since...

i don't have the time to export and put on my site every experiment i've made since tinkering around with processing, instead here is a list of the bits i've played with, not working from tutorials but instead trying to add on little bits of code where i can, and seeing what i can get to work.

the bits that refuse to work are highlighted as i need to remember i need to tackle them.


blossom_test_001 - importing SVG, and using a varialbe to determine how many flowers appear.

blossom_test_002 - spreading the flowers across the screen, playing with variables and using delay for the first time.

blossom_test_003 - attempt no.1 to import more than one SVG, and another attempt to control frame rate. now refreshes with mouse click.

blossom_test_004 - attempt to keep piece animated until mouse clicked. left mouse button stops animation, right restarts it.

blossom_test_005 - attempt to control which flowers appear using keyboard - doesn't work. - FIXED

blossom_test_006 - attempt number two to get the keyboard script working. brings up blue flower when 'b' key is pressed.

blossom_test_007 - attempt number three with the keyboard script. trying to get the purple flower to work aswell.

blossom_test_008 - attempt to make a flower appear where ever the mouse does.

blossom_test_009 - attempt to make a bunch of pretty little flowers chase the mouse.

blossom_test_010 - trying to change the number of flowers that appear depending on which key is pressed.

blossom_test_011 - trying to make the background change colour with the increasing number of flowers.

blossom_test_012 - seeing how easy it is to implement noise function. it's pap. not sure how to get it working.

blossom_test_013 - seeing how easy it is to implement noiseSeed function. it's pap. not sure how to get it working.

blossom_test_014 - using translate to change placement of SVG.

blossom_test_015 - using the translate and random functions together.

blossom_test_016 - testing out the pushMatrix and popMatrix commands, to control what is affected by the translate function. seems to work ok with the blue flower, but appears to affect the variable controlling the purple flower.

blossom_test_017 - trying out the pushMatirx and popMatrix commands with using variables in the code. trying to see how it works.

blossom_test_018 - trying out the pushMatirx and popMatrix commands with using variables in the code. trying to see how it works. it seems with a pushMatrix and popMatrix around the blue flower, it cancels out the variable on the purple flower, even though it should mean that the code for the blue flower should have no affect on the purple flower.

blossom_test_019 - first attempt with fancy rotate script.


although i've spent all this time tinkering away, and i feel like i'm getting my head round it, there are parts where i don't understand why it isn't working, it just doesn't behave in the way i expect it to. i think most of this will work itself out over time, but with only 18 days till the deadline there isn't much left.

i can see the bits that i need to use to make what i want to make, and i'm pretty sure i know how to put them together, but then something unexpectedly doesn't work and fudges everything up! i'm getting very frustrated with it.

i don't think i'm going to bother trying to get the noise function to work at this stage. it might produce some interesting results but i think i'll be able to create something i like if i can get the rotate, translate and random scripts working how i want them to.

my main focus over the next couple of days is going to be coming up with some hand drawn visuals using nice things like ink and brushes and pencils. i've tinkered in illustrator but there's no real spark there at the moment, and while the code definately needs work, if i don't work on the visuals as well it will end up looking pap anyway!

stress stress stress stress.

SVG in processing

since i love the look of Joshua Davis' work so much, i've been pointed in the direction of importing SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics or illustrator files to those slightly less geeky peeps). which will hopefully mean that i'll be able to create some elements in illustrator, and then import them into processing to create random pretty imagery.

my searching has found this little import script, which allows you to import SVG's made of paths. fancy things like fills and ellipses don't work at the moment. the script was used to create the elements that make up the creatures in this little program called manifest.

and now, i must faff with it.

filming and mock ups and that

finally, he was ready.

look at him in all his glory!

we then went out filming. we now have lots of hilarious footage of elf playing as sun boy, being ignored and embraced by the people of hyde park.
we thought he would mostly be ignored, but people seemed to warm to him... a bit too much. so we had to deploy a "please ignore, thanks!!!" sign. here he is wanting to go on the bus.


and here is the mostly-final-i-can't-see-much-wrong-with-it mock up of what the site is going to look like.
i'm getting used to illustrator now, methinks.


and here is his myspace page:
solarboy LOVES YOU!

final-ish ideas and mock up

sketchlings:

scribble scribble scribble.
thinking more in a simple vector-ish style, with a better idea of where i want to put things.

and here's the mock up:

one has been spending quite some time pratting about in illustrator, but needs to learn to tidy up her pen-age.
it's quite twitterish.

my clicking arm hurts

because i have been animating in a hardcore manner all day.
and i still have three segments of the ident left to do: arthurs bit, the chucklevision bit, and the ending bit. the rest of it needs a bit of tweaking here and there but otherwise it's pretty much how i wanted it.
but sometimes the anchor point disobeyed me.
damn you anchor point, not animating properly.

i'll treat you to some stills:






i'm going to be sick of seeing rainbows after this.
the other bits i'm behind on are the typography and logo, and the sound design, which i have no idea what to do with as it scares me but i'm starting to think j-pop might be the way forward. something fast paced and squeaky.

on the typography bit i've been looking at the katamari logos (nicked the rainbow idea from them, might aswell see what else i can take inspiration from)...
katamari damasheeeeeeeee

^ new shiny logo for new shiny game

^ sans serif-y goodness

^ favourite! i like the use of colours in the logo, which don't get mixed up with those in the background thanks to the clever use of whiteness.

the current cbbc logo uses a similar trick:

the text is surrounded by the channels trademark snotty green colour, to distinguish it from any backgrounds it's placed on.

i want to make a hybrid of the last katamari logo and the cbbc logo, so maybe using different fonts for each letter or drawing it all from scratch.

i also want the name of the program illustrated to pop up in the ident with it's graphics. i think it will be best to use a sans serif font as it's going to be on screen, probably in black to distinguish it from the rainbows. i'm just looking for one that doesn't feel to adult... i've found that making it bold helps a bit...