Processing & Baba Yaga: Part 4

Okay, part four of our Processing saga may seem a little funny, because it's all about using images and text in Processing. This, of course, is the sort of thing that one would normally do in Photoshop. However, we did it in our Processing class because:

1. It was the next chapter in the book Getting Started with Processing
2. Although these sketches are static, it is also possible to make them dynamic and interactive (which we will demonstrate shortly), as well as data-driven (which we also hope to do at a later date)
3. Really, we did it because we could

And there you have it. Anyhow, here's the code for my image/text version of the Baba Yaga hut. I should mention, however, that this code also refers to image and font files that are stored in a data folder with the sketch, but I'm not going to show those here.

And here's the resulting image:

Cute, huh? And, if you want, you can run the code yourself at OpenProcessing.org by clicking here. Enjoy!

Processing & Baba Yaga: Part 3

The third installment in the Baba Yaga series involves interaction. That is, the hut follows the mouse (with some delay built in), it gets taller if the left mouse button is pressed, shorter if the right button is pressed, and, if any key on the keyboard is pressed, there's a special, secret surprise! (Well, not so secret because I'll show it to you below.) I also think it has much cuter graphics. You can try the interactive version at OpenProcessing.org by clicking here. Here's the code:

And here's a still shot of the Nickelodeon-style house:

And the special, secret surprise that you get when you press a key:

Whee!! Fun!!

OpenProcessing.org Makes Life Beautiful

In my lovely class on creating generative art, we're using the fabulous, free software Processing (see processing.org). It's wonderful software but it does have two relatively minor disadvantages: (1) it needs to be installed on your computer; and (2) it's not obvious how to share sketches with the class. Fortunately, several online versions of Processing have been created to solve these problems, such as HasCanvas, Studio Sketchpad, or Processing.js, among others. However, one that is particularly well suited for classroom use, because you can create "virtual classrooms" as well as code online, is OpenProcessing.org:

In fact, our class has its own darn virtual classroom there, creatively entitled "Generative Art (FA 3800), Fall 2011, University of Utah" (and here's the link to it):

Anyhow, we love it because we can post our sketches there and because we can use it even when we're away from our own computers.

[Note: it is also possible to install the desktop version of Processing to a flash drive and run it from there. I do this, also, as it gives me the links to all of the built-in reference files and syntax coloring.]