Create digital art on the Raspberry Pi

04 July 2022

The new issue of The MagPi is out now, including my four-page tutorial on ArtEvolver, an ever-changing digital artwork I've created. ArtEvolver blends together images, constantly changing their transparency. Each time you look at it, you'll see a fresh mix of the images.

For my installation, I've curated a collection of 1,000 images, but you can use maybe 10 to try it out, and get good results with 100 images. Some of the images are my own, and some are from online libraries. I sought out textures (stone, paper, oil paints) and colour gradients, as well as interesting abstract shapes. There is an element of trial and error. Some images didn't work as well as I hoped for, and so I removed them again.

I'm really happy with how this project came out. From a technical point of view, the key was working out how to index all the images in Python, which makes it scalable because you can easily add and remove images without changing code. From a reader's point of view, the project has a low barrier to entry while offering potential for self expression. The code is documented but can just be cut and pasted, and customisation is simply a question of sourcing and curating images. The finished installation looks great mounted in a picture frame, but you can run it on the Raspberry Pi desktop without any additional hardware. Special effects can be added to the base images using ImageMagick, as explained in the previous issue of The Magpi. I hope that readers will create their own ArtEvolver installations.

You can download the ArtEvolver code, and see some more sample images here.

The MagPi is available for download as a free PDF here. You can support the magazine by donating when you download, by buying a copy in your newsagent, or by subscribing.

For more Raspberry Pi resources, visit my Raspberry Pi tutorials hub here.

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