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Exploring the Space of Abstract Textures by Principles and Random Sampling

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Abstract

Exemplar-based texture synthesis methods try to emulate textures observed in our visual world. Yet the field of all possible textures (natural or not) has been little explored. Indeed, existing abstract synthesis methods focus on a single generation rule and generate a rather limited set of textures. This limitation can be overcome by combining randomly various generation principles and rule parameters. Doing so gives access to a vast and still unexplored set of possible images. In this paper, we introduce an image sampling method combining the main painting techniques of abstract art. This sampler synthesizes what we call multi-layered textures. The underlying image model extends three abstract image synthesis models: the dead leaves model, the spot noise, and fractal generators. By respecting minimal self-similarity rules keeping Gestalt theory grouping principles at each texture layer, the abstract textures remain understandable to human perception. The complexity of the generated textures derives from the systematic and randomized use of shape interaction principles taken from abstract art such as occlusion, transparency, exclusion, inclusion, and tessellation.

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Notes

  1. http://matthewjamestaylor.com/blog/create-fractals-with-recursive-drawing

  2. The synthesis framework presented in this paper can be tested online at www.ctim.es/AbstractTextures.

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Acknowledgments

Work partially supported by ERC advanced Grant Twelve Labours, and ONR Grant N00014-97-1-0839 (J.-M.M.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CTIM, Departamento de Informática y Sistemas, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas, Spain

    Luis Alvarez & Agustín Salgado

  2. Telecom Paristech - LTCI CNRS, 46, rue Barrault, 75013, Paris, France

    Yann Gousseau

  3. Centre de Mathématiques et de Leurs Applications (CMLA), Ecole Normale Supérieure de Cachan, 61 Av du Pdt Wilson, 94235, Cachan, France

    Jean-Michel Morel

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  1. Luis Alvarez
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  4. Agustín Salgado
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Correspondence to Luis Alvarez.

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Alvarez, L., Gousseau, Y., Morel, JM. et al. Exploring the Space of Abstract Textures by Principles and Random Sampling. J Math Imaging Vis 53, 332–345 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10851-015-0582-z

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