First project - moving a transparent circle over a semi opaque background with an image behind

Hi all, First post - I’ve been tasked with making a model to recreate a tunnel vision experience for someone - the model I’ve been given is using an old eye test list of letters and mimicking the inability to scan the lines of letters by making them blurred except for a small circle of clear vision which is the experience being demonstrated. So I need a background image of the eye test, a semi opaque layer or similar to simulate the blurriness, and a circle that cuts through that layer to show a small area of clear text. The circle must move around to mimic someone changing focus. Is this something Processing can do and is there a working example that could help in constructing this?
Steve

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Hi, You might want to use the PImage method, blend()https://processing.org/reference/PImage.html
or

filter() https://processing.org/reference/PImage_filter_.html which has a blur parameter for the eye test.
Hope this helps:-)

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PImage img, img2;
PGraphics msk;

void setup() {
  size(600, 600);
  msk = createGraphics(width, height);
  background(100, 0, 0);
  noStroke();
  for ( int t = 0; t < 100; t++) {
    fill(random(200), random(200), random(200));
    rect( random(width-20), random(height-20), 20, 20);
  }
  img = get();
}

void draw() {
  msk.beginDraw();
  msk.background(0);
  msk.fill(255);
  msk.ellipse(mouseX, mouseY, 80, 80);
  msk.endDraw();
  background(img);
  img2 = get();
  filter(BLUR, 7);
  img2.mask(msk);
  image( img2, 0, 0);
  noFill();
  stroke(0);
  ellipse(mouseX, mouseY, 80, 80);
}

There’s probably a bunch of ways to optimize this.

1 Like

nice work! i’m sure there are several ways to make this run smoother.

Possibly relevant: a past related discussion about a “frosted glass” approach – which could be drawn once with a PImage or done with a PShader. That example was a rectangle, but you could punch a hole out of it.

1 Like

Thank you so much - lots to get into. Very much appreciated!
Steve

Using Thomas approach with koogs’ suggestion. Calling filter() in draw() is expensive.

@dan850 How would you use blend() to get this effect?

This post is relevant: How to do this kind of gradient on shapes

Kf

final int RAD=80;

PImage img, img2, imgBlur;
PGraphics msk;

void setup() {
  size(600, 600);
  msk = createGraphics(width, height);
  background(100, 0, 0);
  noStroke();
  for ( int t = 0; t < 100; t++) {
    fill(random(200), random(200), random(200));
    rect( random(width-20), random(height-20), 20, 20);
  }
  img = get();
  
  imgBlur = img.get();
  imgBlur.filter(BLUR, 7);
}

void draw() {
  msk.beginDraw();
  msk.background(255);
  msk.fill(0);
  msk.ellipse(mouseX, mouseY, RAD,RAD);
  msk.endDraw();
  background(img);
  
  img2 = imgBlur.get();;
  img2.mask(msk);
  
  image( img2, 0, 0);
  noFill();
  stroke(0);
  ellipse(mouseX, mouseY, RAD,RAD);
}

This is what i am looking for and strugling to mashup with my skecth…
If you take the “esfera1600.jpg” off you will see behind . And is that what i need. Make the circle transparent to show behind the cover.

take a look in my sketch, please:

import processing.sound.*;
SoundFile soundfile;
PImage et;
PImage capa;
PImage img; //here
PImage txt;
PGraphics pg;
boolean overButton = false;
boolean backwards=false;
int timeLapse=400;
int timeTrack;


void setup() {
  size(600, 600);
 

  soundfile = new SoundFile(this, "fabX.mp3");
  // Play the file in a loop
  soundfile.loop();
  /*
  img = createImage(100, 100,0);   // here
   for (int i = 0; i < img.pixels.length; i++) {  // here
   float a = map(i, 0, img.pixels.length, 255, 0); //here
   img.pixels[i] = color(0, 153, 204); //here
   }
   */

  pg = createGraphics(400, 400);
  txt = loadImage("TextoTecFXpng.png");
  et = loadImage("etFXpng.png");  // Load the image into the program
  et.resize(258, 458);
   capa = loadImage("esfera1600.jpg");
}



void draw() {
  background(0);  // total canva black


  // rect flahing/blinking

  int m = millis();
  fill(m % 200);              // velocity of flashs ** not working good ** maybe my computer..
  rect(25, 25, 555, 555, 30);
  
  image(et, 130, 125 );
  image(txt, 50, 40);
image(capa,0, 0);
  noFill();
  stroke(255);
  ellipse(mouseX, mouseY, 160, 160);


  //pg.beginDraw();
  //pg.background(0);
  // pg.fill(255,255,255, 100);
  // pg.noStroke();
  pg.ellipse(mouseX-120, mouseY-160, 160, 160);
  // pg.endDraw();

  // Draw the offscreen buffer to the screen with image()
  //image(pg, 220, 160);


  // image(img, mouseX-img.width/2, mouseY-img.height/2); // here
  //button link to web page

  if (overButton == true) {
    noStroke();
    fill(74, 245, 243, 70);
  } else {
    noStroke();
    noFill();
  }

  circle(260, 230, 30);
}
void mousePressed() {
  if (overButton) {
    link("https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLfjXK0h5ZJK01y34_ouFkU5wpFW5HyE7");
  }
}
void mouseMoved() {
  checkButtons();
}

void mouseDragged() {
  checkButtons();
}


void checkButtons() {
  if (mouseX > 200 && mouseX < 500 && mouseY > 200 && mouseY <300) {
    overButton = true;
  } else {
    overButton = false;
  }
}