Instance layers

One of the key ideas in the Paragraphic parametric model is being able to share parameters and data between things. For example reusing a color or parameter value from one element automatically in another. This also includes sharing and reusing the generated graphics elements of a layer, which can be shared and used as input for other layers as well. This was one of the key components in Patternodes, where you could see this generation sequence as a series of panels with connections between them. To make this powerful feature more accessible for users, I’ve wrapped this feature in what I’ve called Instance layers in Paragraphic.

Instance layers simply take the output of any other layer and use that as the input for the layer. You can then transform the instance or add new layer nodes to the instance layer as you want to modify it. So in a sense it works like Symbols or Components you can define in other graphics software, but with the difference that you can use any other layer as the original/parent, and easily make chains of instances, groups etc.

If you look closely in the video above you can see that an instance layer is actually just like a Shape layer. Only instead of the first node being a shape generator node, the instances start with an instance node, and that instance node has a Graphics elements input parameter “Parent layer” that is connected to the output of the selected layer you’re instancing.

Additional changes and additions in v0.0.6

Besides working on and implementing Instance layers, here are a couple of other things I’ve added since the last update.

UI improvements and additions

• Value fields now support basic expression parsing (so you can enter for example ‘360/12’).
• Interface theme tweaks with new font and some subtle changes.
• Renamed “Inputs” panel to “Parameters” to better reflect it’s a set of document-wide parameters.
• The Parameters and Layers panels can now be opened and closed to just view one of them.
• Added a couple more top menu bar menus and menu items to access various new panels.
• Added About/Credits panel, including credits and attributions and links to licenses to comply with some open source library requirements.
• Added a new technical log panel for debug use in testing to show some technical system details and recent log entries from the new log system.
• Added a Settings panel to house future application-wide settings.

Support systems

• A new custom error/warning logging system so the app can log messages and crucially access and display these in a new debug technical log panel in future sessions (in case of crashes)