User:Eilya/BeetleBreedingThoughts - Revision history

Eilya: /* How You Actually Generate a Crystal Clear Complex Diamond Motif! */

2013-09-10T06:47:55Z

How You Actually Generate a Crystal Clear Complex Diamond Motif!

Eilya: /* How You Actually Generate a Crystal Clear Complex Diamond Motif! */

2013-09-04T06:39:28Z

How You Actually Generate a Crystal Clear Complex Diamond Motif!

Eilya: /* Further Interesting Hybrid Patterns */

2013-08-31T09:12:59Z

Further Interesting Hybrid Patterns

Eilya: /* Experience of Using the MPT, FPT and MFPT Setup */

2013-08-31T09:06:15Z

Experience of Using the MPT, FPT and MFPT Setup

Eilya: /* Colour Palette */

2013-08-29T21:37:45Z

Colour Palette

Eilya: /* Eilya's Thoughts on Beetle Breeding */

2013-08-29T21:31:22Z

Eilya's Thoughts on Beetle Breeding

Eilya: /* More Advanced Shapes */

2013-08-29T21:27:22Z

More Advanced Shapes

Eilya: /* Experience of Using the MPT, FPT and MFPT Setup */

2013-08-29T18:55:46Z

Experience of Using the MPT, FPT and MFPT Setup

Eilya: /* Geometric Shapes */

2013-08-29T18:54:19Z

Geometric Shapes

Eilya: /* Colour Palette */

2013-08-29T18:53:51Z

Colour Palette

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:47, 10 September 2013
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	''EDIT: Well the technique works, but it is incredibly slow. I watched a few rounds of dissolution and re-forming and the images are getting slowly more detailed, but it is so slow I don't know whether this is the easiest way or not. I am also starting to see some new phenomena that I don't understand, which might indicate progress, or might even be a new direction. Frustrating, but it is very difficult to see the whole picture except with hindsight. The new phenomena are tiny crosses that appear at the corners of plain Diamonds. It is possible that this is a step forward from the small breaks that indicated a new merge approaching earlier in the cycle, and I am now just seeing the small breaks in more detail, we will have to see.''		''EDIT: Well the technique works, but it is incredibly slow. I watched a few rounds of dissolution and re-forming and the images are getting slowly more detailed, but it is so slow I don't know whether this is the easiest way or not. I am also starting to see some new phenomena that I don't understand, which might indicate progress, or might even be a new direction. Frustrating, but it is very difficult to see the whole picture except with hindsight. The new phenomena are tiny crosses that appear at the corners of plain Diamonds. It is possible that this is a step forward from the small breaks that indicated a new merge approaching earlier in the cycle, and I am now just seeing the small breaks in more detail, we will have to see.''
		+
		+	''Further EDIT: I may have spoken too soon. After several further rounds of dissolution/resolution I still have patterns, but the motifs inside the Diamond themselves are not reforming properly. In one tank the patterns are "melting", in another the centres are merging into a rough blob connecting the rest of the motifs, and in others the Diamonds are becoming Jigsaws too much. After playing around a bit, I think the problem is in-breeding, as these tanks have had very few additions, just lots of culling/pruning of unwanted offspring. When I take these slightly off patterns and place a couple of beetles into a fresh tank of plain beetles the pattern soon recovers to a previous point and starts moving again. So I think there has to be an element of "new-blood" regularly incorporated into your tanks to keep the patterns from melting, whether this actually requires taking 2 beetles to a new tank regularly I don't know yet. It may be possible to introduce other beetles into the first tank to keep it on track. I'm going to try playing around this week to see what works''

	== Further Interesting Hybrid Patterns ==		== Further Interesting Hybrid Patterns ==

@@ Line 475: / Line 475: @@
 I have pictures of several stages in this process, but this blog is getting way too busy now, and I suspect few people are following it to this point, so I will add a page showing the complete process as a link.  Soon(tm)
   :)
 == Further Interesting Hybrid Patterns ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:12, 31 August 2013
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	[[File:XmasTrees.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Pattern Mutation into a Xmas Tree]]		[[File:XmasTrees.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Pattern Mutation into a Xmas Tree]]
		+	[[File:DiamondChains.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Chains]]
		+	[[File:DiamondWings.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Wings]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:06, 31 August 2013
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	[[File:Beetle_ShowCrossPattern.JPG \| 300px \| Rank 1 Show Beetle]]		[[File:Beetle_ShowCrossPattern.JPG \| 300px \| Rank 1 Show Beetle]]
		+
		+
		+	== Is it Just DNA or Do Avatar's Play a Part in Patterns ==
		+
		+	This is a question that must cross every beetle breeder's mind, and I don't know if it is possible to answer this without Dev input. At first it would seem that Beetle's alone possess some kind of DNA or generational history, as patterns and colours are transmitted via breeding, and "throw-backs" to previous generations often occur. But once you start to get into the deeper levels, either more varied colour palettes, or greater levels of detail in your motifs you do start to see apparent transfer of patterns and colours without breeding. What I mean is, if I open up a new tank of plain Diamonds I will very soon see some very detailed patterns that match some of my longest running tanks. Some of this is no doubt the beetles that seed the tank's having "hidden" DNA, maybe I had chosen a plain beetle that had been born in a more developed tank, and it brought the pattern with it, but I don't think it all is.
		+
		+	I do get a sense that once an Avatar has developed a specific pattern, or level of a pattern, then it is far easier to re-generate that elsewhere. The same happens with colour palettes. Which has led me to believe there is some kind of "what is currently available to my Avatar" going on when mutations occur, as well as "what new directions can this mutate into". The new directions are much rarer, but the ones currently available generate more easily.

	== Clearing the Image Inside a Diamond ==		== Clearing the Image Inside a Diamond ==

@@ Line 104: / Line 104: @@
 I have never really done any work with colour and video, so please forgive me if I abuse the terminology as I try to describe what I see!
-You may recall I mentioned my Avatar's lucky colour "Burgundy" - I say Burgundy, but it is actually various shades of a Maroon like colour as Beetles have the full gamut of Hue, Saturation and Lightness, giving rise to many gradations of a particular colour, often on the same beetle.  I was at first puzzled when my lucky Burgundy started giving way to lucky Grey, and lucky Cyan.  I thought maybe my lucky colour itself had changed, but as I Googled HSL and colour, to try and figure out what was going on, I found that these three colours are actually related [[http://encycolorpedia.com/800000 | Encycolorpedia.com]] clearly there is far more going on here than I follow, and I will leave it to you to do your own research :)
+You will read later about my Avatar's lucky colour "Burgundy" - I say Burgundy, but it is actually various shades of a Maroon like colour as Beetles have the full gamut of Hue, Saturation and Lightness, giving rise to many gradations of a particular colour, often on the same beetle.  I was at first puzzled when my lucky Burgundy started giving way to lucky Grey, and lucky Cyan.  I thought maybe my lucky colour itself had changed, but as I Googled HSL and colour, to try and figure out what was going on, I found that these three colours are actually related [[http://encycolorpedia.com/800000 | Encycolorpedia.com]] clearly there is far more going on here than I follow, and I will leave it to you to do your own research :)
 Here is a series showing the development of the palette on a Diamond pattern:

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:31, 29 August 2013
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	== Eilya's Thoughts on Beetle Breeding ==		== Eilya's Thoughts on Beetle Breeding ==
		+
		+	''EDIT: This started out as a linear blog, but as my understanding has developed I needed to go back and forth over the content and sometimes changed the order of presentation. I could edit out some of the earlier content to make it more presentable, but I think something of the story is lost if I do, and other breeders will find it harder to see what point they are at in their own story. I have decided to leave the old content in situ, so please bear with me if the odd time-warp appears!''

	I started my beetle breeding from scratch with a few wild beetles (one of each of Burrowing, Speckled and Plains). I also added some wild beetles from my alt Iril, and we both worked the tanks for a while, so my beetles are the product of two avatars. I don't know to what extent this has affected my results.		I started my beetle breeding from scratch with a few wild beetles (one of each of Burrowing, Speckled and Plains). I also added some wild beetles from my alt Iril, and we both worked the tanks for a while, so my beetles are the product of two avatars. I don't know to what extent this has affected my results.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:27, 29 August 2013
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	[[File:DiamondResolution3.JPG \| 300px \| The Diamond Mutates into a more Detailed Motif and the Skin Clarifies]]		[[File:DiamondResolution3.JPG \| 300px \| The Diamond Mutates into a more Detailed Motif and the Skin Clarifies]]

		+
		+	'''Crosses'''
		+
		+	Crosses are another advanced motif that appears as a mutation of both Diamonds and Curls/Ovals. I actually got a very early mutation from Curls pattern that was very resistant to change (as outlined earlier in Exotic Motifs). What I want to show here is the stages of development of a Cross motif. Once again the development will not be seen as linear when you actually breed them, but there are some very clearly recognisable stages. Bear in mind that some stages are harder to see with colour palettes that lack contrast, and there are "fuzzy" stages that can appear that are big leaps forwards, but actually look like backwards steps.
		+
		+	Images coming soon....

	== Exotic Motifs ==		== Exotic Motifs ==

@@ Line 280: / Line 280: @@
 It has been stated elsewhere that breeding with many other owners increases the variety of patterns.  It is possible that the number of Avatars involved in a DNA chain has an effect, but I don't think it is essential as I have only used the minimum 2 (as required by Principles), and have seen examples of most of the types of patterns shown elsewhere.  I want to test this, as it is possible the clarity or detail of a motif might be affected, or mutations might be easier with a greater number of Avatars in a DNA chain, so if you have a nice plain smooth beetle to trade let me know!
-  '''My First Transfer of a Cross Pattern to a Smooth Beetle'''
+'''My First Transfer of a Cross Pattern to a Smooth Beetle'''
 It is very difficult to get patterns to transfer from non-smooth beetles to smooth beetles, and as I explained earlier I had to work on mutating the skin and the Diamond together to get away from the early rough skinned Diamonds.  I was convinced it would be possible once both the patterned beetle and the smooth beetle have sufficiently advanced DNA, but early results using MPT/FPT were always either a near copy of the original pattern, or another plain beetle.  I have had some success, but the successes so far have always had an element of mutation, so I can't really say I have transferred the pattern.  In the series below the first beetle is my source pattern that I am working with and the remainder are some of the more unusual breeds from plains.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:54, 29 August 2013
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	I was going to put the last one on show, but sadly he ran away over-night :(		I was going to put the last one on show, but sadly he ran away over-night :(
		+
		+	== Colour Palette ==
		+
		+	Diamonds, and indeed all beetles, have a colour palette. At first there will only be one or two colours available at a given level (by level here I am referring to the apparent magnification/roughness of skin, that seems to relate to some kind of level of a pattern). Refining a pattern to a finer level will usually reduce the colour palette available, going from maybe 3 colours to just one colour; with a only slight difference of saturation giving away the pattern.
		+
		+	The colour palette can transfer from one pattern to another through breeding, thus a 4 colour Oval could transfer its palette to a Diamond (I think, I haven't absolutely proven this). The parent's colours can also be combined to produce a different hue, or more luminescense. The palette is most noticeable with Diamonds, as a plain Diamond will develop rings of colour starting at the outermost outline, and moving inwards towards the centre. The colour scheme of this palette will often be seen to pass from plain Diamond to Dominos, or Mazes - which of itself isn't that surprising, as Dominos and Mazes are just increasingly more complex interplays of plain Diamonds, the Domino being an equal merge and the Maze being one Diamond completely overlaying the other/s.
		+
		+	I have never really done any work with colour and video, so please forgive me if I abuse the terminology as I try to describe what I see!
		+
		+	You may recall I mentioned my Avatar's lucky colour "Burgundy" - I say Burgundy, but it is actually various shades of a Maroon like colour as Beetles have the full gamut of Hue, Saturation and Lightness, giving rise to many gradations of a particular colour, often on the same beetle. I was at first puzzled when my lucky Burgundy started giving way to lucky Grey, and lucky Cyan. I thought maybe my lucky colour itself had changed, but as I Googled HSL and colour, to try and figure out what was going on, I found that these three colours are actually related [[http://encycolorpedia.com/800000 \| Encycolorpedia.com]] clearly there is far more going on here than I follow, and I will leave it to you to do your own research :)
		+
		+	Here is a series showing the development of the palette on a Diamond pattern:
		+
		+	[[File:PlainDiamond1.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]
		+	[[File:PlainDiamond00.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]
		+	[[File:PlainDiamond0.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]
		+
		+	[[File:PlainDiamond2.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]
		+	[[File:PlainDiamond3.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]
		+	[[File:PlainDiamond.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]

	== More Advanced Shapes ==		== More Advanced Shapes ==

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:53, 29 August 2013
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	[[File:XmasTrees.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Pattern Mutation into a Xmas Tree]]		[[File:XmasTrees.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Pattern Mutation into a Xmas Tree]]
−
−
−	~~== Colour Palette ==~~
−
−	Diamonds, and indeed all beetles, have a colour palette. At first there will only be one or two colours available at a given level (by level here I am referring to the apparent magnification/roughness of skin, that seems to relate to some kind of level of a pattern). Refining a pattern to a finer level will usually reduce the colour palette available, going from maybe 3 colours to just one colour; with a only slight difference of saturation giving away the pattern.
−
−	The colour palette can transfer from one pattern to another through breeding, thus a 4 colour Oval could transfer its palette to a Diamond (I think, I haven't absolutely proven this). The parent's colours can also be combined to produce a different hue, or more luminescense. The palette is most noticeable with Diamonds, as a plain Diamond will develop rings of colour starting at the outermost outline, and moving inwards towards the centre. The colour scheme of this palette will often be seen to pass from plain Diamond to Dominos, or Mazes - which of itself isn't that surprising, as Dominos and Mazes are just increasingly more complex interplays of plain Diamonds, the Domino being an equal merge and the Maze being one Diamond completely overlaying the other/s.
−
−	~~I have never really done any work with colour and video, so please forgive me if I abuse the terminology as I try to describe what I see!~~
−
−	You may recall I mentioned my Avatar's lucky colour "Burgundy" - I say Burgundy, but it is actually various shades of a Maroon like colour as Beetles have the full gamut of Hue, Saturation and Lightness, giving rise to many gradations of a particular colour, often on the same beetle. I was at first puzzled when my lucky Burgundy started giving way to lucky Grey, and lucky Cyan. I thought maybe my lucky colour itself had changed, but as I Googled HSL and colour, to try and figure out what was going on, I found that these three colours are actually related [[http://encycolorpedia.com/800000 \| Encycolorpedia.com]] clearly there is far more going on here than I follow, and I will leave it to you to do your own research :)
−
−	~~Here is a series showing the development of the palette on a Diamond pattern:~~
−
−	~~[[File:PlainDiamond1.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]~~
−	~~[[File:PlainDiamond00.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]~~
−	~~[[File:PlainDiamond0.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]~~
−
−	~~[[File:PlainDiamond2.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]~~
−	~~[[File:PlainDiamond3.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]~~
−	~~[[File:PlainDiamond.JPG \| 300px \| Diamond Colour Palette Developing]]~~