Analyzing symmetry and symmetry breaking by computational aesthetic measures

Abstract

We study creating and analyzing symmetry and broken symmetry in digital art. Our focus is not so much on computer-generating artistic images, but rather on analyzing concepts and templates for incorporating symmetry and symmetry breaking into the creation process. Taking as a starting point patterns generated algorithmically by emulating the collective feeding behavior of sand-bubbler crabs, all four types of two-dimensional symmetry are used as isometric maps. Apart from a geometric interpretation of symmetry, we also consider color as an object of symmetric transformations. Color symmetry is realized as a color permutation consistent with the isometries. Moreover, we analyze the abilities of computational aesthetic measures to serve as a metric that reflects design parameters, i.e. the type of symmetry and the degree of symmetry breaking.