In conversation about Gliftic

AL: I have used Gliftic for a long time, and it is my favourite program. It is almost perfect as it is. Nowadays, the things I mildly wish for are:

That the variations on a theme button didn't blitz the colour quite so much. I always have to go back and breed the original colour scheme back into whatever I choose. I am not sure what the way round that might be. If I were being very picky I would say the variations on a theme needs to be more than a tickle but less than it is at present. It is a bit strong for my liking. Hey - it's personal preference. I am sure many people love it.

OFR: You mean this dialog:

Actually "Variations on the theme" should really read "Series of tickles" because that it what it is. It simply means that you don't have to stay at the computer and push the tickle icon () 20 (or 100 or whatever) times. You can do something else while Gliftic gets on with the experimental creative work.

Actually there is a bigger problem hiding behind this dialog. You know you can do F4 to vary the form, F5 to vary the color scheme and F6 to vary the interpretation. But you have to push those buttons yourself. It would be good to be able to have more choices above for multiple image generation. For example "keep everything the same but make 20 images varying only the color scheme".

So we could add 6 more choices to the dialog box:

1. Vary form only.
2. Tickle form only.
3. Vary color scheme only.
4. Tickle color scheme only.
5. Vary interpretation only.
6. Tickle interpretation only.

In I am scared this would confuse people too much.

(Dear reader if you are already confused its all really simple, see this page for an explantion). Also see this diagram which explains the basic Gliftic idea graphically:

AL: I am frustrated by not being able to view the tiled image in a browser. I still always work with Gliftic open and Photoimpact open so I can properly see the result. Sometimes I work at large size and tile it by 9 to get an idea of what the tiling will be.

OFR: Yes, I think you have a good idea there, it would not be hard to do. If V6 does not have it then remind me! But don't hold your breath for V6.

AL: Other than that I am quite happy. I use Gliftic for loads of things, as you know - not all of them to do with art. I have recommended this program to loads of people, and occasionally one will download the demo and mail me to say they DO NOT GET IT.

OFR: Well, I must admit, it is a pretty strange way of deciding how to create images. I've tried explaining it in many different ways. I've come to the conclusion its like Buddhism, its just left lying around, if someone finds it good, otherwise... Anyway, no prosthelityzing.

AL: I wish I had stuck with Rapt. I wish you had stuck with Rapt. Rapt is something that really belongs in a week-long Italian workshop to get everyone started. There needs to be the input of a human being to get people started in programming. Well at least for me. It's weird. Yes, I have had a great deal of training in applications, and I can turn my hand to almost anything in the graphics world. But I haven't been able to teach myself programming. I can use bits - have to all the time in web design - but I just don't see the overall picture. I just couldn't get my head round Rapt in the time I had. Yes, I know. I needed to give it more time.

OFR: (Rapt was Ransen's Artistic Programming Tutor, explained a little here). I've come to the conclusion that programming is a craft which you learn slowly. You need to want to learn a craft. Despite what Bill stays it is not "drag and drop". You need to think and think and think and write a first version and then realise that you've not thunk hard enough and re-write the first version and call it a second version. And like when you are learning crafts you have to make some real rubbish initially, thats the only way to learn. Like Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists.

AL: The future of Gliftic?

OFR: I reckon vector output and presets are pretty useful. It means that you can bring in full color resolution independent designs into Corel Draw and Illustrator. And you have been asking for presets since the year dot. Again, don't hold your breath. But I wish you were wrong and I could say "its not important" and then I could stop thinking about how it has to be done technically!

Anyway, sometimes the future is now, and Gliftic continues to surprise me! look what my 8 year old daughter managed to come up with just by pushing the three function keys F4 F5 and F6:

Since writing this article Gliftic has been renamed Gliftex.

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