# Introduction

After [Extreme Ways](https://www.fxhash.xyz/generative/slug/extreme-ways), I decided to take an orthogonal direction with respect to my previous works. I've always been fascinated by [Solace](https://www.fxhash.xyz/generative/slug/solace) ([@lunarean](https://www.fxhash.xyz/u/lunarean)) and [Hollow](https://www.fxhash.xyz/generative/slug/hollow) ([@mrkswcz](https://www.fxhash.xyz/u/mrkswcz)), two fabulous projects and great platform success... so I decided to try to use the same technique, to use only dots as a drawing medium.

::tezos-storage-pointer[]{contract="KT1KEa8z6vWXDJrVqtMrAeDVzsvxat3kHaCE" path="token_metadata::430919"}

::tezos-storage-pointer[]{contract="KT1U6EHmNxJTkvaWJ4ThczG4FSDaHC21ssvi" path="token_metadata::625183"}

The [Cables and Clouds](https://www.fxhash.xyz/generative/slug/cables-and-clouds) (C\&C) project has been published as project #15377 on June 23, 2022. It counts 256 editions.&#x20;

18 features are given for each edition, they contain the main parameters that influence the final result.

I recommend to use the [@zancan](https://www.fxhash.xyz/u/zancan) [fxfam](https://fxfam.xyz/15377) webpage to navigate through the collection while toggling the different features.

# Paper, dots and colors

## Paper format

There are 5 different paper format : Square (1:1, 30%), Horizontal (3:2, 27%), Vertical (2:3, 33%), Landscape\_Horizontal (2:1, 5%) and Landscape\_Vertical (1:2, 5%). A border in different sizes can be present (this is not a feature).&#x20;

![Different paper formats](ipfs://QmZhJ7WUSH36SN8nqEf12oSqVdwczD3vPS1V2JKEkzfQNC)

## Dots

In C\&C, all the artwork is produced by the presence or absence of a single color dot (in fact the dot is not a circle but a tiny square). There are four different sizes of dots; they appear in the GRAIN feature : Grainy (7%), Coarse (23.5%), Soft (39%) and Delicate (30.5%) from  the biggest to smallest.

![Different dot size (details)](ipfs://Qmek6nkzyUWm5JsFkt6Ph8UpMSfZWbFduTYh7Jced9SPyH)

## Colors

There are 13 color palettes. A color palette fixes both the paper color and the dot color. Most common is "Paper" (25%) and rarest is "Sanguine" (2.7%). "Paper" is the palette used in the artwork displayed in the "Paper format" section above. All the other color palettes are shown below (ordered by frequency).

![All color palettes (except "Paper", the most common), with their frequency.](ipfs://QmRHeigDnAvjZ4GpmfjXFs5j8exJHa82u1RnhyXrod4RS1)

# Clouds, hills, poles and cables

The number of clouds and hills are chosen independently. The number of poles depends on the number of hills and clouds. For the cables there are different situations. Poles can have only one cable attached or many... and the same with the clouds. It results in different possibilities. The features involved in these different situations are (N\_HILLS, N\_CLOUDS, N\_POLES, N\_CABLES)

![Various possibilities to attach cables to poles and clouds...](ipfs://QmWQXdh3wHFCJ1gHzJ1j4XZSEm3F4pZDM8Nt7fscURZivQ)

# Poles

Feature POLE\_TYPE gives the pole style... 94% are simple and only 6% are complex (15/256). They are what you see in them (some see people using the clouds like kites).

::tezos-storage-pointer[]{contract="KT1U6EHmNxJTkvaWJ4ThczG4FSDaHC21ssvi" path="token_metadata::917886"}

# Cables

All cables follow the physical equation giving  their specific shape (the famous "chain equation", containing a hyperbolic cosine and solved using a Newton-Raphson numeric method).

In the rare cases where one cloud is only attached to one cable you can have the chance to have a Complex CABLE\_TYPE feature.

::tezos-storage-pointer[]{contract="KT1U6EHmNxJTkvaWJ4ThczG4FSDaHC21ssvi" path="token_metadata::917788"}

# Rain

It rains in 45% of the C\&C. Sometimes dramatic like a storm, or lighter like a delicate spring rain. The wind direction and strength has an effect on the rain direction. On the example below, a strong wind blows from left to right... influencing the rain direction.

::tezos-storage-pointer[]{contract="KT1U6EHmNxJTkvaWJ4ThczG4FSDaHC21ssvi" path="token_metadata::918763"}

# Sea

A sea is present in 16% of the cases.

::tezos-storage-pointer[]{contract="KT1U6EHmNxJTkvaWJ4ThczG4FSDaHC21ssvi" path="token_metadata::917774"}

# Birds

Birds are present 42% of the times and come in 3 sizes (Small, Medium, Large). Their number depends on their size. Sometimes one bird can appear in the margin. There is no features for this rare possibility (it was the result of a bug, and I decided to make it happen sometimes).

::tezos-storage-pointer[]{contract="KT1U6EHmNxJTkvaWJ4ThczG4FSDaHC21ssvi" path="token_metadata::917787"}

# Balloons

Only 6 C\&C have balloons (with 3 to 6 balloons).

![6 editions with the Balloons feature.](ipfs://QmehEHJVLQdFQd9KpDipiU9K9DGDTBNHFcQzzmTeds6Yg7)

# Wind

## Wind direction

Wind direction can be N-S (51%) or E-W (49%). For N-S, the wind blows forward or backward, the cables have no privileged directions. On the other hand, when the features is E-W it means the wind blows from left to right or right to left... in this situation the cables are all in the same direction.&#x20;

![Left and Right : E-W wind direction. Center : N-S wind direction.](ipfs://QmNgeWz8G5s6KPYMvdMVfjSMcE47qvYekbPrh8do2u75zQ)

## Wind strength

The last Feature is the Wind Strength with 3 values, Breeze (82%), Gale (9%) and Storm (9%) (in increasing strength). This parameter changes the Cable shape. Cables will appear more straight with strong winds (almost like a straight line for Storm). Wind direction and strength has also on effect on the rain direction (already mentioned in the Rain section).

![Wind strength. Left : Breeze. Center : Gale. Right : Storm.](ipfs://QmbiUDgJVfVSA8Pk8Kzj6pfEN9Uz7zPVv7ReiDcPjhfUdP)

# Red

During the elaboration process, I was posting WorkInProgress pictures regularly. @tz1RGH99DAw9ufeajPrNXi9Gp3Su5STgnVSN suggested to add red elements... The result was stunning. I immediately included it as a rare features (and awarded a C\&C to @Cryptotenor). Finally 22 C\&C have the RED feature set to true (8.6%).&#x20;

2 have Red cables (C\&C #86 and #98) and 3 have Red poles (C\&C #117, #176 and #177).

![Red Cables and Poles.](ipfs://QmSqm2mY6NRY3SfxsNY9AVP3NkHhXL2dXGaAptDe12ZfX2)

17 have Red birds. Among them, 7 have only Red birds, 4 have only 1 Red bird and 6 have a mix of Red and normal birds.

![All  Red birds editions.](ipfs://Qmcmd5Z8V71xEQ8MUL94UEian2zUfinqNF8G81ksB7X12M)

![Single Red bird editions.](ipfs://QmSUF9V3duPkaaWGJFmXVtZLsu8n2TaTEG4sPabUZaS8Vc)

![Editions with mix of Red and normal birds](ipfs://QmR1Y5tNExmesN7GuF4wLhpquddNWTg3tvoH1sDX3uG7k5)

# Interactivity

Pressing "h" in Live mode opens a menu.

![](ipfs://QmSgRrxpKAsLd5ig66L4CG7q6577XBMK22xXjgRoMJzQK4)

For printing change the resolution by step 3, 4, 5, etc... (you may reach a limit depending on your system). In principle you can reach very high resolution.

Pressing "c" changes the color palette (artwork does not change).

Pressing "d" lets you enter in debug mode. All the different elements will be highlighted with a specific color (there may be birds in the clouds you have not seen). Cyan : vignetting and texture effect. Grey : clouds. Orange : rain. Purple : cables. Green : poles. Brown : hills. Black with red square : birds.

![C\&C #137. Left : original. Right : debug mode.](ipfs://QmYm84jezrUqfKRZytDRC1wuGbkc4KanJoohYLuqik3oUy)

# Balloon festival

For the 6 rare editions containing balloons, pressing "c" to change colors have the side effect to add more balloons (side effect discovered first by [@Rich\_Poole](https://www.fxhash.xyz/u/Rich%20Poole)). This was not intended, it is technically a bug.... and finally a cool feature.

![C\&C #27 turned into a Balloon festival.](ipfs://QmXuufMsCebK8eEtjCjHn2zvdNaatEaL2CmYpgTvkqwfxw)

# Conclusion

Thanks to the fxhash community and to the C\&C collectors. The love that you have demonstrated for this project has been something important to me.&#x20;

A beautiful feel good moment.

# To go beyond...

[Waiting to be Signed](https://twitter.com/WaitingToSign) podcast. [Episode 25 : Hype paralysis](https://anchor.fm/waitingtobesigned/episodes/E25---Hype-Paralysis-e1kfjcd). C\&C discussion starts at 1h00.

[Carousel](https://www.fxhash.xyz/article/carousel). fxhash novel by [@ragnar\_meta](https://twitter.com/ragnar_meta). C\&C owns by the author are used to highlight the novel ambiance. A must-read for C\&C lovers...

Cables and Clouds #185 and #249 have been part of the fxhash curated collection displayed at Art Basel Paris+ event (19-22 october 2022).&#x20;

![C\&C #185 and #249 have been exhibited during the Art Basel Paris + in 2022.](ipfs://QmehTj3oWW1mJbgvkaCd3XhAn4eALA5Qvn2s5wKbUcrGdA)

***

# Cables and TezPole

During the 2023 Miami Art Basel, a less than average Generative Art display by the Tezos foundation lead to a meme. Everybody was dealing with the infamous poles with lots of cables all around...

To remember this event and participate to the #tezpole moment, I've decided to create a specific artwork called "Cables and TezPole" on objkt.com.

A specific blue colour palette, tons of cables hiding the screens...&#x20;

<https://objkt.com/asset/KT1GqzyKyJ3e9p88eP75Btn1AMcgF4vMuLqb/2>

![Cables and TezPole](ipfs://QmT1hokYTcdPc64zz86WegbAHSy4f6YkPNSpnJZAu5V68P)


Capturing clouds... an old dream of mad scientist... coming true...
But wait... are they real clouds ? Maybe... maybe not...
Is it the real life ?
Is this just fantasy ?

Cables and Clouds has been published on June 23, 2022 with a 256 editions size. 
This article will review the details that can be found in the whole Cables and Clouds collection.

DisruptedStar Ledger Wallet.
Generative art creator.
Archive account fxhash work : https://www.fxhash.xyz/u/DisruptedStar%20Archive
https://sites.google.com/view/tidally-disrupted-star/
https://twitter.com/TidallyD

Cables and Clouds

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