Digital art: technology and innovation

Digital art: technology and  innovation

Digital art, the technological evolution of the current era, is advancing at a very interesting and also dizzying rate. The present is full of technological innovation and this invades practically every existing field.

One of the most present evidences of this fact is the emergence, development and exponential success that digital art has had. Controversial for some, modernization of tools for others… this relatively new concept implies the union between traditional art and technology.

In a simplified way, it consists of the application of graphic and vector programs, as well as digital color shades, to create a fictitious image. It can be said that the image is fictitious, because what the spectator observes is not a real painting, but the graphic representation of a computer code, which is not visible.

What is it?

Digital art is a new movement that, fundamentally, involves the use of digital programs for the creation of mathematical codes and expressions, which are translated into images that are totally different from the existing base. That is to say, that art and computing go hand in hand. In some cases, these virtual images can be made without starting from a base image.

What is their importance?

This discipline is evidence that modernization cannot be dissociated from our lives. In this case, it is the application of computer science in art. These visual arts enable the creation of fabulous alternative worlds. They make it possible to create, with a high level of realism, worlds of fantasy that move away from the classical representation of reality. Besides contemplating a complex development of artistic expression, animation and digital art are widely used for advertising, film industries, and video game creators.

Opinions and criticisms about it Why does it have detractors?

Of course, there are criticisms and negative positions against this trend. Mainly, by cataloguing digital creations as non-artistic manifestations, by those who maintain a traditional position on what can be considered art. On the other hand, it is undeniable that, as it is a relatively new method and given the ease of dissemination that the Internet constitutes, many works can be disseminated and transmitted as a suitable work without any prior quality control.

However, its proponents argue that digital tools are necessary to carry out the work, but personal creativity and the ability to express it properly depend on different elements inherent in the artistic faculty of the subject. Moreover, in each composition of this type of art, the basic elements of the art of drawings or paintings can be observed: point, line, outline, plane and volume. In other words, the technological artist makes use of the basic resources of traditional art.

On the other hand, the creator of digital art can transform a realistic image into a totally different work, modifying its composition with the tools provided by his computer. To be able to carry out the creative process of design and digital art, it is necessary to have creativity and imagination, besides having developed knowledge and skills to take advantage of their computer resources successfully.

Digital artworks are a complete application of techniques to confer forms, colors, effects, lights, shadows and many other elements that are essential for digital artists to generate a complete and appreciable digital work.

Classification of digital art

Within that type of art, several categories have been established, especially based on the medium used and the applied digital art techniques.

The most important of these are presented below:

Plots: drawings that are created using computer algorithms.
Vectorial Art: uses vectorial graphics to create images. The use of these drawings facilitates the location and manipulation of points or lines.
Digital Airbrushing: this type of art is used to perfect pre-existing images such as giving or changing color, hiding imperfections and adding certain details.
Pixel art: could be defined as a category of graphic art that is based on modifying images by manipulating and changing their pixel composition.
Net Art: This type of digital art is closely linked to the use of the Internet, since the observer accesses the technological works of art from his computer or intelligent device, but has no information about the servers that store the works he observes.
Digital interactive art: allows the recipient of the work to interact with the graphic design, getting answers from it.
Typographic art: as its name indicates, it refers to the link between art and letters.
Generative Art: consists of art created from computer language (algorithms), in which the artist uses special digital art programs, with parameters configurable by the manipulator, which enjoy a certain level of autonomy.
Photography and digital image: are images created or modified from a computer, with the use of digital techniques, algorithms and programs that apply their vectors and colors on the digital object.
Three-dimensional modeling or 3D digital art: in this type of art, graphic works are made with special programs, to produce isolated images that are quickly displayed to create a perception of movement by the viewer.
Digital sculpture: this type of digital art and design starts from digital spaces as a place of creation, to capture novel three-dimensional objects.