Tasos creates startling realistic AI-generated images, and they've earned him professional accolades — not to mention the title "Recraft guy of Greece."
There's something extra savory about creative breakthroughs that appear from serendipity.
For Anastasios Papanagiotou (Tasos), it started with Greece's economic collapse in 2013. After 15 years building a solid reputation in graphic design, complete with degrees from the UK and a master's in visual communication, Tasos faced a choice that many creatives dread: pivot or perish.
The economic crisis forced him to transition from design to copywriting, a move that felt like starting over. Little did he know this professional detour would put him in the pole position of the next creative revolution.
Tasos is known for creating hyper-photorealistic AI-generated imagery that consistently fools the eye — using Recraft. His works depict human characters engaged in common everyday life scenarios, often with a dash of peculiarity.
The goal, he emphasizes, is always realism. "People shouldn't notice the AI; they should focus on the story."
Tasos's process is vigorous: uploading multiple reference images to Recraft, then carefully orchestrating details with expertly-crafted prompts. His hybrid background as designer and copywriter becomes crucial here. Visual training gives him an eye for compelling imagery, while copywriting savvy provides the language precision required to communicate complex visual concepts to AI.
"It's not just writing two words in a prompt and pressing a button," he explains. "You have to understand composition, lighting, style, and more.”
Success in a small market like Greece has its rewards: Tasos has earned the local title of "the Recraft guy in Greece," and this recognition has opened doors.
His work for a major cement brand featuring fictional construction professionals was so convincing that what began as print ads evolved into a full commercial campaign built around his AI-generated visuals.
Other agencies now approach his firm specifically for AI photography work, creating new revenue streams. His expertise has become valuable currency, with competing agencies seeking his knowledge while his own agency benefits from the competitive advantage.
"Greek people don't know anything about it," he says. "Many creatives from other agencies are asking about the tools that people like me are using. They actually approach us even if we're competitors."
Despite his deep involvement with AI tools, Anastasios remains adamant about the human element in creative work. "AI is just a tool that we must adopt and embrace," he says. "It democratizes art creation, empowering more people to produce meaningful, impactful visuals."
His take on AI skepticism is measured yet firm. "You can't just close your eyes and hope AI goes away. Every technology shift faced resistance: photography, graphic design, digital art. Now, it's AI's turn."
This view comes from practical experience rather than abstract theorizing. Working daily with Recraft has shown Tasos the possibilities and limitations of AI-generated content. The tool expands human creativity rather than replacing it, and even more so when handled by someone who can balance both technology and artistry.
Currently, Tasos is expanding into AI-generated video by learning cinematography and video prompting techniques.
"I'm learning about dolly shots, crane shots — things I never thought I'd need. It's thrilling," he admits.
Tasos's journey is very much about the uncertain path of creative adaptation, where skills that once seemed disparate — graphic design, copywriting, and now AI prompting — have converged into a unique professional identity. And what appeared to be career a blocker was actually prepping Tasos for a role that didn't exist when he started.
For other designers curious about AI tools, Tasos’s advice is clear and direct:
"Dive in. Experiment. Learn. Recraft changed my approach to creativity entirely, opening possibilities I never imagined."
View more creations from Tasos on his portfolio and Instagram.
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