85 lines
3.9 KiB
Markdown
85 lines
3.9 KiB
Markdown
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# Large-format print strategy
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For a wall-scale piece (you mentioned ~2.5 m × 4 m, assembled in layers with
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other artwork), the key idea is: **don't bake one giant flat raster.** Work with
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a vector geometry master plus separable raster texture, and let the seed be the
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single source of truth.
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## 1. The seed is the whole fingerprint
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Every parameter is derived deterministically from the seed (`src/scene/params.js`).
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So an inspiration thumbnail and its print master are the *same image* at different
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sizes — you never track parameters, you just keep a seed.
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```
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tools/inspire.sh 40 600 # 40 random plates → output/inspiration/ + index.html
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# browse output/inspiration/index.html, note the seeds you like
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tools/render.sh STRANGENESS-7 # → output/masters/STRANGENESS-7.{svg,pdf,_9000.png}
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tools/render.sh STRANGENESS-7 12000 # bigger raster if you want it
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```
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## 2. Two masters per chosen seed
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| master | resolution | carries | use |
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|---|---|---|---|
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| **SVG** (`<SEED>.svg`) | infinite | geometry: tracks, curls, disk structure, fan lines, header | scale to the full 4 m with zero pixelation — the crisp "ink" |
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| **PNG** (`<SEED>_<px>.png`) | up to ~14000 px | the analog layer: grain, bloom, tonal mottle, stains, vignette | the photographic texture/feel |
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| **PDF** (`<SEED>.pdf`) | infinite (CMYK) | same geometry, print-shop colour | hand to a print shop as-is |
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Why both: vector stays razor-sharp at any size but is "clean"; the raster holds
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the worn-film texture but is resolution-limited. At 4 m you want the geometry
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crisp *and* the grain present — so use both as layers.
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## 3. Recommended assembly (in your compositor)
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Think of each plate as a small stack you drop into your larger artwork:
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1. **Geometry** — place the **SVG**, scale to final size. Stays sharp at 4 m.
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2. **Texture/feel** — place the **PNG** over it; it already contains grain +
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bloom + stains. Blend `Multiply` (positive plates) and dial opacity, or
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isolate just its grain/mottle if you only want texture.
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3. Your **other artistic layers** above/below, blended to taste.
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Because the PNG and SVG come from the same seed they register exactly (same
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composition, same coordinate frame, same margins).
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> Film grain *should* enlarge — real emulsion grain gets bigger on big prints.
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> So upscaling the PNG's texture to 4 m is not a defect, it's the look. Render the
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> PNG at whatever size is comfortable (9000 px is plenty as a texture source) and
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> let it scale up.
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## 4. Resolution math
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For viewing a wall piece from > 1–2 m, 100–150 DPI is ample (the eye can't
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resolve more at that distance).
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| print dimension | 100 DPI | 150 DPI |
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|---|---|---|
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| 2.5 m (98 in) | 9 800 px | 14 700 px |
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| 4.0 m (157 in) | 15 700 px | 23 600 px |
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- The **SVG/PDF** meet any of these exactly (vector).
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- The **PNG** tops out around **14 000 px** in this headless pipeline (Chrome
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canvas limit ≈ 16384²; 14000 renders reliably, ~78 s, ~260 MB). That covers the
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2.5 m dimension at 140 DPI as a *baked* image; for the 4 m dimension rely on the
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SVG for sharpness and let the PNG texture scale.
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## 5. If you need a baked raster bigger than ~14000 px
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Options, in order of preference:
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1. **Use the SVG** as the geometry and only scale the PNG *texture* — almost
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always the right answer.
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2. **Tiled render** — render the scene in N×N tiles and stitch (a future
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`tools/render-tiled.mjs`). Seamless grain/bloom across tiles needs care; ask
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and I'll build it.
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3. **node-canvas offline** — move the photographic renderer to Node with
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`node-canvas` (no Chrome canvas-size limit). Adds a native dependency.
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## 6. Tuning a seed before committing
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Found a seed that's close? Open `bubble_chamber.html`, type the seed, and nudge
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sliders — including **Shock-wave Disk → Staining / erosion** for the disk's
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cleanliness. (Note: manual slider tweaks are *not* part of the seed fingerprint;
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if you want a tweak to be permanent, tell me the values and I'll fold them into a
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preset or the seed-derivation ranges.)
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