What is the "What to vary?" option?

Overview

"What to vary?" is a powerful control that directs AI to focus variations on specific creative elements. Instead of randomly generating different images, you specify which aspects should change—resulting in more targeted, useful variations that address your exact needs.

How It Works

When generating variations, GRYYD's AI can modify multiple creative dimensions. Select 1-6 focus areas—AI explores those dimensions while keeping unselected elements consistent.

Examples: "Background" only → same composition, different backgrounds | "Composition + Lighting" → varied positioning and lighting | All 6 → maximum diversity

The Six Variation Options

1. Composition

What It Varies:

• Product placement position (centered, left, right, top, bottom)
• Product size within frame (close-up vs wide shot)
• Visual balance and layout
• Negative space distribution
• Foreground/background element arrangements

When to Use:

• Testing which product position draws most attention
• Exploring different visual hierarchies
• Creating options for different text overlay placements (product on left = text on right)
• A/B testing product prominence (large vs small in frame)

Example Variations:

• Variation 1: Product centered, occupying 60% of frame
• Variation 2: Product in left third, more environment visible
• Variation 3: Product in bottom half, room for headline text above
• Variation 4: Close-up product filling 80% of frame

Best For: E-commerce listings (testing layout), ads with text overlays, social media experimenting with different visual weights

2. Lighting

What It Varies:

• Light source direction (front-lit, side-lit, backlit)
• Light intensity (bright/dramatic vs soft/subtle)
• Shadow depth and hardness
• Highlight placement
• Overall brightness and contrast
• Time-of-day feel (morning, midday, golden hour, evening)

When to Use:

• Products where texture/material matters (leather, fabric, metal)
• Creating different moods (dramatic shadows vs soft/welcoming)
• Emphasizing product dimensions through lighting
• Matching brand aesthetic (bright/energetic vs moody/luxury)

Example Variations:

• Variation 1: Soft frontal lighting, minimal shadows (clean/professional)
• Variation 2: Side lighting with dramatic shadows (artistic/editorial)
• Variation 3: Warm golden hour backlighting (nostalgic/lifestyle)
• Variation 4: Bright overhead lighting (energetic/fresh)

Best For: Fashion products, jewelry, textured items, luxury goods, lifestyle brands

3. Perspective

What It Varies:

• Camera perspective (eye-level, high-angle, low-angle, bird's-eye view)
• Product rotation (showing different sides)
• Viewing distance (close-up, medium, wide shot)
• Three-dimensional depth perception

When to Use:

• Showing product from multiple perspectives in one draft
• Testing which angle best showcases product features
• Creating dynamic, less static compositions
• Products with interesting shapes that benefit from varied viewpoints

Example Variations:

• Variation 1: Eye-level straight-on view (traditional)
• Variation 2: High-angle looking down (bird's-eye, flat-lay style)
• Variation 3: Low-angle looking up (heroic, dramatic)
• Variation 4: 45° angled view (shows depth and multiple sides)

Best For: Products with interesting 3D shapes, footwear, electronics, furniture, anything where multiple angles tell the story better

Note: Even with "Perspective" selected, AI is constrained by your uploaded product photos. If you only uploaded front-view photos, AI can't magically show the back. "Perspective" varies the camera perspective viewing those existing angles.

4. Background

What It Varies:

• Background environment (studio, outdoor, lifestyle setting, abstract)
• Background colors and patterns
• Environmental context (home, office, nature, urban)
• Background complexity (simple/clean vs detailed/busy)
• Scene depth (shallow vs deep background)

When to Use:

• Testing which background makes product stand out most
• Creating platform-specific versions (white background for Amazon, lifestyle for Instagram)
• Matching different brand aesthetics (minimalist vs maximalist)
• Seasonal campaigns (winter snow, summer beach, autumn leaves)

Example Variations:

• Variation 1: Pure white studio background (e-commerce standard)
• Variation 2: Wooden table in cozy café (lifestyle/Instagram)
• Variation 3: Outdoor mountain landscape (adventure/nature brand)
• Variation 4: Abstract gradient background (modern/artistic)

Best For: Multi-platform content (different channels need different backgrounds), e-commerce (testing clean vs contextual), brand exploration

5. Mood

What It Varies:

• Overall emotional atmosphere (professional, playful, luxurious, energetic)
• Visual theme (industrial, organic, futuristic, retro, minimalist)
• Brand personality expression (serious, friendly, premium, accessible)
• Artistic treatment (photorealistic, illustrated, editorial, lifestyle)
• Psychological appeal (trustworthy, exciting, calming, sophisticated)

When to Use:

• Exploring different brand personalities
• Testing emotional tones for campaigns
• Aligning images with target audience psychology
• Creating distinct vibes for different platforms

Example Variations:

• Variation 1: Professional and trustworthy (corporate aesthetic)
• Variation 2: Warm and inviting (lifestyle/friendly)
• Variation 3: Bold and energetic (youthful/dynamic)
• Variation 4: Sophisticated and luxurious (high-end editorial)

Best For: Brand identity exploration, emotional marketing campaigns, audience targeting adjustments

6. Color Palette

What It Varies:

• Color scheme and harmony (warm, cool, neutral, vibrant)
• Color grading and tone (desaturated, saturated, muted, bold)
• Color temperature (warm orange tones, cool blue tones)
• Accent color choices and distribution
• Overall color mood and feeling

When to Use:

• Testing brand color guidelines
• Seasonal campaign variations (warm autumn, cool winter)
• A/B testing color psychology impact
• Creating platform-specific color treatments

Example Variations:

• Variation 1: Neutral minimalist palette (white, beige, soft gray)
• Variation 2: Warm earthy tones (brown, cream, olive green)
• Variation 3: Cool professional palette (blue, teal, gray)
• Variation 4: Vibrant bold colors (hot pink, electric blue, bright yellow)

Best For: Brand guideline exploration, seasonal campaigns, color psychology testing, multi-platform content with different color needs

Strategic Combinations

1 option: Most targeted (e.g., "Background" only → 4 different backgrounds, identical composition) 2 options: Balanced diversity (e.g., "Composition + Lighting" → recommended for general campaigns) 3 options: High variety (e.g., "Composition + Background + Mood" → important campaigns) 4-6 options: Maximum exploration (all 6 → brainstorming phase, uncertain direction)

Quick Workflows

E-Commerce: Draft 1: "Background" only (test white/lifestyle/gradient) → Draft 2: "Lighting + Composition" (refine) Social Media: "Composition + Mood" → platform-specific looks (LinkedIn/Instagram/Pinterest) Client Presentation: "Background + Mood + Color Palette" → diverse aesthetics, consistent composition

Pro Tip: Start with "Composition + Background" for maximum visual impact, then refine with "Lighting" or "Mood" in subsequent drafts.

Related: See Q18 (Draft Workflow), Q20 (Variation Count), Q3 (Product Photos) for more generation guidance.