Now that the algorithms for the PLASM
Color maps are an important visualization tools because data doesn’t often make a lot of sense when you just look at it. By mapping values to corresponding color you can see the structure of the data. Color maps are the interface between data and your brain. Unfortunately, not all color maps are created equal and can sometimes misrepresent the data. Since you can assign colors, small changes in the data sometimes produce large perceptual differences such as going from green to red and vice-versa. That is why consideration for lightness gradient is important.
Now that the algorithms for the PLASM are set, programmer Gary Hendrick has begun to add the pH data.[/caption]
The color map applied to the PLASM program is designed in such a way that it will be analytically and perceptually uniform, both in color and in black-and-white. It is also designed to be perceived by readers with the most common form of color blindness (which is why there are no red colors used).
Here you can see some of the pH data that has been modified using a further bitmap distortion function (right side).[/caption]
Paul Klee's Fire in the Evening.[/caption]
Data or art?
Above you can see some of the pH data that has been modified using a further bitmap distortion function (right side). This image reminds me of the famous painting Fire in the Evening by Paul Klee. The red opaque rectangle and bands of browns, greens, violets, and blues dynamically interact to suggest built structures or geographic formations.Fire in the Evening was created during a trip to Egypt in the winter of 1928–29 and inspired by a number of striated compositions in nature. Similar to the art being produced here, the art carries a lot of structure.
For now, we will carry on processing the data and seeing what kind of visual structure will be revealed with the data collected on the transit from Guam to Honolulu. Stay tuned as we continue to program in the name of art.