Concept:

Throughout the Assignments, I really feel in love with Assignment 3 where I made this mesmerizing colorful display. Even as developing that production, I saw that there is more to be made and even playing around with some of the variables, inspired me to make it the core focus of my midterm project. I think if time allows, I really want to create a magnificient interactive display, on that will be close with the viewer of this.

The main concept is customization of the colored canvas. I plan to add options so that the user can interact with key things of the project, such as sliders for the direction of the balls on screen (both in the X and Y direction). There will also be an option for the user to change around the RGB colors in order to get the desired color they wish. But the main thing I want to incorporate is the text from Assignment 4 and it would be surrounded by the colorful balls. Also I could see the user having so the mouse interrupts the flow of the balls, similar to how the mouse interrupts the text in Assignment 4.

Design

The design process is mainly extending and adding more features to the colorful concoction project. Firstly, there’s going to be an intro screen, which the user will be guided into what exactly the project is, and give them an overview of what’s to come. There will also be instructions for what the user could do to interact further with the project.

Then, when the user is ready, it will switch to the generative artwork. There is going to be sliders or probably text boxes, where the user will add a value and it will change something from the artwork. This includes range of color, the direction and speed of the balls, and a text box so the text can be displayed on screen. Finally there will be a button so that the user can take a picture of their final artwork.

Challenging Aspects:

I think the biggest challenge is mainly implementing the text and getting it to be a blockade for the balls so that it surrounds them. In a sense, the balls need to recognise the letters as a wall, so not only do the balls surround it, but also bounce off if they change. It’ll be a case of playing aronud with direction vectors.

Another challenging aspect is making the sliders, as I do not have any experience with making sliders so that they can dynamically change different parts of the artwork.

Mitigating Risk:

In terms of implementing the text, I plan to experiment with the text and seeing how it will affected by other objects. As a starting place, I could take the code which I used to make it so the balls do not go outside of the walls, and try to implement it for the letters. Then from there, I can manipulate the variables in order to get the desired effect I want.

For the sliders, I will read up upon how they’re implemented. Most likely our friends at the Coding Train, have made a video about how to use sliders so they will be a great starting ground. From there, I can extended them so the sliders can manipulate the variables of say, the color or direction of the balls.