Processing 1.0 - Processing Discourse - Generating Procedural Geometry

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Index › Programming Questions & Help › Sound, Music Libraries › Generating Procedural Geometry

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Generating Procedural Geometry (Read 1350 times)

Alterscape

Generating Procedural Geometry
Oct 3^rd, 2005, 12:31am

Okay, here's a big one:

I need to come up with (or find and implement) an algorithm to generate interesting, complex shapes based on a few parameters passed to Processing from Eyesweb. I don't know what, yet -- I want to aim high, but not unattainably high.. my current aesthetic inspirations include a Newton's Cradle and sculptures by Lee Bontecou, like the one shown at http://www.moma.org/press/bontecou/plate_168.html . I love the interesting shapes and kind of ephemeral framework..

I know that's a very vague outline, but what I'm looking for are references I can look at, useful search terms for Google, etc. Does anyone have any idea where I could even start looking for information on how to start building these sorts of algorithms?

I'm sorry for the ridiculously complex, ambitious question, but any pointers to resources would be enormously appreciated.

Cheers,
Ryan Spicer

mflux

Re: Generating Procedural Geometry
Reply #1 - Oct 3^rd, 2005, 7:56am

To give you at least a reference...

During Casey's class at UCLA we did an assignment where we built procedural forms in Processing. The assignment was "parameterized form". Here was my solution:

http://classes.design.ucla.edu/Spring05/152BC/projects/chang/form.htm

It uses some basic node/lsystem logic but produced geometry in three dimensions instead. The finished geometry was then output to an obj file, imported into maya, and rendered.

Other projects under the same assignment:
http://classes.design.ucla.edu/Spring05/152BC/projects/houck/02.html
http://classes.design.ucla.edu/Spring05/152BC/projects/lonergan/?id=2
http://classes.design.ucla.edu/Spring05/152BC/projects/saito/ex2/index.htm

Enjoy and good luck!

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Alterscape

Re: Generating Procedural Geometry
Reply #2 - Oct 4^th, 2005, 3:53am

Wow, I just read about your project on Processing Blogs this afternoon. I feel sort of like I'm talking to a celebrity. Thanks much for chiming in with the link, though.

I met with my advisor today, and he suggested that we use the parameters to modify existing geometry (or scrub through existing animation data) rather than generating stuff entirely from scratch. I think this will be a faster, simpler way to similar results, for what I'm doing.. I'll post more details of my implentation once I think it through.

Cheers,
Ryan

mflux

Re: Generating Procedural Geometry
Reply #3 - Oct 5^th, 2005, 4:35am

Hey Ryan
No celebrity. It just sort of blew up behind my back ever since Casey put my project on front page...

Yes. Modifying existing geometry might be a great idea.

Here's some suggestions though.

Get a working OBJ or DXF import code in so you can import and render models into processing.

ALSO get a working OBJ or DXF export code so you can export to a good renderer for final images.

As you import models, you can do all sorts of fancy things to them like duplicate them, overlap them, scale them, rotate them in series... etc.

Have fun!

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movax Full Member Offline Posts: 172 Colorado	Re: Generating Procedural Geometry Reply #4 - Oct 2^nd, 2006, 8:08pm Yeah! Cool stuff. Let's see more! I'm working on 3D object particle systems based on audio and midi control. http://www.spacefillingcurve.net/programming/processing/equinox/
	Flickr Stream of mostly Processing work:&&http://www.flickr.com/photos/87132003@N00/&&

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