MakeSomeNoise

MakeSomeNoise v1.1.2 is Released

What’s MakeSomeNoise?

MakeSomeNoise is a free tool I built for generating procedural noise textures, texture atlas (sprite sheets), and image sequences. It’s a standalone Windows app, just download and run.

What does it do?

Mix two layers of noise using common weighted blending modes.
6 different kinds of noise (for now, more are coming).
Explore the 3d noise space and preview the noise animating through Z slice at user-defined speed and frame numbers.
Export the result as a single frame, atlas or image sequence with clean naming for your use.

Built-in Learning Guide

I added a complete “Guide To Noise” right in the app. Click the help button and you get detailed explanations for every noise algorithm—the history, how it works, when to use it, and pro tips. I wanted to make this tool educational, not just functional. Whether you’re learning about noise for the first time or just need a quick refresher on how these noise functions work it’s all there.

Export Previews & Animation Playback

You can now preview before export. Want to see what that 16-frame atlas will look like? Preview it. Need to check your animation sequence? Play it back at any FPS from 1-60. There’s also a handy right-click menu for copying the preview to clipboard or jumping straight to your export folder.

Smarter File Management

The app now automatically manages file versions for you (_v00, _v01, etc.), so you’ll never accidentally overwrite that perfect noise pattern you made. Export paths are now fully visible prior to export.

Cleaner, Smoother Experience

I’ve been squashing bugs and polishing the UI. Better tooltips everywhere, improved thread management (no more crashes when you spam sliders), and generally just a more responsive app.

The Licensing Thing

Quick note: The app itself is free to use for anything, including commercial projects. You just can’t sell the app or bundle it for profit without asking me first. But anything you generate with it (textures, images, animations) is completely yours under CC0. Use them commercially, sell them, whatever. No attribution needed (though it’s always appreciated 😊).

Download It!

Ready to make some noise? Head over to the GitHub Release Page and grab the executable. It’s a single 120MB file—download, double-click, and you’re good to go.

First run might take a few seconds while Windows Defender does its thing, but after that it’s smooth sailing.

If you’ve got ideas or feature requests, hit me up on GitHub!

Download: MakeSomeNoise v1.1.2 on GitHub

Happy noise-making! 🎨

– Andy

Change is good. And change is also terrifying. Keep. Creating.

2D Graphics, 3D Graphics, Creative Work, Film, VFX / By andy

I’ve been a bit frustrated with this site for a while, because there’s all this fascinating work I do at Meta Reality Labs, that I’d really love to share. While I know many people are reeling under the changes from AI technology as well as the difficult time both game and visual effects creatives have been facing as everything changes beneath us… Please don’t think I’m unsympathetic (or unaffected) when I say this: there has never been a more exciting time to work in CGI.

“Exciting” and “challenging” go together. It means we are in a period of great change. But I’ve found over the years that these are the kind of times when people also tend to do their most meaningful work. This is one of those points when reputations (and fortunes) are made, and when new paradigms and possibilities abound.

If you’re a professional struggling to find work or establish relevance in a world which may not demand some of your formerly most attractive skills, allow me to suggest that you step back a moment and remember that you ARE still relevant. Yes a toddler can now seemingly generate an image or video that would only have been possible through great effort just a few years ago, or vibe code an application that formerly took a team of engineers. All that means is that YOU can do the same, as well as so much more, by leveraging your less obvious skills which have now become massively relevant.

– Eye for quality and detail. – Understanding of process principles to achieve top results. – Industry understanding of tools, methods, ways to approach challenges and visualize your end goals early. – Discipline to slog through difficulties to get to somewhere extraordinary.

You may not be able to do the work you’ve spent decades doing. But that doesn’t mean you lack value. Do NEW stuff. Ride this wave, and go further, faster than you ever dreamt was possible. Or, to be a bit more militaristic in tone: Adapt. Overcome.

Change is struggle. But it’s also opportunity. Figure out where your brass ring is, and reach for it.

Niagara Game Effects

2D Graphics, 3D Graphics, Game Effects, Niagara / By andy

I did a little job for a studio in Prague recently which consisted of a series of “spell” effects for a RPG. I can’t show any of those effects of course but along the way I made a number of other interesting little Niagara effects, here are a few:

The images below are a mixed bag, design wise. But they were fun to make. Oddly the brief was to make effects which were baked down into spritesheets, for a mobile release. It was strange, but it did allow me to up some particle counts and rely less on billboards in Niagara. I’m not sure I like the look but it was nice to be able to explore Niagara in this way.