Difference between revisions of "Activities/Kandid"
Nostalghia (talk | contribs) (Created page with '== Kandid is a system to evolve graphical forms == === Introduction === In Kandid a population consist of images looking like abstract art or patterns. These graphical forms a…') |
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new. The new image population starts with randomly generated | new. The new image population starts with randomly generated | ||
images. | images. | ||
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[[Image:strat-new-from-list-colormap.png]] | [[Image:strat-new-from-list-colormap.png]] | ||
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image population. You can load a former image population from | image population. You can load a former image population from | ||
Home view or from the journal. | Home view or from the journal. | ||
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[[Image:resume-favorite-colormap.png]] | [[Image:resume-favorite-colormap.png]] | ||
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dull. Its only a starting point from where the image population | dull. Its only a starting point from where the image population | ||
can be evolved in subsequent generations. | can be evolved in subsequent generations. | ||
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[[Image:random-population-colormap.png]] | [[Image:random-population-colormap.png]] | ||
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1 point. For images not to bad you can give 5 or 6 points. Your | 1 point. For images not to bad you can give 5 or 6 points. Your | ||
favorites needs 8 or 9 points. | favorites needs 8 or 9 points. | ||
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[[Image:fitnes-slider-colormap.png]] | [[Image:fitnes-slider-colormap.png]] | ||
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This means that the offspring genes are build from crossing over two parental | This means that the offspring genes are build from crossing over two parental | ||
genes and additionally mutating this new gene. | genes and additionally mutating this new gene. | ||
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[[Image:button_breed-colormap.png]] | [[Image:button_breed-colormap.png]] | ||
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and setting the images, that should not appear again in the next generation, | and setting the images, that should not appear again in the next generation, | ||
with a low ranking. | with a low ranking. | ||
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[[Image:evolved-population-colormap.png]] | [[Image:evolved-population-colormap.png]] | ||
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A new image population starts in private mode. To share it select 'My Neighborhood'. | A new image population starts in private mode. To share it select 'My Neighborhood'. | ||
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[[Image:neighborhood-colormap.png]] | [[Image:neighborhood-colormap.png]] | ||
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a pull down menu. Selecting 'Publish to my friends' will send the | a pull down menu. Selecting 'Publish to my friends' will send the | ||
gene of this image it to all joined friends. | gene of this image it to all joined friends. | ||
| − | [[Image: | + | |
| + | [[Image:publish-protozoon-colormap.png]] | ||
Image genes send from friends will be first displayed in a separate box. | Image genes send from friends will be first displayed in a separate box. | ||
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Maybe he prefers bright color. It is your decision to integrate these | Maybe he prefers bright color. It is your decision to integrate these | ||
to your 'earth tones' image population or just to ignore it. | to your 'earth tones' image population or just to ignore it. | ||
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[[Image:incoming-protozoon-colormap.png]] | [[Image:incoming-protozoon-colormap.png]] | ||
Revision as of 15:50, 13 December 2009
Kandid is a system to evolve graphical forms
Introduction
In Kandid a population consist of images looking like abstract art or patterns. These graphical forms are not drawn by hand. Instead new forms can be found using an interactive genetic algorithm.
Kandid is a combination of image rendering algorithms, genetic programming and interactive aesthetic selection. The program is missing a fitness function, a component you normally expect in an artificial genetic system. The lack of the built in fitness function is done by concept. No mathematical algorithm can decide if a graphic is meaningful for the user. The fitness function in Kandid is replaced by human aesthetic selection. In other words: The user tolds the program which images are 'cool' or never seen before.
Usage
You can start Kandid from your Home view by selecting Start new. The new image population starts with randomly generated images.
File:Strat-new-from-list-colormap.png
An other possibility is starting Kandid with an existing image population. You can load a former image population from Home view or from the journal.
File:Resume-favorite-colormap.png
A randomly produced image population looks mostly very dull. Its only a starting point from where the image population can be evolved in subsequent generations.
File:Random-population-colormap.png
To evolve the new image population you must tell the program which images are interesting. There is a slider above every image. Use this slider to tell Kandid how aesthetic these images are. For an awfully bore image give 0 or 1 point. For images not to bad you can give 5 or 6 points. Your favorites needs 8 or 9 points.
File:Fitnes-slider-colormap.png
Press the Random button and wait a few seconds. Some images will be replaced by other. You can repeat this for some rounds. Preserve interesting images by moving the slider to an value between 5 and 9 points. But the result is a little bit disappointing. Too much bore images. Finding good looking images is like finding a needle in an haystack. This is the point where evolution can help.
Press the Breed button instead of the Random button and wait a few seconds. Again images with low ratings will be replaced by new images. But there is one difference. These new images are offsprings of your favorite images. This means that the offspring genes are build from crossing over two parental genes and additionally mutating this new gene.
File:Button breed-colormap.png
You can repeat this for a long run. Always marking the image you find most appealing with a high ranking and setting the images, that should not appear again in the next generation, with a low ranking.
File:Evolved-population-colormap.png
Collaboration
Kandid supports collaboration by publishing a complete image population or by sharing the gene of single image.
A new image population starts in private mode. To share it select 'My Neighborhood'.
File:Neighborhood-colormap.png
You can invite an other buddy to Kandid. If this buddy joins, your population will be send to your friends computer. Let explain this in detail: The gene of each image is send, not a bitmap of the image. In this way your friend can evolve an independent copy of your image population. I suppose your friend has an different aesthetic feeling. And after a few generations both populations will evolve in different directions.
These separated populations can share images by sending the gene of a single image to all friends. Above all images in your population you find a pull down menu. Selecting 'Publish to my friends' will send the gene of this image it to all joined friends.
File:Publish-protozoon-colormap.png
Image genes send from friends will be first displayed in a separate box. You find this incoming box on the left side. If you accept an incoming image, its gene will replace one of the low rated genes in your population. An other possibility is to decline or to ignore an incoming image. Here you see white and pink colored images send from a friend. Maybe he prefers bright color. It is your decision to integrate these to your 'earth tones' image population or just to ignore it.
