Can we save classic Games Workshop art using AI? 

Hi, I actually wrote the Goonhammer article, and took the photo, that the Angels of Death coaster seems to be based on. Ordered a set of the coasters to get a closer look but if that's actually where they sourced the image it's absolutely hilarious to me. Since these are officially licensed products, it means that I, or at least my shadow, are Warhammer Canon now.

The concept of lost media is so sad to me. The sheer scale of it. But above all, the loss of warhammer art is our modern library of alexandria.

This might just be the best new Warhammer channel out there. Every vid so far has been unique, well written , interesting and had me wanting more!

That Eldar artwork at 6:56 is incredible

That second edition wargear book for 40k is my absolute top favorite. Such power and ferocity, I swear I can feel the heat. God I love it

The Goonhammer part of this story is WILD

Would love a google drive or something similar to be able to see all these restored pieces! Great work and a really interesting video as always

I was incredulous after reading the title but I clicked because I love this era of fantasy art. But damn did you put together a smart thoughtful and informative well researched video.

I read of an anectdotal account of a GW customer who was a regular at the central(?) Nottingham store. The head office was once upstairs. Right after control of GW shifted in the 2000's, the manager of this store found the contents of their illustration archives in the dustbin out back. This customer said there were recognizable classics in this pile. They pulled out what they could salvage, kept some, and tried to send others back to the artists. Still others were simply ruined being in thw trash. Whoever unceremoniously dumped it like it was junk after moving day just couldn't be bothered preserving what they could never equal and apparently never appreciate. Luckily, a few people actually did. So if this is how old art was treated at this sociopathic corporation, you can bet your ass that a great deal of this art is simply "lost".

Quite honestly: amazing work, and we need more of this. Call me a weirdo, but there might be demand AT GAMES WORKSHOP for this done properly.

Definitely had this on my mind a lot for some of the older pieces - even 6e pieces have this issue which is a crying shame due to the peak quality of art from that period.

THis is historical presevation work. Might seem trite right now, but over time such endevours gain value. So a big, "thank you" from 2023 -- and a very early big "thank you" from folks in the future.

I love this channel.... At one time I had found a site that had downloads available of all the old White Dwarfs, and they're really good. Sadly though, I only downloaded a few then and there. When I next went back they'd all disappeared and I've never found them again 😓

1:47 Love the World Eater Artwork

Love oldhammer arts. The 2nd ed space wolves is so good

I think the Dark Millennium cover painting is my favorite 40K art piece.

6:12 Dark Millennium is incredible

That Dark Angels pic at 7:02 was my fave from way back. Those SM faces lookes so realistic and brutish.

I love this channel. Keep up the great work!

This Channel is the one I am currently looking forward the most, when “the new content bell” is chiming 🎉

Truly doing the God Emperor's work 👍

I feel a great grieve for 1997 Epic 40k sets box art. Forgotten, therefore lacking HQ quality. Like, Eldar Warhost, Space Marine Battle Group, Imperial Guard detachment, and so on. I had to reverse engineer Epic blast marker image, because scanned images are bad quality despite high resolution.

This was wonderful! Wayne England, David Gallagher, John Blanche -> then Adrian Smith and Karl Kopinkski are the cornerstones of GW art. /I'm sure I missed a name or three..

Are you going to be sharing these? I’d love to use em as mobile wallpapers, but the scans from warhammer art don’t do it for me

Pretty impressive! Especially recovered Dark Millennium artwork. Is this version of artwork posted somewhere to download?

Subscribed. Great stuff. Jazz music and GW nostalgia work well together, who would have known.

Interesting video! This is really unique content presented very well.

Is there anywhere we can see these high rez pics? Would be great to get some posters of them.

There is something charming to old warhammer art

I have so much of this old 40K art

7:24 I think that its good to keep original as a possible alternate scheme which I think looks like pre heresy one. Though updating it, it does look like same retro art but correct scheme.

This is the funniest shit I've seen in a long time

Amazing. This channel surprises me everyday. If I had the cash, I'd support it instantly. Thank you for this upload!

So where can we get these fantastic images for ourselves?

I did not know I needed this content in my life, but I do.

Great stuff. Is there some sort of permanent archive of upscaled images somewhere online? If not, I'd be tempted to put one out there. For better or worse, it often falls to fanbases to curate these things, and Oldhammer is certainly worth the fuss.

Sublime hit of nostalgia there, top work

That is both nice and sad, as some are artistic masterpiece. And I'm not only speaking as a GW old aesthetic fan, just, some are wonderful on a purely artistic level. Good idea to put them again on the light.

Very nice! I've used AI for some restoration work myself and it's always nice to see when it comes together well.

This channel is such a diamond in the rough.

Would love to be able to view these images !

Beautiful!

Ah, this fills me with hope that the inevitable AI revolution will,at least, include arguments about cover modifiers

Utter glory! Please keep making videos :)

1:50 - It's preserving historical artwork and records. You don't need to justify that because it is a positive end unto itself.

ALL THE DACHSUNDS!

Haha, your joke about Chat GPT being called Cat GPT was SO funny! Lol! ...was that good?

Did you get around to making any links for the upgraded images?

Thanks. Really enjoyed that.

Lmao great opening, I love your channel keep it up

More please…I can’t get enough 😅

I have most these...

fantastic work!

This video made my day. "Careless custodian". Tee-hee.

im really glad to see this

Well done!

Superb again

Nice to see this tech heresy put to the service of the God Emperor

Great video again!

I'm that guy! Preserve that art!

Its a shame that a lot of the original artwork has been lost or not have a High quality digital version of the artwork available. Even then if someone were to try and find what remains of the original artwork I wonder how much it would cost to either buy or be allowed to take few high resolutions pictures. Although I'm failing to understand why GW decided to kill of (Old) Warhammer in favour of what can be maybe described as some empire troops trying badly to look like space marines or roman troops with shields. From the looks of some of the boxed new miniatures that I had seen once. But it doesn't help much I suppose when then did a limited run of the books to the point now your paying silly money to get a copy of some of the end times books off ebay/amazon etc due to scalpers pricing them selves out any reasonable sense of proportion in trying to sell the items unless someone was gullible enough to pay that price.

I have always enjoyed the art of Warhammer. I knkw its probably bias as a life lobg fan, but genuinely i think thw art thwy have produced over the decades is the equal of any modern contemporary art out there. That being said ive often thought it was almost amusing how GW treats their artists and art with apparent contempt. It couldn't be summed up any better than the release of rhe 3rd edition 40k rulebook and rhe famous drawing of the Black Templar holding a battle standard.. the said artist didnt even get credited and it wasn't until a later white dwarf publication they apologized and acknowledged it.

awesome video

3:53 Did you find some pills that worked? Erm... asking for an, umm, friend...

So good❤

funny as hell

it sucks that AI is getting used in such stupid ways. I dont think upscaling had reached its full potential, and since its now getting used for making people money and not preservation. Hope it can change.

When did Scarface join the Dark Angels?

I am like 888

This video is discriminatory towards people with a constantly shifting number of fingers and nipples. AI art is finally giving us the representation we deserve, don't take that away from us. That said, I have no choice but to subscribe due to the Jazz music playing in the background. Well played.

uh, they look worse. I mean look at 7:02 Please delete them.

Discover sick 40k channel that covers cool stuff and talks about the game in a new way >AI bro Better for it all to rot away and turn to dust than be "preserved" by some shit bag machine.

useing AI to "save" art isn't saving the art work.

I do not support the use of AI, specially when the AI has been fed the works of artists and is being used to forge said artista style. Trying to save Warhammer art is a great thing, but not at any cost.

it sucks that classic art may be lost in some ways, but AI is going to be the death of art altogether so this sure ain't the answer

AI is the death of art, and should be kept as far away from true creative processes like Art, Music, and D&D.

Hats off! Service to the community. 🫡