Visualizations 5: Kaleidoscope
4/8/2006
I recently realized that I hadn’t yet discussed Visualizations 5, a new module for SSP V7. This module includes three new visualizations: Kaleidoscope, Panorama, and Sparkle. I’d like to discuss Kaleidoscope.
Kaleidoscope is a visualization that generates a motion background looking very much like, well, a kaleidoscope! I think that the visual presentation is quite stunning, even if perhaps most of the settings may be a bit much for typical use. This module is one of my favorites mostly because I understand the work that went into making it. While looking through a real kaleidoscope some time ago, I was inspired to have us duplicate this effect digitally. I discussed it with Steven who then went to work figuring out how accomplish this task programmatically. I can tell you that he didn’t take any shortcuts. Each visualization frame generated goes through the process of taking a small section of a source image and bouncing it off of virtual mirrors. I was quite pleased with how it all turned out. Kudos go to Steven.(BE058)