Summary

We Like 2 Draw is a collaborative drawing board with unique computational capabilities. Rather than competing with the pen and paper, which excel at what they do, we like 2 draw hopes to create a virtual environment for creation that exploits the velocity and particular strengths of today's processors. Copying, networking and iterating are difficult with pen and paper, but simple on a CPU. We Like 2 Draw allows users to copy images from around the web or their own computer, mix them with other images, scrawl over them with digital markers, save and share them.

We Like 2 Draw can do more. We Like 2 Draw can use iteration to fractalize your drawings into intricate patterns by transforming them and copying them over and over. You can specify the type of transformation by drawing straight line segments on the board. And WeLike2Draw remembers. Every stroke and image you make is stored in an XML file. Your drawing can be played back to you like a movie. You can edit your drawing in a non-linear way by analyzing the XML tree. This XML file is like the DNA of a drawing. And like DNA this information can mix and mash and spawn new drawings and evolve through algorithmic mutations.

Description

We Like 2 Draw is a web application for drawing with images. It is written in processing, javascript, and php and it is HTML5 compliant. People can upload their own images to the drawing board or search the web using google's image search API. Artists can save pictures of their work on the site to share with others.

Each drawing is mapped to an XML file. The XML file makes the drawing easy to play back like a movie, or process with algorithms, or edit. Viewers can visit a gallery of images created by the application and watch other people's drawing unfold by clicking on the XML file links. The project will be entirely open-source hosting our source code on the project website with full documentation.

Motivation

The WeLike2Draw project is motivated by the possibility to connect people through creativity. We hope to facilitate an artistic exchange that crosses borders and reflects upon the creative potential of the integrated circuit, and the computational processes it powers.

Screen Capture

Schedule

April 9 Arrive
April 10 Gather team, setup version control, assign tasks.
April 11-15 Standardize XML format and playback. Add timeline widget to navigate the XML movie playing. Create icons and CSS color scheme for the site. Implement Undo and Redo buttons. Update to latest google image search API. Update all buttons to CSS3.
April 16-18 Optimize the fractalization function. Make screen casts showing how to fractalize a drawing and load images. Add tool tips and instructions dynamically linked to every button.
April 19-21 User testing on major browsers and mobile devices including iPhone, IPad, and other tablets. Final debugging. Search engine optimization, add links and look for guest blogging opportunities. Submit drawings to art blogs and online galleries.
April 22 Document code and drawings. Make presentation about experiece at interactivos 13. Print high quality versions of the best drawings made with We Like 2 Draw.
April 23 Demo and Display. Divertirnos..