Project 2 - Getting started and music inspiration

Well it's now the start of the second project for "Creative Coding" and I've started off by searching through my Techno music for inspiration. I actually find techno music rather relaxing as it seems to create an image in my head (regardless of lyrics) so to start off, I chose a few songs to share as my first step of finding inspiration towards my storyboard and my final sound to the interaction coded design..

my first music inspiration is the theme music for two characters from a chibi anime series (which I better not name)

I really like the beat this song offers as it's very easy to move to. every time I listen to this song I get the image of almost rolling and jumping (have to forget what the song is from to get a non predigest image though) the layering off all these different beats is also a huge inspiration to how I could do the sound  for my final with the visual interaction.

My next music inspiration is the theme music of Seymour (one of the "bad guys") from Final Fantasy X

The way the tempo is raised with layering of different sounds is very cool and really inspires me with the idea of creating shapes, each with their own sound layering on top of each other as they are added, creating a techno melody.
I also used this tune as part of the same inspiration (as it's also scales and layers of sounds)

This tune is at the start menu of almost every single Final Fantasy game ever but I find the older versions more inspiring as I want to go for a techno sound to keep the overall design linked to its computer creation.

Reflection

After this assignment I have learned that I really need to take the time to learn everything about coding since I still don't understand everything I did with my finals (I just kept referring to the references)

I have decided to practice coding and read the language dictionary in my spare time during this short break between this assignment and the start of the next "transformation" as well as durring the weekends.

I have also been told that I should work on reducing the ammount of text in my blog entries to make it easier for the markers (that's right, I'll try to make it easier for you) but not skip on all the detail needed in explinations. I must admit that this is a re-occuring problem of mine with over-describing all my works and being unable to simplify everything so I really will try.

To end it all off, I would just like to say that I still have a lot to learn in order to get the skills required for this course and not just rely on dumb luck to get results worthy of submission. I will try to improve my skills and myself to match this course and this University.

Final Wallpaper Designs

well, it's the end of the first assignment for Creative Coding and I must say that even though I am still completely hopeless with Processing, I am very proud of my final four designs.

I experimented with contrast and colour to express my "theme" of illusion (seeing a different thing in the picture every time you look) and discovered that fire tones (Red to Yellow) stood out the most and captured you eye from afar (good for having the design on the wall no?) and decided to use those tones along with the ever old winning combo of Black and White.

I used the ideas from some of my drawn concepts (see previous blog)  but mainly used the idea of using curves to create borders for squares and began expanding with Ideas, all the while making sure they weren't too different from each other in order to keep them a set of four.

Now since I still get easily confused with all the coding language my designs are rather simple looking in both code and image, but I actually discovered that simple is very effective and just work with what you've got (you may get a splendid surprise)

the first of my four designs was personally the hardest (and the longest) to do as it meant making a solid blueprint from scratch (but I could use it as a base for the other three so it was good to get it done) after looking through the references and experimenting with different effects with curves I decided to use a "bezier" command and create a solid 8 shape, despite the fact that all the drawing commands are these "bezier's" it was a rather difficult shape to control so I decided to keep it  constant in all four designs to see the different effects I could obtain with different formulas. I used seperate commands to get the colour gradient since I completely frogot how to do the lurp thing so experimenting with different colours was rather anoying, I tried purple and blue tones first and despite how beautifull it looked, I wanted the image to wow the viewer and make them stare at it repeatedly. I also tried multi coloured but the overall design was too busy and rather putrid (pluss it gave me a major headach to both look at and create) In the end I decided to go with the fire tones (not just cause orange is my favourite colour mind you) which made the entire design stand out from the black and almosed forced you to try and decifer what it really was. The final touch was adding a bit of a hidden white line in between each shape to give it a 3-D look when you look at it from a cretain view. It also makes it look rather unique and adds to the changimg image.

The seccond of my four designs was much easire to do since I just used the code from the first and modifyed it from there (it made it easier on me to keep them as a set of four) I experimented with the different limmits I could get with these "bezier" shapes and created a kind of grid of red and black which I faded to allow the illusions continue. I also increased the white and played with the sizes and arangements of all the leftovers which created a kind of cherry shape pattern. It may be a big difference from the first one save from the white stripe over the black, but I keeped the colour constant to keep the bond between the designs.

Now the third design was rather tricky to get as I expanded on the whole grid look while keeping a bit of the illusion look to it. I decided to try more bold shapes to create a grid around the black. Each colour can be seen clearly and the fading on the white has decreased a bit to reveal a shape within the overlay. I wanted to keep using the same colours all the way through. Most of the illusion feel look may be gone but it still keeps that whole image hidden within feel while going more into the grid look.

My last design expanded on my origional concept and used all the red tones as "shadows". the shaping resemples that of some basic 4-sided flower designs while keeping that whole image within an image look. 

 I know that latter on I will be able to do better designs as I get more acustom to this new software and language but for now, I think I did a prety good job for a newbie (not the best ever but I'll take it)

I hope to improve and learn from all my expermients and mistakes 

 P.S - for some reason the PNG files didnt want to load on here so unfortunatly it's just J-peg files for now, I will upload the PNG files once I fix whatever is wrong or just give the files directly.

Concepts for final wallpaper design

Well, to help me understand my own ideas I sketched 5 concepts to try.

My first idea was inspired from the Chinese symbol for balance or "yin-yang" which consists of 3 circles of black and white.

Having two smaller circles partially covered by a larger circle which reverts their colour inside. The sketch is only partically done because I ruled the grid too small and it would have taken me days to finish it completely (plus I didn't have a compass which would have made it look better)

(full layout)

(larger picture of design)

My next concept was inspired by tartan (family tartan)

Since tartan is predominantly square orientated I decided to use A diamond basis. adding in random thickness of lines to keep it a but more busy but still simple (not too complicated since I'll have to make the final with Pattern maker) I've chosen not to colour the concept as I'm not sure of the colour orientation I wish to use.

Next concept was Inspired by pop art using random placing of overlapping squares and rectangles.

I believe using only 3 colours (excluding white) gives it a more dynamic look than using a whole mess of colours. I may decide to change the colours but the idea of only using 3 main block colours in random sequence is a great idea I believe.

The next concept was inspired by common line illusion where you are made to believe the image has 3 dimensional properties and not just a flat image.

I'm not sure yet weather to use a solid Black and white orientation or have a multi colour gradient where each colour fades into the next.

My final concept, which is the most likely one I will use to finalise, was inspired by tiles commonly used in old church ceilings. I always find myself in awe (and with a stiff neck) every time I enter a church, the great detail that is put into each inch of the interior designs always amazes me.

 Each space between the designs creates a square which is a completely random colour. The frame itself is black.

I keep using grids to help with my designs so unfortunately all my ideas are rather plain and restricted but I find it easier to work within boundaries and sometimes find myself bending or even breaking the simple rules I create for myself. Hopefully I will learn to fully break my silly little habits and make my designs all the more awesome in the future. For now though, this is fine.

Small Note: Photos of concepts taken with laptop web cam due to lack of scanner and absence of good camera (so there is a good reason why the photos look real bad)

first attempet on pattern maker

trying to wrap my mind around using numbers to translate patterns rather than draw them myself was at first (and even still) a bit of a head ache, but as I start to get use to this new computer design language it starts to become easier.

my first attempt was nothing short of simple and pathetic, but a good start when experimenting with using colours and stroke weight.

my next attempt was a bit more bolder when compared as it contrasts both two different colours and shape structures (still using different stroke weight)

my last first attempt with experimenting was using layering of shapes to create the illusion of depth (3D shapes) making my overall layout look a bit like green cheese