Here are some sneak peeks at a project I’m working on in Processing based on IFS (Iterative Function Systems). Those familiar with IFS will instantly recognize the patterns.

Whats special about this project? Aside from it being my first serious piece of code, All the parameters are controlled real time with my midi controller via the promidi library, it renders in OpenGL. It is also currently interacting with music using the sonia library, though poorly. I plan to integrate the p5sunflow renderer into this project so I can do really sexy processing renders using the open source SunFlow engine. Animations and possibly an online applet with little sliders for controls. These initial renders leave a lot to be desired in the 3d realm of things, however I see this project going good places.

Whats cooler than Object Oriented Design? How about creating interactive pieces with cool midi controllers?

I first wanted to post this so other people could easily find a link to the library I am using in my upcoming project which is evolutionary generative but yet sleek vector design and graffitti based interactive piece using my Korg padKontrol … My initial tests with it work great! Heres what me banging on the keys of my midi keyboard looks like… (looks better than it sounds at least) the higher the velocity the more to the right it is and the smaller the circle. Simple but cool stuff coming soon!

Heres where to download the proMidi library

Once its downloaded unzip and put it into your processing/libraries directory  open up an example check your midi controllers and start having fun!

I’ve written previously on how I think the Processing design oriented programming language is the kittens pajamas. Braving the dangers of the Powells Technical bookstore (the greatest place on earth) I broke down recently and bought the book Ive been drooling over. I resisted the calls of detailed mathematical deconstructions of MC Eschers works, a two part book entitled Mathemusica (50 bucks each), and a few pretty amazing fractal related books.

So I read about 130 pages of this in a day and Ive got the general idea. Of course it’s really simple to start; a bunch of functions with ranges of random numbers for size and overlaying a stroked black circle at differing opacities to create depth. This is inspired by both Gustav Klimts amazing colors as well as my curtains.

I spaced out the occurances of the 4 different types of circles by a conditional statement giving each type of circle a probability factor. ie every 15 out of 100 show up; The circles are drawn relative to the mouses position on the screen

So while this looks cool, it didn’t stay interesting for too long, so I decided to change the color up and add a few more features. In the second working of the code the main random circle activity hovers around the mouse coordinates while the random vertical bars are all over the page.

More coming soon! I am so excited I can barely lay in sleep for all the tossing and turning with what ifs and lines of code writing themselves in my head. For those who are asking me “What program” I am using. This is the interface =)

If there ever was a point where one could have too much inspiration, the point where sweetness becomes sickening this has to be it for me. I’ve spent the past couple days researching Processing, Learning processing, and checking out as many process-centric sites as I can find such as…

Complexification.net - This site is one of the gems of the internet as it not only provides something beautiful to random visitors without requiring high level understanding of whats happening, yet for the heavy duty geeks it provides all the source code for each project, the layout is beautiful and well fitted to exploring.

My favorite is the Jackson Pollack color inspired, Piet Mondrian does a City from above generative abstract art piece called substrate. Ive taken a few screen shots of iterations.

Other favorites of mine from the site include Node Garden and Henon Phase

Jared Tarbell is the mind behind most of these creations and I’ve found another what I assume to be, older site, of his Levitated.net with more code and applets including a golden spiral applet, an XML/processing navigation

Ok I am absolutely geeked out on Processing right now. Its an open source design oriented programming language.

Check out Moving Brands - Muon launch first - this is simply incredible! Audio responsive graphics that looks like the audio!

Or perhaps you’de like to draw your dreams? This applet applies a variety of algorithms to images matching your keyword and creates better abstract art than most of your friends in art school.

As mentioned in the previous post Andrew Bells’ Wisteria applet is nice and even looks like something Oliver Vernon would paint.

Short on friends? Draw some

Some More Generative Art

Here is a map of the london underground which when clicked the map reorganizes itself by travel distance.

Im very much looking forward to creating my own and sharing soon. Stay Tuned