I found this exciting sketch on OpenProcessing!:
http://www.openprocessing.org/visuals/?visualID=12179
STREETLIGHTS by Benjamin Poynter
It contains code that creates this funky flashing text effect.
I thought it would be worth a try!
Here is my code incorporated into my stars sketch (including sample sound):
import hypermedia.video.*;
import processing.opengl.*;
import processing.video.*;
PImage bg;
OpenCV opencv; // Creates a new OpenCV Object
// add image to sketch
PImage particleImg;
int x = 255; //variable to make appear/make disppear different animation loops
int y = 255; //variable to make disappear the main menu text
int z = 0; //variable for a random alpha/gamma flicker effect
int blip = 0; //will turn on/into a transparent tint upon ->R
//PImage[] image = new PImage [numFrames]; //varible for the set of animation loops
PFont font; //calls the variable to use for text typed.
int title = 255; //variable to make disappear the title rectangle bg.
import ddf.minim.*;
AudioPlayer player;
Minim minim; //these three lines call the minim audio program to be used.
Particle[] particles;
final int MAX_PARTICLES = 150;
void setup()
{
size(1000,250);
frameRate(30);
font = loadFont("Clubland-20.vlw");
bg= loadImage ("sky5.jpg");
opencv = new OpenCV( this ); // Initialises the OpenCV object
opencv.capture( 250,250); // Opens a video capture stream
particles = new Particle[0];
particleImg = loadImage("shining star.png");
minim = new Minim(this);
player = minim.loadFile("80s & Early 90s--REM - Losing My Religion.mp3");
player.play();
player.loop();
player.setGain(3);
//
}
void draw()
{
noStroke();
noTint();
imageMode(CORNER);
opencv.read(); // Grabs a frame from the camera
/* pushMatrix();
//scale(2,2);
translate(width,0);
scale(-2,2); */
//image( opencv.image(), 0, 0 ); // Display the difference image
background (bg);
// popMatrix();
opencv.absDiff(); // Calculates the absolute difference
// opencv.flip(OpenCV.FLIP_HORIZONTAL);
rectMode (CENTER);
//fill(255, title); //'title' will be turned to '0' if -> is pressed.
//rect (320, 180, 640, 360); //This rectangle is title screen. Will go away.
float z = random(200, 255); //Gives flicker to variables z and y.
fill(z, y); //Flickers the opening font.
textFont(font, 25); //(loaded font, font size)
text("Reach for the stars", 400, 220);
textFont(font, 15);
text("Nike Jump-Magic", 400, 230);
imageMode(CENTER);
updateParticles();
makeParticles(opencv.image());
if(particles.length>MAX_PARTICLES)
particles = (Particle[]) subset(particles, particles.length-MAX_PARTICLES);
opencv.remember(); // Remembers the current frame
}
void updateParticles()
{
for(int i =0; i<particles.length; i++)
{
Particle p = particles[i];
p.update();
p.draw();
}
}
void makeParticles(PImage img)
{
Particle p;
for(int i= 0; i<200; i++)
{
int xpos = (int) random(img.width);
int ypos = (int) random(img.height);
if(brightness(img.get(xpos,ypos))>50)
{
p = new Particle(width - (xpos*4), ypos);
p.draw();
particles = (Particle[]) append(particles, p);
}
}
}
class Particle
{
float xPos;
float yPos;
float xVel;
float yVel;
float rotation = 0;
float spin;
float currentAlpha = 255;
float currentScale = 0.5;
float drag = 0.2;
float fadeSpeed = -5;
float shrink = 0.9;
float gravity = -0.1;
Particle(float xpos, float ypos)
{
this.xPos = xpos;
this.yPos = ypos;
this.xVel = random(-20,20);
this.yVel = random(-20,20);
this.currentScale = random(0.01,0.10);
this.currentAlpha = random (0,255);
this.rotation = random(0,360);
this.spin = random(-2,-5);
}
void update()
{
xVel*=drag;
yVel*=drag;
yVel+=gravity;
xPos += xVel;
yPos += yVel;
currentAlpha -=fadeSpeed;
currentScale*=shrink;
rotation+=spin;
}
void draw()
{
if(currentAlpha<=0) return;
pushMatrix();
tint(255,currentAlpha);
translate(xPos, yPos);
scale(currentScale);
rotate(radians(rotation));
image(particleImg, 0, 0);
popMatrix();
}
}
and the effect looks like this (before any pretty design elements are put into place!):
After a few different experiments, I decided, like the Animated Gif, that the flashing text takes away the attention from the star particles, which should be what catches peoples attention. Therefore in the same way I discarded the Gif, I will dscard the flashing text!
Onwards and upwards!...
