- Ohirune Art" is a work of art in which babies are photographed with adorable backgrounds and accessories.
- CollageSquare uses AI technology to process photos taken at home to match the background image.
- They can be used as standby images for smartphones, New Year's greeting cards, or as old photos or pet photos.
Ohirune Art" is an art photo in which a baby is photographed with a background and accessories. The fact that it can be used as a souvenir of a scene from a picture book has attracted a lot of attention, and has been featured in various media, including TV and advertisements. On the other hand, it can be very detailed if you want to be elaborate, so it can take a lot of time and effort for some people to prepare and take pictures. Did you know that there is a tool that makes it easy to enjoy such "Ohirune Art"?
CollageSquare" is a platform that allows users to easily create cute photos by simply matching a smartphone photo of a child with a prepared Ohirune Art background, without having to prepare any accessories or backgrounds for the photo shoot. We interviewed Ms. Mizuri Aoki of the Japan Ohirune Art Association, which provides the service, about the appeal of CollageSquare, which won the Excellence Award in the "Commemoration and Documentation Category" of the BabyTech® Award Japan 2021.
(We spoke to...)
Japan Ohirune Art Association
representative of a board of directors
Ms. Minori Aoki
Like a scene from a picture book. A wealth of captivating backgrounds.
Editorial:Thank you very much for your time today. Before asking about the details of the "CollageSquare" service, could you tell us about "Ohirune Art"?
Aoki:This is an artistic photo shoot in which the baby is photographed with accessories and backgrounds, and the cute expressions that can only be captured now can be preserved like a page from a picture book. Prepare the background and accessories you envision, gently place the baby on them, and shoot from a bird's-eye view. You can capture the baby's smiling face, sleeping face, crying face, and many other expressions.
Editorial:I looked it up and found a lot of pretty pictures! What is the process of taking the pictures?
Aoki:First, develop the image you want to capture. Once that is done, the background is created. Using a large piece of cloth as a base, we build up the background with various decorations. Finally, we arrange the accessories and take the photo. Some people do this alone, but before Corona, Ohirune Art photo sessions were held at various locations, so parents often gathered to take pictures together.
Editorial:I heard that CollageSquare offers a more convenient way to enjoy the art of sunrise art.
Aoki:Yes, we do. The steps are very simple: First, you select the background you want to use for your bedtime art, then you upload the photo you want to use for your bedtime art to CollageSquare, the AI will design the background to match the child's expression, you download the image, and you have a beautiful bedtime artwork! The AI will design the background to match the child's expression. Downloading costs 330 yen (tax included), but some of the works are free as part of a campaign, so be sure to give it a try.
Editorial:You can enjoy the art of hinnyaku very easily!
Aoki:Yes, the resulting photo can be set as a standby screen on your cell phone or desktop image on your computer, shared with relatives who live far away, or used as a New Year's greeting card or hot summer greeting card.
Editorial:Can you tell us about the background images that can be selected for CollageSquare?
Aoki:All of the backgrounds provided by CollageSquare are original creations of professional hinokishin art instructors, who are certified by the Ohirune Art Association. The ability to use backgrounds created by professionals is one of the appeals of CollageSquare. In addition to the standard popular works, we also incorporate a strong sense of season and event, such as Christmas and New Year's for winter events, Easter for spring, fresh summer backgrounds, and Halloween for fall.
Editorial:It is a very attractive service to be able to easily enjoy OHIRUNE ART with photos that you have taken in your daily life. Do you have any tips for taking pictures?
Aoki:If you can find a place with natural light and take pictures from directly above, you are more likely to create a wonderful work of art. Another important point is to take pictures while having fun with your child.
Editorial:Can you tell us what moms and dads who have actually used CollageSquare have to say about it?
Aoki:Since there is no need for extensive preparation or to go to a photo session, we have received comments such as, "I was able to enjoy the photo session while relaxing at home," and "I was glad to be able to use artwork created by a teacher in a distant area. Another comment was, "I decided on an outfit that matched the background created by the teacher.
A service that fulfills parents' wish to "leave cute pictures of their children.
Editorial:I would now like to ask you about the development history of CollageSquare. I believe the release was in 2021. Was there any influence from Corona?
Aoki:The idea for CollageSquare itself was around 2019, before the coronavirus epidemic. Event photo sessions were popular, but there were many restrictions on time and location, and many families could not easily go to event venues, so we were looking for a service that would meet the needs of parents who wanted to preserve cute photos of their children, regardless of those restrictions.
Editorial:I see that was the case. How did you proceed with the development?
Aoki:In cooperation with certified instructors of the association, we spent many months developing AI technology to capture the wonderful expressions on babies' faces. We worked with Kyodo Printing Co., Ltd. to develop this technology in 2019, and worked to improve its quality by having the AI read a large number of baby photos.
Editorial:Did you make any improvements after the release?
Aoki:To enable more people to enjoy Ohirune Art, we are also working to improve convenience by adding more backgrounds to accommodate vertical art and adding QR payment as a payment method.
Editorial:CollageSquare can use the photos that are already there, so it is likely to create its own charm and convenience.
Aoki:That's right. Event photography also has its charms, such as the opportunity to take a unique or unexpected photo, or to enjoy interaction with other parents or teachers. For example, you can use a photo of your child when he or she was a baby, a photo of siblings, or a photo of your pet, so you can really enjoy many variations.
We want to spread Ohirune Art all over the world.
Editorial:Finally, what are your future goals for CollageSquare?
Aoki:I would like to spread the appeal of Ohirune Art to the rest of the world. In particular, Korea, Taiwan, and China have a photography culture similar to that of Japan. We would like to build a service that can be used overseas.
We also believe that it is not only babies that we want to preserve as family memories. We would like to create a service that allows people to easily leave artwork of their pets.
Editorial:All of them seem to be in demand! We have heard a lot about you so far, but in closing, could you tell us what you think of the appeal of Ohirune Art?
Aoki:Raising a child is often a real challenge, especially for parents who are becoming fathers or mothers for the first time. In the midst of all this, hirune art can create an extraordinary and unusual time to interact with your child. When you look back on it when you are tired, it can help reduce the stress of childcare and make you think, "I will do my best for my sweet child! I believe that it is something that gives me strength.
Editorial:Thank you. I hope many people will be able to enjoy Ohirune Art as a tool to create special moments with their families! Thank you very much for your wonderful talk today!
After the interview
For first-time parents, childcare can be especially burdensome. While it can be rewarding, it can also seem daunting, but after hearing about CollageSquare, which expands the range of ways to enjoy the art of hinnyaku, I feel that it is a service that adds a little extra dimension and spice to child-rearing. When you see a picture of your child looking so cute against a beautiful background, you may think, "I knew it was cute," or "It's important to take a good rest," and look at your busy life from a slightly detached and objective perspective. The fact that it can be used for various purposes such as New Year's cards and smartphone standby screens is also attractive. Please give this wonderful service a try!
CollageSquare Official Website
https://ohiruneart.collagesquare.jp/
(ENDS)
Interviewing and writing:Misako Tateoka
From an IT company, she switched careers to the editing and publishing industry. Currently, I work as a freelance editor and writer, editing and writing in a wide range of fields such as travel, gourmet, and social.
What is important is "to convey valuable information to readers in an interesting and easy-to-understand manner.
He has been involved in the production of numerous magazines, including TRANSIT, FRaU, and Metro Minute.
BabyTech is always stimulated by all the services and products that I wish I had when I was a child! I am always inspired by the things I encounter at BabyTech. My hobbies are traveling, cooking, and aikido.
