TouchDesigner

I was recently on a call where someone was asking me for ballpark estimates on how much it would cost to develop the software and procure the hardware for some interactive & immersive experiences.

An often overlooke feature of TouchDesigner is that it can actually host a web server! This feature has flown under the radar for a lot of developers and artists but it gives you an easy way to receive messages from all kinds of other systems.

Do you want to do area tracking without paying top dollars for a Kinect sensor? This little hack uses a USB IR Camera to do the trick. They are commonly used as surveillance cameras and you can purchase one for about $32 USD on Amazon!

Feedback loops are a super interesting technique that can generate all kinds of amazing and sometimes unexpected outcomes. Among those unexpected results is the possibility to generate some really interesting reaction-diffusion patterns with the addition of just a few operators!

Whether you’re a pro or just getting started on your developer journey, you’re going to have your share of ups and downs. As you conquer more and more challenges, you’ll build up your own list of resources and tools.

The new Netflix series about Andy Warhol has been exciting many artists about Andy's works and life. This is a great opportunity to be inspired by their work and create generative pieces inside of TouchDesigner.

The new Netflix series about Andy Warhol has been exciting many artists about Andy's works and life. This is a great opportunity to be inspired by their work and create generative pieces inside of TouchDesigner.

Feedback loops are amazing yet always seem elusive for TouchDesigner artists. How do we make them? How do we control them? How did adding a single random operator create this amazing effect? Unless you understand the fundamental way feedback loops work in TouchDesigner, you'll always be guessing.

It might sound like yet another “omg new features in the experimental build” post…but it just goes to show you how much new and powerful tools are coming down the pipeline. Not only are there totally new features, there are a lot of quality of life improvements to heavily used workflows.