New Masters of Flash is both a global showcase and a practical tutorial book aimed at professional and aspiring designers who are looking for novel inspirations and imaginative techniques.
NEW.MASTERS.OF.FLASH.V3.IMAGES
My contribution to the book was the step-by-step tutorial deconstruction of four advanced ActionScript projects. They fall within topics of Complexity Theory.
Recursion, chaos, combination, and networks, the four topics covered in Jared Tarbell’s chapter titled ‘Complexify’.
Recursion
The first deconstruction of my chapter is a garden arrangement of classic recursive structures. The structures are similar to trees and have been enhanced to make this representation clearer. Each structure is as unique as a snowflake. They are arranged in a grid so you may observe each individual specimen, or view them as a comparative whole.
Step By Step Instructions.
Step 1, Lola Brine hand draws the eight limbs from which all trees will be composed
Chaos
The Trema field is the most straightforward of the chapter’s projects. It is a complex graphic construction built from the exhaustive repetition of a simple random step.
Source Code for EVERYTHING
The Code for this entire project fits on one page (the lower right corner).
Combination
One of my favorite areas of computer science is combinatorics, or the complete manifestation of all possible combinations in a discrete system. Here, I have created a small 15-bit combinatoric system of constructions affectionately called Invaders.
The Invaders in turn occupy Spaceships, that recursive fit into a region, giving the fractal-like appearance of the first image above.
The entire process, from the mathematics of putting together each Invader, to the naming of the layers in the project file, is explained in detail within the pages of the chapter. Variations of the theme exist on the CD-ROM that accompanies the book.
All 32,768 Invaders
Wow, they really got all of them on one page!
Networks
A binary network is a collection of switches tied together in an ad-hoc network. Each switch can be in one of two states: off or on, charged or uncharged, 0 or 1. A giant system wide clock determines when the nodes change state, and all nodes change state at precisely the same time.
The next state of the switch is determined by the states of the switches it is connected to. The simplest determining rule (and the one applied in the project) works like this:
If an odd number of connected switches is on, then the switch turns on.
If an even number of connected switches is on, then the switch turns off.
I describe not only how to build such a system, but also step through the construction of its visualization as a computational artifact. The tutorial provides all code plus some basic theory and ideas for elaboration.
Node Love
Oh, node we love thee.
NEW.MASTERS.OF.FLASH.V3.PHOTOGRAPHS
With over 400 edge-to-edge full-color pages of Flash goodness, this is a great book to leave both on the coffee table and in the studio. An international collection of experienced Flash users bring their unique perspectives into the third volume of the New Masters series, like spices in an exotic meal.
Introduction by Brendan Dawes!
Photographs of the pages within New Masters of Flash Volume 3:
Chapter 2, Adam Phillips
Chapter 3, Billy Bussey
Chapter 4, Anthony Eden
Chapter 5, Oliver Shaw
Chapter 6, Shane Mielke
Chapter 7, Nathalie Lawhead
Chapter 8, Jared Tarbell
Chapter 9, Ola Bergner
Chapter 10, Todd Marks
Chapter 11, Kristin Henry
Chapter 12, Keith Peters
Chapter 13, Simone Legno
Chapter 14, Danny Franzreb
Many Page Photographs within New Masters of Flash Volume Three.
Published by Friends of ED.
New Masters of Flash Volume 3 Mini-Site!
Special thanks to all involved!
Commissioning Editor
Steve Rycroft
Graphic Designer and Compositor
Katy Freer
Technical Editors
Matthew Knight
Steve Rycroft
Consulting Editor
Sham Bhangal
Editorial Board
Steve Anglin, Dan Appleman, Ewan Buckingham, Gary Cornell, Tony davis, John Franklin, Jason Gilmore, Chris Mills, Steve Rycroft, Dominic Shakeshaft, Jim Sumser, Karen Watterson, Gavin Wray, John Zukowski
Project Manager
Beckie Stones
Copy Edit Manager
Nicole LeClerc
Copy Editors
Nicole LeClerc
Rebecca Rider
Production Manager
Kari Brooks
Production Editor and Proofreader
Katie Stence
CD Design
Pete Aylward
Copyright Research
Beckie Stones
Indexer
Kevin Brocolli
Cover Design
Danny Franzreb, Katy Freer, Kurt Krames
Manufacturing Manager
Tom Debolski
New Masters of Flash Volume 3 , paperback
477 pages | 1st edition | Friends of Ed