Transformation Inspiration

I wasn't sure what to do for this transformation project so I started by making a word map:

Through my research on the subject I came up with a couple of good examples of transformation:

1) This transformation of a bird is a really good example of transformation in code. It also could prove really helpful for when I start coding my project. The bird breaks apart and comes back together as the cursor moves across the screen.

2) Another thought that came to my mind when thinking about transformation was movement from one place to another. The first thing that popped into my was Muybridge's running horse experiment. After doing some research on Muybridge I found this animation of a horse running. I also really liked this idea, but I'm not sure how fruitful or interesting it would be if I were to use it in this next project.

3) My next thought was the idea of progression from one thing to the next. The obvious things popped into my head first: seed to flower, tadpole to frog, egg to bird, etc... But as I continued to think about it I thought about the idea of plants ripening and how they change from one color to the next. Or how the patterns of a kaleidoscope change color and position. I found a really cool kaleidoscope sketch in processing which I feel is really well done.

Finally, along the lines of progression, I thought of the idea of an angry mob and how they normally progress from a quiet crowd until provoked and then they start getting angry. I think this idea may serve as the final inspiration for my project!

Transformation Research

In this processing sketch created by Chris Pitt, he uses simple arcs to create this cool looking disk. What I found most interesting about it is that he starts with nothing, but as the arcs continue to layer themselves on top of each other they create something totally new. The disk continues to get more complicated and more defined as the program runs. The best part about this program is that the code isn't that complicated. It seems as though he has two loops running at the same time: one for the white arcs and one for the blue arcs. Each time the loop runs, the arcs rotate slightly until they reach the place the started, and then they continue to rotate. This creates a very interesting transformation from nothing to this cool looking disk.

Notes on "Programming: The Bigger Picture"

Coding is best for:
- Generative animations (animations that change each time they are run)
- Variation, Interaction, Repetition, and Scalability

Languages:
- Flash/Javascript (slick interactive online applications)
- Javascript (simple websites that get information from elsewhere)
- PHP (accessing databases)
- Processing (standalone interactive artwork or installations)
- C++ (programs like Photoshop)

I'm really glad to hear that once you know one programming language you have a good idea of how the rest work. Last year I used a little PHP in the web site I was programming for my Experience Design class, but I didn't understand why PHP was so important. Now, I understand. I was trying to load a data table from a file. PHP was perfect, but it made my web site way more complicated. Hopefully I will leave this class knowing enough that I can create my own .js files for future web sites!

Wallpaper Design Refections

When I sat down to make my final wallpaper designs, I knew I had to make my series more cohesive. I was inspired by nature, so I set out to make a series of wallpaper designs that conveyed nature through geometric shapes. I used earthy colors to help this concept come to life.

My main goal was to code the gradient I had planned in my sketches. My biggest problem, however, was trying to get the gradient to stay. I had to add "stop();" to the end of all my wallpaper designs so the loop would stop and create the terraced gradient you see in my designs. Unfortunately this made my work a lot harder, but without that piece of code, the loop would continue and completely fill in all my shapes. This way the program only runs once and you can see the static image I planned to make.

I was really excited to learn how to overlap shapes in processing. I was surprised to find that the shapes at the bottom of the code lay on top of the shapes placed higher in the code. In addition, I learned how to use variables and write the code so that you can resize it to anything and everything will resize with it.

If I had had more time to work on this project I would have changed some of the compositions so that they flowed better together, and I wish I had learned more about getting loops to work with variables. My original idea had been to create a gradient of colors using variables in the fill setting, but I'm not sure that is possible or the right way to do that.

My goal for the next project is to use loops correctly, and try to make something interactive. I want to keep looking at all the different open processing sketches and try dissecting their code until I fully understand what they say whether or not I can copy their steps.

Wallpaper Design 4

For my 4th and final wallpaper design of the series I was inspired by the bark of a tree. I brought the brown back in to bring the colors of the series full circle.

Wallpaper Design 3

For my third wallpaper design I was inspired by the terraced farmland around New Zealand.

Wallpaper Design 2

For my second wallpaper design, I was inspired by water. I used the blue to not only to convey water, but to continue the series.

Wallpaper Design 1

In my first design, shown below,  I was inspired by the mountains in New Zealand. The mountains are brown like most mountains, and the valley of blue sky splits the two brown triangles.

Processing Practice

While I was working on my wallpaper designs, I was attempting to change the color of a shape and move it down at the same time using a loop. I'm not really sure what I stumbled upon, but I thought it looked cool.

Wallpaper Designs

My goal for this project was to bring together organic images with geometric shapes. I started with the fourth panel. The triangle pattern reminded me of trees. I decided to stick with that theme, and I decided to use earthy colors for the whole set. The first panel was my attempt to represent a flower with diamonds. The second and third panels were my attempt to bring the sun, the life force of all things, into the picture I had created.

 

So What's in the Fridge?

While browsing through the open processing site, I found a sketch that was quite different from all the rest. It is called So What's in the Fridge? and it was created by Anna Reutinger.

What I find most interesting about this sketch is that it seems to be set up as a template (for lack of a better term). What I mean by this is that there are three panels which select random pictures and random text to display each time the mouse is clicked. By looking at the code, I can tell that all the images and fonts are pre-loaded and separated into three categories or strings. Each panel, then, has a list of words and images to load based on the list. I feel this is a really interesting way to use code, and it turned out to be a really fun sketch!

What I couldn't figure out was where the images and fonts were uploaded. I see that they are pre-loaded once the sketch is pulled up, but I see no link or folder structure pointing to where they are on the web or on open processing. In addition, I was having a hard time overlapping shapes in my sketches, and I was wondering how they got their text to flawlessly overlap the images? Is that just a matter of order or is there something I'm missing?

Sketch Based Pattern

This next pattern is based off the sketch we did in class. I laid down the first set of lines, and then I continued to overlap the same pattern in different ways. I changed the color to add a little contrast to the pattern.

The open processing link to this pattern can be found here.

Doodle Inspired Pattern

This next pattern was inspired by a set of doodles I found in my notes from last semester. I wanted to recreate the swirling pattern, but I think I need a little more work on my curves

The open processing link to this pattern can be found here.

My 1st Patterns

Here are the first two patterns I was working on in class today. The first one was my attempt to play with transparency and overlapping shapes. The second one was my more successful attempt to expand on my exploration of transparency, shape, and color.

  

This is the open processing link for the first pattern, and this is the link for the second pattern!