Repeating Patterns - How would you do it?

step7 · **Joined:** Jun 21, 2012 **Posts:** 106

GIMP Version: 2.6.11
Operating System: Windows
OS Version: XP - SP3
GIMP Experience: Basic Level

I'm having fun creating complex "natural" looking elements at the moment by applying simple mathematical "rules" to an image. So for example, I took a simple design, rotated and scaled it down a little then pasted it on top of the original image (300 times :roll:

) to come up with the basic example attached. I used Mathmap to render the image, but it took nearly half an hour on a 800x800px image with the simplest of rules. Is there a better (quicker) way of doing this (using an existing script or plugin maybe)?

Erisian · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:17 pm **(#2)**

step7 wrote:

I'm having fun creating complex "natural" looking elements at the moment by applying simple mathematical "rules" to an image. So for example, I took a simple design, rotated and scaled it down a little then pasted it on top of the original image (300 times :roll:

)

Have you ever seen a doctor about that? :hehe

step7 · **Joined:** Jun 21, 2012 **Posts:** 106

I'm seeking help

anarkhya · **Posted:** Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:48 pm **(#4)**

I think that fully programming those shapes will be much faster, but it may require to learn the language to do this.. or try dedicated fractal software maybe.. I heard that there are some fractal lovers here, they may help you.

Lastly, if you're interested in math poetry, as a spectator or an author, you might want to take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8is4WTh4YLM&t=2m44s

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12532

Take a look at my tute (Fake Doyle Spiral) for insight: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3941

Took your target and tiled it into a straight tile then ran Pan to Bowl Script-fu for the preliminary result:

Attachment:

p2b.png [ 460.72 KiB | Viewed 1881 times ]

Ran Mathmap Droste with following settings (not, I edited the mm file so that I increased the number of levels range from 20 to 100; easy to edit a text file):

Attachment:

drost_settings.png [ 618.36 KiB | Viewed 1881 times ]

Below's the result:

step7 · **Joined:** Jun 21, 2012 **Posts:** 106

Thanks guys, some food for thought and some great links. I've never played with the Droste effect (gasp) but have seen enough examples for me to start thinking it might be the way to go. It will only be capable of handling some of the "rules" I'd like to apply though and I'd like to add a little randomness at each step to get more "organic" results. Two options I have are taking the Droste MM filter to pieces and inserting the randomness at the right points (which I know is going to make my head hurt) and/or learning to script for Gimp - question there is which language do I go for?

I gave MM another 1/2 hour of my computer time with different rules and a bit of randomness, I definitely need to start reading up on fractals..

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 14715 **Location:** USA

Have you tried the "Clone Layer Tool" ?

http://registry.gimp.org/node/25422

ofnuts · **Joined:** Oct 25, 2010 **Posts:** 4757

step7 wrote:

I'm seeking help

Matheamaticians Anonymous, anyone?

step7 · **Joined:** Jun 21, 2012 **Posts:** 106

Thanks Rod, looks like a powerful tool - hope I can get it to work on 2.6.

Rod · **Joined:** May 16, 2010 **Posts:** 14715 **Location:** USA

step7 wrote:

Thanks Rod, looks like a powerful tool - hope I can get it to work on 2.6.

You won't, it's written in the API for Gimp-2.7. It does work in Gimp-2.8 though.

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