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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.

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I Wrote An Algorithm That Scribbles Drawings Using A Single Line

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53Kviews

Sergej Stoppel

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

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

What do you think ?

Jilliana Kenmore 7 years ago

"messy but adequate." are you KIDDING ME? That's fantabulous!!

17points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

Thank you! This is the first time someone called my work fantabulous!

7points

Load More Replies...

Luna Kittenwarrior 7 years ago

I can't draw this with multiple lines, let alone one.

9points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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.

7points

Load More Replies...

Greg Machar 7 years ago

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.

5points

Al Fahmi 7 years ago

can you make a video how your robot work

2points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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.

1point

Load More Replies...

flyingaquapigs123 7 years ago

this is amazing it looks so realistic

2points

Jacob Mphahlele 7 years ago

You are f*****g AMAZING!!OMG!

1point

Aryan 7 years ago

Awesome

1point

Anilda 7 years ago

Stunning!

1point

Jonathan Levich 7 years ago

Math/tech = pretty cool looking art

1point

Kipper Mcgee 7 years ago

Thats so cool. Do you actually have a robot with hands to draw this in real life?

1point

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

I do have a robot (more of a plotter), but instead of hands it has one clamp to hold the pen.

2points

Load More Replies...

Joe Dad 7 years ago

Really good

1point

Pam Parker 7 years ago

Can you share your algorithm?

1point

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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

13points

Load More Replies...

Seong Jin 7 years ago

These are super neat! I love the second one ♡＾▽＾♡

1point

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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.

1point

Load More Replies...

filip sound 7 years ago

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

0points

Trip Kirtiputra 7 years ago

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.

0points

The Adeola B. 7 years ago

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

0points

Laura Sherman 7 years ago

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!

0points

Danny Giusa 7 years ago

Do you uploaded the source code to github or anything? :)

0points

Tal Malka 7 years ago

Super cool!

0points

Eric G 7 years ago

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)

0points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

I am working on a paper about my system right now. So yes

0points

Load More Replies...

Laras Kun Rahmanti Putri 7 years ago

COOOOOLL AMAZIIIIING !!!

0points

Laras Kun Rahmanti Putri 7 years ago

COOOOOLLLL !!!!

0points

Charles Laster 7 years ago

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

0points

Dan Royer 7 years ago

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/

-1point

Shannon ODonnell 7 years ago

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

-3points

Jilliana Kenmore 7 years ago

"messy but adequate." are you KIDDING ME? That's fantabulous!!

17points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

Thank you! This is the first time someone called my work fantabulous!

7points

Load More Replies...

Luna Kittenwarrior 7 years ago

I can't draw this with multiple lines, let alone one.

9points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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.

7points

Load More Replies...

Greg Machar 7 years ago

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.

5points

Al Fahmi 7 years ago

can you make a video how your robot work

2points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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.

1point

Load More Replies...

flyingaquapigs123 7 years ago

this is amazing it looks so realistic

2points

Jacob Mphahlele 7 years ago

You are f*****g AMAZING!!OMG!

1point

Aryan 7 years ago

Awesome

1point

Anilda 7 years ago

Stunning!

1point

Jonathan Levich 7 years ago

Math/tech = pretty cool looking art

1point

Kipper Mcgee 7 years ago

Thats so cool. Do you actually have a robot with hands to draw this in real life?

1point

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

I do have a robot (more of a plotter), but instead of hands it has one clamp to hold the pen.

2points

Load More Replies...

Joe Dad 7 years ago

Really good

1point

Pam Parker 7 years ago

Can you share your algorithm?

1point

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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

13points

Load More Replies...

Seong Jin 7 years ago

These are super neat! I love the second one ♡＾▽＾♡

1point

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

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.

1point

Load More Replies...

filip sound 7 years ago

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

0points

Trip Kirtiputra 7 years ago

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.

0points

The Adeola B. 7 years ago

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

0points

Laura Sherman 7 years ago

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!

0points

Danny Giusa 7 years ago

Do you uploaded the source code to github or anything? :)

0points

Tal Malka 7 years ago

Super cool!

0points

Eric G 7 years ago

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)

0points

Sergej Stoppel (Post author) 7 years ago

I am working on a paper about my system right now. So yes

0points

Load More Replies...

Laras Kun Rahmanti Putri 7 years ago

COOOOOLL AMAZIIIIING !!!

0points

Laras Kun Rahmanti Putri 7 years ago

COOOOOLLLL !!!!

0points

Charles Laster 7 years ago

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

0points

Dan Royer 7 years ago

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/

-1point

Shannon ODonnell 7 years ago

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

-3points

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