Update. Here's an even better lecture about loops (and visualization!) by Lena V. Groeger, "That's the Power of Loops" (at YouTube) or "On Repeat: How to Use Loops to Explain Anything" (at ProPublica or archived in this zip).
A Consideration of Graphical Nuance
How many ways can you think of to convert a circle to a triangle?
In this Circles to Triangles project, I demonstrate 14 methods that I could think of.
The point of this demonstration is to sensitize you to details of computational craft.
Creative coding basics and tricks
Let's dig in to some specifics of creative graphics programming.
- The transformation matrix; pushMatrix(), popMatrix(), scale, translate, etc.
- random() vs. Perlin noise(). p5's randomGaussian(). Random seeds.
- The modulus operator; map(), constrain()
- Simple sinusoids; circular motion. Lissajous figures!
- Here's a demonstration of looping noise (Processing) (p5.js)
- Shaping functions (also called easing functions, tweens, and unit generators) can be used to create nonlinear movement:
If you'd like more information, here are some Coding Train videos that might be helpful for you:
- Perlin Noise in p5.js
- The modulo operator (featuring the Professor...)
- push/pop in p5.js
- the map() function in p5.js
A Praxinoscope / Zoetrope Activity
Students will use an inexpensive Praxinoscope or a Zoetrope as part of Deliverables #2. We will start our in-class activity:
- Praxinoscope Processing template • Praxinoscope p5.js template
- Zoetrope Processing template • Zoetrope p5.js template
We looked at: