Transformation

Technically, transform means to 'change markedly the appearance or form of'. In the case of Processing, you must create a code that allows a change in appearance and form. After browsing sketches on OpenProcessing, I was able to gauge which transformations I preferred, and selected a few of them to look at more closely.

Although this animation is not interactive, I find the colours and shapes pleasing to look at. The build-up of the design is very watchable, as it slowly becomes a 3D optical illusion through a well made, attractive process. The transformation from beginning to end is clear.




What I appreciate about this design is the difference between the starting shape and the end design. The sketch begins as a grey, unassuming rectangle and transforms into a hexagonal pattern. The design you are left with after you have moved the mouse is quite reminiscent of some wallpapers made for the last project...

Both programmes demonstrate what I think of as transformation. Although the first one is not interactive, the empty space of the screen becomes filled with small triangles. The second one transforms the shape within the space. To me, transformation means to alter both fields; the space and the shape.


I haven't yet analysed the codes of the design. I have chosen them purely on aesthetics and personal interest. My next task is to figure out what makes these codes function, so that I can start to form my own concepts of transformation.

Project One: Reflection

This project taught me some of the theory behind coding. I was able to see the complexity and simplicity that can be created by lines of code. Initially, this was extremely daunting. After reading through tutorials and attending lectures, I was able to gain some knowledge of variables, loops and various other coding tools.

This first project also enabled me to realise what Processing is best suited to. This is repeating patterns. My final wallpapers employed this to some degree, but I feel I could have taken it to further limits. For example, I could have used random, to achieve more exciting, surprising outcomes. I was also able to note that some mathematical prowess is useful, but not necessary, as I initially thought.

For my next project, I will try to make a more interesting design. I will try to make use of and get to grips with more advanced coding.

Before and After: Final Four

After making my accurate, coloured drawings of potential wallpapers, I created the designs in Processing. This resulted in almost identical replicas of the hand-drawings. Seeing the images on screen allwoed me to see that the colour scheme was not as cohesive as I thought it would be. The colours did not compliment each other in a manner ideal to me. 

Initial Sketches

I deliberated and came to the conclusion that the hues of second design could be transferred onto each panel. The first design also looks quite mismatched to the rest of the set, so I decided to continue the horizontal lines into each of the panels. The interim presentation we gave enabled me to appreciate the value of a matching set, in terms of the shapes, colours and theme of the wallpaper.

Final Four

I made use of variables and  loops in order to align the parallel horizontals. Without this programming knowledge, it would have been much more difficult to be certain of the consistency of the lines. This also allowed me to create separate functions to overlay non-repeating images (darts in the first and squares in the second).

I am pleased with the result. I fulfilled the goals I set for myself, and have a much better understanding of Processing. There are aspects of my design I would improve, however. The cohesiveness of the set is still somewhat unsatisfactory, although I do think the colour scheme is much more akin to my design aesthetic. I feel I now know what I would do to remedy this, if I were proposed the same task.

Four Wallpapers

Inspiration for the four potential patterns arose from music. I admire countless album covers, and decided to use this as visual fodder for my own patterns. The four albums I will be using are:

Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News

TV On The Radio -  Dear Science

Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It In People

MIA - Kala

My drawings based on these images are not dissimilar to the original covers. One of my goals for the week  is to modify the colours so that the change in hues between each wallpaper page is not abrupt. I'd like the links between the four pages to be gradual. I will use parallel horizontal lines as a common element to make the four pages more cohesive as a set.

Second Inspiration

Still on my first set of designs, I was looking to all mediums for new concepts. I recalled Momiji dolls, and their basic yet memorable forms. After reacquainting myself with images of the Momiji figures I attempted to construct my own pattern...

All of my own Processing 1.2.1 designs can be found on my OpenProcessing portfolio: http://www.openprocessing.org/portal/?userID=10137

First Inspiration

A trip to the Te Aro library provided me with some handy wallpaper books for a touch of visual inspiration. I came across many images which I thought could be transformed into a Processing design. Luckily I had my camera with me, and was able to snap a few shots of my favourite wallpapers

One of the last designs I saw looked the most promising, so I converted it into a pattern. The repetition of short lines in the background were arduous to recreate, as I am still unable to loop patterns with ease...

Confronting Coding

My first attempts at creating wallpaper using Processing were bland. Black on grey with lines that had no order, due to my lack of understanding. After I read through tutorials, I was able to add colour and shapes to my designs. This technique resulted in initial designs such as the ones below.

  

I experimented with bezier curves, opacity and pattern repetition. My next task is to employ a slightly increased Processing knowledge to adapt inspiring images into my own designs.