FAQs

1. 1.Why an art app?  Reflect doesn’t help me be more productive, or find my car when I’ve lost it in a parking garage.
   

That’s right.  Reflect will not find your car, nor read bar codes to identify the next cheapest piece of crap you’ll save $1 on at your favorite Big Box, nor will it make fart sounds -much to our regret...perhaps version 2.0. 

Rather, Reflect creates time and space for your mind’s eye to get off.  It won’t improve your productivity, but it will enhance your soul.

2. 2.What’s all this talk about Generative Art; why is that important?
   

Joshua Davis and friends are generative artists.  Meaning they are left brain/right brain hybrid people who apply traditional notions of inspired creative magic combined with almost science-like, rules-based methodologies to create their ultimate compositions.  As such while rules may exist to govern the ultimate artistic result, the specifics of each artistic,algorithmic outcome are unknown in advance.

For Reflect, Davis draws illustration groupings (like all the scary beasties in the Reflect form group, “Demons”) that are comprised of a variety of discrete objects (e.g. Demon 1, Demon 2, etc...) and then he defines color palette groups that he likes -this is the subjective, right brain part.  Next, he writes computer code that assembles the Demon objects into coherent, whole compositions.  In that last step there’s a good bit of The Random; so while drawing in Reflect’s Designer mode you know Demons will come out, BUT...you don’t know precisely which ones, what size, orientation or what color they will be.  Out of this inherent randomization, can surprising beauty or an awkward mess -you, the artist, get to choose.

Now, some people find this lack of control “uncomfortable”.  Others find peace as Reflect helps them acknowledge the reality that we all lack specific control over our lives, while ironically, we often achieve the general goals we seek.  For more read...

3. 3.I understand how to use the Kaleidoscope part of the app, I’ve heard I can compose the art that goes into the Kaleidoscope, how?
   

Single click on the kaleidoscope, when the menu appears select the “pencil drawing” icon which takes you into Designer mode.  Now choose a “Form” group and “Color” palette that appeals to you; select “Done” when done choosing.  Now start tapping and dragging your finger around the canvas...presto!  When happy with your composition, select “Done” to return to the kaleidoscope.

4. 4.Does the kaleidoscope scale in size?
   

Yes.  Apply the standard dual-finger pinch and expand technique to zoom-in/out of the kaleidoscope.

5. 5.I feel so alone creating by myself, can I share my creations?
   

Yes.  Tap the screen once, select the “Share” icon in the upper left corner of Reflect.  This will save your kaleidoscope or the design pattern you’ve been busy working on in Designer mode to the iPhone’s Photo Roll.  Now go to your Photo Roll and share, or set as your wall paper.

6. 6. Why is only Joshua Davis’ art in Reflect?
   

Good question.  Because we like it.  We like it a lot.  But perhaps you are right...this is limiting, but...it is a starting place.  We will develop further reflections featuring our artist friends.  Do you have favorite artists you think should be included?  Send a request.

7. 7. What is “explode” mode?
   

While viewing your kaleidoscope, try “double tapping” then dragging your finger up and down the screen.  Or “double tap+hold and drag”.  Some nice three dimensional experiments occur when you do.