Computer art and creative tool making

Abstract

A digital paint package has been developed which places attention on the design of personal "brush " patterns. The user generates an image by iterating these pattern modules on the raster display. During the application of a pattern, it can grow, shrink, and change in opacity level under the user's control. This method of digitally creating images was developed in light of the problem of representing visual characteristics effectively while "painting" with a computer graphics system . Allowing the user to design personal brush patterns, which can be stored in a library of patterns, and to make marks by repeating them, expands the potential visual qualities of the image as demonstrated by sample images included in this thesis. Software functions are provided for creating and editing patterns through a menu of selections. These functions treat individual shapes and colors in a pattern as separate entities that can be manipulated. Shapes can be manipulated individually, or as a selected group. The manipulation functions include the following: move, copy, scale, and delete. Software functions are also provided for the editing of color components. One method allows a color's red, green, and blue components to be adjusted. And the other allows its hue, lightness, and saturation levels to be adjusted.