Images and pictures (continued)
I'm still experimenting with the techniques of what I term meta-painting.
Variations on fractal doodling with aspens in the autumn, showing the effect of plotting density . . .
Before examining our first example below, Picture Aspen6.jpg: Aspens in autumn, let us consider some definitions.
Plotting density * = 5,000. Number of points plotted (for the rightmost aspen tree) ** = 8,679. Number of points plotted (for the total picture, excluding sunset) ** = 65,883.
* Plotting density (chosen by me) in units of points desired per 1,000 x 1,000 twips (1 / 72 ").
** Number of points plotted is calculated by the ConjPic program from the input plotting density and the actual determinants of the transformation matrices of the transforms of the iterated function system or -- roughly speaking -- from the areas of the rectangles in the template.
The following shows what a picture appears like as it is being generated. Points are being plotted, seemingly at random. As the randomness involved is a deterministic one, and as it is being driven by the ifs process, it is better characterized as a process that is chaotic, not random.
Picture Aspen6.jpg: Aspens6 in autumn (96.5 KB) (Start)
Picture Aspen6.jpg: Aspens in autumn (End)
The picture Aspen2.jpg: Aspens2 in autumn to follow should be almost identical to the one (Picture Aspen1.jpg: Aspens1 in autumn) shown on the preceding page, and with the same plotting density, give or take a few thousand.
Plotting density * = 50,000 Number of points plotted (for the rightmost aspen tree) = 75,596 (estimated later).
Number of points plotted (for the total picture, excluding sunset) = 573,890 (estimated later).
Picture Aspen2.jpg: Aspens2 in autumn (133 KB) (Start)
Picture Aspen2.jpg: Aspens2 in autumn (End)
I have tweaked the ifs transforms of the Aspens1 image, to do the following:
(a) lighten up the background and add more color variation for more of a three-dimensional effect and a less harsh contrast with the aspens;
(b) move the central aspen to the right a bit;
(c) enlarge the size and shape of the rightmost aspen; and,
(d) add one rectangle to the bulrushes template in order to break some of them (strong winds, you know!).
Plotting density * = 50,000.
Number of points plotted (for the rightmost aspen tree) ** = 75,596.
Number of points plotted (for the total picture, excluding sunset) = 573,890.
Picture Aspen3.jpg: Aspens3 in autumn (133 KB) (Start)
Picture Aspen3.jpg: Aspens3 in autumn (End)
Plotting density * = 65,000.
Number of points plotted (for the rightmost aspen tree) ** = 97,901.
Number of points plotted (for the total picture, excluding sunset) = 746,057.
Picture Aspen4.jpg: Aspens4 in autumn (128 KB) (Start)
Picture Aspen4.jpg: Aspens4 in autumn (End)
Plotting density * = 80,000.
Number of points plotted (for the rightmost aspen tree) ** = 120,207.
Number of points plotted (for the total picture, excluding sunset) = 911,695.
Picture Aspen5.jpg: Aspens5 in autumn (116 KB) (Start)
Picture Aspen5.jpg: Aspens5 in autumn (End)
Plotting density * = 100,000.
Number of points plotted (for the rightmost aspen tree) ** = 149,948.
Number of points plotted for the background = 782,310.
Number of points plotted for the leftmost tree = 34,687.
Number of points plotted for the centre tree = 47,032.
Number of points plotted for the bulrushes = 125,642.
Number of points plotted (for the total picture, excluding sunset) = 1,139,619.
What is the most satisfying plotting density to choose? It depends upon one's aim, which might range from artistic liberty to photographic realism. In either case, there is a limit beyond which increasing plotting density leads to a washed-out, deteriorating quality of the images. There is also a trade-off between the plotting density appropriate for one kind of image vs another in the same picture -- for instance, a semi-transparent white mist vs a white snowbank. There is also a very important difference in the selection of colors, dependent upon how one color appears on differing colors of background.
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You can e-mail me at waynerp@sympatico.ca
