Parametricism is a big thing nowadays in design. It is based on the idea of gradual change of size/rotation/shape in a string/grid of similar objects.
I would like to propose a set of 4 tools to create beautiful parametric structures with ease. Implementation should be relatively easy as most components of what I propose are already present in Inkscape, however their different configuration can give huge new possibilities.
Let's assume we want to have a swarm of objects which gradually change size/rotation/shape. Objects in that swarm are irregular (e.g. voronoi cells) or they are placed along curves. We cannot generate such swarm with trace function of clone tool. We may use Tweak tool to achieve gradual change. But it is a freehand tool, it has no precision. If we want to produce professional, high quality designs we will not draw for example freehand rectangles or ellipses, we need precision so we will use rectangle or ellipse tool. Same here. These proposed tools will not only be precise but adjustable in real time, they will give new possibilities.
Tool 1 - Parametric Size
How will it work: We got a swarm of objects. Draw and blur large object and place it under our swarm. Select swarm and an object. Apply effect/tool. Now objects in the swarm adjust their size according to opacity of underlying object. It is controllable in real time with two factors: 1 position of the nodes of underlying object, in other words shape of the object, 2 blur of the underlying object.
This tool will allow to create precise designs of this kind with ease:
It will also be easy to draw any kind of grid (regular or irregular), place it on top of some background, background minus grid = lots of small shapes which size can be precisely adjusted to produce patterns of this kind, and even far more complex ones:
Tool 2 - Parametric Rotation
How will it work: The same principle of operation as above, just picks rotation instead of size from opacity. 100% opacity - no rotation, 0% opacity - 360 degrees rotation (optional 180/90 degrees). Everything in between adjusted proportionally.
Tool 3 - Parametric Shape (Planar Interpolation)
We got linear interpolation (1 dimensional) in Inkscape. This tool will be a planar interpolation (2 dimensional).
How will it work: We got a swarm of uniform objects. Let's call them original objects. Draw a large object, blur it and place it underneath the swarm. Copy one object from the swarm. Modify it and place it somewhere aside. Select a swarm. Activate the Parametric Shape Tool. Select the modified object. Now objects in the swarm are transformed according to opcity of underlying object; 100% opacity - originals, 0% opacity -modified object. 100 interpolation steps should be enough for this tool, so each % of opacity will correspond to subsequent interpolation step between originals and modified object. As two previous tools, it is controllable in real time with two factors: 1 position of the nodes of underlying object, in other words shape of the object, 2 blur of the underlying object.
This tool will allow to produce patterns of this kind with ease:
Tool 4 - Randomly Disappearing Pattern.
We got a swarm of objects, which has uniform density (on every square inch there is more or less eual amount of objects). We want the artwork to fade into non existence, so that there will be gradually decreasing density in some direction(s).
How will it work: Draw large object, blur it and place underneath the swarm. Select everything, activate Randomly Disappearnig Pattern Tool. Tool semi-randomly deletes objects from the swarm, the lower the opacity of underlying object, the more objects are deleted in that area. But within for example the area of 40% opacity, random objects are deleted. Area of opacity 100% - no objects are deleted. Area of 0% opacity - all objects are deleted, area of 50% opacity - 50% of objects are deleted, and everything in between proportionally.
This tool will be able to generate patterns like these:
These tools were inspired by attractors from Grasshopper:
Mastering all four of these tools may result in easy creation of beautiful patternns like these:
Beyond the Basics Parametric tools request
Inkscape.org
Parametricism is a big thing nowadays in design. It is based on the idea of gradual change of size/rotation/shape in a string/grid of similar objects.
I would like to propose a set of 4 tools to create beautiful parametric structures with ease. Implementation should be relatively easy as most components of what I propose are already present in Inkscape, however their different configuration can give huge new possibilities.
Let's assume we want to have a swarm of objects which gradually change size/rotation/shape.
Objects in that swarm are irregular (e.g. voronoi cells) or they are placed along curves.
We cannot generate such swarm with trace function of clone tool.
We may use Tweak tool to achieve gradual change.
But it is a freehand tool, it has no precision. If we want to produce professional, high quality designs we will not draw for example freehand rectangles or ellipses, we need precision so we will use rectangle or ellipse tool.
Same here. These proposed tools will not only be precise but adjustable in real time, they will give new possibilities.
Tool 1 - Parametric Size
How will it work:
We got a swarm of objects. Draw and blur large object and place it under our swarm.
Select swarm and an object. Apply effect/tool. Now objects in the swarm adjust their size according to opacity of
underlying object.
It is controllable in real time with two factors:
1 position of the nodes of underlying object, in other words shape of the object,
2 blur of the underlying object.
This tool will allow to create precise designs of this kind with ease:
It will also be easy to draw any kind of grid (regular or irregular), place it on top of some background, background minus grid = lots of small shapes which size can be precisely adjusted to produce patterns of this kind, and even far more complex ones:
Tool 2 - Parametric Rotation
How will it work:
The same principle of operation as above, just picks rotation instead of size from opacity.
100% opacity - no rotation, 0% opacity - 360 degrees rotation (optional 180/90 degrees). Everything in between adjusted proportionally.
Tool 3 - Parametric Shape (Planar Interpolation)
We got linear interpolation (1 dimensional) in Inkscape. This tool will be a planar interpolation (2 dimensional).
How will it work:
We got a swarm of uniform objects. Let's call them original objects. Draw a large object, blur it and place it underneath the swarm. Copy one object from the swarm. Modify it and place it somewhere aside.
Select a swarm. Activate the Parametric Shape Tool. Select the modified object.
Now objects in the swarm are transformed according to opcity of underlying object; 100% opacity - originals, 0% opacity -modified object.
100 interpolation steps should be enough for this tool, so each % of opacity will correspond to subsequent interpolation step between originals and modified object.
As two previous tools, it is controllable in real time with two factors:
1 position of the nodes of underlying object, in other words shape of the object,
2 blur of the underlying object.
This tool will allow to produce patterns of this kind with ease:
Tool 4 - Randomly Disappearing Pattern.
We got a swarm of objects, which has uniform density (on every square inch there is more or less eual amount of objects).
We want the artwork to fade into non existence, so that there will be gradually decreasing density in some direction(s).
How will it work:
Draw large object, blur it and place underneath the swarm. Select everything, activate Randomly Disappearnig Pattern Tool.
Tool semi-randomly deletes objects from the swarm, the lower the opacity of underlying object, the more objects are deleted in that area. But within for example the area of 40% opacity, random objects are deleted.
Area of opacity 100% - no objects are deleted. Area of 0% opacity - all objects are deleted, area of 50% opacity - 50% of objects are deleted, and everything in between proportionally.
This tool will be able to generate patterns like these:
These tools were inspired by attractors from Grasshopper:
Mastering all four of these tools may result in easy creation of beautiful patternns like these:
Maybe you have seen this: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Tiles-Trace.html
@Tyler Durden thanks for your reply but please read my post carefully, I wrote about the fuction you linked.
TL;DR