Movie Review

Movie I watched this week: Total Recall



This movie was an old favorite of mine, I always loved the cheesy Arnold Sci-Fi flicks, especially ones written by Philip K. Dick. (And this is the first time I've been able to watch it in High Definition.) In this one he plays a regular guy in the future who is compelled to take a trip to Mars for no reason. His hot wife (1990) Sharon Stone doesn't want him to go, so he skips out on work one day and goes to a vacation memory implant center (they have those in the future, doy) to get his Mars fix.

Turns out he's had his memory altered before and he used to work for some evil corporation and they were trying to hush him up by erasing his memory and giving him a hot wife (seriously this was 1990 don't start looking at movies like "Basic Instinct 2" now) until the issue with the psychic mutant population on mars was dealt with.

Anyway he has to go to Mars for real and figure out what is going on with the evil corporation and what his own past self really uncovered for the corporation to silence him this way. The result is unadulterated Schwarzenegger action. As Quad he doesn't take shit from nobody, saves the day and the entire planet from destruction by the evil corporation. Just like the vacation memory implant center said he would... Was it all just an implanted dream? .....Who will ever know the credits roll right after they ask that question. We should ask ol' Phil Dick. Oh yeah he's dead.

Anyway this movie had some great special effects for its time. In the pre-CGI era of moviemaking they able to create a martian landscape that was believable with miniature models and created fake prostheses (like three breasted mutant working girls) that could easily be fantasized about. It's easy to understand why this movie was able to captivate so many nerds at that time. Overall it is easy to see why this movie still holds up even today as the amount of effort and creativity that went into it is mind boggling. This movie shows its age, but still ranks in my personal top twenty movies of all time.

This is the result of the posted code for creating the color wheel.

Week 5 Assignment: Script-Fu Color Wheel

;This code creates a color wheel with twelve hues that follow the same scheme as the previous color wheel assignment but is totally automated.



;Creates the image
(define img
(car
(gimp-image-new 512 512 0
)
)
)

;Displays the image
(gimp-display-new img)


;I created a background with a radial gradient for aesthetic purposes.


;Code for the Background
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Shadow" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -1)

(gimp-context-set-background '(0 0 0))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 550 0)


;For each layer creation I create a layer with a radial gradient from white to the layer color. I then select a wedge to keep and delete the rest of the layer. I then rotate it to it's correct position in the wheel.


;Code for the Red layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Red" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -1)

(gimp-context-set-background '(255 0 0))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(255 0 0))

(gimp-selection-none img)



;Code for the Orange layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Orange" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -2)

(gimp-context-set-background '(255 102 0))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(255 102 0))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE 0.523598776)



;Code for the Yellow layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Yellow" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -3)

(gimp-context-set-background '(255 255 0))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(255 255 0))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE 1.04719755)



;Code for the Chartreuse layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Chartreuse" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -4)

(gimp-context-set-background '(127 255 0))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(127 255 0))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE 1.57079633)



;Code for the Green layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Green" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -5)

(gimp-context-set-background '(0 255 0))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(0 255 0))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE 2.0943951)



;Code for the Spring Green layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Spring Green" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -6)

(gimp-context-set-background '(0 255 127))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(0 255 127))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE 2.61799388)



;Code for the Cyan layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Cyan" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -7)

(gimp-context-set-background '(0 255 255))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(0 255 255))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE 3.14159625)



;Code for the Blue layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Blue" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -8)

(gimp-context-set-background '(0 0 255))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(0 0 255))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE -2.61799388)



;Code for the Azure layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Azure" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -9)

(gimp-context-set-background '(0 127 255))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(0 127 255))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE -2.0943951)



;Code for the Violet layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Violet" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -10)

(gimp-context-set-background '(238 130 238))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(238 130 238))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE -1.57079633)



;Code for the Magenta layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Magenta" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -11)

(gimp-context-set-background '(255 0 255 ))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(255 0 255))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE -1.04719755)


;Code for the Rose layer creation
(define layer
(car
(gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Rose" 100 0
)
)
)

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -12)

(gimp-context-set-background '(255 0 127))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(255 255 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 2 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 256 256 0)

(gimp-free-select img 6 #(181 0 319 0 255 260) 2 TRUE FALSE 0)

(gimp-selection-invert img)

(gimp-edit-clear layer)

(plug-in-colortoalpha 1 img layer '(255 0 127))

(gimp-selection-none img)

(gimp-rotate layer TRUE -0.523598776)





(script-fu-register

"script-fu-ITVColorWheel"

"Color Wheel Grad"

"This script creates a color wheel\
with twelve hues that have a gradient\
which increases in value from the center."

"IsaacTV"
"copyright 2010, ITV"
"2010.2"
"RGB* GRAY*"

)
(script-fu-menu-register "script-fu-ITVColorWheel" "/Image/Filters/ITVColorWheel")

Movie Review

Spiderman 3



After hearing Rachel Nicholl speak about the work she did as Matchmovie Lead on this, I wanted to see this movie. Most notable was the sand effect used throughout the movie for the Sandman. Nicholl explained that all the code and programming for that effect was built just for that movie from scratch and the incredible amount of work and detail that went into making the effect look real was insane. Another effect that had a great amount of detail was the goo effect of the alien symbiote, which really looked like it belonged in whichever environment it was placed. The places where most detail was overlooked were the scenes that were full of action and it seemed like the audience wouldn't notice the lack of attention; a building section was flying to pieces after being smashed by an I-beam and Spidey was navigating the obviously computer generated debris. Overall though, the special effects in this movie were top notch as nothing extremely stood out of place.

With that being said about the effects, this movie was horrible. It starts out pretty good but around the middle it just goes batty. Peter goes evil, by pulling his hair down over his face, demanding the neighbor girl make him more cookies and killing people made of sand, when Spiderman shouldn't be doing any of those things. If this movie was trying to make me hate Peter, Mary Jane, and that one guy from Freaks and Geeks, they succeeded because towards the end I just wanted them all to die already. At least I partially got my wish in the last scene.

Assignment 3: Create a Gimp Script-Fu

From the work we did for the assignment in class:



(define img (car(gimp-image-new 512 512 0)))

(gimp-display-new img)

(define layer (car (gimp-layer-new img 512 512 0 "Layer1" 100 0)))

(gimp-image-add-layer img layer -1)

(gimp-context-set-background '(255 255 0))

(gimp-context-set-foreground '(0 0 255))

(gimp-edit-blend layer 3 0 0 100 0 0 FALSE FALSE 1 0 TRUE 256 0 256 256)

(script-fu-register "script-fu-BlueYellowGrad"
"/Script-Fu/BlueYellowGrad"
"Make a Blue to Yellow Gradient"
"RGB RGBA"
SF-IMAGE "Image" 0
SF-DRAWABLE "Drawable" 0)

Week 2 Color: Physics and Perception

Assignment 2: Photograph Color Wheel

For this assignment I started with a CMYK color wheel I found online. Easy enough to find, just Google image "CMYK color wheel" and it was the first result. I used this color wheel as a reference guide for the colors I would search for. I started at the top with red, searching for the most saturated red image I could find using Google images; using "Red color" as the search term. I did this for each color in my wheel using the names: Red; Orange; Yellow; Chartreuse; Green; Spring Green; Cyan; Blue; Azure; Violet; Magenta and Rose. Searching for the hues with higher white values, I would simply search with "Light" as a prefix to the color name. I selected the images I would use and saved them in corresponding folders I would be able to quickly reference when putting the wheel together. For the color strips I used a the google image search options to choose the color box cyan but search for "Red", and then choose the color box red and searched for "Cyan". I used this same technique for yellow to blue and then green to magenta. I had the same saving conventions as before, for quicker reference later.

When I had collected all of the images I wanted, I opened up a new image in Gimp. I created a layer for each color I was going to put in my wheel. I took out my first image, with the highly saturated red and put it at the top of my wheel. I cut out the second and third images and placed them vertically, slightly overlapping the bottom of the previous image. I did this the same way for each color layer respectively. When I was done cutting and pasting the images I went through each layer and set the rotation point where the center of the wheel would be. I rotated each vertical color bar I had created to their corresponding location along the color wheel and the color wheel was finished.
For the color strips I used the same technique of cutting pieces out of original images and pasting them overlapping each other along the strip.

Getting used to Mac and Gimp

This semester I'm trying a few new things; these include learning a non-windows operating system, Apple, and the open source digital photo manipulation program, Gimp. For the latest assignment, I jumped head first into both, as I was eager to start using my new iMac, and that I am currently unable to locate a usable version of Photoshop for Macintosh. Minor frustrations aside, Gimp was able to substitute Photoshop's tools and abilities for what the assignment called for. The biggest annoyance I found was all the clicking you have to do in order to select a tool and use it; once I memorized the shortcut keys though it was smooth sailing. On an interesting note, Gimp uses the actual "Ctrl" key the same way you would on a Windows system instead of Mac's "Command" key that every other program seems to use. For example: Photoshop on a Mac would have "Command+X" for cut but Gimp keeps it "Ctrl+X".