SPOT.LIGHT 001 : On-Chain NFTs
The first in our SPOT.LIGHT series of deep dives into all things NFTs & Cardano — with an introduction to the immersive world of On-Chain & Generative NFTs.
I’m fascinated by On-Chain NFTs for a good number of reasons. Specifically those on Cardano.
Firstly, they are beautiful. Beauty is not bound or exclusive to this category but it is most definitely enhanced.
What makes this category unique though is two fold:
- The NFT exists entirely on the Cardano ledger in the form of less than 16kb of code;
- The visuals are typically dynamic, calculated, generated in real time as the NFT is viewed.
The art is code. The code is art.
The On-Chain category of Cardano NFTs is booming, they are stunning, visually immersive, permanent and resilient.
A passionate & growing community is rapidly forming around this evolving category.
The Permanence of On-Chain.
On-Chain digital assets are the most permanent form of NFTs that exist.
It is a much lauded claim that NFTs (or anything on the blockchain for that matter) exists forever, or for as long as the blockchain survives.
However most NFTs in existence depend on a decentralised storage to host the actual asset, the image, the art; where a link to the asset (not the asset itself) is minted into the NFT.
While this is great, it is not perfect, and the pattern has met some debate:
Enter On-Chain NFTs.
An On-chain NFT has everything needed to properly display and render the visual asset, stored within the NFT itself. Hence the category name.
As such, On-chain NFTs emerge with an unrivalled permanence and resilience. Totally unstoppable. I like the airtight perfection of this quality. They are self-sufficient, self serving and can pack a punch.
Dynamic & Generative
On-chain NFTs have shown themselves in many forms.
In addition to a static on-chain images (see Hunks ), many take the form of dynamic and generative creations, where instructions to reproduce and render the asset are encoded into the NFT. This is usually in the form of a HTML, java-script enabled file.
Only a browser like the one you’re using now to read this is needed to experience the NFT in full flight.
Anything from the most simple, to gob-smackingly complex assets have been minted. Where hypnotic, cerebral animations, mix it up with otherworld alien-like creatures, to glowing butterflies, and even living trees (digitally living that is).
There are games that will challenge even the most ambidextrous keyboard champion, all the while presenting aesthetically first class; a digital, interactive installation.
How they are made
Being an open, permission-less blockchain, anyone is able to create NFTs on Cardano, and in any form that the protocol will allow.
The trick with On-Chain NFTs is multilayered:
- The knowledge and skill required to create HTML visual, sonic and interactive assets
- The ability to do this where the asset/code can fit exclusively onto an NFT (<16kb)
- The knowledge and skills required to build and mint Cardano NFTs
The above is no small feat and a significant barrier to entry for anyone but the most deeply experienced and skilled creative engineers. A fluent handle on complex vector math combined with an artistic flair is needed (amongst other things), and this cross domain skill mix is rare.
Developers Charles Machin, Hookman together with the likes of Adam Gorman, DVNC, and Steel are some of the creative forces behind this category.
In addition to facilitating the creation of their own collections, Blockgen.art is a project that has released a tool for those looking to create this this form of On-Chain art.
Ultimately, the Blockgeneration.art platform makes use of a custom language that they’ve built themselves, that helps construct and compress code for processing into a minted Cardano NFT.
The application provides templates, and a playground for creators to learn and iterate on their creations, and it is very easy to use.
Charles has also developed an introductory tutorial for those seeking to matrix themselves into this form of art:
Further information can be found here, and you can listen to Charles talk on Cardano Over Coffee about their project here:
Snapshot
Unsigned Algorithms
The first on-chain NFTs on Cardano were pioneered by a project called Unsigned Algorithms where the creation can be generated dynamically using coded instructions on chain. Monad_Alexander is the ingenious creator credited with developing this project, and it was the first of its kind.
Eternal Chaos
They say it best themselves:
Eternal chaos is study into chaos mathematics.
Like ripples in the sand shifting with ocean waves these patterns evolve into mesmerising formations. This project is here to show you that there is Beauty in numbers dancing on the edge of form and chaos.
More information on this project can be found here.
Stellar Hood
Another On-Chain NFT game on Cardano, and Stellar Hood and its creator EgonFX have helped pioneer the technique and approach for interactive On-Chain Cardano NFTs.
Every single Stellar Hood (6505 of them) is based on real astronomical data. Measured astrophysical properties of the stars and planets were used to create the NFTs.
Shader Wars
Personally I was blown away as I first experienced a Shader War NFT. It took me while to realise it was a game! Each NFT has it’s own game inside, with a crowd-built 80s’ style gaming soundtrack, and beautiful vivid graphics, unique to each game.
Rorschach Algorithm Beasts
The Rorschach Alogrithm Beasts are a collection of 999 hand-selected procedurally generated creatures. Creepy or cute, a frog, a bee or Cthulhu, Rorschach Algorithm Beasts come in various unique shapes.
These beasts evolve with the passage of time.
You can see the dynamic generation of these yourself, by experimenting with the their beast generator here.
DUSK
Dusk is a number of collections On-Chain interactive collections. Vivid, ephemeral and glitched visuals will follow your mouse, and eventually surprise you with their form.
Visit Dusk’s website for further information on these collections, and of course interact with them directly on Dropspot
Summary
The on-chain and particularly those that are dynamically generating is a fascinating category of NFT assets that have emerged over the past 12 on Cardano, and are much worth your time to explore.
You can experience Cardano’s On-Chain NFTs in their full force on Dropspot, where you will get lost in exploring and interacting with the thousands of digital assets in this category.
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