User:Eleanorg/Prototyping Notes 13 Oct 2011

13 Oct 2011

Prototyping 1.1 Topics: Inkscape, Cadavre Exquis, Digital metaphors for analogue processes

- We played Exquisite Corpse (like 'Consequences' with images), then tried to do the same with Inkscape

TANGENTS

- Essay defending collaboration against criticisms of 'design by committee': see Libre Graphics Mag 1.3, "Look at my Camel..." - See Graham Harwood & Yokokoji (YoHa): 'coal fired computers' at http://www.avfestival.co.uk/videos/discovery-exhibitions - Related to SVG animation: CSS animation. Coming from iOS, being pushed by Apple. Implemented in Safari + latest Firefox. - Historical 'baggage' is detectable in an SVG file's XML sourcecode: eg, the name Sodipodi is still present in the code even though this project was renamed 'Inkscape' some time ago. Excavation, layers, traces.

SVG - archipels.be/fishtank - Michael's project using SVGs on a website. SVGs animated w/Javascript

INKSCAPE

Uses XML SVG - see W3C for standards - You can view your image as XML (Shift + Ctrl+X), or open .SVG file in a text editor

- SVG uses tag structure similar to HTML: <g> - groups (layers) <path> - vector path <rect> - rectangle <circle> - circle

- Try opening an SVG file in a text editor, adding tags and opening in inkscape - drawing in a text editor. false division between image and text - relation to xhtml contempt for images representing text? - Images are 'closed'; tho SVG is open (you can even 'view source' in a browser or manipulate w/Javascript) - See Apple Netwon - device that attempted hand-writing recognition when you wrote on it with stylus. Running joke, unable to translate accurately. - You can set interactive qualities in Inkscape (Shift + Ctrl + O) - eg, behaviour 'onmouseover' etc - try typing: "alert("I am a blue square") into one of the fields - paperjs.org - new javascript library to let you make graphics w/javascript. Working on SVG support, uses Canvas (?)

- Link to software - final image is like compiled code; SVG is source code - lots of other apps can read, write & represent SVGs now - even browsers now display SVG (IE =>9 only) - XML allows different formats in one document - Layers etc not part of SVG format, but added by Inkscape. Choice when you save of either 'plain SVG' or 'Inkscape SVG' (w/added sexiness).

EXQUISITE CORPSE WITH INKSCAPE - or, DIGITAL METAPHORS

- How to create 'folds' digitally? (Ie, hide part of your drawing and leave a part revealed for the next person to build on) - interesting trying to translate a simple analogue action into a digital equivalent. Really there is no equivalent, except conceptually. - Relates to broader question of digital metaphors - 'desktop' etc. 'General Magic' company in '80s took this to extremes, with 'office corridors' etc. Though iPad/Kindle etc apps are now going back in this direction - 'realistic' books, etc. - various solutions. One is: duplicate your drawing on a new layer; hide original layer; erase everything in new layer that you don't want next person to see. Layers thus act as a kind of 'revision history'. - As opposed to paper fold, the part revealed needn't be at the edge of your drawing - it could be a portion in the middle. You can choose to hide and reveal any parts you like.