Metapic – generate an infinite number of original images using rules

Posted on May 6, 2008
Filed Under Photo | 2 Comments

Mutapic is a real creative tool. It generates ideas. The traditional way to create artwork is to start with an idea, sketch it, then render it. The idea comes from the brain, the sketch is drawn on paper and the rendering is done with any appropriate technique: painting, sculpting, etc.

When you use a computer to create artwork you still need an idea, a sketch and a render. Computer are mostly used for rendering, a technically challenging process. Computers are not used too often to generate ideas because of their obvious dumbness and poor sense of taste. Mutapic is not any smarter than your average software but it does have some taste. Mutapic generates an infinite number of original images using rules, recipes and elements that are graphically interesting. Mutapic is used for the complete creative process. Mutapic proposes ideas, makes sketches and allows you to refine your sketches until you get a final render.

Mutapic helps you to create artwork. It is a tool for designers, artists and craftsmen. It can be used to create logos, patterns, decorative elements, and just for fun!

When you use Mutapic you combine two pictures to create a third one. Those two input pictures come from a picture library on the Mutapic server. In vector format, the pictures are small, 3kb in average, allowing high quality graphics with a small file size and fast download. The two input pictures are combined locally on your machine using computer generated randomness and filters. You pick filters and the machine computes random variations. Mutapic generates 16 different pictures automatically. The pictures are ‘mutants’ because they all are variations on a single theme. When you create mutants you generally get a lot of crap; this is also what happens with mutants in nature, a lot of tests and not much success. Mutation is an unpredictable business. To avoid generating too much crap the Mutapic functionality is not completely random. All the generated random values are biased and bound to give graphically interesting results.

To sum up, a good startup when you are fed up with photoshop.

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