processing    june, 2003   j.tarbell

250 x 250 pixels 100 object maximum 500 x 500 pixels 250 object maximum 900 x 900 pixels 350 object maximum

Lines likes crystals grow on a computational substrate. A simple perpendicular growth rule creates intricate city-like structures.

0001 iterated substrate 0011 iterated substrate 0014 iterated substrate 0021 iterated substrate 0022 iterated substrate 0026 iterated substrate 0029 iterated substrate 0034 iterated substrate 0037 iterated substrate 0039 iterated substrate 0051 iterated substrate 0053 iterated substrate

1000 classic computational substrate, color palette stolen from Jackson Pollock

The simple rule, the complex results, the enormous potential for modification; this has got to be one of my all time favorite self-discovered algorithms.

3000 non-linear substrate growth with eleven crystal instances

3001 non-linear substrate growth with eleven crystal instances

Allowing the cracks within the substrate to curve, we see even greater irregularity, including isolated structures merging together in complex ways.

2000 early non-linear crystal growth 2001 growth catalysts converge in regions of open space 2005 substrate density increases with exposure time 2003 multiform density is common 2004 just moments after the growth process has begun 2002 millions of operations later...

e1000 early substrate rendering with sand painting effect e1001 heavy sand painting highlights larger structures e1002 e1003

An early version of Substrate did not confine the watercoloring effect (see Sand Stroke) to regions defined by the cracks.

BW0000 early substrate growth without sand painting effect BW0001 extended growth exhibits fractal density

BW1000 detailed linear substrate growth without sand painting effect

Another early version has no watercolor effect at all.