ChatGPT

The biggest value here has been getting from a loose idea to usable artwork faster. On the 80th Birthday Book Box, I used it to create black-and-white vector-style templates for the front cover, quote panel, and birthday spine before engraving and epoxy fill.

It also helped with the Mother's Day Card 2026, where the starting artwork needed to feel personal but still clean enough to become a laser-engraved design. That made the project feel less like hunting for clip art and more like building a custom piece from the beginning.

I like it most as an idea-to-layout tool. The final work still happens in the shop with wood, engraving, paint, foil, epoxy, and finishing, but the generated artwork gives me a stronger starting point than a blank page.