About a decade ago, during a staff fancy dress night out, I dressed up as Walter White from Breaking Bad—complete with a skullcap, makeup, and a shaved beard to get that authentic Heisenberg look.
Fast forward ten years, and I decided to revisit those old photos using “Generative AI” features found in Adobe Photoshop.
Back then, the idea of using AI to enhance images like this simply wasn’t possible. But now, with tools like generative AI in Adobe Photoshop, I could replace those old, dull backgrounds with scenes that matched the Breaking Bad theme—Arizona landscapes, a camper van interior, and more.
Although I don’t do graphic design day-to-day, I took this on as a little project to see just how far the technology has come.
It was a clear demonstration that the tools we have today can breathe new life into old images in ways we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago.
Reworking the Past (and Why the Sign Industry Needs to Adapt)
In the second half of the video, the transformation shifts from fictional to practical.
I took a real-world scenario: our business neighbour’s factory. They’d just moved in and asked us for a sign. The building, however, had gates in the way, a skip out front, and hadn’t been cleaned yet.
By using generative AI, I removed all those visual obstacles, added a bright blue sky, and created a clean canvas to drop the proposed sign design onto the building.
The Key Point For The Sign Insustry
And here’s the key point for the sign industry: this isn’t just a novelty.
It’s a glimpse into how graphic communication professionals must adapt.
If sign makers and creative designers don’t start using these tools, they risk falling behind. Those who do adapt will have a clear competitive advantage.
In the sign industry, we often need to show clients what their building will look like with a sign on it, what their vehicle will look like with graphics, or what an interior will look like with digitally printed wallpaper.
AI lets us do this more efficiently and convincingly than ever before.
It turns rough concepts into polished previews, allowing us to stay ahead and deliver top-tier visual communication.
The Lesson Behind the Laughter
Yes, the video is entertaining, but the message is serious: the future of sign-making and graphic design lies in embracing AI as a powerful tool.
It’s not about replacing the designer; it’s about enhancing what we can offer, making our work faster, more adaptable, and ultimately more competitive.
Many thanks,
Richard
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