Tips for Preset Evolution in MSG Evolver
You could easily spend hours, days, or months endlessly creating new MSG presets by using directed evolution. However, like a pinball machine, knowing how to shake the machine can improve the results. Here are some more tips to help you get optimal results when evolving new presets in MSG Evolver.
First tip, choose something appropriate to start with. If you are a novice this probably means choosing one of over a thousand factory MSG presets we give you to get started. Or something you have previously made that looks good to you. Another approach is to first build an underlying MSG processor structure for the kind of effect you want to create. Then work with directed evolution until you start getting things you like.
With the example preset image shown above, i knew i wanted to create fractal imagery. And i also knew i wanted to create more interesting colorings than just mapping a monochrome fractal attractor image through a color gradient. So i first constructed a suitable MSG Processor Chain in the Processor Chain Editor to provide the basis of the effect i was looking for.
A simple approach to generate more color diversity from what are essentially monochrome fractal effects is to run 3 separate fractal generators into the R, G, and B output channels. I used a IterMapGen processor for the imagery above with generates a specific kind of fractal attractor as a black and white output image.
I wanted to have a lot of detail, so i used the ICompressor processor to maximaize the output of each fractal generator. I then used a ForceColorMap processor to generate a complex color mapping based on the 3 channel RGB image input and 2 mapping color palettes. This approach generates much more elaborate color mappings than a generic style 1to3GradMap processor which just maps the 1 channel image into a color gradient.
Clicking on any of the small 16 evolution cells will then evolve 15 new cells based on the one you clicked. Many novice users forget that they can control the amount of randomization in the parameter mutation for both the editable parameters as well as the underlying color palettes or color gradients. You do this by bring up the Evolve Settings sub panel in the main Evolve mode operation pane, detailed in the screen shot below. By reducing the Random Spread and Random Deviation % values you can decrease diversity in the new evolved presets. Typically you begin with high diversity (high values like 100%) and then decrease the values over time once you find a preset you like that you wish to continue to evolve with more subtle variations.
Studio Artist Blog
Friday, April 28, 2006
MSG Processor Chain used as starting point for directed evolution. Note how i lock the ICompressors so they stay at my initial optimized settings when the preset is evolved.
How to bring up the Evolve Settings sub panel to decrease or increase diversity in directed evolution.
High Diversity
evolution results.
Low Diversity
evolution results.