Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #2088 - The statement about 1.4 billion pounds of government cheese being stored in caves in Missouri is an outdated claim; while a large surplus of cheese did exist in the past and was stored in underground facilities like those in Springfield, the government has since distributed this cheese. The idea of a 1.4 billion-pound stockpile has become an urban myth that is no longer accurate, though the caves are still used for commercial cold storage.
[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration. Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer were used last month to create the magazine layout, adjusted every time I make a new illustrated fact.]
A simple Green Lantern action figure styled in a medieval knight's gear.
[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration. Affinity Photo to clean up, and added Fx.]
Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #1260 - Mercury and Venus are the only planets in our solar system that have no moons. This is because their proximity to the Sun makes it difficult to hold onto a moon, as the Sun's strong gravitational pull could either capture a moon from them or pull it away from their orbits.
[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration. Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer actions to finalize the magazine layout I previously had created (logo, date/issue masthead Fx, designed beaker wallpaper, the future is fruity emblem, etc.) Fixed up some image errors by AI, then added in additional text elements.]
Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #1248 - Incredible but true! Jellyfish are Earth’s amazing creatures capable of swimming and hunting without a centralized brain! Instead, they possess a “diffuse nerve net” that controls their actions.
[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration. Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer actions to finalize the magazine layout I previously had created (logo, date/issue masthead Fx, designed beaker wallpaper, the future is fruity emblem, etc.) Created a NO-brain image to fit into the left corner.]
 |
| layout sketch ideas |
 |
| final image v33, zoom in to see all kinds of hidden details |
 |
| lots of layers + masks |
 |
| Hoffman's source of inspiration |
 |
| merging in the various figures |
 |
| 2+ fog layers merged, then texture warped |
 |
| adding gravestone etchings |
 |
| texture mapping Frankie into the book |
 |
| adding another kid, a ghost this time |
 |
| removing lower layers so you can see pieces |
 |
| the workshop background |
 |
| every tree needs a raven/crown |
I took the original DC Comics Kevin Maguire/Terry Austin artwork from 1987's Justice League no.5 comic book art and extended it out into a larger scene.
[Workflow: I used Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create my draft work items, and then progressed to the final image with further prompts. Final clean-ups and alterations within Affinity Photo.] |
| Guy Gardner ready to attack Batman! |
 |
| source image by Maguire/Austin |
 |
| layout drafting |
 |
| testing colors |
 |
| more refined colors |
A spooky Halloween 3D diorama featuring six ghosts bursting out of a house, getting ready to scare 4 kids who are dressed up for trick or treat, and there are also a couple of zombies crawling out of the graveyard. My image was inspired by a Mike Hoffman sketch.
[Workflow: Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create several base elements, moon, tree, castle, zombies pulled from online art repos, and then combined within Affinity Photo. Lots of details added with moon glow, cloud brushes, layers for glowing ghosts, lamps, and all kinds of minor tweaks and fixes.]
 |
| Boo-tiful Chaos: The Night of Tricks and Treats |
 |
| inspiration sketch by Hoffman |
Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]
 |
| Jesús Saiz source art |
Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #1041 - Incredible but true! Forty is the only number in the English language whose letters are in alphabetical order! It’s a linguistic marvel! Are you speechless?
[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration. Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer activity to finalize the magazine layout I previously created (logo, date/issue masthead Fx, designed beaker wallpaper, the future is fruity emblem, etc.)]
 |
| final trade dressed cover art for IDW |
 |
| virgin cover art |
 |
| working photo layers |
 |
| new Oz logo |
 |
| Dik Browne's 1957 Oz cover |
 |
| initial sketch |
 |
| color testing sketch |
 |
| new modern CIJ logo |
Snapple Real Facts Illustrated #845 - You Won't Believe Which Fruit Has Less Sugar: Lemon vs. Strawberry Showdown!
[Workflow: Prompt experimentation using Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana) to create the basic illustration. Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer activity to finalize the magazine layout I previously created (logo, date/issue masthead Fx, designed beaker wallpaper, the future is fruity emblem, etc.)]
Daphne & Velma are the girls of Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine van, as seen in a local Indianapolis park, which has been temporarily set up for the annual Halloween season.
[Workflow: Nano banana for base image + human finishes for van logo, lighting, background merger]
Batman with Gargoyle Statue
[Workflow: Nano banana for base image + minor human finishes]
Does anyone remember the late 1970s/early 1980s, when you watched reruns of Super Friends on TV and then made your own LEGO sets to go with it?
[Workflow: Nano banana for base image, rest of human work within Affinity for fixing the instruction manual, adding the four LEGO set characters, adding laser beams to Superman, adding the fire from the table, and adding The Flash running so fast we see him blurred across the screen. Additional background cleanups as needed.]
Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]
Statues of Red Tornado, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman.
[Workflow: Nano banana for base image + human finishes for logos, water bubbles, lighting, and background mergers]
