As the speed and processing power of computers are increasing at a stellar rate, the thirst and hunger from live visualist to harness that speed is also growing. It wasn’t but a hand of years ago that I was enjoying the simplistic wireframe graphics of the now classic Pong video game. I remember around the same time seeing Disney’s Tron for the first time and being amazed as a child at the computer generated visual effects. Now as “grownup” artist I have a computer that fits in my hands that has exponential more computing power than any of the machines it took to render out the few short CG sequences in the original Tron. Now with software like Quartz Composer, Processing, VVVV, OpenFrameWorks, etc. some of the most visually stunning CG videos can now be created and modified on the fly.

In the past few blog post, I’ve mentioned how QC can be used to generate content. QC is not limited to just making jumpy little lines and circles, or sending synchronizing data over wifi, or acting as a translator from PlayStation controller to MIDI notes. QC also has the potential to effect a live video feed in the same way as it can manipulate a pre-rendered video clips in terms of color/ tint, blurring, distortion, speed, etc in real time. (maybe another Quartz Week?)

 

I feel it is our job as visual artists to embrace and explore new mediums and new technologies to express our ideas. While at the same time refining and honing our skills with the tools we currently have at hand.

 

I also believe that part of being a productive and disciplined artist means knowing when to and (if not more importantly) when not to use a certain technique. I would have to say that a major key to design is in what I choose not to use as much as what I choose to use. The distillation, purification, and simplifying of ideas is what good design is all about. It is what I strive for when tackling any new project.? It’s all about simplicity.

 

I hope my collection of scattered thoughts has opened your eyes to another technique to create and design visual imagery for your next project. It’s been a pleasure to share a glimpse of the journey that some of us in the Orange Thread Media community are currently on. I would encourage you to follow Orange Thread Media on Twitter if you are not already. If you would like to connect and discuss my ramblings in more depth you can find me on Twitter @jmlnorris.

If you have any thoughts, questions or comments, I encourage you to post them… we’ll be checking in over the course of today to try and engage in conversation today! Keep coming back!

 
 

Here are few links to great resources on how to start working with Quartz Composer.

http://www.kineme.net
http://machinesdontcare.wordpress.com
http://www.quartzcompositions.com
http://www.zugakousaku.com
http://v002.info
http://www.memo.tv
http://cybero.co.uk
http://1024d.wordpress.com

Here are some links to apps that let you use the QC files you create. Some are free. Some are not.

VDMX: http://www.vidvox.net
COGE: http://coge.lovqc.hu
Harmony: http://sweeterrhythm.com/
CamTwist: http://allocinit.com/index.php?title=CamTwist
Modul8: http://www.modul8.ch
GrandVJ: http://www.arkaos.net/product/index.php?catid=1&pid=1001&iid=42

 

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Jason Norris is one of the guys at Orange Thread Media who helps come up with cool stuff! He’s always learning a new software and taking on a new challenge. He’s the only member on our team with a Master in lighting (its actually theatrical production design, but close enough). Jason was very involved in the recently released Playback Drive. Jason and his wife Liz have one son and live in Birmingham, AL.

Tags: New Technology & Ideas, Quartz, Teaching // Add Comment »