My First Infinite Zoom In Gimp

[Tas_mania]

I wanted to see if I could make an 'infinite zoom' in Gimp.
I figured out a method but haven't perfected it yet so sorry.

First I used Filters>Map>Recursive Transform - it's fun to learn to use.
Then I used G'MIC >Deformations>Zoom to zoom into the recursive transform by a set amount. What happens is the pixels get progressively bigger.
My solution is to paste and scale the original layer into each version of the on stage screen. There are less than 20 Gimp frames and this always makes a clear image. The paste and scale is not very scientific and there is human error because the frame can get vague.

[Nidhogg]

The rocking must be intentional because it looks like heavy metal concert

[racer-x]

Looks great Tas. I did something similar a few years ago. Mine had a picture frame. Yours would probably look better with a frame as well.

*edit, I was able to find a link to that zoom animation. I did mine in Aviutl though.

[Tas_mania]

Hi Nidhogg and racer. You guys can understand these are not too easy to make.

I improved the technique. Still using Recursive Transform and G'MIC Zoom. Now I duplicated the bottom layer and added 0.05 zoom to each subsequent layer. There are 26 layers in this but I doubled them to get a better speed.

[racer-x]

That one looks better. I just found out you can do it all in G'mic using Droste and Zoom. Here is a quick 4-frame animation. I used reversed zoom, then reversed layer order. This reduces blur.

droste.gif (610.12 KiB) Viewed 8975 times

[racer-x]

Here's another interesting one using the same procedures. It would look better with more frames, but you get the picture...

droste2.gif (213.31 KiB) Viewed 8958 times

[Steve]

A neat effect Tas_mania

Perhaps the rocking motion adds to the effect. To me it gives a sense of hurtling through the scene, while a smoother scene would give a sense of the viewer being static as the scene passed around them

I was intrigued how these were made and had a try at scripting the effect, got a script up and running but still needs a couple of niggles ironing out

steve

downtown 16layers.gif (2.16 MiB) Viewed 8915 times

1024sq 2pixels wide.png (4.54 KiB) Viewed 8762 times

[Nidhogg]

Cool animations guys, infinite zoom suits well for space travel.
Excited about your script Steve, tried manually but it didn't work.

[Tas_mania]

so cool

Thanks Isabella.

Pretty sure racer-x is using Droste Frames rather than Continuous Droste. (Not sure what 'reverse zoom is'
It gives a very smooth zoom.

Hi Steve, I agree with Nidhogg, a script would be very nice.......but not easy.
The zoom center must be in the center of the canvas.
My zooms and Steve's produce a slight 'pulsing' effect. I don't think it's an optical illusion. I suspect it's mathematical. More frames = more loss of resolution. Needs investigating.

[racer-x]

Pretty sure racer-x is using Droste Frames rather than Continuous Droste. (Not sure what 'reverse zoom is'
It gives a very smooth zoom.

Yes, I used G'mic > Frames > Droste. Reverse Zoom is done entering negative numbers so you are zooming out. There is no blurring of quality this way because the image is downscaled vs upscaled.

[Steve]

That pulsing effect is the last niggle I can't remove, I think its something to do with a 2D screen trying to get a 3D effect, its more noticeable on some images than others

It seems I can't upload .py files to gimpchat and I've lost the ability to put files into a zipped folder so I've made a post on gimplearn, sorry about this

script on gimplean at
https://gimplearn.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2738

[Nidhogg]

Thank you for the plug-in Steve
No errors for me on 2.10.20 MX Linux.
The pulse is still visible, but I tried to fix it by changing the duration of first few frames.

InfiniteCorridor.gif (1.92 MiB) Viewed 5557 times

[racer-x]

Thank's Steve, this makes it super easy. Tested with 16 frames set @ 60 ms. I'm running the same as Nidhogg.

zoom-test-16f.gif (1.34 MiB) Viewed 5551 times

[racer-x]

G'mic has a frame filter called "Cube" and I used it to make a tunnel out of a stone texture that I made. It looks cool in this animation and I even managed to make the wall reflection on the chrome text.

zoom-tunnel.gif (2.39 MiB) Viewed 5526 times

[Wallace]

This is how I feel viewing these images.

[FlutteringBy]

Its a long paddle to the end of the lake..... ...

Many thanks Steve, you made life a lot easier....

[Tas_mania]

This is how I feel viewing these images.

Thanks for uploading a script Steve.
I did this manually only 13 frames.

Hey racer, very nice brick animation. Where do you enter negative numbers? Can't do it in G'MIC Zoom or Droste Frames

[Steve]

Thanks Nidhogg, happy to see there were no problems. Good call on changing the timings of the frames to lessen the pulse effect, will look into this today

Thanks for testing racer-x, kicking myself now, wishing like your image I'd added a starry background

Brilliant image Wallace, it makes me laugh

Cool image FlutteringBy, keep paddling

Thanks for an inspiring thread Tas_mania

[racer-x]

Where do you enter negative numbers? Can't do it in G'MIC Zoom or Droste Frames

Negative meaning less than 1 on the zoom scale. 1=normal size, 0.95=5% zoom out and so on. I used guides to see where I needed to stop. I then cropped the image in the end.

[Tas_mania]

Negative meaning less than 1 on the zoom scale

Thanks racer. You could get up to 20 frames before you hit zero and a blank screen

Hi Steve,
I think your Python scripting has come a long way.
Your solution to this problem is really competent.
Interesting we both got that 'pulsing effect' using different methods?
Anyway a solution will reveal itself one day I'm sure.
Keep-up the coding if you can because there are people out there who appreciate it.