Anthony Mattox Interaction Design + Digital Art

Initially this script replicated some drawings I have been working on in my sketchbook. Although it’s very meditative to create such drawings I feel the interesting aspect is the form and texture that emerges from the repetition of the simple process. Creating a script to replicate this system allows the work to be detached from a particular composition and focus on these aspects which interest me. It also allows for the image to be animated.

The script is written in Processing. Each circle buds new circles at random angles. The new circles grow until the hit they collide with another. The color of each is a slight variation of it’s parent.

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Geometric fractals can be very visually interesting and aesthetically pleasing and are quite easy to understand and create, even just with pencil and paper. Computers make the process a bit easier though.
Within an object oriented programming environment

The process of creating such a fractal begins with a basic shape. In this illustration a line, but it could be a square, circle, arc, cube, or perhaps a bunny rabbit. Then we have the rule. Each iteration every instance of the initial object is replaced with the rule shape. Here a line is turned into a ‘Y’ and in each subsequent iteration all lines are turned into ‘Y’s as well. You can probably see quite quickly by using different rules geometric fractals can generate all sorts of shapes and textures. More possibilities are opened by adding more complex transformations, changing the scale, color, or any other property, limiting iteration to only certain shapes, adding random factors, and working in 3d environments.

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I created a relatively simple recursive algorithm in Processing which allows me to control any number of parameters of a geometric fractal. The function repeats it self changing parameters for the size and position and then calls another function to render a predefined graphic using the resulting data. Based on a set percentage and a randomized number, the function also recalls itself twice, causing the graphic system to branch.

Adjusting the initial parameter for the first call to the function, those for how each generation is calculated, and the graphic function can produce innumerable different forms and textures. These are a few images I have created using the scripts. Processing also has the ability to export graphics as vector graphics, which can be scaled and used in vector software such as Illustrator. I am working on an application which will allow the parameters to be changed through an interface within the application.

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