maxmsp noob looking for help with 2d img manipulation through node based software?
Hi Guys,
My name is matt, I am an oil painter looking to plug reference images through this software to manipulate them into slightly abstracted versions of their original form. I have some experience working with nodes in davinci resolve for color correction and luts, but thats it. I have known of max for a long time but never was a coder and found it pretty intimidating to even try to get a thorough understanding of.
That being said, I wanted to ask if you (max users) think that max is an adequate option for this kind of thing? I know that photoshop is an option, how ever i find the lack of chance when experimenting with the filters to be quite dull. If it will take me an entire year to figure something like this also please do let me know lol.
thanks very much for reading/ any help given in advance
m
image editing is absolutely possible with max and the requirement to modulate, randomize, remember and recall processes is why you would prefer a programming language over photoshop.
unfortunately max can not use photoshop plug-ins... but you might find that you do not really need them.
my last project was a simple as it could be: a filebrowser and then the option to (a+b+c)/3 every pixel of multiple images, something which photohop and other layer-based programs, where blend modes always only work between two adjacent layers, can not do at all (or only in low resolution.)
your starting point might be the [jit.matrix] helpfile, this is where you load and hold data. [jit.op] gives you most of the math functions.
there is also a lot of objects which do things out of the box without too much custom programming, and you can use shaders.
thanks so much, for your comment Roman, I really appreciate it. It seems I am just working to get myself even barely crawling with the essentials. I have been focusing on JIT stuff. But I still wonder if I am barking up the wrong tree. spending this much time to try to figure out a novel way what a simple photoshop filter might provide, though PS is so much less exciting to use.. I do not have a mind for math and it seems that the Pack or Pak integer stuff will just make my ADHD brain explode lmao!
I have been following Andrew Robinsons tuts on youtube and they are helpful, as well as marveling at the work of PAE 181. What I want to achieve may be in a similar universe to his work, though I can't imagine I will have this kind of chops anytime soon. I don't want to just download his software. I am focused on achieving arresting stills. not necessarily video. Sorry for clogging up this utilitarian pipeline forum with my ramblings in advance!
Fragment Flow is incredible software (built using Max) so if you're into that look definitely check it out. Should give you the control you are seeking. However most of us are here because we like to build things for ourselves, so would encourage you to keep exploring if that's your thing too.
Tons of helpful tutorials out there, but I've recently been digging Wallenfronts codebox based tutorials for image processing - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOGamHuLkbHM0vBiiTRHPsA
Federico's beginner course is a good place to start if you're into video tutorials https://www.federicofoderaro.com/max-msp-jitter-tutorials.html
The jitter tutorials are the place to learn the basics. Everything related to video is also applicable to still images https://docs.cycling74.com/learn/series/jitter-tutorials/
and when you want to get deep: https://docs.cycling74.com/learn/series/polish-your-pixels/