a lot of people online going, oh, that's it now. I never have to hire anyone that does Photoshop anymore. And I don't fully agree with that because I'm sure that those professionals out there are actually very good. And, you know, I think there are limitations to nanobanana, which, yeah, I don't think it's going to take people's jobs. I mean, that's ridiculous. But for people like me, who, was terrible at design and, you know, would just be like, well, could you just edit this bit of this image out for me?

Katie: It can

Noel: go off and do that, you know, that's nice and easy, easy for it to do. So, yeah,

Katie: yeah, it's not going

Noel: to be stealing anyone's income anytime soon, hopefully.

Katie: Okay. So do you want to walk us through then? No, well, it actually does. So we've said what it is, so we've mentioned it a little bit about what it does, but let's just like be really super clear about what it does do.

Noel: Yeah, so I think one of the big things it can do is you can basically give it two images or you can just give it one image. So let's say you've got a physical product and you want to showcase that. So you could say, well, look, here's the image of the product. Can you put it in a kitchen or like a dining room, wherever it would fit? You know, and then it would go, sure, we can do that. and they'll add that image, you know, and then even if it's just like a flat image. So I've just taken like random product images off of, you know, off of Google, you know, so they're very plain,

Katie: very boring. You mean just to practice, don't you?

Noel: Yes, exactly.

Katie: I just want to clear that up. You're not just taking random images from Google and using them as your own. You're just having images just to practice and play around with nanocamp.

Noel: Yeah, just to see, yeah, I've been using, well, my favorite product is a nice sparkling lemon beverage that I do like.

Katie: You know why I like to say it. Like we're not sponsored, but we're not the BBC.

Noel: No, but anyway, San Pellegrino lemon, if anyone's interested. But I've been taking the images of that off of Google. So they've got like really plain, like it's the can, it's very flat. So I've been giving that into nano banana and then saying, well, look, could you put this in like an Italian market? you know, put it on like a rustic table, make it invite him, put some, like, condensation on the can, make it look interesting.

Katie: Oh.

Noel: I like the image it gave me back. I was like, oh, wow, okay, this is, yeah, it got the can from the flat to like 3D. It had the can, you know, the ring pole at the top that was open. And some of my tests, you know, you know, when you get a bit of steam comes out, the bit of gas comes out of the top when

Katie: you open it.

Noel: It had that as well. And some of the images, I was like, oh. Okay.

Katie: That's more.

Noel: Yeah. And then, yeah, it's just really incredible at, you know, taking like a normal plain image, which is actually quite low quality and converting that into, you know, something that you could put somewhere if that was your product. Yeah. Really, really interesting.

Katie: Yeah, that's really cool.

Noel: Yeah. And it's also really good at text as well, because obviously on that can, there was a lot of information on there. You know, there was all kinds of, you know, like the calorie count. It had the edge of the ingredients down the side and stuff that. All of that was copied through 100%. In the exact same fonts and things that. So, yeah, that was really, really impressive.

Katie: Quite a rarity with AI images, I think.

Noel: Very much so. Yeah, I was sat there trying to work out. Has it spelled Sam Pellegrino right?

Katie: Yeah, through it, letter by letter.

Noel: Exactly, yeah.

Katie: You know, I've got, that makes me chuckle because I, I bought some, like, stickers from Amazon, like, for, like, sticking in my planner and things like that. And they're clearly AI generated and then turned into stickers, because I think it was supposed to be, like, the coffee lovers, like, sticker book. Any time there is any writing, so like coffee or something, it's either like in Russian, in no language whatsoever, because even Google Translate can't work out what it is. And coffee is felt not kidding, incorrect on every single sticker.

Noel: Where was the QA process?

Katie: yeah yeah i think i've went like seven pounds as well on these stickers so yeah

Noel: oh wow that's brilliant

Katie: yeah so that's what i'm saying and like i know when i've generated you know been playing around with images on chat chach tv before it's not it's not been great with text then either so the fact that we now have something that is actually good with text is so great yes yes so great yes Yes.

Noel: So I took my lemon can in one image. So I created it, you know, I created this lovely image of it in an Italian market. And I thought, I wonder, let me see if I can add some text to this afterwards. So I took that image, supplied it back in and then said, well, look, could you create some like brand slogan? Because it was the zero sugar version.

Katie: And that sort of stuff. Well, you didn't like that version, no.

Noel: I know, but that was the best image I could find. So it went off, and then it created the text in like an Italian-style font. But because it understood that it was an Italian scene, it gave it to me an Italian. I was like, I mean,

Katie: it was not correctly.

Noel: I know, yeah.

Katie: It got the context,

Noel: but yeah, I was like, that's not quite why I was after,

Katie: but it was spelled correctly,

Noel: which

Katie: is good.

Noel: Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's not going to win any design awards, but, you know,

Katie: if you're just,

Noel: you know, troubleshooting and trying to figure out styles and things

Katie: like you could

Noel: replicate yourself somewhere else on like Canva. Then yeah.

Katie: Yeah.

Noel: It's also really quick. So you can create these in less than five seconds,

Katie: I would say.

Noel: Yeah.

Katie: Really great.

Noel: Yeah.

Katie: It's crazy. Yeah. I'm just thinking of all the possibilities now, like if someone's got a physical product that they sell. So, you know, I don't know, or, you know, or digital, but, you know, they want to show it printed out. out and things like that. I just feel like, this is such a game changer. This is going to be so cool.

Noel: Yeah, because I guess for most of those products, especially with things like on Etsy and that, you've got to show it, you know, in use or, you know, you've got to have some sort of flat lay or, you know, some sort of scene to show it in there. Like, this is going to make that, like, incredibly simple. Because I used to, you know, have a digital art thing on Etsy and then have to pay for those templates. So, yeah, now I wouldn't have to bother with that, which is really handy. Yeah.

Katie: So do we have to pay to use this? What's the cost? Yes, you do.

Noel: It's currently in like a free preview at the minute. So if you go on Google AI Studio, you can find links to it in there and then just go crazy, you know, start creating and stuff, and testing it out and see how it works. And that's how I started using it. And then within the AI studio, they also have like a builds section. And that's kind of like apps that Google have built or other people have built to showcase some certain bits. But you can also build your own. So I just described my own app that I would like. And then it was like, create me an image. Use ImageGen 4, which is the better image model. And then, but if I ask for edits, use Nano Banana. And it just did it within, like, I think that took me no, I thought it took me three minutes for, I mean, it took me a while to type out the original prompt, but in terms of AI, it took like 90 seconds to get me the first draft.

Katie: Right. That's really cool. Yeah.

Noel: Yeah, it's amazing.

Katie: So we're not aware of the cost at the moment. Is that what we're saying?

Noel: I think, yeah, if you start using it directly from the API that does have a cost incurred and we're talking. like three, four cents an image. So it's not breaking the bank.

Katie: No, it's a lot cheaper than higher in a photographer. Or if you, you know, if you do have, I don't know the same product but in different colours or I don't know, maybe you've got like a candle business and maybe you've got like 10 or 20 in your range and, you know, photographing. each of them or finding unique ways to come up with, you know, different ways to show them off. I feel like this is going to be a bit of a game changer and so much cheaper for, for, like, businesses that are just starting out.

Noel: Yes. Yeah, I think, obviously, look, the big corporations, bigger businesses, they're always going to use those professionals, aren't they? They're always going to.

Katie: Of course, of course. Yeah, but for someone who's just started out, and maybe they have put all of their money into, like, getting started and, like, any equipment needed or, you know, things like that. And then they're trying to take photos of their products themselves, which, as we know, photos make such a big difference when it comes to products and, you know, the amount that you sell. I just feel like this would be like, yeah, like a game changer for those type of businesses.

Noel: Definitely, yeah.

Katie: Yeah.

Noel: Because it's also really good at like the fashion stuff. So you can do like virtual try-ons of products and stuff. So that is also really, really good at that. So if you've got like a t-shirt or hoodie printing business or whatever, you know, you don't have to, you know, print all of those off and, you know, put them on models, have them photographed, you know, if you're like a t-shirt or, you know, like a really small operation. You could just get an AI image of a model and then just be like, now put that t-shirt or jumper on that person. And it does a really incredible job.

Katie: And you could choose the background as well for that. Yeah.

Noel: Yeah, you could start off with a playing white studio background and then go have them leaning up against an urban graffiti wall. And they goes, sure.

Katie: Yeah.

Noel: There you go. Five seconds later you've got your image.

Katie: Yeah, or you can have them, like, in a street in New York.

Noel: Yes, exactly, yeah. One thing I would say is when it comes to photo realism with nanobanana, it's not incredible. So what I would say is if you're using AI images to create like that base background image, I would use something like ImageGen 4, maybe Mid Journey, to get you that real high quality background image. And then when you add your product, into there at some point, you know, you've got the good background and then you've got the good final edited image. Yeah.

Katie: Because some

Noel: of my Italian can pictures were a bit suspect.

Katie: Okay. In what way?

Noel: Almost, I won't want to say cartoony. It just, so like with the wooden table, you could tell that it wasn't natural.

Katie: Yeah. Yeah.

Noel: And then, but then as I did a few more, it got better. and I was like, oh, okay, so it can do it. But, yeah, if you're paying three cents ago to keep rolling the dice, then, yeah. But I would say use a different one if you want to get a base background and then add the two together, yeah.

Katie: Yeah, and that's obviously possible.

Noel: Yes.

Katie: Great.

Noel: Yeah, definitely, yeah.

Katie: What else have you got to share by nano banana? Four. No.

Noel: I guess the other thing is, like, where. it comes to, like, creating, like, graphics and things like us. So on our blog, we've got, like, our own template.

Katie: Yeah.

Noel: So, you know, that's all within Canva. And then, you know, we have, like, an image. We have to then go in and then change the image and that sort of stuff. So I was like, well, I wonder what nano-bonana can do to help us with this. Not that we need it, but I was just to test the theory.

Katie: It's always nice to get extra help.

Noel: so I gave it like the image and then said well look you know we have like an iPad which contains the image in it and I was like right changed the image to like three people working in an office and then off it went it was like it didn't really need that much in terms of instruction we're just like image on the left make it this and then yeah five seconds like bang it was there it's done yeah and you could then automate that within you know a favorite tool, make.com, of course, you could automate it and then say, well, look, you know, I've got a spreadsheet which has got like 50 blog ideas, you know, create me like the descriptions of an image that would go well with that and then go crazy. Then, you know, one by one, put it through nano banana and say, well, edit this one to be this and

Katie: then save it somewhere else.

Noel: And then, yeah, just rinse and repeat. So, yeah, you could create 50 very or more, very, very quickly.

Katie: that is really cool yeah so it's got the potential to save money and save time as well

Noel: definitely yeah

Katie: i do you think this is something that google's going to keep on top of and like always continue to improve or do you think it's just something they're putting out and then working on you know something else maybe

Noel: i think we when it comes to image generation and editing and all that sort of stuff. It's been getting better for a number of years now. So when I first started using it, it was terrible. You know, he'd have people with three eyes, you know, two mouths or something.

Katie: You know, this is awful.

Noel: I mean, we still do get that. But I think with Google, I think, yeah, they'll definitely keep on top of it. There is a big market for it. Because, you know, for people like us, you know, it's an expense to. you know, go off, get all, like, photo shoots and, you know, anything like that is, is pricey. So, yeah, it can, yeah, I think there's a, there's a need for it. But I guess there's another need as well, because they've also got a really cool video generation tool as well called V-O-3. So, let's say you've got a product, you know, you've added it into a scene. You could then automate it and put it through V-O-3. So then it would, like, pan round or zoom in to the project. product. So you could then use that as like some of like your advertising or whatever. You know, you could have that as the video with the background or whatever.

Katie: Yeah.

Noel: So yeah.

Katie: Music is wow. Or like the right music layered onto that. That would be like 10 out of 10 amazing.

Noel: Yeah. And the other thing is always like people on TikTok, you know, they showcase products.

Katie: All the time, no, all the time. I know. I spend five much time on TikTok.

Noel: I know you do. I can see that by the amount of packages that come through the door.

Katie: I do not know what you mean. So if I'm not for, these are not for me.

Noel: Not all the time, no.

Katie: No, I feel like Betty, that's our dog, by the way, does a lot of online shopping as well.

Noel: It's very clever that dog.

Katie: She's so clever.

Noel: Yeah.

Katie: She's so smart. Yeah.

Noel: There's people showing. you how you could create like a base image of you holding said product from, you know, using Nano Bernard to import it into the, into that image.

Katie: And then you

Noel: could then use, I don't know, probably either something like Hey Jen, so you can create like a digital avatar from that image. And then you could be then you talking about the product. It would look like you, it would sound like you. And then you're holding the thing or showing it. And then you using that as your ad. I mean, it's a bit sketchy, I guess, but there's people out there that will do it.

Katie: Yeah, but I feel though, I get what you're saying, but at the same time, like, a lot of, like, TikTok shop is pretty much like what QVC used to be. So, you know, people are demonstrating it. So they're either using it or they're wearing it, you know, things like that and you you do know it's actually a human? Yes.

Noel: Yeah, that's true. But if there's anything where they're talking about it and not actually showing it, so they don't have to show it. There's those that you could edit, you could create those videos very quick and easy. I would say.

Katie: Yeah,

Noel: someone to watch out for in the future.

Katie: Excited. AI QVC. Yeah. Oh, it's going to happen. It's going to happen.

Noel: Exactly.

Katie: I reckon next year it's going to be like a total thing.

Noel: Yes. I think it already kind of is with some areas.

Katie: I just

Noel: think these tools now are making it easier for people to do. So I think before like a week ago when this first came out, I think it would have been tricky, not impossible, but difficult.

Katie: Yeah.

Noel: Now it's just, yeah, made it so, so much easier. Yeah.

Katie: I feel like Pop Mart, they're always on live on TikTok, like they are on live, like, literally 24-7. I feel like they could totally do this with their products because, of course, it's all product-based. You know, so I feel like I could see them doing something like this.

Noel: Yes.

Katie: And maybe then they don't have to deal with all, like, the hate comments that, you know, all the Lubu's went. within like 1.5 seconds.

Noel: Yeah, they could have AI deal with the comments. Yeah,

Katie: yeah, yeah.

Noel: Felt all the bad ones. Yeah.

Katie: Or the poor person on the live doesn't have to, like, read, when are you doing the Lubbubo's, like a million times? Yeah.

Noel: I feel like our online worlds between the two of us is very different, because I don't see that.

Katie: Yeah, yeah.

Noel: I was glad I don't.

Katie: Okay, so what would be the next step if someone wanted to get started with nanobanana?

Noel: First step I would say is check out Google AI Studio. You don't have to add a credit card or anything billing wise to it. Google are quite good at just letting you have a go and then test it out and figure things out. if you then create your own app within the build section you don't get billed for any of the outputs so I've been using it all day yesterday and I've checked my billing today thinking oh Christ I'm going

Katie: to have a

Noel: couple of dollars in there and it was empty it was like you haven't used it I was like oh okay so yeah that's kind of free to use but as soon as you offload it you know and then like say run it on a server or your laptop with your API key then yes you would start getting charged at that point.

Katie: Yeah.

Noel: For anything new, they kind of skirt around that and let you just try it out, which is chronicle. Yeah. So that's where I would start. But obviously in the community, I showed that this week as well. So I showed how to...

Katie: In our school community.

Noel: Yeah. In the school community, yes.

Katie: So I showed like... In our paid membership.

Noel: Yeah. So I showed like the app that I built within a couple of minutes, how it worked. and then, you know, showcase, like, the tools and what it was doing, so you would see plenty of my San Pellegrino lemon cans in that video.

Katie: Love many. Great a few of those.

Noel: So, yeah, yeah, they're really interested how it all works.

Katie: Hmm, cool. Yes. Well, no banana.

Noel: Yeah.

Katie: I told you, everyone. Noel had gone bananas this week. I do believe me.

Noel: Yeah. Yeah. It is cool. It's one of the better image models I've used, I think.

Katie: Yeah, I think that.

Noel: I say it's the most useful.

Katie: Yeah. I think the images that, you know, that I've seen you generate look really good, like the best I've seen from an AI model, I would say.

Noel: Oh, yeah. Yeah. Really cool. Yeah, very consistent. That's what we like.

Katie: That's what we like. Amazing. Well, thank you. much for listening to this week's podcast episode. If you want to find out more about things like a nano banana, AI and automations, then we would love to invite you into our school community. It's our paid membership that we host over on the school platform. It's called AI Business Club. We will leave all the details below for you. If you want to go and check that out, we would love for you to come in join us, but we'll catch you another time for another episode very soon.