An algorithm for string art?

[Craig Ugoretz]

Hello. I am trying to develop a program to help me to design string art. In simplest terms, string art is made by pounding nails into a piece of wood and then looping string around the nails for an artistic effect. A pattern is made by drawing path objects such as circles, ellipses, arcs, lines, and curves and making small marks to indicate where the nails should be placed. The pattern is then printed out and placed on a piece of wood before the nails are pounded.

I am looking for an algorithm to facilitate this process using a computer. I am wondering if what I need to do is specify a constraint satisfaction problem. For example, maybe: (1) some different paths need the same number of nails, (2) the straight line distance between nails should be at least "x" in., and (3) there should be at least "n" nails on some of the different paths. Above all, in subjective terms, the algorithm should make the result look "pretty". Other formulations of the constraint satisfaction problem could produce even "prettier results", I don't know...

If a CSP is what I need, what programming language(s) could it be in? If not, are there other algorithms that come to mind? There is a programming language named Processing that has a contributed library named Geomerative that caught my interest. Geomerative has examples, but no user's or programmer's manual attached to it. In general though, it has functionality to "polygonize". I've seen it work in example code, but am lacking a definition. I posted to the Processing Contributed Libraries forum last week, but have gotten no response. Hence, I think may be my question was too technical for it, possibly. I did, however, see the term polygonize come up in this forum, comp.graphics.algorithms, so I thought I would raise the issue here. Any other solutions are also welcome.

Thanks,
Craig

[boxman]

Check out Rhino3D V5 with the Grasshopper plugin. It sounds like it
could be made to do what you are looking for.

http://www.rhino3d.com/ for Rhino
http://www.grasshopper3d.com/ for info on Grasshopper

[Craig Ugoretz]

Thank you for your response. I have been looking for an automated way to solve a problem, but I found that a more "manual" method using Inkscape would work just fine. Thank you again :-).

[Sarah]

;-))

I think that we could try to define the management of the line using
up-to-date methodologies;
It is also worth detailing that everyone should read the following article
There are three basic stages in
the creation of the image:
You will see that right eye is situated on the
vertical centre of the page.
At this stage, the drawing is no more than a
set of carefully measured features that establish the final proportions of
the portrait.
This is a strong compositional starting point for a three
quarter view portrait.
1. Using line drawing to organise the position,
shape and proportion of the features.
If you get the correct relationship
between the eyes, nose and mouth, you will end up with a good likeness.
;
who is confident with the art data management?

:-)