Quantum Matrix 3D Math Art

Second Life artist/builder Gingered Alsop has recently created a new device that automates the generation of beautiful mathematical 3D sculptures. Called the Quantum Matrix, these creations must really be viewed firsthand to fully appreciate. I'll attempt to present here a few snapshots, a video, and several links to view a demonstration of the Quantum Matrix. The Quantum Matrix will be on display at the University of Western Australia 3D Art & Design Challenge. Go see it!

This is a video I made of photos Gin and I took at her lab.

Parameters for prims and mathematical equations are provided via notecards to a sophisticated LSL script to generate these awesomely beautiful works of art.

Gin owns Phi Designs which runs an in-world store with demos. See my review of the Chamber, a particle lab by Phi Designs.

Many more photos of the Quantum Matrix (those used in the video above) can be seen at my Flickr photostream.

 The artist herself! Photo taken by Gingered Alsop. Gin is way super smart, funny, sweet, nice, and as you can see, cute!

Phi Designs' Particle Chamber

If you'd like to produce those pretty sparkly effects you see in art galleries and cool clubs but you are not a programmer then Phi Designs may have just what you're looking for. The Chamber is a particle lab & particle generator that comes in several versions.

The Chamber Versions

• The Emitter is a low cost (L$49) personal particle generation system that is attached to the avatar. It is a single particle emitter which can accept new patterns available as add-ons.
• Chamber Lite is a 19 emitter system of particle generators to create exotic visual effects. The Lite version can also accept new particle patterns as add-ons and costs L$499. Chamber Lite documentation can be found on the Phi Designs blog.
• Chamber Professional is a 19 emitter system of particle generators and includes all additional pattern add-ons. Additional emitters can be added to the Professional edition. Features include the ability to create additional spin devices, your own patterns, modify existing patterns, and a 26 page user guide. Cost of the Professional edition is L$4999.
• Chamber Pro Builder a version to support the use of generated particle systems in your build is currently in development.

The demonstrations of the Chamber are very impressive. It seems almost anyone should be able to use this product to produce dramatic visual effects without having to know anything. The availability of low-cost versions for personal use is a plus.

The Chamber's ease of use and availability in low-cost versions are two good reasons to prefer it over Jopsy Pendragon's Porgan.The Porgan is also an excellent particle generation system, has been around for a long time, and is built by SL's preeminent particle technician. Additional info on features of the Porgan are available in the Porgan user guide. At L$999 the Porgan is probably more suited for the programmer techie and less so for personal use.

For further information and demonstration of the Chamber you can view a YouTube video of the Chamber, visit Phi Designs demonstration store in-world, or visit the Phi Designs website.

Phi Designs products are also available on Xstreet.

Emerald Enhanced Physics

Want to view more realistic breast movement in Second Life? Note, many residents I have talked to about this are confused. These settings control what you see, not what others see. If you disable enhanced physics on avatar breasts in your viewer that is no guarantee others will not see your breasts bouncing - that is solely dependent on their viewer settings. Similarly, if you enable breast physics it does not mean others will see yours jiggling - it just means you will see theirs.

To enable and configure enhanced physics on avatar breasts follow these steps.

1. Download, install and use the Emerald Viewer http://emeraldviewer.net/
2. In the Emerald Viewer, edit your preferences "Edit -> Preferences"
3. Click on the "Emerald" tab on the left
4. Click on the "Page 2" tab at the top
5. Click on the "Effects" tab
6. Check the box "Enable enhanced physics on avatar breasts"
7. Adjust the physics settings (the default settings did not work well for me). The following settings are similar to what I use but are probably toward the "too jiggly" end of the scale - you may wish to experiment:

• Breast mass:       90
• Breast rebound:  11
• Breast max vel:   85
• Breast friction:    11
• Breast min vel:    15

   8. Click "Apply" then "OK"

You may need to relog for the updated preferences to take effect.

Come watch me dance!

Hahahaha!