ArKaos VJ 3.0: Using the ASCII Art Effect
ArKaos VJ 3.0.1 includes a remarkable new effect-ASCII Art-that enables you to transform your visual into an array of tiny squares, as seen in the example below. This article explains the principle behind the effect, and teaches you how to customize it to your personal visual performance aesthetic.
Principle:
The effect replaces the original visual with small squares from
a database bitmap. First, the algorithm cuts the original picture
into hundreds or even thousands of individual squares. It then computes
the average luminance and hue of the pixels inside each individual
square. Then it replaces each square with the one from the database
that most closely approximates the original in luminance and hue.
Original Visual:
Database Bitmap, 10 x 3 Squares:
The algorithm allows you to choose whether or not you want to use hue values. If you do not choose a hue value, the effect selects the square from the database that has the closest luminosity. The result in this case is the following:
Effect Parameters:
Effect parameters such as source database, square size, and hue can be set from within the ASCII Art Control Panel, depicted below. Feel free to experiment with these parameters until you achieve your desired effect.
Customizing the ASCII Art Effect
Instead of using the preset database of squares, you can elect to use your own source visual by following the steps detailed below:
1. Place the picture you want to use as your database on a key that is mapped to the ASCII Art Effect.
2. Choose "User Bitmap" as your input.
3.
Set the number of horizontal/vertical squares of your picture.
For example, you can elect to use a picture like this as your database. It contains ten horizontal squares and one vertical.
When you apply this database to the image used in previous examples, it yields the following visual:
Since the source database was not specifically adapted to the processed movie, only four of the ten source squares appear in the resulting image. When you create a custom bitmap, check that the average hue (if you choose to use it) and the luminance of the squares fill the entire value range, or that the range is adapted to the processed visual.
For example, consider the following preset squares database ("Squares"). It contains an almost black square, another that is almost white, and eight more that represent evenly spaced increments between the two. Such a database might yield a more dynamic visual.
Have fun with this effect, and don't forget to exchange your links and ideas on the ArKaos forum: http://forum.arkaos.net .
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