After Dark

The Latifolia After Dark series is a byproduct of the original flowers. Individual flowers are randomly combined in a NodeBox script. Using the Core Image library for NodeBox scary shadows and lighting effects are added to the composition. The After Dark series has since become the main visual theme for the NodeBox site.

The NodeBox source code:

coreimage = ximport("coreimage")
 
c = coreimage.canvas(500, 700)
 
images = ["1.tif", "2.tif", "3.tif", "4.tif", "5.tif"]
images_selected=[choice(images)]
images_selected.append(choice(images))
 
# The bluish radial background.
c.layer_fill(color(0.2, 0.2, 0.0))
l = c.layer_fill(color(0.8,0.8,0.4))
m = l.mask.layer_radial_gradient()
m.scale(1.5)
m.blend(30, mode="hue")
l = c.layer_fill(color(0.5,0.0,1.0))
l.blend(60, mode="hue")
l.mask.layer_linear_gradient()
 
# Draw 15 flowers.
for i in range(15):
 
    img = choice(images_selected)    
    l = c.layer(img)
    
    # It grows from the bottom.
    l.origin_bottom_center()
    l.x = i*40
    l.y = c.h + random(150)
    
    if random() > 0.5:
        l.flip_horizontal()
    
    l.rotate(-i*2)
    s = random(0.5,1.5)
    l.scale(s)
    l.blend(s)
    
    # Apply green coloring to the layer,
    l.filter_levels(r=0.5, g=0.75+random(-0.1,0.1), b=0)
    
    # Filter effects:
    # deeper contrast, coloring,
    # and random twirling,
    if random() > 0.5:
        l.filter_twirl(angle=i*100, dy=i*10)
    l.adjust_contrast(1.15)
    if random() > 0.8:
        flower = l.duplicate()
        flower.filter_kaleidoscope()
        flower.filter_levels(r=1.5)
    
    # Create a scary dropshadow.
    shadow = l.duplicate()
    shadow.filter_levels(r=0, g=0, b=0)
    shadow.filter_zoomblur(amount=10, dx=-50)
    shadow.arrange_down()
    shadow.x -= 10*s
    shadow.y -= 10*s
    shadow.opacity /= 2
    
    # Highlight part of the flower.
    light = l.duplicate()
    light.mask.layer_radial_gradient()
    light.filter_levels(r=2.5, g=1.5, b=0)
 
# The higher a flower grows,
# the more bluish it becomes (it's night).
l = c.layer_fill(color(0.5,0.0,1.0))
l.blend(40, mode="hue")
l.mask.layer_linear_gradient()
 
c.draw()