Here are my notes on the presentation from Lee Brimelow of Adobe at the Atlanta Adobe Users Group Meeting: http://www.meetup.com/Adobe-User-Group-of-Atlanta/events/56200162/
What is flash for? Doing things the browser can’t! If you can use HTML5 then do it. Learn about it and learn the capabilities and know when to use what tool and when they are appropriate. It might not be easy, but it is where the industry is moving, don’t hide from it! If you want to do things that are to advanced for the current standards and browsers, then flash is most likely where you need to be. Adobe will always position Flash to be ahead of what is possible with browsers.
While you can do some gaming in browsers today, flash is now positioned to be the best solution for game development. It even can compile to native apps for ios and many successful apps have done so. Adobe has put in a site to showcase these games at: http://gaming.adobe.com
Adobe has a new partnership with unity. See example game: Angry bots.
Console sales are declining. We have so many other outlets to game: browsers, social, mobile devices… Soon professional games will be via Facebook and browsers.
Facebook angry birds game built in flash using stage 3D.
New gaming features:
Mouse lock.
Right and middle click events.
Concurrency, multi threading for player. Yo will not lock up with intense calculations.
Native extension Burls and extensions.
CS6:
Sprite sheet exporter!
Create js exporter, via Grant Skinner
Html 5 export to canvas a vector art.
Edge
11.3 – latest flash player
full screen keyboard input.
Background auto updates.
Audio streaming via net stream.
Improvements for low latency audio.
Stage 3D progressive texture streaming.
Lzma compression sort door byte array.
Native bitmap encoding to png and jpg.
Bitmap data draw with quality
Frame labels.
Air specific
USB debugging for ios
Native ios simulator support
Enhanced background support for ios
Android 4 stylus support
Mac app store support
Dolores, upcoming updates
As workers
Advanced profiling
Better sort for hardware accelerated video cards
Next
Refactorizing code base
Work on as virtual machine
Many action script language updates: stringent static typing as default, hardware oriented numeric types, type inference…
Here is my collection of notes from attending An Event Apart Atlanta 2012. As I took notes, I had the thought that I’d be sharing them with co-workers and that it’d be easiest to just publish them here. I hope they are useful to someone else out there who didn’t take notes on something or wasn’t able to attend. Huge thanks to Jeffrey and Eric for organizing the event and for all the speakers! I sure learned a lot! I did miss a couple of presentations, maybe I’ll find my notes and add them one day. Let me know if you’re looking for a specific talk that I’m missing and I’ll check my notes.
Well, so much for blogging each step in my process of creating this generative art series. I took a few steps in this iteration since the last one. But it was all in the spirit of one step. First I wanted to abstract the duplication of each ball/line so that it didn’t require copying blocks of code for each one. The obvious route is to have a var that designates the number of balls which will draw lines, and then loop through creating the desired number and then in the loop function that is executed each frame loop through them again and draw new lines for each one. This was pretty simple, in the end, and I ended up adding quite a few variables to differentiate each line for the others in line width, color variation and position. I also added a few function to help with calculations and updated the alpha values of the lines. The normalize, interpolate and map functions I acquired long ago from kp here, go there to hear his explanation which is much better than any attempt I could make. Thanks Keith!
Then, I had the task of making it more manageable and scalable. Before these edits, the framerate would sink to around 6 in the first 10 seconds of running with more than 3 lines. After some research it seemed the performance suffered mainly because the graphics drawn with transparency had to figure every single line on the stage to determine it’s color values and flash doesn’t do that too efficiently. So the solution was to use the bitmap and bitmapdata objects. Every frame I copy what has been drawn on the stage into a bitmapdata objects and set it to display on the stage instead. This essentially lets flash calculate the alpha values for each line once and then copy it as simple pixel data for later frames. It happens every frame and is in the flush function. It worked better than I had hoped. I could ramp up the number of lines to 40 and still not see any frame rate slowdown in FPS.
Please visit the blog article to view this interactive flash content. Flash plug-in required:
[/kml_flashembed]
actionscript source code
[cc lang=”actionscript”]
var balls:Array = new Array(); // array of ball objects – each ball object stores it’s own position (current & previous), acceleration, etc
var num_balls:int = 0;
var total_balls:int = 12;
var canvas:Sprite = new Sprite();
this.addChild(canvas);
//copy the graphics on stage to a bitmap, then next frame draw on it.
var bitmapcanvasdata:BitmapData = new BitmapData(stage.stageWidth, stage.stageHeight, true, 0x000000);
//draw stage to bitmap
bitmapcanvasdata.draw(canvas);
var bitmapcanvas:Bitmap = new Bitmap(bitmapcanvasdata);
//put bitmap on stage
this.addChild(bitmapcanvas);
function createBall():void{
var ball_o:Object = new Object();
var ball:Sprite = new Sprite();
ball.graphics.beginFill(0x000000, .5);
ball.graphics.drawCircle(0, 0, 3);
ball.graphics.endFill();
addChild(ball);
ball_o.ball = ball;
for (var i:int = 0; i < total_balls; i++){
createBall();
}var anchor:Sprite = new Sprite();anchor.graphics.beginFill(0x333333, .6);
anchor.graphics.drawCircle(0, 0, 12);
anchor.graphics.endFill();
addChild(anchor);var div:Number = .1;
var line_max_width:Number = 64;
var line_min_width:Number = 1;
var line_width:Number = randomRange(line_min_width, line_max_width);
var line_width_velocity:Number = 0;
var dampen:Number = 0.95;var anchorvx:Number = 0;
var anchorvy:Number = 0;anchor.x = stage.stageWidth/2;
anchor.y = stage.stageHeight/2;var colors:Object = new Object();
colors.r = 150;
colors.g = 100;
colors.b = 200;
colors.rv = 0;
colors.gv = 0;
colors.bv = 0;
colors.rd = 100;
colors.gd = 150;
colors.bd = 200;
colors.rmin = randomRange(0, 30); //0
colors.rmax = randomRange(colors.rmin, colors.rmin + colors.rd); //100
colors.gmin = randomRange(0, 60); //100
colors.gmax = randomRange(colors.gmin, colors.gmin + colors.gd); //200
colors.bmin = randomRange(0, 50); //150
colors.bmax = randomRange(colors.bmin, colors.bmin + colors.bd); //250
colors.rate_of_change = 10;
var color_first:Number = 0xFFFFFF;
var color_second:Number = rgb2hex(colors.r, colors.g, colors.b);function loop (e:Event = null) {
//anchor
anchorvx += randomRangeAxis(10);
anchorvy += randomRangeAxis(10);
anchor.x += anchorvx;
anchor.y += anchorvy;
anchorvx *= dampen;
anchorvy *= dampen;
if(anchor.x > stage.stageWidth) anchor.x = 0 – anchor.width;
else if(anchor.x < 0 - anchor.width) anchor.x = stage.stageWidth;
if(anchor.y > stage.stageHeight) anchor.y = 0 – anchor.height;
else if(anchor.y < 0 - anchor.height) anchor.y = stage.stageHeight;
//linewidth
line_width_velocity += randomRangeAxis(1);
line_width += line_width_velocity;
line_width_velocity *= dampen;
if(line_width > line_max_width) {
line_width = line_max_width;
line_width_velocity = 0;
}
else if (line_width < line_min_width) {
line_width = line_min_width;
line_width_velocity = 0;
}
//color step
color_step();
color_first = color_second;
color_second = rgb2hex(colors.r, colors.g, colors.b);
//loop through balls and draw lines
for (var i:int = 0; i < total_balls; i++){
balls[i].oldx = balls[i].ball.x;
balls[i].oldy = balls[i].ball.y;
balls[i].ball.x -= balls[i].ax = (balls[i].ax + (balls[i].ball.x - (anchor.x + randomRangeAxis(line_width * balls[i].drift))) * div) * .9;
balls[i].ball.y -= balls[i].ay = (balls[i].ay + (balls[i].ball.y - (anchor.y + randomRangeAxis(line_width * balls[i].drift))) * div) * .9;
balls[i].dx = balls[i].x - balls[i].oldx;
balls[i].dy = balls[i].y - balls[i].oldy;
canvas.graphics.moveTo(balls[i].oldx, balls[i].oldy);
canvas.graphics.lineStyle(randomRangeAxis(balls[i].line_width_drift,line_width), color_first, 1, true, LineScaleMode.NONE, CapsStyle.NONE);
balls[i].gradientBoxMatrix.createGradientBox(Math.abs(balls[i].dx), Math.abs(balls[i].dy), Math.atan2(balls[i].dy,balls[i].dx), Math.min(balls[i].oldx, balls[i].ball.x), Math.min(balls[i].oldy, balls[i].ball.y));
canvas.graphics.lineGradientStyle(GradientType.LINEAR, [color_first + balls[i].color_drift, color_second + balls[i].color_drift], [map(line_width,line_max_width,line_min_width, .1, .9),map(line_width,line_max_width,line_min_width, .1, .9)], [0, 255], balls[i].gradientBoxMatrix);
canvas.graphics.lineTo(balls[i].ball.x, balls[i].ball.y);
}
//copy graphics drawings to bitmapdata and clear graphics
flush();
}
function flush():void {
//draw stage to bitmap
bitmapcanvasdata.draw(canvas);
//replace bitmapdata of bitmap
bitmapcanvas.bitmapData = bitmapcanvasdata;
//erase vectors on stage
canvas.graphics.clear();
}this.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, loop)function rgb2hex(r:Number, g:Number, b:Number):Number {
return(r<<16 | g<<8 | b);
}
function color_step(){
colors.rv += randomRangeAxis(colors.rate_of_change);
colors.r += colors.rv;
colors.rv *= dampen;
if (colors.r > colors.rmax) {
colors.r = colors.rmax;
} else if (colors.r < colors.rmin){
colors.r = colors.rmin;
}
colors.gv += randomRangeAxis(colors.rate_of_change);
colors.g += colors.gv;
colors.gv *= dampen;
if (colors.g > colors.gmax) {
colors.g = colors.gmax;
} else if (colors.g < colors.gmin){
colors.g = colors.gmin;
}
colors.bv += randomRangeAxis(colors.rate_of_change);
colors.b += colors.bv;
colors.bv *= dampen;
if (colors.b > colors.bmax) {
colors.b = colors.bmax;
} else if (colors.b < colors.bmin){
colors.b = colors.bmin;
}
}
//random number between min and max
function randomRange(max:Number, min:Number = 0):Number {
return Math.random() * (max - min) + min;
}
//random number range centered at 0 with the specified max, randomRange(-max, max)
function randomRangeAxis(max:Number, axis:Number = 0):Number {
return Math.random() * (max * 2) - max + axis;
}
//normalize(value, min, max) takes a value within a given range and converts it to a number between 0 and 1 (actually it can be outside that range if the original value is outside its range).
function normalize(value:Number, minimum:Number, maximum:Number):Number {
return (value - minimum) / (maximum - minimum);
}
//interpolate(min, max, value) is linear interpolation. It takes a normalized value and a range and returns the actual value for the interpolated value in that range.
function interpolate(normValue:Number, minimum:Number, maximum:Number):Number {
return minimum + (maximum - minimum) * normValue;
}
//map(value, min1, max1, min2, max2) takes a value in a given range (min1, max1) and finds the corresonding value in the next range(min2, max2).
function map(value:Number, min1:Number, max1:Number, min2:Number, max2:Number):Number {
return interpolate( normalize(value, min1, max1), min2, max2);
}
[/cc]
download
Here’s the gen-art-08-multiple-lines-scalable.swf as well as the gen-art-08-multiple-lines-scalable.fla to download and explore. And as always if you’ve got ideas or suggestions, comment below. One thing I’m struggling with is that now although the experiment is truly generative, it’s no longer interactive.
To make it more interesting and give more depth and texture to the display, I wanted to have more lines than one, so I’m now going with two for starters. Eventually I’d like to get up to a dozen or maybe even have them randomly self populate and die over time. Adding one more isn’t a whole lot of code, but it did require a bit of rearranging. I created a sprite container for each line, and then basically doubled any var used by one line for the other. When calculating the position for the second line I added a bit of randomness, so it wouldn’t be drawn in the exact same position of the first line. Plus, when drawing the second line I adjust the alpha/transparency a bit and the line width. A big issues that I notice right away is that the memory noticeably begins to suffer after a bit of drawing. After some investigation I determined it is (at least in part) the fact that the lines now have to blend with the lines below them with transparency. If I set the alpha properties in the lineGradientStyle to 1 and 1 the performance is much better. Any ideas of how to fix this? I’m guessing I should start investigating bitmap data.
var div:Number = .1;
var line_max_width:Number = 64;
var line_min_width:Number = 1;
var line_width:Number = randomRange(line_min_width, line_max_width);
var line_width_velocity:Number = 0;
var dampen:Number = 0.95;
var ballax:Number = 0;
var ballay:Number = 0;
var oldx:Number = ball.x;
var oldy:Number = ball.y;
var ball2ax:Number = 0;
var ball2ay:Number = 0;
var old2x:Number = ball2.x;
var old2y:Number = ball2.y;
var anchorvx:Number = 0;
var anchorvy:Number = 0;
anchor.x = stage.stageWidth/2;
anchor.y = stage.stageHeight/2;
ball2.x = randomRangeAxis(10);
var gradientBoxMatrix:Matrix = new Matrix();
I just realized that I hadn’t updated the site about it, but I’m now (since a couple months) interactive designer/developer with Redworks, subsidiary or Ogilvy & Mather in Atlanta! I’ll be doing all kinds of interactive designing and programming, specifically with flash and I’m stoked to be waist deep in Flash and as3 daily.
What? You ask is RedWorks? Well, I have been explaining it to so many that I figured I’d post this awesome video that explains it better than I ever could! Enjoy, this if from the RedWorks 3D office in NY.
I have had feedback that certain random movements I program are a bit “jumpy”. Such as my old brownian movement tutorial and I really noticed it in my last tutorial, the parallax 3d depth effect tutorial. I’ve been thinking about it and looking around at some code and now have this updated brownian movement example! Updated for as3 as well as making it less jumpy.
First I’ll explain what I’ve found to be the reason of the jumpiness. And then explain and show what can be done to make this movement be more smooth.
So to examine the old jumpy code. Jump back to the first version post here. I think my technique was well thought out here, but the application was poor. It was recalculating the velocities every single frame and then incrementing the coordinate positions by the newly calculated velocities… This is where the jumpiness comes in. Even though the random value was named velocity, it didn’t actually affect the dot’s velocity, it was just a variable that stored the random value used to move the current x/y coordinates.
To help the animation be more smooth, the velocity needs to be more smooth. The velocity, rather than calculating it fresh each frame, should be randomly modified each frame. And then the new velocity will calculate the new ‘random’ position. Another addition is to introduce another force to dampen the velocity over time, so things don’t get too crazy…
Steps:
Modify velocity randomly
With velocity and current position, calculate a new position
Dampen the velocity
Example:
Here I have a velocity for the x coordinate as well as the y. I’m also experimenting with a z velocity. This adjusts the alpha and scale for depth perception. It doesn’t actually edit the depth or layer the dot shows up on the stage however… keyword here: experimenting. 🙂
[kml_flashembed fversion=”8.0.0″ movie=”https://circlecube.com/circlecube/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2009/02/as3random_brownian_movement.swf” targetclass=”flashmovie” publishmethod=”dynamic” width=”550″ height=”550″ wmode=”transparent”]
[/kml_flashembed]
Actionscript:
[cc lang=”actionscript”]
//number of balls
var numBalls:uint = 50;
var defaultBallSize:uint = 30;
I’ve had quite a few questions about how to make depth in flash. Earlier (like, 2 years ago) I put up an experiment file to give some interactive depth to some sketchbook sketches, see Floating Sketches. I’ve finally gotten around to translating that into as3. It’s still the same basic idea, Create layers of levels, and have each one respond to the mouse a little differently. The ‘closer’ depths will move faster while the farther away depths will be slower. A simple technique called Parallax.
Seperate the scene into layers
Place the layers in the correct depth
Make closer layers react fast and farther layers slower
[cc lang=”actionscript”]
//define number of layer.
var numLayers:uint = 15;
//number of items in a layer
var numBallsPerLayer:uint = 100;
var defaultBallSize:uint = 25;
var stageWidth3d:uint = 800;
var stageHeight3d:uint = 800;
var layers:Array = new Array();
//init
makeMatrix();
//3d created by layers and placing objects on each layer – the layer has it’s own distance, simulated by movement and alpha
function makeMatrix():void {
//walk through desired number of layers
for (var layerNum:uint=0; layerNumSource
StomperNet now has a site map. Only it’s much bigger than just a site map, we’re calling it Stomper Universe! It contains all the pieces parts that make up StomperNet. It links to different sites, video series, tools, and more by giving a 3D interactive space to inspect the thumbnails and click through to the sites! It will help visitors navigate easily to all areas of StomperNet, whether they are new to them or old favorites.
Gives feel of perspective and depth by reacting to mouse movements. The effect is parallax, read more…
The city images are very choppy and ugly, I know, it’s just a test.
[kml_flashembed publishmethod=”dynamic” fversion=”9.0.0″ movie=”https://circlecube.com/circlecube/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2008/02/city.swf” width=”550″ height=”350″ targetclass=”flashmovie”]
[/kml_flashembed]
Sample Actionscript. This in on one of the buildings which are separate movie clips. Adjust the equation for different effect.
The basic formula is as follows: this._x = _root._xmouse / (speed) + transform
[cc lang=”actionscript” tab_size=”2″ lines=”40″]
onClipEvent (enterFrame) {
this._x = _root._xmouse/7 – 50;
}
[/cc]
Update: Here’s a similar effect achieved by just negating the relation between the mouse and the building movie clips.
Here’s the new circlecube logo! I’ve had it for a while, but hadn’t uploaded it.
I still have to update my theme to incorporate it. I like the green transparent circlecube graphic in the header now but it’s gotta go… and plus it’s a little too green.
I just realized that I hadn’t updated the site about it, but I’m now (since a couple months) interactive designer/developer with Redworks, subsidiary or Ogilvy & Mather in Atlanta! I’ll be doing all kinds of interactive designing and programming, specifically with flash and I’m stoked to be waist deep in Flash and as3 daily.
First I’ll explain what I’ve found to be the reason of the jumpiness. And then explain and show what can be done to make this movement be more smooth.
I’ve had quite a few questions about how to make depth in flash. Earlier (like, 2 years ago) I put up an experiment file to give some interactive depth to some sketchbook sketches, see 
