This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23376199
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Computer program replicates artist sketches | Computer program replicates artist sketches |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A computer program that can mimic the abstract portrait drawings of specific artists has been built by experts at Disney Research. | A computer program that can mimic the abstract portrait drawings of specific artists has been built by experts at Disney Research. |
| Seven artists were asked to create quick sketches based on portrait photographs, taking various lengths of time to complete their work. | Seven artists were asked to create quick sketches based on portrait photographs, taking various lengths of time to complete their work. |
| Each artist generated about 8,000 pen strokes for the sketches. | Each artist generated about 8,000 pen strokes for the sketches. |
| Individual artist preferences, such as how far apart they drew eyes, were also included in the data gathered. | Individual artist preferences, such as how far apart they drew eyes, were also included in the data gathered. |
| That data was then used to create sketches of photographs as the computer understood each artist would have done them - even beginning with a particular feature if that had been identified as what the artist would have done. | That data was then used to create sketches of photographs as the computer understood each artist would have done them - even beginning with a particular feature if that had been identified as what the artist would have done. |
| "There's something about an artist's interpretation of a subject that people find compelling," said digital artist Moshe Mahler, from Disney Research, which is based in Pittsburgh. | "There's something about an artist's interpretation of a subject that people find compelling," said digital artist Moshe Mahler, from Disney Research, which is based in Pittsburgh. |
| "We're trying to capture that - to create a computer model of it - in a way that no-one has done before." | "We're trying to capture that - to create a computer model of it - in a way that no-one has done before." |
| However Mr Mahler added that the results were limited to the practical technique rather than the individual flair of the artists used in the pilot project. | However Mr Mahler added that the results were limited to the practical technique rather than the individual flair of the artists used in the pilot project. |
| "Our approach only understands the trends of how an artist might work," she said. | "Our approach only understands the trends of how an artist might work," she said. |
| Is it art? | Is it art? |
| Dr Nick Lambert, lecturer in digital art at Birkbeck, University of London, and chairman of the Computer Arts Society, told the BBC that Disney's idea built on non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) processes, which have been around since the 1990s. | Dr Nick Lambert, lecturer in digital art at Birkbeck, University of London, and chairman of the Computer Arts Society, told the BBC that Disney's idea built on non-photorealistic rendering (NPR) processes, which have been around since the 1990s. |
| "We think of computer graphics as trying to look like photographs, but they can equally be something more sketch-like," he said. | "We think of computer graphics as trying to look like photographs, but they can equally be something more sketch-like," he said. |
| "This is basically modelling the effects of the artist's vision - it's an interesting piece of work, but it does build on a number of things that have been done before." | "This is basically modelling the effects of the artist's vision - it's an interesting piece of work, but it does build on a number of things that have been done before." |
| Dr Lambert added that the art world may take some convincing about the program's creative efforts. | Dr Lambert added that the art world may take some convincing about the program's creative efforts. |
| "It's a question of whether the machine can learn and evolve from what it sees in the sketches," he said. | "It's a question of whether the machine can learn and evolve from what it sees in the sketches," he said. |
| "And in this instance that doesn't seem to be the case. | |
| "So the jury is still out on the art front." | "So the jury is still out on the art front." |