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I Wrote An Algorithm That Scribbles Drawings Using A Single Line
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I Wrote An Algorithm That Scribbles Drawings Using A Single Line

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In my free time, I develop algorithms that turn images into drawings. I say drawings because the results are always made with a single line or collection of lines of constant width that can also be drawn with a pen by a plotter. So in a way I try to follow great computational artist like Georg Nees and Frieder Nake that started to create artworks with plotters.

This style is one of my latest algorithms, it scribbles a drawing of any input image. The algorithm tries to understand the image and divides it into patches with different structures and tone similarities. While making the “drawing” the algorithm dynamically evaluates the image and adjust the drawing path according to the structures in the image (contours etc.) and the tone.

The result is a messy but adequate scribble.

More info: Etsy | Facebook

Audrey Hepburn

Notice the details of the hair and the sweater.

Female study

Female Study

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Female study

This image is a really good example how the algorithm recognizes the border between the face and the shoulder. To emphasize this, the algorithm draws the background slightly darker where it meets the face and shoulders.

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Scribble of a tiger

Scribble of a fox

Quokka. The friendliest animal on this planet!

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Sergej Stoppel

Sergej Stoppel

Author, Community member

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I am the founder of LinesLab an experimental design studio that explores algorithmic art and robotics.

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Sergej Stoppel

Sergej Stoppel

Author, Community member

I am the founder of LinesLab an experimental design studio that explores algorithmic art and robotics.

What do you think ?
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Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fact that it is only one line is just a byproduct. I was also thinking about spreading the ink like roots of a tree, but this will be a different style for later.

Load More Replies...
Greg Machar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't have words to describe how I feel about this... ummmm... it is so good that it is hurting my brain. I don't really understand how you achieve this and I have a feeling I would still struggle with it after a comprehensive explanation lol... Bravo Sergei, bravo.

Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are only generated digitally, but I have uploaded some gifs of the plotter-bot on my Imgur page. I will have to look for them.

Load More Replies...
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sorry but no. I had bad experience with copy cats before and decided not to share my code anymore.

Load More Replies...
Seong Jin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are super neat! I love the second one โ™ก๏ผพโ–ฝ๏ผพโ™ก

Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you! Of course the result can only be as good as the original image. So the credit should go to the photographer Emma Tempest and the model Willow Hand.

Load More Replies...
filip sound
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks nice! I did some similar experiment a while ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VFru8rL_s

Trip Kirtiputra
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen these before, and they are still as stunning as the first time I stumbled upon them. They are fit for any gallery.

The Adeola B.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did love to have my photo scribbled like this! Ingenious and fantabulous!

Laura Sherman
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have so many questions. What program do you use? Also, what type of coding is this? I'm in love with what you are doing and I have so many friends that wouldn't view this as "art" because it was done by a computer and not your own hand, but as a graphic artist I truly see the kind of talent that is displayed in these pieces. Well done, and keep at it!

Eric G
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks amazing! Do you plan on publish these algorithms somewhere? I guess the people at G'MIC for example would be very happy! (And me too)

Charles Laster
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've done art with line squiggles before, and they are good for shaping whatever you're drawing!

Dan Royer
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You might enjoy the many many algorithms I've written for the Makelangelo art robot. https://imgur.com/2nUk3xL https://www.marginallyclever.com/product/makelangelo-software/

Shannon ODonnell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Post the code. That would be more interesting to me than the actual output.

Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fact that it is only one line is just a byproduct. I was also thinking about spreading the ink like roots of a tree, but this will be a different style for later.

Load More Replies...
Greg Machar
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't have words to describe how I feel about this... ummmm... it is so good that it is hurting my brain. I don't really understand how you achieve this and I have a feeling I would still struggle with it after a comprehensive explanation lol... Bravo Sergei, bravo.

Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Those are only generated digitally, but I have uploaded some gifs of the plotter-bot on my Imgur page. I will have to look for them.

Load More Replies...
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am sorry but no. I had bad experience with copy cats before and decided not to share my code anymore.

Load More Replies...
Seong Jin
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are super neat! I love the second one โ™ก๏ผพโ–ฝ๏ผพโ™ก

Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you! Of course the result can only be as good as the original image. So the credit should go to the photographer Emma Tempest and the model Willow Hand.

Load More Replies...
filip sound
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks nice! I did some similar experiment a while ago: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VFru8rL_s

Trip Kirtiputra
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've seen these before, and they are still as stunning as the first time I stumbled upon them. They are fit for any gallery.

The Adeola B.
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did love to have my photo scribbled like this! Ingenious and fantabulous!

Laura Sherman
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have so many questions. What program do you use? Also, what type of coding is this? I'm in love with what you are doing and I have so many friends that wouldn't view this as "art" because it was done by a computer and not your own hand, but as a graphic artist I truly see the kind of talent that is displayed in these pieces. Well done, and keep at it!

Eric G
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks amazing! Do you plan on publish these algorithms somewhere? I guess the people at G'MIC for example would be very happy! (And me too)

Charles Laster
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've done art with line squiggles before, and they are good for shaping whatever you're drawing!

Dan Royer
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You might enjoy the many many algorithms I've written for the Makelangelo art robot. https://imgur.com/2nUk3xL https://www.marginallyclever.com/product/makelangelo-software/

Shannon ODonnell
Community Member
7 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Post the code. That would be more interesting to me than the actual output.

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