Computer-aided aesthetic evaluation of visual patterns

Abstract

Exact aesthetics is a discipline that connects the realm of visual arts with the science by integrating computers into processes of design and its objective criticism. The paper provides a short overview of exact aesthetic measures describing information and structural qualities of simple visual stimuli endowed with some regular structure. An algorithmic system performing aesthetic evaluation of such computer-generated patterns is introduced thereafter. 1. Patterns and Perception Modem communication relies heavily on visual information processing. The language assembled from text, images, signs and icons is largely descriptive and informative, yet it must not be always true that 'a picture is worth a hundred of words'. We frequently experience difficulties when orienting in multi-dimensional communication environments. It can· be observed from reading newspapers, watching TV commercials, using visual communication interfaces, or just from autonomic absorbing of scenes such as in Figure I, that certain graphical depictions are easily approachable whilst others require an increased effort to be ingested-or, their message may elude a perceiver entirely. It is firstly a proper form of visual stimuli that determines their fluent reception. A low-level form-a primordial information about a stimulus being sensed-can be identified with a pattern, an observable and distinguishable property of images, emerging from a configuration of their constituting elements. Generally stating, 'rhythmical' structures manifesting a refined arrangement of visual elements have proven to be comprehensible better than structures that demonstrate only a few accredited design standards [2,5]. In this paper, patterns are examined with algorithmic tools in order to achieve a numerical assessment of their 'exact aesthetic potential'. When appropriate measures are discovered and verified in computer-adided aesthetic systems, the task of distinguishing between good and poor design may be once accomplished by automated means. 2. Information Measures Images of an apparent structure can be treated as messages conveying some mensurable amount of aesthetic information. If structural elements-symbols forming a pattern-are examined for occurrence and distribution characteristics, the overall visual appeal is determinable from a balance among their coherence and exceptionality. When a pattern consists of elements the occurrence of which cannot be predicted in a computable way, the message will be declared. as incomprehensible. The maximal aesthetic experience comes about when the symbols appear in recurring, yet varying clusters. Let's now engage more intimately in individual information aesthetics measures. 143