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Until now, I have viewed artificial intelligence with a certain degree of ambivalence.
On the one hand, I clearly recognize the impact it will have on numerous professions and fields of work. On the other hand, I am concerned by how readily AI-generated content is often accepted as "true" or reliable, even though it frequently contains errors or presents information in a convincing yet ultimately incorrect manner.

At the same time, over the past few weeks I have become increasingly impressed by the possibilities this technology offers.
When I think back to the many hours—sometimes even days—that I spent as a photographer creating complex image composites, much of what is possible today seems almost unbelievable. With precisely formulated prompts, images can now be generated within minutes that would previously have required a considerable investment of time and effort.
The results often impress me with their creativity and technical quality. At the same time, however, they challenge me to look more carefully and critically evaluate what is being presented. The more convincing the results become, the more important it is to distinguish between an impressive representation and actual reality.
It is precisely this tension between fascination and critical reflection that makes the subject of AI so interesting to me at the moment.

For example, since 2018 I had been searching for information about the lettering on the old Münzel crane. After all, I did not want my scale reconstruction to carry an imaginary or inaccurate inscription.
In the enlarged detail shown below, taken from an old photograph belonging to my father, deciphering the lettering had never been satisfactorily possible with any magnification tool available to me. Various image-enhancement and sharpening tools also revealed only indistinct and barely recognizable characters.


Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_01 (fspg2)



After I had already contacted various archives, museums, private individuals, and even the local newspaper in search of further information, I was fortunate enough to receive two photographs from the Elbe Shipping Archive in Lauenburg (today the German Inland Shipping Archive). These images were primarily used for the reconstruction of the crane and the sand bunker that once stood beside it.
However, the exact lettering remained a mystery until quite recently. The only inscription I had been able to decipher was "Außenhafen" ("Outer Harbor") on the rear side of the crane house.
All the more delighted I was when ChatGPT pointed me toward the Facebook page of the Heimatbund Lauenburg. There I actually discovered two wonderful photographs of this crane, both showing the lettering clearly and legibly.

The first photograph shows the original version of the boom-luffing mechanism, featuring the large cable pulley used for adjusting the boom height. It also reveals the old company address, which can still be read clearly:


Walter Münzel
Hafen - Umschlags – Betrieb
  Reederei – Bunkerstation
        Lauenburg/E
Hafenstr 15.  Telefon 280

Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_06 (fspg2)

https://www.facebook.com/HeimatbundLauenburg/photos?locale=de_DE


The second photograph shows the later version of the crane, equipped with an electric drive for adjusting the boom position.
The lettering had also changed by this time.
This image documents a later stage in the crane's history and provides valuable evidence of the modifications that were made over the years, both technically and in terms of its external appearance.

Walter Münzel
Hafen - Umschlags – Betrieb
       Bunkerstation
Kies u. Mörtelvertrieb

Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_02 (fspg2)

gefunden auf: https://www.facebook.com/HeimatbundLauenburg/photos?locale=de_DE

In the 100% view of this photograph, the halftone pattern from the newspaper printing process becomes clearly visible.
A further note regarding the enlarged images: Clicking on the respective photograph opens it in the gallery, and a second click displays the image at full 100% resolution.

Driven by curiosity, I then asked ChatGPT to remove the newspaper halftone pattern from this image and to apply a careful colorization:

Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_03 (fspg2)

gefunden auf: https://www.facebook.com/HeimatbundLauenburg/photos?locale=de_DE

The colorized result is quite convincing at first glance and creates a remarkably realistic impression. But what had happened to the lettering? 

While the overall image quality appeared to have improved significantly, the inscription on the crane had changed in a way that immediately raised doubts. This was a striking reminder that AI-based image enhancement and restoration tools do not merely reveal existing information—they can also interpret, reconstruct, or even invent details when the original data is unclear.

For me, this was a perfect example of both the strengths and the limitations of artificial intelligence. The image looked more realistic and visually appealing, yet the very detail I was most interested in—the historically accurate lettering—had become less trustworthy. It demonstrated how important it is to verify AI-generated results against original sources whenever historical accuracy is required.

Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_04 (fspg2)

gefunden auf: https://www.facebook.com/HeimatbundLauenburg/photos?locale=de_DE

The subsequent AI sharpening altered further details as well. For example, the number plate of the truck suddenly displayed different digits.

So I asked the AI bot how I should have worded my prompt in order to ensure that everything appeared correctly and remained unchanged.

The answer was very detailed:

"Historical restoration of a black-and-white photograph"
Preserve the original subject matter absolutely unchanged.
Perform only the following operations:
• Remove halftone screening and moiré patterns (descreening).
• Carefully reduce film grain.
• Optimize local contrast.
• Brighten shadows and dark areas.
• Preserve highlights.
• Sharpen original contours.
• Improve the legibility of lettering, but do not add or invent any characters.
• Keep the original perspective unchanged.
• Do not reconstruct missing image information.
• Do not add new objects.
• Do not alter any people.
• Do not redraw faces.
• Do not add vehicle details.
• Do not modify the crane, cables, timber framework, windows, or lettering.
• Do not create artificial wood textures.
• Do not perform AI redrawing.
Then apply careful colorization:
• Use realistic color tones typical of the 1950s.
• Use natural, slightly muted colors.
• Colorize only where image information is present.
• Leave unclear areas neutral.
• No fantasy colors.
• No invented details.

Objective:
Archival-quality restoration and colorization while preserving every original detail.
Documentary reconstruction, not artistic interpretation.
Lettering, timber framework members, cable runs, bearings, window divisions, and sheet-metal edges must correspond pixel-for-pixel with the original photograph. Any geometric alteration is unacceptable.

This final paragraph is the key element that prevents many AI systems from modifying timber framing, crane components, or vehicle details. However, the fundamental problem still remains: generative image AIs cannot always comply with these instructions.
For truly accurate restorations of historical harbor photographs, traditional tools such as Photoshop (using Dust & Scratches, DeScreen, and High Pass techniques), Affinity Photo, or dedicated restoration software are often more reliable than generative AI systems.

Naturally, I wanted to put this advice to the test immediately. Using this prompt, I obtained the following image:


Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_05 (fspg2)

gefunden auf: https://www.facebook.com/HeimatbundLauenburg/photos?locale=de_DE

Here, too, there is a very serious error.

Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_08 (fspg2)



When I applied the same new prompt to this older photograph of the crane, new mistakes also appeared in the lettering.


Münzel Kran-Beschriftung_07 (fspg2)

https://www.facebook.com/HeimatbundLauenburg/photos?locale=de_DE

In summary, after generating a new image with an AI system, it is often worthwhile to ask the AI itself to evaluate the result for plausibility and accuracy.
Doing so frequently reveals additional weaknesses, inconsistencies, or potential errors, as well as suggestions for improved prompt formulations.
These refinements can then be incorporated into the next prompt and tested in a further iteration.

When creating 3D figures for resin printing and integrating the faces of real people, I have sometimes gone through five or six rounds of corrections and refinements before I was satisfied with the final result.

In that respect, AI is not so different from ordinary human beings—we all make mistakes.
The difference is that an AI will usually acknowledge those mistakes when they are pointed out and, in many cases, can even help identify and correct them.

Personally, I find this development fascinating. Even though the hours often seem to fly by while I work toward a satisfactory result, the process itself remains both interesting and rewarding. Each iteration brings new insights, and the combination of experimentation, critical evaluation, and gradual improvement is very much part of the experience.

This is quite a relic!  So many interesting textures.  A fascinating subject to model.

Stuart

Its a Static grass applicator  WWS I have never seen before but its all "new stuff" to me but they appear to be one of the market leaders in this static grass game
Prices range from £40 and upwards depending if it includes the grass
Barney

What is "WWS"? a commercial applicator?
Carlo

Many thanks for the info all sorted now and all the bits on the way for me to have a dabble with
Barney

Dug a few more shots out of this remarkable building that is still in use today
Barney

OUTSTANDING! And I strongly agree with Lawrence about the roofer.

Just as you, I've run into AI having some odd perceptions. One time I tried to clarify something and AI told me to contact a suicide prevention service. I had no idea AI had such strong feelings for me ....

Russ

A nice little detail and clever application. -- Russ

While collecting photos for a rolling stock project I noticed that many wooden railroad parlor cars had stained glass decorations on their windows. Not having a printer to make elaborate transparencies, I  used clear styrene for the window and dark green acetate for a simple diamond shaped detail.

Liquitex clear gloss acrylic varnish worked really well for gluing the diamonds to the inside of the windows.

Those are some terrific figures.
It looks like you are quickly learning how to give AI effective and "acceptable' prompts to get amazing results.