Graphics Code Sites Notes

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This site is based off of the same basic idea as Mutating Pictures; That is, it simulates evolution and artificial selection. Users are presented with two images and are asked to choose which one looks more like an object, such as a face. Based on which image they choose, "offspring" are produced, hopefully continuing any favorable traits contained by the original image.

Each image is made up of random shapes. Some contain arbitrarily placed triangles, some contain only circles of varying radii, and some contain a mixture. When an image is chosen over another image, offspring are generated. The number of offspring depends on the percentage of "battles" against other images that have been "won." The more often an image is favored over another, the more offspring it produces. The offspring contain random variations of the shapes that made up the parent. Positions, sizes, angles, and even color (there's two, green and white) are subject to change.

Images don't necessarily die out like they do on Philipp Lenssen's Mutating Pictures. Instead, images simply become less likely to be shown to the user for comparison. Images that are not chosen as being more like the target object are slowly phased out, but there is still a possibility for it to be displayed. However, this chance decreases each time an image "loses."

The basic idea is that as users continue to choose images with ideal qualities, at least one of the offspring will be even more favorable. If not, the offspring will be "naturally" phased out.

What's unique about ImageEvolution as compared to Mutating Pictures is the user flexibility. If a user sees a picture of a body but they feel it looks more like a turtle, they can create a branch. This adds more possible subjects of images.

On the technical side of things, it's fairly simple. Images are generated from an array of data using PHP's GD functions, and cached. This array is what is modified when an offspring is produced, stored in a MySQL database (In addition to other basic info such as the subject of the image) by using multiple levels of implode.