Anybody interested in a loops tutorial?

One practical thing you can do with loops that is very impractical any other way are multipass-type filters where the result depends on the previous step or the cumulative effect of all previous steps.

This enables such things as controlled letterspacing between consecutive letters in a line of text (if it only wasn't so complicated to make letters). There are likely better examples for this, perhaps placing musical notations on lines, as they are easier to construct and the placement of the next note depends on the preceding one.

You can also make animation type filters such as a bouncing ball with physics (as all previous states are needed to calculate current position). Or the Game of Life game where particles are born and die based on some rules and every iteration is one step further in the progress of the image.

Various Bomber type filters can be made. I have (yet another) idea for a non-overlapping particle filter with loops.

Other cumulative effects, like erosion and fluid dynamics should be more feasible.

You know, on the other bizarre route I was thinking of implementing "audio effects". If we, for example, say time is = iteration, then we can say delay is a matter of offsetting the image, and blending another image on top of it. Of course it's not exactly the way it is, and it doesn't produce sound, but we can using programs like Metasynth.

Idea's just for fun of course. Might be an interesting tutorial material since some of the audio effects get technical.

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Or the Game of Life game where particles are born and die based on some rules and every iteration is one step further in the progress of the image.

I had plans for that. I actually wondered if you can natively create cellular automata in FilterForge. It seems possible. That might also be a good weekend project.

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I actually wondered if you can natively create cellular automata in FilterForge.

So did I, and it is certainly possible: Game of Life

Just need to add looping and it will work nicely. Currently you have to apply, save, load, reapply, etc.

[Mildly off topic... sorry folks]

Oh and err SpaceRay... you know, I've never really pushed it any further, but I quite feel the forums have spoon fed you a ridiculous load of examples to get you started on the right foot. You even have complete filters which make great examples for structure. Sure, some of the examples are a bit more complicated than basic stuff, but you have the wiki which gives you some great examples already.

I mean, the problem I have is that you keep saying, "I do not know really how to use it beyond very simple things." despite having this wealth of knowledge for a single piece of software. Some of the threads you've been part of/started are so saturated with answers and yet you seem to kinda not pick stuff out of it. Like it just ends at the example or filter, you know? Would love to see much much more out of you.

The reason why I'm picking on you is because you engage these forums a lot. I mean you leave a bunch of comments, example images, and a bunch of vague "can we do this?" type of question. You get answers most of the time and for those that don't, you typically poke around until somebody does. Forgive me for my harshness I'm just giving my honest observation that's become all too common here. And given the amount of info you get, I just don't get what's stopping you from answering your own questions. The catch here is that you just simply don't seem to know? I feel I've done a lot or was it simply not enough? Oh well...

Well, aside me, I think we're all trying to tell you something:
http://www.filterforge.com/forum/read...&PAGEN_1=4

I'm making tutorials because they're first of all fun to make, and secondly helps other people, and thirdly, helps me understand stuff I couldn't. It's a constant learning process. Stuff doesn't happen within a day. So by making mini tutorials it helps me and helps a bunch of others in the process. Plus it highlights what's possible given whatever program. And while I don't expect everybody to come out becoming masters of the program after watching these tutorials, I do hope people least pick up something from it. If not, maybe I'm doing a terrible job, which I don't think I am given some of the feedback I get.

oh well... *sigh*

I'm going to be slowly working my way on it. I have a couple thoughts I just need a nice way of explaining what's happening!

Good news that you are going well with your tutorial

I have already read your good and useful text above and will answer you later, and thanks much for caring and taking the time to write this, I agree with you and you are right, and is not a problem with the forum, and I have got a lot of help and I thank very much for it, the problem is with me and my special way of doing things. Will explain later and give a better answer

I am very sorry for bothering and making you feel bad for me that seems that I can´t advance and learn from all the many examples, tutorials, threads, filters, etc.

I keep that in mind when I typically write to you. I have friends who also share similar problems, though they kinda manage it somehow. I figure this also affects your typical forum behavior. heh. I only hope you read what some others wrote regarding your forum habits. I also wish you'd stop with the flattery. It's excessive.

Now aside that, in terms of constructing a filter you should take it in small chunks. While some of us take huge leaps learning stuff, it's perfectly natural taking small steps. In your case, I think really think you should start going one more step further. You have modified quite a load of filters with a simple blend with an image. I personally think those are very simple things to do and honestly they're kinda getting too easy of a way out to get results. Maybe, it's time to kinda push it a tad bit and start a filter from scratch. Of course, you can develop it to your liking, but also try something you haven't touched before. I often see you use image-based filters, but don't see much of texture filters. I understand your interests might be different, but take a moment to think about it: you might learn something new.

Maybe for homework you should try doing this: Here's a simple wood texture I've grabbed off of google: http://designm.ag/images/0709/wood/71.jpg there are no nails, no planks... just a plain wood texture. Try making this wood texture from scratch in FilterForge. Mimic this wood's apperance and feeling. Avoid looking at other people's previous FilterForge work and just try to derive it yourself using the help and the wiki. When you feel like you're done, then look at what others have done to achieve their wood texture.

You don't have to show your results... you don't need to post it anywhere... that's for yourself to try. No pressure. Just give it a shot and take it slow.

Hopefully that might help you see a couple things about making filters.

Please excuse me, we're kinda off topic for this forum thread. I'll probably be done with my tutorial by Monday.

Any news on loops & animations?