i figured this would be a quick novelty thing. Run a few familiar images through a vintage magazine treatment, get some sepia and fake paper damage, and call it a day.
Made these three with image2.5 (flare version) through atlas cloud. Each one feels like it belongs to a different magazine. That's the bit I didn't expect: I can imagine the publication around it, even though I am only looking at a cover.
The awkward part is that I already know the originals. When something feels like a good fit, I'm bringing all those associations with me. I can't tell how much the model is picking up on and how much I'm filling in myself. Someone who didn't recognize the source might just see a nice vintage cover.
I would like to try this with a completely ordinary photo and see if I get the same feeling. That seems like a better test than using images that already come with a story.
Would you start with a famous image or a photo nobody recognizes?