Knowing what someone created can be inspiring. Knowing how they created it can help you learn from it, try something new, and discover other creators who work the way you do.
Photographers have shared this kind of information for years: camera, lens, ISO, shutter speed, aperture, editing software, and other details behind an image. Creative Tools would expand that idea across every Seed Type on The Inspiration Tree.
Think of Them as Creative Tool Tags
We want this to be easy, not another complicated form creators have to complete.
Creative Tools could work much like adding tags to a Seed. As you’re publishing, you could optionally add Creative Tool Tags identifying whatever played an important role in creating it.
A photographer might add Nikon Z8, 85mm lens, Lightroom, long exposure. An artist might add oil paint, palette knife, cadmium red, glazing. A musician might add Fender Stratocaster, Ableton Live, condenser microphone. A filmmaker could add DaVinci Resolve, drone, handheld camera, color grading, while a writer or digital creator might identify writing software, graphics programs, research tools, or AI tools.
Share a few, share many, or share none. The purpose is to make useful information easy to add without getting in the way of creating and publishing.
Discover Through the Tools You Use
Because Creative Tools would work like tags, they could also become another way to explore the Tree.
Click Procreate to discover Seeds created with Procreate. Explore photographs taken with a particular lens. Find artists using watercolor or palette knives. See what musicians are creating with Ableton Live, or how other creators are incorporating a particular AI tool.
You might start by looking for a tool you already use and end up discovering a creator or creative discipline you weren’t looking for at all.
Learn How Something Was Made
Creative Tool Tags could also make Seeds informal learning resources.
Love the look of a photograph? See what camera, lens, settings, and editing software were used. Wonder how an artist achieved a particular texture? Look at the brushes, materials, or techniques they chose to share. Curious about a sound in a song or an effect in a video? The tools listed with the Seed may give you a starting point.
And if you want to know more, ask. Creative Tools can start conversations between people who make things as well as show how those things were made.
Where Could This Lead?
Creative Tools could eventually connect to other Roadmap ideas. They might appear on creator profiles, become part of more advanced discovery, help people find others using the same equipment or techniques, or lead to educational content around particular tools.
There could also eventually be opportunities connected to tool recommendations and affiliate relationships, although those possibilities belong primarily with our separate Creator Monetization Roadmap Candidate.
For now, we want to know what you would find useful.
What Creative Tool Tags would you add to your Seeds? Which tools, materials, settings, or techniques would you want other creators to share? And would you use Creative Tools to discover new work, learn how something was made, or find other people who create with the same tools you do?