Lab 3 - MEL 2

 

Without using "LerpSphere" (commenting it out), do the following with "SphereMatrix". We should only be seeing balls changing visibility, position, radius, colors, and other gross attributes at this point. Changing cv's will come later. If any of these problems appear too difficult, skip it. If you have a better idea, do that idea instead. In other words, have fun with "SphereMatrix". For some of these problems, you may write your own procedures that is based on "SphereMatrix" architecture instead of just modifying it-- procedures that modify the spheres after they've been drawn.
 
 
(1) "SphereMatrix( string $name )" is designed to only create an 8 x 6 sphere matrix. Redesign it so that it can generate any size sphere matrix. It should now become "SphereMatrix( string $name, int $ncols, int $nrows )". Test it with various numbers.
 
 
(2) Create a procedure that changes the visibility attribute of each sphere after they've been drawn. Give the illusion that only one sphere is there and that it moves through all the matrix positions. Make it dependent on the frame number and link it to an expression.
 
 
(3) Create a 3D version of "SphereMatrix". Call it "SphereCube".
 
 
(4) Modify "SphereMatrix" so that it modifies other sphere attributes like "radius". In other words, the balls may interpolate through various sizes.
 
 
(5) Change the generated ball positions so they form a wavy matrix-- like a flag waving. (e.g., put a sine() procedure on the "y" direction during generation, or write a procedure that modifies sphere positions using "move -r" after the matrix has been drawn.)
 
 
(6) Put a random element into the sphere ball generation.
 
 
(7) Change sphere colors so that spheres have a different color at different parts of the matrix.
 
 
(8) Do a combination of the problems above. In other words, make only one sphere visible and make it change sizes and colors as it moves through matrix positions using the timeline.