Generative Art
with Photoshop Actions
Create generative art in Photoshop without writing any code.
Download example actions(.atn) and custom brush files(.abr)
Each example action demonstrates how to use a generative design technique such as randomization and recursion.
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Note: Actions are not meant to be used as a design tool. This project is a "creative misuse" of the intended functionality.
Action Reference
The example actions provided here are meant to be modified, combined, extended, and shared.
The screenshots below show example results of playing each action.
Note which item is highlighted in the action panel in each screenshot. Also, note that Actions are not typically used as a design tool and this is not the intended functionality.
Random Shape Generators
Examples using noise filter to generate random shapes.
Random Color Generators
Examples using noise filter to generate random colors.
Repeated Transformations
Using simple transform and warp repeatedly to create arrays.
Recursive Growth
Basic simulations of "growing" organic patterns
Fractal Trees + L-Systems
Creating basic fractal patterns using simple repeated transforms.
Shapes from Shapes
Generating shapes from the interior of other shapes.
Actions with Brushes for Randomization
Combining brushes with actions is a powerful way to generate random shapes and colors. Some even begin to mimic particle effects like raindrops.
Content-Aware Randomizers
Combining random shapes, colors and using the content-aware fill tool to generate a randomized composition
Waves
Using wave distort filter combined with offset creates a fluid-like simulation
Recursive Displacement
These actions use the displacement filter to offset an image with itself. When repeated many times, this technique begins to resemble particle simulation.
Reaction-Diffusion Growth Patterns
Demonstrates a simulation of growth patterns through repetition of actions.
Randomized Mold Growth Simulation
This simulation requires a specific balance of effects, making it difficult to modify, but the effect is surprisingly powerful.
Voronoi Patterns using Actions + Brushes
This simulation requires a specific balance of effects, making it difficult to modify, but the effect is surprisingly powerful.
What Are Actions?
The following assumes that you already have basic familiarity with using actions inside Photoshop. If you do not, here are some links to resources via Adobe:
About Actions and the Actions Panel
Installation
Load the included actions and install the included brush files:
1. In the Photoshop Actions panel menu, select “Load Actions…”. In the dialogue window select all the files ending in “.atn” inside the uncompressed Generative_Actions folder.
2. In the Brushes panel menu select “Import Brushes…” In the dialogue window select all the files ending in “.abr” inside the uncompressed Generative_Actions folder.
Creative Commons License
By downloading this file you agree to follow the following license agreement.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
To view a copy of this license,
visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.
What is Generative Art & Design?
Generative Art refers to artworks created using some form of autonomous system – typically, a computer algorithm.
Repetition and Variation
The power of using a generative system is the ability to create many variations of a design within a given theme. For example, An artist might write an algorithm that creates many color variations of a specific design. By using degrees of randomness (or "noise") in the system one can produce unexpected results that lead to new discoveries.
Emergent Systems
By using the generative technique of recursion, each design variation within a system can "grow" out of the previous one, creating a type of emergence.
Using Photoshop Actions, one can even create basic simulation of natural phenomena such as reaction-diffusion growth patterns, cellular automata, wave patterns, and L-systems.
Other Generative Art Resources
Tools such as processing have been developed to help artists learn to code and explore generative art & design. Many architects and designers use Grasshopper+Rhino to produce generative 3d models or what is also known as Parametric Design.
