quadrium 2.1 review
Downloadquadrium is an application that combines mathematics, data flow models, and genetic programming techniques, wrapped into a standard Macintosh user interface that allows you to create an infinite variety of artistic images, textures, and backgrounds.
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quadrium is an application that combines mathematics, data flow models, and genetic programming techniques, wrapped into a standard Macintosh user interface that allows you to create an infinite variety of artistic images, textures, and backgrounds.
quadrium allows you to easily create a wide variety of different images, from fractals to M.C. Escher, it does it all. It also takes advantage of the powers and features of OS X.
quadrium supports multiple CPUs and Altivec to increase the speed of rendering.
quadrium combines a series of mathematic operations that converts the coordinate of the image to a specific color. For example, in a simple case, the X axis might correspond to red, which would make a simple gradient from black to red. However, these operations can be extremely complex, generating various textures (from regularly spaced dots or lines to random turbulence to fractal images), warping/tiling others (which allows you to create an M.C. Escher-like 'Circle Limit' image, or just a repeatable pattern suitable for a background or desktop), or subtle coloration (from gradients to variety of color adjustments and compositing).
But, you might say, "This sounds complicated."
quadrium is designed to make it easy - you start with a sample image and then you can just "mutate" it to make variations until you find something more in line with what you had imagined. Or, if you want something that looks like two other images, you can "breed" the images together to produce new images with qualities from the two parent images. Or you can actually play with the "DNA" of the image, represented as a simple flow diagram - adjust different parameters and settings and see the results of your experiments with live feedback. You can then add in more nodes to your work, from the 150+ available. The possibilities are limited by your creativity (and since it can make random mutations, even your creativity won't limit it).
When you're done, you can render a high quality TIFF file (which can be automatically added to an iPhoto gallery) or print it on your printer. You can also share your works with others locally (via Rendezvous) or globally (via your iDisk). And since the images are essentially just formulas, something that is 40K or smaller produces even the largest and most detailed of images.
Here are some key features of "quadrium":
Supports multiple CPUs to increase the speed of rendering
Supports Altivec to further increase the speed of rendering
Share your images with others locally using Rendezvous
Share your images world wide using your .Mac account
Can automatically create an iPhoto gallery of your work
Renders/Prints high resolution images in the background, allowing you to continue to create
Unlimited undo.
What's New:
Extensive additions to the fractal nodes - both kinds and functionality (such as trap blending modes)
Seamless textures support - now you can easily make seamless textures
ColorSync support, including dynamic image adjustment
AppleScriptability - manipulate the image structure using AppleScript, automate building common structures, etc...
And of course, bug fixes, new nodes (20+).
Requirements:
G4 or better recommended.
quadrium 2.1 keywords