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= Kandid is a system to evolve graphical forms =
= Kandid is a system to evolve graphical forms =
= Introduction =
In Kandid a population consist of images looking like abstract
In Kandid a population consist of images looking like abstract
art or patterns. These graphical forms are not drawn by hand.
art or patterns. These graphical forms are not drawn by hand.
== Usage ==
== Background ==
Darwinian evolution consists of a simple cycle. The most fit entities in a population reproduce. The resulting offspring are a combination of their parents with some random mutations. Some offspring may be improvements over their parents. The most fit of offspring continue to reproduce. In Kandid the definition of fitness comes from the users aesthetic preferences. The program is a working horse presenting the user proposals for new images letting the user the decision which one is preferable. The concept behind Kandid was introduced by Karl Sims 20 years ago. It is a combination of image rendering algorithms, genetic programming and interactive aesthetic selection. In 2003 I publish a different version based on fractal geometry at http://kandid.sourceforge.net. Kandid for the Sugar desktop is more than a simple port. It is based on different graphic algorithms and shows more introspection.
== Pedagogical purpose ==
You can consider Kandid as a simulation of evolution. But compared with the evolution of live there are some differences. The first is how fitness is handled. It needs a human to select the proposed images. Next is the limited range of output. The program can produce lots of color combinations and geometrical shapes. But after using Kandid for a while the style of the images is predictable.
You can use Kandid to improve you aesthetic feeling. Most of the random images are too indifferent. But sometimes you find a surprisingly interesting composition of shapes or color combinations. Maybe you see things you never noticed before.
You can use Kandid to get in touch with art made by machines. Ore more precisely: Art made by humans trying to control an generative random process.
Kandid is also a matter of complexity. Ever single image produced by Kandid is made of simple shapes and color schema. But combining these parts will result in a complex looking image.
= Usage =
=== Where to get Kandid ===
You can download Kandid from http://activities.sugarlabs.org/en-US/sugar/addon/4254
=== Evolve an image population ===
=== Evolve an image population ===
You can start Kandid from your Home view by selecting Start
You can start Kandid from your Home view by selecting Start
create more deviations.
create more deviations.
== Collaboration ==
Kandid supports collaboration by publishing a complete image population
Kandid supports collaboration by publishing a complete image population
or by sharing the gene of single image.
or by sharing the gene of single image.
[[Image:kandid-incoming-protozoon.png|400px]]
[[Image:kandid-incoming-protozoon.png|400px]]
== Exporting images to an image manipulation program ==
= Looking inside the image generating process =
=== What you see is a combination of simple signs ===
=== What you see is made of several layers ===
= Releases, translation and known bugs =
Developers can clone the source code repository from http://git.sugarlabs.org/projects/kandid/repos/mainline
== Translations ==
Kandid is partial translated to 'de', 'el', 'en', 'es', 'fr', 'it', 'pt_BR' and 'vi'. The program is translatable using Pootle. See [http://translate.sugarlabs.org/ our Pootle server] for details about how to translate Kandid into your language.
== Bug tracking ==
Users can report bugs and suggest an enhancement to [http://bugs.sugarlabs.org/ http://bugs.sugarlabs.org/]. Use Trac component name 'Kandid'.
== Version history ==
== Version history ==
=== v5: Aplril 2010 ===
* Added a simple ancestors view. The ancestors of newly generated will be displayed as a tree. This is only a temporary solution and should be replaced later.
* Added a layer for rendering quadtrees.
* Bug fixing samplers / rendering engine. The changes in the rendering engine are not backwards compatible.
* Saving and restoring the graphics context in modifier nodes. Maybe this bug fix is not backward compatible.
=== v4: February 2010 ===
=== v4: February 2010 ===
* Images generated by Kandid can be exported as PNG images to the journal. You can open an exported image with an image manipulation program.
* Images generated by Kandid can be exported as PNG images to the journal. You can open an exported image with an image manipulation program.