#L-system/Lparser
11 messages in this thread
I know somebody out there is using Lparser, because I heard about it on this
forum.
I would like to learn more about L-systems so I can grow my own… <g>
fractals, that is, I don't do that other stuff anymore. My problem is I'm a
total mathematical imbecile. It was always my weakest discipline in school.
But if someone could point me to a good, understandeable bood on l-system
fractals, I'd be very grateful.
Gratefully,
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
John,
LPARSER is available in GRAPHDEV [I think]. The docs for the program point to
2 books – Algorithmic Beauty of Plants and Evolutionary Art and Computers. In
my quest to find these, I noted that Media Magic had both – book stores don't.
One is published by Springer-Verlag, the other Academic Press. If you buy
Evolutionary Art from the publisher you'll save $20.
IMO, both books are work getting, though ABP deals more with L-systems and
you'll find many of LPARSER's .LS files come from its pages. For ideas on what
to do with LPARSER I've found Evol Art pretty good.
As for learning LPARSER, after going ga-ga over Dinofly, I picked a simple tree
and started changing the file. Then I clipped a thingamabob from a mutant file
and pasted it on. I think what I like best is getting shapes that look
'organic.'
I'd like to see your creation, if you're willing to share it. Eli.
P.S. Fractint has a slew of 2-D L-system code examples.
Thanks for the info. I'm going to look for the books mentioned, but I was just
gearing up for a tough learning curve because I'm so bad at math.
I suppose a healthy does of l-system rules and a little experimentation, and a
lot of luck will yeild some results.
I tried tweaking some of the supplied .ls files, but I didn't get anything I
liked, so I figured there must be something I'm missing.
Thanks for the info,
John Tissavary (La Luna cie)
John: Is L-Parser available on CIS? I looked for it briefly after the blurb
in 3D Artist, but didn't find it.
Dave
PMJI… GRAPHDEV/Lib 6/LPARSE.ZIP E.
HNTFJIFFTDSAT! (Heck, No! Thanks For Jumping In, Feel Free To Do So Any Time!
<g>
Dave
John,
I used L-parser in an animation. I haven't bought any books on L-systems yet.
Basically, L-parser interprets a (very terse) language for creating geometry.
It is more like a programming language than a mathematical language, but it is
very wierd. I was able to figure out how to modify the sample files and get
the results I expected.
I've had two problems with it. One is that if I creat an object and then
modify the l-system parser file for it to make morph target object for it, it
does not morph correctly. I guess this is a vertex ordering problem.
The other problem is that the seed objects have to be in RenderStar .vol
format. I wish I could use a simpler sphere than the spherical .vol seed
objects supplied with l-parser. Anybody got a .vol -> dxf converter?
Bailey
See, this is where you've got the major jump on me… I have no idea what you
were talking in your reply to my Lparser question. But I do understand that
it's more like a programming language. Any advice on how to get a grasp (no
matter how feeble) on it?
Thanks,
jt
John,
I'd get whichever book the other guy said the example .ls files were taken
from. Then I'd just experiment by loading the .ls generated meshes into 3ds,
thinking up some modification you'd like to do, then trying to make it work.
Bailey
Sounds good. I was wondering, though… all those letters seem like total
gibberish, but I know they mean something. Are you able to visualize a sort of
form and then write the correct rules to implement it?
jt
John,
All I've been able to do so far is change the shape of some of the sample ls
objects to suite my taste. I haven't tried making any from scratch.
Bailey