Quartz Composer

dtj · Post by **dtj** » Sun May 08, 2005 4:01 am 0

I up'ed another version of Solaris.

This is about as close as I could come. This file is larger this time, sadly.

I think what I'd really like to try next is scanning in a actual image of Solaris from the movie - even just a screen capture. Processed in just the right way, I could have all the sentient ocean effects I'd need...

I did slap some plasma onto the innermost sphere's surface, tweaked it till it looked just like those creeping electrical discharge effects from the movie - but of course, framerate dropped to 6 fps... so now it ain't there, as they say.

Anyway, enjoy!

http://members.cox.net/jfuture/download/SOLARIS.qtz

Long live Apple, OSX, and Quartz Composer!

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Sun May 08, 2005 9:05 am 0

Beautiful work Dtj, I'd love to see that on a projector. Cool FX.

A few years back I remember downloading a free version of KPT Fraxflame for After Effects, it only runs in Classic but the visuals it produces are gorgeous. It wasn't an official KPT release, IIRC it was developed by a university student but I've seen it used in TV ads and even feature films. I'll dig it out for you if you're interested.

How does Fraxflame perform these days? It used to be an over night render job for a single image on my old G3, I haven't looked at it since but I always loved the effects it created.

This is the KPT feature illustration from MacUser mag circa 1998 by Paul Price, this guy was a big influence on me, he used to be the lead designer on Macuser when I was freelancing for them, I picked up a lot of tips from him.

Edit: I just noticed the typo on that image - Kia's Power Tools - I think it went to press like that

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Sun May 08, 2005 9:15 am 0

matt wrote:Here's my WIP: Perlin Clouds

runs like a dog because I'm doing too much image work per frame and I need to go back to basics to figure out how reduce that. And i thought i was being clever using a macro patch!

matt

This is very cool Matt, nice research too. I can't wait for my G5 now, I'm having more fun with this app than any of my games, I haven't touched my consoles since Tiger was released. Amazing program.

matt · Post by **matt** » Sun May 08, 2005 10:57 am 0

I know what you mean about this and 10.4 Rod, it's awesome.

dtj, nice work. upload it to http://www.quartzcomps.com

did you know you can play .qtz files in Safari with a quicktime embed? and that they also play in the getinfo window?

matt

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Sun May 08, 2005 12:17 pm 0

matt wrote: did you know you can play .qtz files in Safari with a quicktime embed? and that they also play in the getinfo window?

matt

Interesting, this is looking like a real cross media app with tons of potential uses. The QC mailing list is busy and it's getting a lot of attention on VJ sites, give it a few months and we'll probably see an active community and plenty of cool projects appearing.

I've not played with Dashboard, Automator or any of the other major new features much, I'm loving the all round speed boost but QC is definitely the big pull for me. It's gonna fly on my new dual G5 with the Nvidia 6800 GPU. Woo. Can't wait.

tufty · Post by **tufty** » Sun May 08, 2005 6:53 pm 0

Okay, ad a bit of a play earlier, trying to get something really interactive going on. I can't for the life of me figure out how to do things on _historical_ values - I want to pick up mouse gestures and do things with them, but I can't figure it.

Any ideas?

Simon

dtj · Post by **dtj** » Sun May 08, 2005 10:04 pm 0

rod, FraxFlame II on a 1.8Ghz G5 just flies. Really complex stuff with high anisotropy can sometimes take a few minutes (longest I've seen is about 3 minutes), but for the most part, it's just smooth. All the KPT reissues (KPT Collection) were remade for OSX, so they take advantage. I'm sure if I were to do something at print resolution I'd have to walk about a for 15 minutes, but screen res stuff is a breeze.

dtj · Post by **dtj** » Sun May 08, 2005 10:14 pm 0

matt wrote:dtj, nice work. upload it to http://www.quartzcomps.com

It's too big. That guy will only take stuff sub-500k. Mine is clocked at about 760k. I think I'm going to make another attempt. Did something late last night with FraxFlame that suggests I could get an even better Solaris effect. I might reduce the size of the images, too... just to get this sub-500k.

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Mon May 09, 2005 12:12 am 0

dtj wrote:rod, FraxFlame II on a 1.8Ghz G5 just flies. Really complex stuff with high anisotropy can sometimes take a few minutes (longest I've seen is about 3 minutes), but for the most part, it's just smooth. All the KPT reissues (KPT Collection) were remade for OSX, so they take advantage. I'm sure if I were to do something at print resolution I'd have to walk about a for 15 minutes, but screen res stuff is a breeze.

Excellent, I still like the FX from Fraxflame so I'll install it and have a play next week.

Here's the freeware After Effects version, it's been ported to OSX.

http://www.andrewdavidson.com/aeflame/

I noticed this on the QC mailing list : Saverlab - "Runs Mac OS X screensaver modules in regular windows. It allows you to run any number of modules simultaneously, pause, single step, and save animations as QuickTime movies, and allows you to use a screensaver as your desktop background"

http://www.dozingcat.com/

Acronym · Post by **Acronym** » Mon May 09, 2005 12:37 am 0

Are there any of us who *aren't* on that mailing list by now?

(I only ask because a lot of the people popping up there are familiar - even I'm lurking there and I don't have a Mac.

Yet.)

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Mon May 09, 2005 12:47 am 0

Aquarium made with models imported from Maya

Wow. The potential of this app is insane.

0.47 FPS though, ouch.

Edit: that's not my work, haha, if only, I found it on Quartz Comps.

matt · Post by **matt** » Mon May 09, 2005 1:21 am 0

I don't think that's much cop TBH.

The images are nic erenders but even on my G5 it only gets 2fps. I'd say it was the guy who did the renders' using QC to whore his wares.

matt

dtj · Post by **dtj** » Mon May 09, 2005 1:46 am 0

Okay, I think I fecking nailed this... download it - give it a go. And I got it down under 500K...

http://members.cox.net/jfuture/download/SOLARIS.qtz

Learned a lot this afternoon. Partook of a bit of the olde Jovian Dream Fiber, jammed the new NIN, new ISIS, and a few cold High Lifes later... and fuck me... there was Solaris!

Amazing. I love this app.

ps - this version of Solaris features a night-side - something that was never shown in the film but which was an amazing detail from the novel. Sunset/sunrise on Solaris... it takes about 10 minutes for a full rotation.

tufty · Post by **tufty** » Mon May 09, 2005 7:36 am 0

dtj wrote:Okay, I think I fecking nailed this... download it - give it a go. And I got it down under 500K...

That is - awesome.

Simon

matt · Post by **matt** » Mon May 09, 2005 10:00 am 0

Great work DTJ.

matt