Some of my final renders for my modified images. I managed to combine the l-systems I worked on developing during the first presentation with the fluid systems I experimented with during the last presentation, combining them to form a CG eppie with a procedurally grown central support system.

Final Flesh Workbook

Woot.

2800+ words

+

175 photographs, images, graphs, vector art files and graphicky things

+

InDesign is now my friend

+

a very long week of writing, structuring, re-writing, re-structuring, page layouts, and general fiddly page editing about 12 hours a day

+

awesomely helpful print shop lady

=

the workbook is finally finished.

development section excerpt that sums up book/the flesh project content:

"Eppie, and the Flesh story have grown over four months of intensive research of, and by design. As our understanding of taste, humanity, cultural values, and basic scientific data has deepened, so too has the complexity of our design. These images on the following pages illustrate the development of the flesh project from provocative yet basic ideas that sparked imagination to fully resolved designed concepts that illustrate just how beautiful our future could be. This is flesh."

process:

alot of writing and mindmapping to structure idea>

more research to back up initial biology, chemistry, sociology, psychology, language and culture, cannibalism etc, this time on genetics to develop how we will manifest the Eppie idea in people>

developing into linear workbook friendly format > INDESIGN used for document layout and editing, many many battles with indesign but we appear to have resolved our differences and managed to finish in time. >

more restructuring >

more re-writing >

many many many fiddly photoshop image and illustrator graphic issues tweaked. >

proof-reading >

individual numbering pages which was so much fun because indesigns auto page numberer failed on me. >

final editing process (Meredith and Scott read through workbook around 30 times on Sunday night being as picky as humanly possible until both lose their minds.)

Page examples below

hard copy handed in and link to download pdf on www.flesh2090.com website

Groups contribution

Scott - Research, writing, editing, structuring argument, page layout and design, photography, some basic photoshop, capture and compositing of internal anatomy images, vector graphic tweaking, exporting fun, and 5 awesomely fun runs to the printshop and back to school on print day (4 because of multiple file exporting issues, 5th running due to excitement of project finally being potentially complete :) )

Meredith - Proof reading! We did this MANY times. help with page layout and design, and tweaking of vector graphics. Photoshopping of final images and help with tweaking other images to match tone of book, research - conducted two of the interviews.

Kevin - Vector graphics in illustrator for contexts/phenotype section, and cover page patterns

Cam and Ron - Outdoor context photography and editing, help with final image photoshopping

Byron M - Rendering of Eppie for life cycle section and help with research and writing of scientific grounding for life cycle.

Final Fluid Renders

Houdini voxel fluid timelapse from Byron Mallett on Vimeo.

Since Houdini decided to take 30 minutes to render each frame, I managed to grab 8 frames and blend between them to create a timelapse. I think for next time, I'll start my renders at least a week early, maybe get some render farm time.

MORE fluid experiments - New direction

Done some rethinking about what actually happens to this sweat after it's emitted. I grabbed Byron Wood's leech model and I'm using it as a like a fluid guide. The goal is to have the fluid not just fill it like a mold, but almost flow into it's form by following a series of struts within the model before breaking the struts and filling the rest of the mold. It's sort of combining my work with growing fruit straight out a person's back but with fluids rather than plants. I'll also have maybe three variations of the leeches that I can copy along the shape of the outline that Kevin was developing, showing how these leeches can be grown en masse.

Technology wise, I think I've got the initial fluid filling the mold aspect working. Using the leech model, I can spawn a voxel fluid from a series of small bumps (they might be invisible depending on if they look horrid or not) and fill the container. This does look a bit artificial though, hence the idea to use an internal shell with struts that run through the center, giving paths for the fluid to flow through. Since this is a voxel fluid and not the particle fluids I was using earlier, it might be a bit hard to do the diffusion that I had in some earlier tests, though I think it might work with some more testing.

Here's a quick still I grabbed of some of the fluid being emitted.


I've layed out the emitters on the bottom in a line with varying widths. The goal will be to have a series of "pumps" along the bottom which will move the liquid around into the various struts inside the leech. Ideally, the emitters at the front and the back will contain different shades of green with extra blue or yellow. If the diffusion works then as the struts start to meet up, the shades will mix, forming a really nice forest green.

Timeline wise, I'm looking at hitting render on this either Friday night or mid-Saturday to allow a grace period to simulate and render this.

Fluid Diffusion experiments

Sorry I've been a bit quiet guys. I've been fighting with Houdini over getting fluids to combine and I finally had a breakthrough.

Here's a quick example of the diffusion working. I know it looks quite basic now, but the underlying tech seems to be all working (thank god).

Fluid Diffusion in Houdini from Byron Mallett on Vimeo.

Now that this is working, I can layer sweat glands along a surface and have them emit fluid particles. These then combine to form a fluid with a high viscosity and blended colours which then hardens to form a form which can be eaten.

Team Meeting

Thursday after hand in.

Final Presentation - looking at video and stills -

• video of a traditional couple, looking at communication and honesty, but also needs to be to the extreme, of emotion and expression.
• Integrated first person experience through the website
• Series of stills of intergenerational communication, and communication between non-social norms

Ross liked the leeches.  we need to know what we want to compose.  look at how we pull it off the skin.  CRAFT - with material, and people.

Contribution to Second Crit

Video:

Houdini L-system tracking from Byron Mallett on Vimeo.

Still images:

http://flesh2090.com/Pictures/ByronM/

Notes from Thurs

Here's what we got down on paper on Thursday to keep in mind tomorrow and for the rest of the week.

In progress Procedural Growth

I'm making good progress with growing plant like objects in Houdini. Still needs a lot of refinement in the geometry side but I have a few ideas wwhich I think will make it look really nice.

Click here to see a quick render.

I'm hoping that if we have some good footage tomorrow, I can start to track some initial things onto the skin of people.

This is more to show that the tech is working more than anything else (lots of head scratching!). I'm using some of Ben's generated images as the base for generating the organic growth.

Blog changes and other stuff

From now on, can you guys add a label to each post you make? This is so your post gets added to your personal category on the right hand side.

The place to enter this is underneath the field where you type your post. Just start typing your name and a list will pop up with the full category.


I've also received word that my chrome plated juggling ball has now been shipped. I'll be using it as an HDR probe so we can integrate our CG and real footage elements believably.

BITE ME

We should call ourselves BITE ME. Ross said :)


What are we all doing from here:

Scott: Working in solid words to make molds
Cam: Experimenting with CNC milling machine, making molds.
Ben: Form and motion for the website, and designing the growth pattern for the seeds.
Ron: (although not here) you have been nominated as 'laser cutter'
Byron: Charging on with motion tracking
Kev: Make molds and work with the gelatin
Medi: Files for laser. Working on combining the mold aesthetics with the laser. Audio.

3 weeks until next crit.  We want serious material to work with for film and video by the middle TUESDAY of the hollidays!

Group Meeting

Talking about the architecture.
Hiring a candyfloss machine?
Kev knows someone who working with food and chemical reactions etc. going to look into that.

How do we really show intimacy. Ross said the contact in our images was the strong point.

Looking over requirements for next submission.

Material experiments - looking at using ice, jelly, crystals. Things that shift and change.

Website Critique

Little tricky considering how little there is to work with but I'll give it my best.

The Dolphins website is a simple page which consists of a link to their blog and their workbook. Their presentation video takes up 3/4's of the available space and is intended as the dominant attraction for all users visiting the site.

There is no content on the actual website, save for the video on the front page. The workbook leads to a PDF document containing all of their work and the link to their development blog appears to be offline, so viewing their work history is impossible.

The predominantly red theme of the website is similar to the designs found in the workbook, though the use of random red circles and splotches on the lower half of the page seems random and unnecessary.

This website could have been integrated into the final presentation of this group's work a lot more, and feels almost like an afterthought in order to deliver their other more important elements; the workbook and video presentation.


I believe that we can use this website as an example of what to stay away from. Excessive minimalism is not a good approach to take when you have a large idea you want to impress on a person as soon as view the page.
It is far more practical and inventive if we integrate our final expressions and products into elements of the website, using it as the medium for viewing, rather than a hub leading to external and disjointed media.

Group Meeting 11/3

Group name: Alms  (after much debate and mashing of words)

Taste, growth, communication, share,

Communication is our sustenance.  we survive off what others emotions produce.  We are conscious and aware of sustaining ourselves resourcefully.  The fact that this growth can sustain us, and that it communicates who we are is of equal importance.  The reason to share is about honest reproduction, and through this, the advancement of the human species according to Darwins theories.

Group Roles:  We Object!


Numbers:
Meredith 021846077
Ben 0212459005
Scott 0210451171 / 0272878281
Kev 0220439937
Byron 02102539424
Cam 02102232413
Ron 0274959577



MEETINGS: 12:30 Friday and 12 midday Sunday

For Monday

Name and short philosophy - ben
Critique

• Philosophy - scott
• Architecture - kev
• Web base - byron
• Presentation - ron
• Workbook - medi
• Film - cam

Expanded group philosophy - Medi + scott
Media to use + rational - medi + kev
expansion on architecture, the output (models and material experiments + algae) - ron + cam + kev
Visual experiences - ben + byron
Time management - kev + scott


Architecture can walk while we live virtually? **discussion** sleep walking.  We decide we can allow for movement while we are living consciously, at a walking speed.  Exactly who what where etc is yet to be expanded.

Personality is relative to a flavor.  There is more then good and bad.

Ross wants contrast between the physical and virtual.  What happens if you fall in love virtually, and have to travel immense distance to 'taste' them. "diluted cannibalism"

Move through from the unreasonable to the reasonable.

White Board

White board notes from yesterday

Project 1

Submission 1 Monday 15 March  20% (10% group, 10% individual)

• Team selection, group philosophy and previous DLF project critique.
• Proposed  media (eventually web based) and rationale for selection.
• Initial physical/digital experiments illustrating the specific visual qualities and group architectural direction.
• Defined area of individual responsibility (eg physical modeling, 3D printing, programming, electronics, video, web)
• Time management charts showing project tasks and completion dates. Recommendhttp://www.viewpath.com that is updated daily.

Soooo.

Meeting tomorrow after Prof Prac.

In my understanding, essentially we are looking at capturing and communicating the emotive qualities of our experience, using the physical world as a means of expressing those emotive qualities.  Are we all on the same page with this?  We are looking at the Dolphins as our precedent.

Ben is: working with moving, organic processing code.

Byron M is: Looking at the dolphins visual communication + critiquing.  Looking at some 3D scripting.


Cam: Material experiments

Meredith is: Starting to write.  Getting our ideas and themes on paper so we can start refining.  Critique the philosophies of the Dolphins

Scott is: Looking at the physical communications of the dolphins and critiquing.  start brainstorming of how we could communicate.


Ron: Material experiments


Kevin: Research technologies




Discussing about the architecture.  Could the architecture mimic our lifestyle in the virtual? 
We are focusing on communication.  Exactly what we are communicating is still in discussion.  Sharing your emotive experience.


Architecture that grew and could shift.  when you are in the virtual world.  your needs and desires are communicated to the architecture, so if you desire to be under a peach tree, thats where your architecture would take you.  So the next time you come back to the physical, your architecture would have moved you to a peach tree.


Your mental state communicates to your architecture, and the architecture's communicate while we are in the virtual world so that when we come back to the physical, our architectures have gathered together into communities.


Really we are talking about sex.  About relationship.


Ben wants to eat each others architecture and have this be a means to communicate emotions.


While we are in the virtual world, our architecture grows.  The 'taste' of this growth is based on our mental state in the virtual world. When we come back to the physical, we share this 'taste' with others, and we 'taste' others.