For this week’s AI newsletter category covers, I wanted to test the new Ideogram API that includes their new V3 engine. Since we’re in “It’s Gonna Be May” meme season, I asked OpenAI’s o3 to create a rubric which would automate 45 prompts for funny spoofs of stereotypical 90s boy band album covers. I’d provide a list of 45 category names, o3 provides the prompts. I open my command line, type python3 ideogram-python-updated.py, and I’ve got 45 images in a matter of minutes.
To be clear: o3 made the rubric by itself, I gave it a list of 45 one-word category names, hit “go,” and it made these albums using the Ideogram API with no further supervision. See also last week’s covers using the Far Side rubric and OpenAI’s gpt-image-1 API.
o3 took 12 seconds to make the rubric
Here is the rubric is created, including an unnecessary but fun and campy name:
Rubric v0.9 – “So ’90s it Hurts”
| # | Dimension | Choices / Descriptors (pick 1–3 or rate 1–5 for intensity) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Line‑Up & Pose | • “Flying V” stagger (center lead slightly forward)• “Power Stack” (all shoulder‑to‑shoulder, slight height gradation)• “Brooding Triangle” (seated member in front, two kneeling, two standing)• Arms crossed, hands in pockets, or pointing at camera• Group gaze: all ↗️ horizon / split gazes / one stares at lens while others look away |
| 2 | Wardrobe Theme | • All‑white linen suits • Matching denim‑on‑denim • Color‑blocked windbreakers • Black leather trench coats • Turtlenecks + long coats • Sleeveless tees + cargo pants.Optional accent rules: one “individual flair” piece per member (bandana, tinted glasses, chain wallet). |
| 3 | Color Palette / Lighting | • Heavenly blue‑white glow (Millennium) • Warm sunset oranges • Neon nightclub purples • Muted sepia “street” look • High‑key studio whiteout. Lens flares or gradient overlays encouraged at level 4–5. |
| 4 | Hair & Facial Hair | • Frosted tips • Center‑part curtains • Gelled spikes • Micro‑braids / cornrows (for variety) • Buzz cut + soul‑patch • Baby‑smooth clean shave. Rate gel shine 1–5. |
| 5 | Expressions / Mood | • Smoldering intensity • Soft half smiles • “Puppy‑dog sincerity” • Open‑mouthed wonder • One member biting lip. |
| 6 | Accessories / Props | • Oversize headphones • Retro mic stand • Gleaming chrome sphere • White doves • Futuristic metallic backdrop panels • Minimal (studio blank). |
| 7 | Background Setting | • Endless white void • Floating cloudscape • Urban rooftop night • Industrial warehouse • Futuristic digital grid • Sandy beach at dawn. |
| 8 | Typography & Logo | Font family: squarish sans (Bank Gothic, Eurostile), italicized sans (Futura Condensed Italic), or boy‑band script (Brush Script).Effects: chrome bevel, drop shadow, outer‑glow, gradient fill. Placement: upper‑left corner or across center with slight arc. |
| 9 | Album Title Conventions | • Single evocative noun (“Destiny,” “Revelation”)• Two‑word vow (“Take Flight,” “Never Gone”)• Synthetic mash‑up (“Heart‑Beatz”)Include the newsletter category as a clever subtitle (e.g., “Hard‑Wired – Chips & Hardware Edition”). |
| 10 | Graphic Extras | • Wing or heart icon • Stylized “B‑shaped” band logo • Holographic swirl • Random binary code watermark. |
| 11 | Cheese‑Factor Dial (1–5) | 1 = subtle homage • 3 = unmistakable ’90s • 5 = full parody (think “We’re larger than life in outer space with rainbow lens flares”). |
| 12 | Meta‑Easter Egg | Hidden nod to AI or the category: circuit pattern in background, chip silhouette worked into logo, subtle robot hand in pocket, etc. |
Here is a sample run of the rubric (it just did this without me asking) against the category name “Agents” as a test.
Thought for 6 seconds
“AGENTS: The Protocol” — 90s Boy‑Band Album‑Cover Treatment
(Using our Peak‑’90s rubric, dialing the Cheese‑Factor to a joyful 4.5)
| # | Dimension | Chosen Spec for Agents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Line‑Up & Pose | “Brooding Triangle.” Center front member crouches over a glowing laptop, fingers poised like he’s about to hit Enter. Two kneeling behind lean in, sharing a secret. Two standing at the back stare into the middle distance, headset mics glinting. |
| 2 | Wardrobe Theme | Matching black leather trench coats over silver‑embroidered tactical vests. Subtle circuit‑board stitching on lapels. Each member wears a fingerless glove with a neon‑green pulse line. |
| 3 | Color Palette / Lighting | Neon nightclub purples with streaks of cyberspace‑teal laser light. Soft haze so their edges bloom slightly. Occasional flicker of binary “rain” projected onto coats. |
| 4 | Hair & Facial Hair | Gelled spikes for the front croucher, center‑part curtains for the romantic lead, frosted‑tip quiff for the “bad boy,” buzz cut + micro‑soul‑patch for the quiet one, and flowing slicked‑back hair for the techno‑wizard. Shine level: 4/5 (almost wet). |
| 5 | Expressions / Mood | Smoldering intensity across the board, but the laptop guy sports a half‑smirk like he just cracked the firewall. One member does the classic lip‑bite. |
| 6 | Accessories / Props | Holographic floating agent tokens (think translucent hex chips) swirl around them. A chrome headset mic on each. The lead clutches a slim silver USB stick like an amulet. |
| 7 | Background Setting | Futuristic digital grid stretching to infinity under their feet, with faint hologram lines forming a tunnel that converges behind them. |
| 8 | Typography & Logo | Band logo “Σ‑GENTS” in italicized Eurostile with chromed bevel and faint green outer‑glow. Album title below in smaller Bank Gothic: “The Protocol”. |
| 9 | Album Title Conventions | Main title above: “Σ‑GENTS”; subtitle ribbon: “The Protocol – Agents Edition”. |
| 10 | Graphic Extras | Subtle AI neural‑network node diagram ghosted behind the group. Tiny wing icon (their “S‑signal”) sits between Σ and GENTS. |
| 11 | Cheese‑Factor Dial | 4.5 – full chrome glows, exaggerated trench‑coat flares, and way too many lens flares. |
| 12 | Meta‑Easter Egg | If you zoom in on the binary rain, one string spells “sudo LOVE -u 4 ever”. |
And here are the images!
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Prime Time – Two‑Day Heart”: flying‑V pose on cardboard‑box pyramid; forest‑green windbreakers with arrow‑smile chest logo; sunset over virtual rainforest; chrome Eurostile “Prime Time” title, bold 90s lens flares.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Perfect Figure – Human 2.0”: men pose beside gleaming humanoid robot twin; futuristic fleece hoodies; white lab background with teal light grid; chrome sci‑fi logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Search 4 U”: each member wears primary‑color hoodie (blue red yellow green) forming Google logo layout; infinity white void with floating search bar; chrome Eurostile title, rainbow glow.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Soft Wear – Windows of Love”: members framed by four‑color window panes; khaki cargo pants and soft knit sweaters; office skyline; chrome italic title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Opinion Piece”: members at newsroom desk holding pens like mics; rolled‑sleeve dress shirts; newspaper headline wallpaper; chrome serif logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Techno Love – 404 Feelings”: cyberpunk street with neon signs, wires; reflective trench coats; electric blue lens flares; chrome glitch logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Score‑Board – Beyond Metrics”: five atop giant bar‑chart columns, pointing upward; satin tracksuits numbered 99; background of glowing line graphs; chrome logo, celebratory confetti lens flares.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Bottom Line”: members in pinstripe suits with loose ties, seated on glowing dollar‑sign stool; Wall‑Street ticker scroll backdrop; golden lens flares, chrome Eurostile title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Class Act – Lesson One”: sitting on giant pencil, chalk‑dust swirl backdrop; letterman sweaters and khakis; chrome collegiate font logo, playful flares.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Moral Code”: members in angelic white suits balancing binary scales; marble courthouse steps background; soft gold lens flares, chrome title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Emoji Hearts”: group hugging giant smiley‑face pillow; pastel cardigans; sunflower field backdrop; chrome bubble logo, warm lens flare.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Mistral – Ocean Breeze”: wind‑swept pose on cliff, coats billowing like sails; aqua leather jackets; crashing wave lens flares; chrome script logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Press Play”: standing atop giant stack of books, one flipping page dramatically; corduroy jackets; library hall background; chrome stamp logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Lab of Love”: group in white lab coats tossing neon test tubes; chalkboard of heart equations; chrome chemistry‑font title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “X‑Press Love”: rooftop at dawn with giant neon X; leather jackets with feather patches; shimmering tweet‑bird hologram; chrome italic title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Playback – Rewind My Heart”: members pose around oversized VHS tape; color‑blocked hoodies; static‑glitch background; chrome play‑button logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band album cover titled “Σ‑GENTS – The Protocol”: five members in brooding‑triangle pose (front crouches over glowing silver laptop); matching black leather trench coats with circuit‑board embroidery and neon‑green gloves; digital grid tunnel with purple‑teal lasers and binary rain; chrome Eurostile logo, lens flares, playful 4.5‑level 90s cheese.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Infinite Heartware”: members hover in zero‑G formation over glowing blue globe of code; silver spacesuits with heart‑shaped motherboards; cosmic starfield, bright cyan lasers; chrome italic logo, high‑cheese futurism.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover titled “Ali‑Beats – Global Cart”: five members shoulder‑to‑shoulder holding neon‑orange shopping bags with barcode patterns; silk bomber jackets in Alibaba orange; Shanghai skyline hologram background; stylized chrome logo, upbeat 90s vibe.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Human‑Kind – Safety Zone”: members in ‘arms‑crossed sincerity’ pose wearing ivory turtlenecks and beige coats stitched with ethical‑AI symbols; soft cloudscape with halo glow; gentle pastel lens flares, subtle circuit halo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Core‑Four – Think Different”: members framed by giant translucent rainbow Apple silhouette; matching black mock‑neck sweaters and silver jeans; white‑void studio with rainbow lens flares; chrome Garamond‑style logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Virtu‑Boys – Beyond Reality”: members wearing translucent visor headsets reaching toward viewer; grid floor fades into pixelated horizon; color‑blocked windbreakers in magenta‑cyan; chrome curved logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Sound‑Wave – Max Volume”: group around giant boombox, neon equalizer bars behind; metallic leather vests, oversized headphones as props; hot‑pink and blue nightclub lights, throbbing lens flares, chrome title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Drive‑N‑Soul”: group leans against sleek silver concept car, arms folded; matching racing jackets with lidar patterns; city freeway tunnel lit neon green; chrome italics, motion‑blur flares.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Byte‑Rhythm – Tik Groove”: synchronized dance pose mid‑jump, neon equalizer backdrop shaped like TikTok note; windbreakers in ByteDance blue; chrome bubble logo, party lights.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Silicon Serenade”: crouched circle around oversized glowing microchip; denim‑on‑denim outfits with etched circuit motif; green‑gold PCB background; chrome logo, sparking solder lens flares.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Co‑Hearts – In Sync”: members interlocking arms, gradient earth‑tone sweaters; subtle transformer‑diagram background; warm studio lighting, chrome serif logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Deep Signal”: members gazing into glowing underground cave pool shaped like search spiral; leather jackets with sonar rings; deep‑blue tones, chrome title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Pixel Passion”: members holding oversized instant camera, mosaic backdrop; holographic bomber jackets; cyan‑magenta light leaks, chrome title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Curve of Love”: lineup arcs along giant sine‑wave floor; velvet suits in gradient teal‑indigo; dark studio with glowing grid; chrome italic logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “World Tour – Global Harmony”: members stand on stylized spinning globe, waving flags; denim and leather mix; night sky with aurora; chrome title with orbiting ring.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Llama Drama”: five cuddly llamas wearing boy‑band outfits among members; ponchos with rainbow trim; desert sunset backdrop; chrome rodeo‑style logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Hometown Harmony”: pose on small‑town water tower at dusk; plaid shirts and jeans; firefly glow lens flares; chrome rustic title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Beyond – ∞”: group inside glowing blue infinity loop; sleek black turtlenecks; virtual horizon grid; chrome Eurostile ‘Beyond’ title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “On‑The‑Go”: group mid‑strut holding translucent flip phones; tracksuits with reflective stripes; blurred city lights; chrome logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Multi‑Mode Hearts”: each member holds different media device (camera, mic, tablet, VR headset, boombox); color‑blocked outfits; rainbow gradient background; chrome stacked logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Green Core”: members forming ‘N’ shape around glowing GPU; black leather with neon‑green LED piping; matrix code rain; chrome Eurostile title.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Open Hearts – GPT Groove”: group in lab‑white jumpsuits with purple hex logos; open vault door of code behind; pink‑blue vaporwave lights; chrome logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Free‑Love Code”: members tossing floppy disks like confetti; mismatched hacker tees; brick loft background; chrome stencil logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Answer Me – 20 Questions”: puzzling maze floor, group looking up searchingly; teal hoodies with question‑mark patches; chrome title, swirling fog.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Q‑Harmony”: members form letter Q with spotlight hoop; silk suits in jade gradient; Chinese garden night scene; chrome italic logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “RAG‑n‑Roll”: graffiti alley with glowing text snippets on wall; denim vests with patchwork lyrics; portable cassette players; chrome spray‑paint logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “Steel Hearts”: group arm‑in‑arm with retro‑silver robots; chrome jumpsuits; sci‑fi factory background; lens flares, chrome logo.
Late‑90s boy‑band cover “ID‑Love – Self Sovereign”: members flashing holographic ID cards; dark suits with neon outlines; digital vault door backdrop; chrome security‑badge logo.
Leave a Reply