EvolvingInteractiveImages

Repository dedicated to Master's Dissertation in Design and Multimedia at Department of Informatics Engineering, Coimbra.

We have developed a system that generates interactive expression-based imagery, entirely in Processing.
A Genetic Programming engine was created and put to use to create graphics along with shaders in OpenGL Shading Language.
Interactivity is implemented by inputting information into outputs, such as image, sound or assorted data.

Evolve your own imagery using Evolver and use it through Viewer.
Or learn more about the system by following the provided Modules.

This repository holds all the necessary software needed to run the developed system.

Watch the videos

Prerequisites

• Processing 4.2 installed

  • Go to download page;
  • Scroll down to Assets;
  • Download right option for your operating system;
  • Extract downloaded file.

• Processing's Audio and Video Libraries:

  • Go to extracted folder processing-4.2;
  • Open Processing.exe;
  • Go to Tools > Manage Tools;
  • Select Libraries Tab;
  • Search and install "Video Library for Processing 4" by the Processing Foundation;
  • Search and install "Sound" by the Processing Foundation.

Content

Modules

• Description: These modules introduce you to the system and progressively reveal its functionalities.
• Location:

  ├── src
  │   ├── Modules
  
  

Evolver

Evolver is the core of the system. It is where you create your imagery.

Location

• Description: Evolver is the core of the system. It is where you create your imagery.
• Location:

  ├── src
  │   ├── Evolver
  │   │   ├── Evolver.pde
  
  

GUI

Viewer

• Description: Viewer is the program where you can visualize evolved imagery.
• Instructions: Drag the files of type .glsl from folder src > Evolver > outputs into folder src > viewer > data > shaders. If the folder shaders does not exist, create it.
• Location:

  ├── src
  │   ├── Viewer
  │   │   ├── Viewer.pde
  
  

GUI

Known Errors

Windows

• Visual Bugs: These may occur with the latest Processing Version (4.3). Use Processing 4.2 instead.
• Could not run the sketch (Target VM failed to initialize): Change the dedicated graphics card settings. Follow this guide. Apply the highest performance setting on the file java.exe found at processing\processing-4.2-windows-x64\processing-4.2\java\bin\java.exe in your machine.

MacOS

• Could not run the sketch (Target VM failed to initialize): Disabling the camera as input might solve this issue.
• Could not compile shaders: MacOS supports only older OpenGL versions, but shaders created on this system should work.

Examples of static outputs

Contributors

Author:
João Maria Santos

Supervisors:
Tiago Martins
Penousal Machado