Tattoo Design: Making Patterns in discreet combustion: M.C. Esch My choice of example - tattoo art - is fairly arbitrary. ItÕs something I happen to be interested in. The real topic is patterns, and there are a great many applications for creating patterns and shapes in compositing. However, I am going to stick with my original thread of patterns as art in and of themselves, and close with a bit about the master of complex patterns, M.C. Escher. Escher was interested in (obsessed with?) a mathematical idea called "regular division of the plane". Escher defines the regular division of the plane as follows: "A plane, which should be considered limitless on all sides, can be filled with or divided into similar geometric figures that border each other on all sides without leaving any Ôempty spacesÕ. This can be carried on to infinity according to a limited number of systems." The simplest example of regular division of the plane is tiled floors, and the simplest of those are square tiles. The potentially infinite plane of the floor is divided into similar geometric figures - squares - that border each other on all sides without leaving any empty spaces. The same can be said of tiles that are diamond-shaped, triangular, and hexagonal; fitting them together is slightly more complicated than squares, but the principle is the same. The Moors went far beyond simple square tiles in the incredibly complex patterns of tiles decorating the Alhambra, from which Escher derived much inspiration. However, EscherÕs contribution to this theme was going beyond dividing a plane with geometric shapes, to dividing planes with images. Starting with a pattern of shapes, he used several techniques he characterized as "sliding", "rotation", and "glide reflection" to divide a plane with recognizable pictures rather than geometric shapes. The pictured woodcut by Escher depicts sliding (the simplest technique) parallelograms to get a pattern of fish and birds. ***See figure c1.woodcut1.jpg What does any of this have to do with CG? While Escher toiled with rulers, pencils, knives, wood, and spent countless hours creating countless failed experiments, we have the malleability of vector art and instance duplication. By creating a pattern of instance-duplicated shapes, you can edit one and watch every "tile" on the entire plane change with it, and immediately make any alterations you wish. Consider the progression of birds I created. It was made in a matter of minutes, rather than days or months, and could easily be animated to "take shape" from the diamonds. ***See figure c1.progression.jpg That particular example may not have widespread application, but I am attempting to open a door. Like any good CG program, combustion gives you limitless possibilities for new applications, innovations, and techniques. Like a paint brush or a knife, it is simply a tool with which to create art; itÕs up to you how to use it. Bibliography "1000 Tattoos", Henk Schiffmacher, 1996 Taschen GmbH "M.C. Escher - His Life and Complete Graphic Work", F.H. Bool, J.R. Kist, J.L. Locher, F. Weirda, 1981 1992 Abradale Press