This week, I created a series of simple patterns, working on the look I wanted to create. I kind of stumbled into this while experimenting with L-Systems in Cinema 4D during the week's work in progress.

 

Originally, my intention was to learn how to create trees, flowers and plants. I still want to do that, but decided to explore more of the geometric patterns that L-Systems allow us to specify. So this week, I explored creating images with 2D L-Systems.

 

Below is a high resolution image with all the patterns I created with the different systems I used, followed by a zoomed in view for each one, with its name and reference.

 

At the end of this page, I included a little write-up about L-Systems and the workflow I used in Cinema 4D and in Photoshop where all the final compositing and look was created.

An L-system (Lindenmayer system) is a so-called parallel rewriting system and a type of formal grammar. In Cinema 4D, it materializes in the MoSpline tool, where you can direct a 'turtle' with the L-system. Now, you may be thinking... what??

 

It seems hairier than it is. Here is an example of the grammar:

 

F+F+F

 

Which directs the turtle (responsible for drawing the graph) to move forward once (the first F), then turn right, move forward again (second F), turn right again and move forward once more (the last F).

 

The grammar uses symbols for different operations (e.g., '-' to turn left) and has a lot of optional parameter (e.g., the length which an F command should move, the angle of a turn etc... Cinema 4D allows you to insert formulas into the grammar, making it quite sophisticated.

 

So that is for the grammar part. The parrallel rewriting part is because L-Systems are recursive. A simple example, straight from the Cineam 4D documentation is:

 

Initial command (called the premise in Cinema 4D): FA

Replacement Rules: A=+F-F

 

For a single iteration, the curve will be just "F" ('A' will be ignored). For two iterations, the curve will be "F+F-F". And for three iterations, it will be "F+F-F+F-F". You get the idea. It can get quite complex will multiple rules and branching, but the core idea is what I just described.

As mentioned before, L-Systems are available in Cinema 4D through a MoSpline object. You just need to select the "Turtle" type and then edit the properties of the Turtle to define the curves. You can find a lot of resources online on L-System to give you different types of curves to experiment with. I used the 2D L-Systems described on mathforum.org, but there are 3D systems as well.

 

I used very simple settings for the rendering in Cinema 4D: an infinite light with hard shadows, good antialiasing and sketch and toon to draw the outline of the curves. I also used a sweep nurb to give dimension to the curves. Finally, I used a top camera which creates a very flat, 2D rendering style. I could have used a different type of camera but the result would be dramatically different.

All the texturing is done in Photoshop, using various blend modes for the noise that adds to the realism of the images. I followed this great tutorial on Lynda.com on Creating and Using Textures for Design
 with Von Glitschka and used grunge textures available through the creative cloud market assets.