Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists

It has been more than twenty years since desktop publishing reinvented design, and it's clear that there is a growing need for designers and artists to learn programming skills to fill the widening gap between their ideas and the capability of their purchased software.

This book is an introduction to the concepts of computer programming within the context of the visual arts. It offers a comprehensive reference and text for Processing (www.processing.org), an open-source programming language that can be used by students, artists, designers, architects, researchers, and anyone who wants to program images, animation, and interactivity. The ideas in Processing have been tested in classrooms, workshops, and arts institutions, including UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, New York University, and Harvard University. Tutorial units make up the bulk of the book and introduce the syntax and concepts of software (including variables, functions, and object-oriented programming), cover such topics as photography and drawing in relation to software, and feature many short, prototypical example programs with related images and explanations.

More advanced professional projects from such domains as animation, performance, and typography are discussed in interviews with their creators. "Extensions" present concise introductions to further areas of investigation, including computer vision, sound, and electronics. Appendixes, references to other material, and a glossary contain additional technical details. Processing can be used by reading each unit in order, or by following each category from the beginning of the book to the end. The Processing software and all of the code presented can be downloadedand run for future exploration.

An introduction to the ideas of computer programming within the context of the visual arts that also serves as a reference and text for Processing, an open-source programming language designed for creating images, animation, and interactivity.

It has been more than twenty years since desktop publishing reinventeddesign, and it's clear that there is a growing need for designers and artists tolearn programming skills to fill the widening gap between their ideas and thecapability of their purchased software. This book is an introduction to the conceptsof computer programming within the context of the visual arts. It offers acomprehensive reference and text for Processing (www.processing.org), an open-sourceprogramming language that can be used by students, artists, designers, architects, researchers, and anyone who wants to program images, animation, and interactivity.The ideas in Processing have been tested in classrooms, workshops, and artsinstitutions, including UCLA, Carnegie Mellon, New York University, and HarvardUniversity. Tutorial units make up the bulk of the book and introduce the syntax andconcepts of software (including variables, functions, and object-orientedprogramming), cover such topics as photography and drawing in relation to software, and feature many short, prototypical example programs with related images andexplanations. More advanced professional projects from such domains as animation, performance, and typography are discussed in interviews with their creators.Extensions present concise introductions to further areas ofinvestigation, including computer vision, sound, and electronics. Appendixes, references to additional material, and a glossary contain additional technicaldetails. Processing can be used by reading each unit in order, or by following eachcategory from the beginning of the book to the end. The Processing software and allof the code presented can be downloaded and run for future exploration.Includesessays by Alexander R. Galloway, Golan Levin, R. Luke DuBois, Simon Greenwold, Francis Li, and Hernando Barrag?n and interviews with Jared Tarbell, MartinWattenberg, James Paterson, Erik van Blockland, Ed Burton, Josh On, J?rg Lehni, Auriea Harvey and Micha?l Samyn, Mathew Cullen and Grady Hall, Bob Sabiston, Jennifer Steinkamp, Ruth Jarman and Joseph Gerhardt, Sue Costabile, ChrisCsikszentmih?lyi, Golan Levin and Zachary Lieberman, and Mark Hansen.Casey Reas isAssociate Professor in the Design - Media Arts Department at the University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles. Ben Fry is Nierenburg Chair of Design in the School ofDesign at Carnegie Mellon University, 2006-2007.

It has been more than twenty years since desktop publishing reinvented design, and it's clear that there is a growing need for designers and artists to learn programming skills to fill the widening gap between their ideas and the capability of their purchased software. This book is an introduction to the concepts of computer programming within the context of the visual arts. It offers a comprehensive reference and text for Processing (www.processing.org), an open-source programming language that can be used by students, artists, designers, architects, researchers, and anyone who wants to program images, animation, and interactivity.

"With Processing, Casey Reas and Ben Fry have opened up the world of programming to artists and designers in a manner that inspires playfulness and creativity with code." Red Burns , Chair and Arts Professor, Interactive Telecommunications Program, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University