Repeatless

0020

2011-03-19T21:41:00.003Z

Title: Patterandom Worn Stripe 002j (left) and Patterandom Worn Spot 002b (right)

Size: (each approx.) 128cm x 128cm

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop, digitally printed onto cotton poplin

A couple of photos from the exhibition in the Xuzhou Museum of Art, China, taken in May 2010 showing the digital fabric prints of the designs Patterandom Worn Stripe 002j (left) and Patterandom Worn Spot 002b (right) - thanks to Tongyu Zhou for the photos.

0019

2010-11-05T23:13:00.001Z

Title: Patterandom Stripe Spot Mix 001

Size: 8200px x 8200px

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop

A more considered version of the experiment initially run in the previous post.This time, there's a new bit of code that mixes Photoshop Actions. In turn, these run other modular bits of code for the Spot and Stripe Patterandom scripts. The code stopped every 20 new Layers (10 stripes, 10 spots) and I altered the boundaries within which the patterns could be randomly scaled. This was done sequentially at first and then in response to how the design looked in order to try and get a balance between large and small scale pattern. As with the previous post, this means a result that is not truly generative. I'd like to look at how decisions about when to stop or alter things are made in more detail as this project unfolds. I have a vague idea for a manifesto of some sort that says the final designs have to look good. However interesting the code is that creates them, it's not interesting enough if the results aren't beautiful.
I've animated how the image was created, based around 16 points at which the code stopped running and I decided whether to continue or not. Nearly stopped where this starts...

0018

2010-11-03T20:56:00.001Z

Title: Patterandom Worn Spot 003d

Size: 8200px x 8200px

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop

A quick experiment at mixing the Spot and Stripe Patterandom scripts. The image started off completely generatively, with about 200 runs of the Spot code. Ten runs of the Stripe and Spot code were then alternated, with a bit of tweaking of the pattern sizes on the way, reacting visually to what was there before (which I guess makes it not technically generative).
I'm quite intrigued by the colour palette that emerges with this algorithm. In theory, it should be completely random within the RGB colour space, but it seems to favour a kind of green and purple mix (seen full size, this isn't quite so obvious). A future angle will be to favour certain colours, palettes or atmospheres.

0017

2010-08-23T22:03:00.001+01:00

Title: Patterandom Clean Stripe 01

Size: 8200px x 8200px (original)

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop; images animated in, er, Windows Movie Maker

An animated sequence of images generated using the "Patterandom Clean Stripe" algorithm. This was an earlier version of the code used in posts 0013, 0014 and 0015. I had a few problems with the code crashing and thought that the movie frame bit might be the problem, so I took it out. It turned out that wasn't the problem, but the code ran much faster without it, so I decided not to have animated versions.

0016

2010-07-15T22:15:00.000+01:00

Title: Patterandom Worn Spot 002b

Size: 8200px x 8200px (printed at 150 dpi - 128cm x 128cm)

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop

This is the second image used for the "Copying" show in China (with Patterandom Worn Stripe 002j), printed and exhibited in the same way. Although the code loop was run about 1500 times, the one that worked best was a relatively early version - about 200 in.

I'm planning on using Actions less with future algorithms. Although it gives quicker results, it makes running the code much more fiddly on other computers (you have to load the Actions and then run the code). The Patterandom loop also required a Pattern Fill (the basic spot or stripe that was then randomly moved, coloured and so on), which also had to be loaded prior to running the Script. With this sort of design, I'd like the whole thing to be generated by the Javascript in future (or other code).

0015

2010-07-15T21:58:00.001+01:00

Title: Patterandom Worn Stripe 002j

Size: 8200px x 8200px (printed at 150 dpi - 128cm x 128cm)

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop

This is one of the two final images used for the "Copying" show in China (with Patterandom Worn Spot 002b). It was digitally printed onto cotton poplin and then stretched over a frame for exhibition. As well as playing about with the transparency of the layers, the elements also have a random texture (bit tricky to spot at this size...). This is a run of about a thousand loops of the code (stopping every 100 or so until I liked the look of the image).

0014

2010-04-01T17:50:00.002+01:00

Title: Patterandom Worn Stripe 002c
Size: 8200px x 8200px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
A different run of the same code as in the previous programme. On an image this scale, it takes about 20 minutes to loop the script and action mix 50 times (or 2 hours on my crummy work laptop). As mentioned in post 0012, another version of this design will be digitally printed onto fabric for a show in the Xuzhou Museum of Art, China. Each one of the designs going into the show had 10 runs of the 50 loop script, so are made up of 500 layers of random pattern.

0013

2010-04-01T17:45:00.002+01:00

Title: Patterandom Worn Stripe 001c

Size: 8200px x 8200px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
A different version of the Patterandom algorithm; this one uses the stripe as the base element. I spent some time tweaking the different setting to get the balance right with the random elements - at some point it would be good to have some kind of user interface at the start of the script that made this easy to tinker with.

0012

2010-04-01T17:37:00.005+01:00

Title: Patterandom Worn Spot 002a
Size: 8200px x 8200px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
This is the image in the previous post after the Patterandom script has looped over it 50 times. A later version of the same design will be featured in an exhibition in the Xuzhou Museum of Art, China, along with a version of the Patterandom Worn Stripe algorithm.

0011

2010-03-19T16:22:00.005Z

Title: Patterandom Worn Spot 002
Size: 8200px x 8200px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
Patterandom is a new family of algorithms that use very basic textile design motifs to create complex, non-repeating designs. This is code that runs an Action. The steps in the Action include both Javascript and standard Photoshop functions. I'm working this way because makes it easier to try things out quickly - the scripts within the action are modular and easy to change; the overarching code contains the looping instructions.

0010

2009-12-23T17:35:00.000Z

Title: Adam 09 12 23 05
Size: 3780px x 3780px detail of 3780px x 15120px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop with subsequent editing by eye
This is the "Adam" code run six times using the same image folder (photos of apple blossom). In each case, the motifs are then merged together and pasted into the same workspace (not as part of the code). To add depth, I've separately and increasingly adjusted the lightness of the six different layers as they go down. A more modular method of coding (the next step) will allow similar effects to be applied (from a menu as part of the code), rather than by tinkering around by hand.

0009

2009-12-23T17:24:00.002Z

Title: Adam 09 12 23 02
Size: 3780px x 3780px detail of 3780px x 15120px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
This is the same "Adam" code as the previous post, but now the motifs are sized to 630px wide prior to pasting in. (630px is one sixth of the image width of 3780px; they can be in one of six positions across the design). Each motif is then randomly scaled, moved and rotated (within set limits).
As it stands, the algorithm satisfies the first task I'd set myself for this project - to create pattern that looks like if could be repeating, but never actually does. the next phase will be to develop a modular system of writing the code (to allow more complex image editing, for example).

0008

2009-12-23T16:47:00.002Z

Title: Adam 09 12 23 01
Size: 3780px x 3780px detail of 3780px x 15120px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
This algorithm, the "Adam", combines the effects of the "Gordon" and "SourceFilesArray" algorithms discussed in posts 0006 and 0007. The code was pointed at a folder of daffodil photos, all previously removed from their backgrounds. From an aethetic point of view, although I like the large scale of the imagery, the next step is to tweak the code to get it smaller and thus evoke the sateen repeat effect.

0007

2009-12-18T16:10:00.005Z

Title: SourceFilesArray Daisy 01
Size: 4000px x 4000px (detail shown)
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
The code written for this image asks the user to pick a folder of images and then randomly pastes, scales and rotates it's contents within the design. Although I do want some of the Repeatless project to feature imagery entirely generated by code, I would also like to work with hand drawn or painted elements (scanned in) and photography. The design here is essentially my attempt to work out a method of using existing imagery. This will now be developed in tandem with the "Gordon" algorithm to move towards the first designs that demonstrate one of the fundamental ideas behind the Repeatless project - all-over pattern that never repeats.

0006

2009-12-18T15:52:00.003Z

Title: Gordon
Size: 1200px x 8000px
Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
This algorithm, the "Gordon", scatters a black square down the length of the design (and by extension, a length of cloth). Based on the idea of the sateen* repeat, the squares can be in one of six random positions across the design. However, they cannot be in the same column as any of the previous three rows. It took me a while to work out how to do this; hurrah for Arrays. The next step is to develop a new algorithm from this that uses more complex imagery.

*The traditional sateen repeat method creates the impression of a random scatter. A grid is drawn and the motif is placed repeatedly within it so that it's never in the same row or column. The grid lines are removed and the whole is put into repeat.

0005

2009-12-18T13:05:00.004Z

Title: Grindrod Movie 003

Size: 4000px x 4000px (original)

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop; images animated in, er, Windows Movie Maker
An animated sequence of images generated using the "Grindrod" algorithm. As each element was added, the image was duplicated; the duplicates were saved and then converted into a movie. Two other versions are available on the Repeatless channel on YouTube.

0004

2009-12-18T12:11:00.003Z

Title: Grindrod 011

Size: 4000px x 4000px

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
A tweaked version of the "Grindrod" algorithm; a random blur is added to each element.

0003

2009-12-18T11:58:00.003Z

Title: Grindrod 009

Size: 4000px x 4000px

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
These first teetering steps into coding were very slow; it's been a long time since I did any programming. After some thought, I opted to begin with Photoshop scripting because I hoped my familiarity with the software would help me to quickly generate images; I chose Javascript because it works across PCs and Macs. I also like the idea of pushing the boundaries of Photoshop - although these can seem non-existant at times, they clearly affect the way images are created and edited. Future work will involve Processing, which I'm learning too.

0002

2009-12-18T11:40:00.001Z

Title: Grindrod 007

Size: 4000px x 4000px

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop
This algorithm, the "Grindrod", selects a circle, square or triangle, makes it solid or linear, fills it with colour and then adjusts its opacity. The process, random within the initial boundary conditions, is then repeated a set number of times.

0001

2009-12-18T11:26:00.003Z

Title: Grindrod 006

Size: 4000px x 4000px

Method: Javascript scripting in Photoshop

About twenty years ago, I did a student project that explored the use of dice throwing to create images. A complex series of throws determined the shape, colour and transparency of a succession of elements. The element was then painted into the workspace by hand; the combination of dice and painting meant the process was very slow. When I started tinkering with the ideas for this project, it seemed like a good idea to create a similar algorithm as a way of learning some coding.